Ah, Memphis in the winter. From 70 to snow in 72 hours.

As I write my introduction as the new Lamplighter editor, tiny white flakes are falling on my Cox Street house for the third time this winter. It’s a pretty minor event, except that I was wearing a Stax Records T-shirt three days ago. Some cities brag that they experience all four seasons; here, we get them in the same week.

It’s one of those little quirks about my hometown that gives people something to talk about, and man, are there things to talk about in Cooper-Young lately. Besides the weird weather.

My wife Liz and I moved back to our Midtown haunts a couple of months ago after almost eight years in Virginia. It was inevitable that we’d be back — I kept a 38104 sticker on my Jeep, waiting for this day — and it was comforting to see that some things haven’t changed. For example, one of the bartenders at Bosco’s remarked that she hadn’t seen us in “a while,” and asked me if I wanted my usual India Pale Ale. Yes, please.

But it’s even more comforting to see that, finally, some things did change. For the better.

I moved back to find that my neighborhood is the city’s epicurean epicenter, with new restaurants drawing crowds big enough they need valets to park all the cars. Burke’s Books is down here now and Goner Records, which opened after I left, is kind of a big deal.

Not all the news seemed good. Every local TV news camera zeroed in on us and hyped up a crime problem over the winter. But guess what: crime numbers are down here, not up.

Don’t let the perennial haters or some ranking in Forbes magazine discourage you. It’s a bright new day in one of the coolest cities in the country. It’s brightest in Cooper-Young, of course, where the sun is breaking through the clouds even as the snow coats my back porch.

I’m glad to be back and editing the Lamplighter. You’ll probably see me walking my hound dogs or hanging at Young Avenue Deli or playing drums with somebody in the neighborhood. Please say hey and send story ideas my way at lamplighter@cooperyoung.org. - David Royer

By Kristan Huntley

Come sun or rain, sleet or snow, Santa is always willing to greet kids and pets in Cooper-Young with a bright smile and rosy cheeks! This year was no exception. Even with soggy conditions, Santa arrived at the Cooper-Young Winter Wonderland (otherwise known as the CYCA offices) with a hearty ho-ho-ho.

The resident elf was also there to greet guests, as were several wonderful volunteers, including Sarah and Brad Gilmer and Leann Thompson, to make the occasion special for all involved.
Around 13 families joined in the fun, snacks, and holiday merriment. Parents, children dressed in their best holiday attire, big and little pups, and even a wee kitten all had their photo taken with Jolly Ol’ St. Nick. It was a wonderful event and raised around $170 to support the McLean Mural Project.

The Beautification Committee wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Santa Claus (and Mrs. Claus) for his special appearance, to Mr. Lincoln’s Costume Rental for the elf costume, to Sarah Gilmer for her wonderful photography skills, and to all the family, friends, and neighbors who came out to support the fundraising efforts.

We hope that you have a very merry holiday. And remember, be good because Santa’s got his eye on Cooper-Young!

I just left the CYCA office where I was able to get my dogs’ photos taken with Santa and see our Community Director, Kristan Huntley, in an elf costume – best $10 I’ve spent in a while! Do I feel bad about taking my stinky, geriatric pups in there without giving them a bath first? A little. Did I have time to give those baths? Oh, heck no! The holiday season has officially started for me, and I’m off on a dead run barreling toward the new year.

For the last few years, I’ve been what most would consider a “Grinch.” It may have started when my mother broke her back putting up her ridiculously extravagant Christmas light display (think “Griswold Christmas”) or maybe the first time I heard “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in a store the day after Halloween. Either way, I’m not really a fan of shopping, crowds, traffic, Christmas carols, Christmas decorations, ringing bells, or those sweet goodies that manage to put a couple extra inches on my waistline every December. Oddly enough, I did enjoy the Christmas carolers that popped up in the neighborhood last year….but I digress.

This Grinch has too much going on this month to plot against Christmas coming to Whoville! Saturday, December 3 the St. Jude Marathon aid station and cheering section is a Cooper-Young tradition that can’t be missed. Tuesday, December 13 is the CYCA Holiday and Volunteer Thank You Party where we get to show our volunteers how much their support means to our community. Who will win the Alexia Hampton Award this year? I know who it is, but I’m not telling! Saturday, December 17 we’re stuffing the CYCA Membership Renewal letters, eating snacks, and avoiding the holiday sales. Everyone deserves a break, right? And don’t forget the Police and Fire Department Goodie Bag Stuffing on Christmas Eve! Off, off, and away!

June Hurt

By Andy Ashby

This January, the Cooper-Young Community Association is organizing an event to raise money for a planned mural on McLean Boulevard. Stone Soup Café and four Cooper-Young homeowners are hosting a “Moveable Feast” on Friday, January 27, 2012 starting at 6pm. This will consist of two groups of 20 people each enjoying a three-course meal at three different stops. For each group, the first house will serve salads and appetizers, and the second house will serve an entrée. Then, both groups will meet at Stone Soup Café (993 S. Cooper) for dessert.

Tickets are $20 and will be available for sale at the CYCA offices (2298 Young Ave.). All proceeds will go toward the McLean Mural Project, which will brighten up a popular gateway to the neighborhood.

Local artist Carl E. Moore has designed a mural to be painted underneath the railroad overpass on McLean Boulevard near Central Avenue. He plans on starting this summer. The entire project will cost $5,000, which includes cleaning and treating the surfaces, as well as designing and painting the murals. The CYCA has raised $1,500 so far. The Moveable Feast money, paired with funds raised from the Santa picture event in November, should put us at $2,500, which would be enough to paint one side.

The CYCA is approaching other organizations to raise the remainder of the funds. We may also organize more fundraisers to generate the rest of the money. If you’d like to buy tickets or donate to the McLean Mural Project, stop by the CYCA offices or call Andy Ashby at 901-691-2396.

By Renée Massey

I can think of several reasons why you or I might want to pick up a meal or a nice appetizer on our way home any time of the year – a friend just had a baby and could use a break from daily chores like cooking, a neighbor is ill and could use some help with dinners, or an acquaintance is having a potluck. In every case, we might want to help or participate, but we’re busy! During the chaos of the holiday season, that is even more true. However much we love the holidays, it leaves most of us with packed schedules and little time to prepare a meal for ourselves and our families, even when there’s not something special going on like a new baby, an illness, or a party. And as you’ve been learning all year, your Cooper-Young Community Association membership has more to offer than just supporting the mission of making Cooper-Young a safer and more desirable place to live, worship, work, and play. It can get you a discount on that meal that you pick up on the way home!

Fork It Over Catering at 2299 Young Avenue offers a 5% discount on any in-store food purchase when a CYCA membership card is presented. Perfect! Michelle Campbell, owner of Fork It Over, told me, “I am a firm believer that you should support the community that you are in. This community is very supportive of small, local businesses. It is a close-knit community with people who take great pride in where they live and who they are.”

She describes Fork It Over as a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to food. If you are not acquainted with Fork It Over, they provide prepared meals that are ready to heat and eat. Their menu, offering four entrées and six side dishes, changes weekly and is updated every week on their website, forkitovercatering.com. They carry frozen entrées, casseroles, and appetizers in their freezer case. They can cater large parties (think weddings or business cocktail parties) or small book club dinners at home. Catering menus are also on the website. As you head into the holiday season, think about Fork It Over for Christmas and New Year’s parties. They do fried turkeys, spiral hams, and all the fixin’s. In addition to being a membership sponsor, Fork It Over has provided food for CYCA events like the Art for Art’s Sake Auction art preview. So show your thanks for their support by supporting Fork It Over!

Now back to that holiday season. Part of what keeps us so busy during the holidays is, let’s be honest, holiday shopping. Keep it simple this season by shopping close to home. You will be supporting your neighborhood businesses, and at Burke’s Books that CYCA membership card gets you a discount again. Burke’s Books is at 936 South Cooper, and CYCA members get a 10% discount. Owner Cheryl Mesler says that after living in the neighborhood for nearly 20 years, she and husband Corey jumped at the chance to move Burke’s from Poplar Avenue to CY when the opportunity came up. They love the foot traffic in the neighborhood, which encourages patrons from other businesses and restaurants to come in and browse. Browsing at Burke’s Books is encouraged! The Meslers are especially excited about the new coffee-table book Memphians, which features over 200 notable Memphians (including some from Cooper-Young). Stop by Burke’s Books and let the staff show you the new book or maybe buy the Tsunami cookbook or the Cooper-Young history book as a Christmas gift for a friend or neighbor. Shop and give local this year and remember to thank Burke’s Books for being a CYCA sponsor when you go in.

The membership year is ending but a new one is right around the corner. If you are a CYCA member, you will be seeing a membership renewal in your mailbox soon. Please renew to support the unique things happening in this neighborhood. If you are not a member, consider joining us in 2012. You not only receive great discounts like the ones at Burke’s Books and Fork It Over Catering, but you will be supporting the Community Association whose mission is to make Cooper-Young a more desirable place to live, worship, work, and play. You can join by visiting us online at cooperyoung.org, by filling out the membership form on page ? of this paper, or by contacting our office at 2298 Young Ave or 901-272-2922. Thank you for your support!

By June Hurt

This time last year, I asked for a few good souls that were blessed with the means to consider showing their support for the LampLighter in a tangible way. By making a one time donation of $60 or more or a monthly donation of $5 or more, they could become a LampLighter Benefactor and be listed as such in every issue. I am pleased to say that 23 families and individuals responded to that request, and helped supplement our decreasing advertising sales, helping us continue to produce the LampLighter at the same quality and frequency another year.

As much as I would have loved for the local economy to recover and for businesses to be in a better position to show their support by purchasing more ads, I’m sorry to say that the outlook for 2012 remains the same. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I’m asking again for your support. We have already gotten commitments from some of the existing LampLighter Benefactors to continue their support, and I hope that others decide to continue also. There’s always room for more!

If you would like to become a LampLighter Benefactor or are choosing to continue to be one, you can go to cooperyoung.org and click on the LampLighter Benefactor link under Membership and Gifts.

By Debbie Sowell

Mark your calendars! Tuesday, December 13 is the day when all your hard work will be rewarded. We have lots to celebrate at the end of another year. Did you read the article about our year in review on page ? We have been busy and could not have accomplished anything if not for our dedicated residents always ready to step up and make things happen.

This holiday party and volunteer appreciation extravaganza will take place from 6-8pm at The Stone Soup Café & Market (993 S. Cooper). Fork It Over Catering will be there with bells on to serve up their best eats, and Stone Soup will provide the desserts. In addition, the Alexia Hampton Memorial Award will be presented to the volunteer who has gone above and beyond in their service to Cooper-Young and the CYCA this year.

So come one, come all and enjoy one another’s company. If you have volunteered in CY in any way, this party if for you. If you want to get involved in CY, this party is for you. If you want to get to know your neighbors, this party is for you. All are welcome. See you there.

By June Hurt

It’s that time of year again! Time for you to take a few hours off from the holiday hustle and bustle and help us get our CYCA 2012 Membership Renewal Letters out to the residents! As most of you are aware, CYCA Memberships expire at the end of the year, so renewals need to go out in December while everyone is in the giving spirit!

Come on down to the CYCA Office on Saturday, December 17 from 9am to noon to help us stuff, stamp, seal, and sort about 1,600 envelopes. As always, we will temp you with goodies and drinks. This will be a fun time to hang out with your neighbors, so come on down. Anything is better than fighting the holiday crowds!

By Emily Bishop and Jason Word

Every December the Cooper-Young Community Association celebrates the holidays by throwing a party for the community to honor the volunteers who work hard all year. This year, the party will be held at The Stone Soup Café and Market (see the article on page ??) on Tuesday, December 13. Everyone is welcome to stop by, enjoy refreshments, and visit with your neighbors. Below are some highlights of the work that CYCA volunteers made happen in 2011.

2011 HIGHLIGHTS

Membership Drive – The benefits of CYCA membership just keep growing. Great discounts to local businesses make it smart to support the CYCA, so join early and start saving.

CYCA recovers from fire – The CYCA office building suffered from a fire in 2010 but celebrated the improvements after repairs with an office warming party in January 2011. The building is home to two businesses in addition to the community office; Charmed, a consignment clothing store, and soon to open Shoenistas, a women’s shoe store.

CERT training – Volunteers spent two Saturdays learning skills for when the next emergency happens. Preparing for the next wind storm, ice storm, earthquake, or unexpected emergency is more fun when you do it with your neighbors.

Smallest User competition – Cooper-Young and Evergreen competed to see who could lower their energy consumption the most. CY won the competition and both communities celebrated the fun rivalry at a party on February 1 at the Playhouse on the Square.

Pet Safety Week – On a Sunday afternoon in March pet owners gathered with their pets at the dog park to talk to experts on animal care, safety, health, and training and to meet new friends.

Art for Art’s Sake Auction – This annual event, hosted at Young Avenue Deli, celebrates the talents of our local artists and raises funds for the CYCA and the Trestle Art.

CY Community Yard Sale – Spring brings out the bargain hunters and those looking to make some extra cash. The neighborhood-wide, annual yard sale in May is always a big hit.

Parallel Lives – The first art show was held in the CYCA offices in May and June. The work of Paula Kovarik and Jean Holmgren delighted everyone and transformed the office space into a gallery.

LampLighter - All year long volunteers put in countless hours to produce and deliver the LampLighter to your doorstep and online for your enjoyment and information.

Neighborhood clean ups – At least 4 times a year the Beautification Committee organizes clean ups in the community to keep us looking good.

CY Festival Friday 4 Miler and Festival booth – The 20^th running of the 4 Miler had over 2000 runners. Mayor Wharton started the race while neighbors competed to throw the most spirited Light the Way party along the race route. The CYCA Festival booth sold posters, t-shirts, history books, and more while welcoming visitors to CY for the busiest day of the year.

Pop-Tab-Palooza – CYers collected pop tabs for St Jude in a fun competition for a good cause.

Neighborhood Night Out – The CY community celebrated safety and had fun catching up with neighbors on October 11. Block captains helped organize parties and get info to our residents.

CY Regional Beerfest – The Beerfest in October doubled in size in just its second year. This event is now a much anticipated CY tradition.

Halloween safety and fun – Signs were posted to remind trick-or-treaters to be safe while having fun. Neighbors joined the festivities by decorating their yards in hope of winning the coveted Great Pumpkin Award.

St Jude Marathon Aid Station – We cheered on the runners and handed out water along with a warm CY welcome.

CY Holiday and Volunteer Thank You Party – The CYCA Board of Directors host this party for the entire community to honor the volunteers who work hard all year.

Holiday snack bags – Volunteers drop off homemade goods or pre-packaged snacks for the police and firefighters who work the night shift on Christmas Eve.

PLANNING FOR 2012

The CYCA Board of Directors will hold their annual retreat on January 21, 2012. This is the

time when the volunteer board looks back at what our organization has accomplished and

makes plans for our new goals.

INCOME

Events – Festival Friday 4 Miler, Art Auction, Beerfest, Festival booth, Smallest User competition, CY history book sales

LampLighter – ad sales, email sponsorships, LampLighter Benefactors

Memberships and donations

Building – rent from the two commercial spaces

Programs/Projects – beautification, UOM grant

EXPENSES

Events – Festival Friday 4 Miler, Art Auction, Beerfest, Festival booth, Smallest User competition

LampLighter – printing, management, production, online support/hosting

Membership and donations – campaign supplies

Building – taxes, insurance, maintenance

Programs/Projects – Trestle Art, Neighborhood Night Out

Community Director – part-time wages and benefits

Office – postage, supplies

2011 TOTAL INCOME – $137,172.35*

70% Events – 96,360.70

16% LampLighter – 21,928.00

6% Membership/Donations – 8,568.65

6% Building – 7,775.00

2% Programs/Projects – 2,540.00

2011 TOTAL EXPENSES – $103,179.09*

31% Events – 32,169.89

26% LampLighter – 26,507.63

0% Membership, donations – 119.99

24% Building – 24,577.83

3% Programs/Projects – 2,608.67

15% Community Director – 15,509.52

2% Office – 1,685.56

*Totals as of 11/16/2011

The mortgage balance is currently $103,335

By Suzzane Striker

Soon you will find a flyer on your door asking for donations for the annual Cooper-Young Thanksgiving Food Drive. 1^st Congregational Church’s Loaves and Fishes food pantry (located at Cooper and Walker) needs our help. Like all such pantries in these difficult times, the Loaves and Fishes food pantry is experiencing an increase in those who need their services and a decrease in donations.

What makes the Loaves and Fishes food pantry distinct from other pantries is that it provides assistance to residents who live right here in Cooper-Young, Idlewild, and surrounding areas. What would be a simple trip to MIFA for most of us can be a complicated ordeal for those who lack transportation. These individuals have to ride the bus and then carry food bags back home on a bus. For those who are struggling with health issues or who have small children in tow, the trip is even more daunting. Once a month, members of 1^st Congo Church help local residents get to the Loaves and Fishes pantry to pick up food and then take them home.

The church serves hot meals on Sunday, and on Tuesday and Thursday they serve hot lunch and snacks. Many kids stop by on their way home from school. For some a late lunch is also their dinner. People can also pick up emergency staples to carry them over until they can come to the monthly grocery shopping Sunday. These services are why having a local community food pantry is so important and why our CY food drive is so essential for the pantry, especially with the upcoming holidays.

Remember, recipients of food from Loaves and Fishes are our neighbors. Some have become victims of layoffs, some are single parents who work hard but can’t make ends meet, some live on fixed incomes, and some are dealing with unexpected, serious medical issues. Anyone in our neighborhood can use the services at the pantry in a time of need.

All donations, monetary or non-perishable foods, are welcome, but the pantry is in particular need of Vienna sausages, fruit juices, and individually wrapped snacks. The Thanksgiving Food Drive will be held Saturday, November 19, from 9 to 10am. If you would like to make a donation and/or help deliver flyers or pick up donations the day of the food drive, please contact Suzzane Striker at suzzanes@comcast.net or phone 901-276-6450.