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 Barb Elder

While our cover story this month features the Cooper-Young Community Farmers Market and their recent decision to operate year-round, we also want to acknowledge a group that has been working in CY providing fresh winter farm products for some time.

Four years ago, Ben Smith of Tsunami restaurant invited a group of Memphis Farmers Market vendors to extend their season by selling their wares in his parking lot. As a result, the Tsunami Winter Market was born. This November the Tsunami Winter Market is gearing up once again to offer farm fresh meats, fish, cheeses, eggs, veggies, preserves, breads, and even natural soaps in the Tsunami parking lot located at 928 S. Cooper. The market will be open for business every Saturday from 9am-1pm beginning on November 5 and continuing into April until the Memphis Farmers Market resumes.

Since its inception, the Tsunami Winter Market has remained a loosely organized group headed by Van Cheeseman of Flora Gardens. Van is happy to be involved with the Winter Market as it helps promote Tsunami restaurant and all that Ben Smith has done to shape the Memphis food world.

Most of the farmers represented at the market grow their produce using cold frames, which allows them to harvest produce year round. Many vendors come to the market on a weekly basis, but some rotate through every other week. If you have questions about the Tsunami Winter Market or if you would like to sign up for their newsletter, which includes a complete list of vendors from week to week, email Van Cheeseman at vanlee2001@yahoo.com. And while you’re at it, take a minute this Thanksgiving to realize how truly blessed we are to have two great markets in our very own neighborhood.

CYCA Safety Meeting
Monday, November 7, 7pm
2298 Young Ave.
Interested in making CY a safer place? Join the Safety Committee and have an impact!

November CYCA General Meeting
Tuesday, November 8
2298 Young Ave.
Doors open at 6pm, meeting from 6:30-7:30pm
Please come learn more about the 2011 Alley Research grant received by the CYCA from Strengthening Communities. Resident input is vital to the success of this project, and your opinion matters!

CYCA Membership Meeting
Tuesday, November 8, 7:30pm
2298 Young Ave.

Photos with Santa at the gazebo
Tuesday, November 15, 5:30-6:45pm
Gazebo at Cooper and Young
Pay a small fee to have your photo taken with Santa as a fundraiser for mural projects in the neighborhood.

CYCA Board Meeting
Tuesday, November 15, 7pm
2298 Young Ave.

CYCA Beautification Meeting
Monday, November 28, 6pm
2298 Young Ave.
Anyone wishing to make the neighborhood a cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing place is welcome to attend.

By Donna Padgett Bowers

Donna Padgett Bowers was asked to tell the LampLighter a little about Painted Planet and Healing Planet as well as her feelings about Cooper-Young and being a CYCA Membership Sponsor (if you are a CYCA member, Donna will give you a 25% jewelry discount on regularly priced items every time you show your card). Here was her response.

Painted Planet has been in business for almost ten years and started right here in Cooper-Young at the corner of Cooper and Vinton. I don’t believe there is another retail store anywhere around where you can get better art, gifts, and jewelry, or get it at better prices with friendlier service than at Painted Planet. We have layaway and gift wrapping, and we will customize and repair your jewelry. Plus, we’re right here in your neighborhood, within walking distance for most of you.

We support the CYCA because we love them and appreciate all they do in this community. We love being a part of this wonderful neighborhood and seeing familiar faces in our gallery. I have actually watched some of your children grow up and feel like many of you are family rather than patrons.

ABOUT PAINTED PLANET

Painted Planet offers many things to its friends and patrons. We offer colorful, affordable art, unique gifts, and beautiful, handmade jewelry. But we’re so much more than that! We offer art openings each month, and during those openings we provide great food and live music in addition to great art. Our events are always free and everyone is invited. On the second and fourth Saturday nights each month from 8-10pm we offer something called Saturday Night Live at the Planet where selected artists paint live and there’s live music too. It’s held in the fenced-in, private performance area behind the Planet (located at 798 S. Cooper). Folks can bring their kids, their coolers, and their lawn chairs and enjoy live art and music under the stars! We also offer art classes and are getting ready to start again soon with artist/teacher Tonya Angel, one of Painted Planet’s favorite acrylic artists. The upcoming classes will be posted on our Painted Planet Artspace Facebook page.

We have two events coming up that we would like to invite the community to. For This We Give Thanks is our November opening on Friday, November 4 from 8-10pm. Our gallery artists and many local artists have created paintings showing what they are most thankful for. It will be a great Thanksgiving Show with great art, holiday food, and live music. It is free and just in time to get you excited about the holidays. Then on Friday, December 2 from 8-10pm we’ll be showcasing the work of Greg Bowden and Jeff Forbes in Two Men with Paint. Greg is our top selling artist, and his work has been featured all over Cooper-Young. Many folks in CY will also remember Jeff, who was my curator for years when we were located on Young.

ABOUT HEALING PLANET

A few years into our business I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and during that challenging time my artists loved, supported, and helped me survive it. I knew I had to do the same for others. Healing Planet – Cancer Ministry was born out of the desire to bless others challenged by cancer. If you go on HYPERLINK “http://www.paintedplanetart.com/”paintedplanetart.com and click on Healing Planet, you can read the whole story of how and why the cancer ministry was started.

As a part of Healing Planet we offer Spa Night on the second Monday each month. We serve a healthy dinner at 6:30pm (sometimes including a nutrition demo) and Spa Night starts at 7pm. The event is free. As soon as women arrive, they sign up for whatever services they want including reflexology, facials, brows, manicures, pedicures, paraffin treatments, foot baths, hand and foot massage, full body massage, spot massage, chair massage, personal training, yoga, nutritional instruction, and prayer. Though we are a Christian ministry, we do not discriminate in any way. No one is asked what their beliefs are, and no one has to participate in prayer if they choose not to.

It’s funny how in the beginning, Healing Planet was just about the pampering and the free services we offer. But now many women come but don’t even get “pampered” by our caregivers. They come for the fellowship, the encouragement, and the prayer. It’s such a blessing to experience what goes on at Spa Night; seeing how these precious women interact with each other, how they touch each other with their words of encouragement, their heartfelt prayers, and their empathy – empathy that can only come from someone who’s been where you are. Some of these women are in total remission, some are newly diagnosed, some are in chemo and radiation now, some have been given little more than a death sentence by their doctors, and some have even left their hospice nurses at home to attend. We’re all at different places on that same road to healing, whether it will be an earthly or heavenly healing. We are all survivors and victors in our own way!

We also are a host site for Look Good Feel Better for the American Cancer Society. This service offers free makeup and healthy beauty products to women who are undergoing chemo and radiation for cancer. At one time Painted Planet was the only host site that was not a doctor’s office or hospital. Our Healing Planet schedule is posted on our Healing Planet – Cancer Ministry Facebook page.

Our top selling artist, Greg Bowden, has created paintings and subsequent prints to raise money for Healing Planet in the past. Recently, Greg brought in his newest creation. The painting is called Resounding Hope, and you can see it on Painted Planet’s Facebook wall. Prints of this painting will be sold during the year to raise money for Healing Planet, which helps us significantly.

After business expenses are paid, the rest of the money we earn goes to Healing Planet. For the last few years there’s not been enough to cover expenses. In response, I’ve sold my personal possessions just to keep the doors open. I have never received one penny in salary or personal compensation. This is totally a labor of love, but with financial times like they are right now, it’s challenging to say the least. We desperately need Cooper-Young residents to embrace us as we embrace them.

I hope with Christmas around the corner, everyone in Cooper-Young will check us out. You will not only find great holiday gifts, but you will have the added satisfaction of knowing that your dollars have blessed women challenged by disease. We welcome your business, and we promise to continue to serve you and this community! For more info about Painted Planet/Healing Planet, check out HYPERLINK “http://www.paintedplanetart.com/”paintedplanetart.com or search on Facebook for Painted Planet Artspace or Healing Planet – Cancer Ministry. You can also email us at HYPERLINK “mailto:paintedplanet@bellsouth.net”paintedplanet@bellsouth.net or call us at 901-725-0054.

Opportunity to give to the Memphis Food Bank
By Pat Mitchell Worley

Little Helpers, a children’s volunteer organization, will be in Cooper-Young on Saturday, October 29, from 11am-12:30pm. The kids (ages 2 to tween) will travel our streets in their Halloween costumes collecting food for the Memphis Food Bank for their monthly service activity. Please prepare and give as generously as you are able.

Making strides against breast cancer
By Stephanie Wilson Nichols

The American Cancer Society’s 11th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K of Memphis will be held on October 15 at Laurelwood Shopping Center at the corner of Poplar and Perkins Extended. This inspiring, noncompetitive 5K walk unites the entire community to honor and celebrate breast cancer survivors, educate women about the importance of early detection and prevention, and raise money to fund life-saving research and support programs to further our progress against this disease.

Community members are invited to be part of Memphis’ Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. There is no pre-registration or registration fee. Donations are strongly encouraged. Registration begins at 7am and the walk begins at 8am. To form a team or learn about how you can participate in this family friendly walk, contact the American Cancer Society at 901-278-2091 or visit MakingStridesMemphis.org. Through events like Making Strides Against Breast Cancer the American Cancer Society is saving lives and creating a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays.

CY Community Farmers Market updates
By Barb Elder

In case you are like me and never carry cash, don’t let that stop you from getting fresh foods at the CY Community Farmers Market! According to their weekly newsletter (and my personal experience) “every Saturday, friendly staff members are standing by at our market information booth to assist you with credit, debit, and SNAP card transactions. Swipe your card, get a receipt, and get market tokens to spend with our vendors.” In addition, neighbors with SNAP benefits can get more for their money thanks to a new matching funds program called Double Green$. If you would like to learn more, drop by the market information booth.

And the good news just keeps on coming. The Memphis Flyer recently reported that the Board of the CY Community Farmers Market has decided that the market will remain open year round in their effort to provide fresh produce to the people in this area of the city. So keep those Saturday morning plans loose so that you can drop by and do a little shopping this winter.

News affecting upcoming Memphis elections
By Dee Nollner

Beginning January 1, 2012 registered voters will need a photo ID in order to vote. The first election after that date will be the Presidential Preference and County Primary on March 6, 2012. A TN driver’s license with photo is sufficient; even an expired photo license from another state will meet the requirement for registered voters. Any state or Federal government photo ID will be accepted, but student or local government ID will not be accepted. Registered voters over 60 who do not have a photo driver’s license can take the license to a Driver’s License location and have a photo applied. The 3200 East Shelby Drive location, south of the airport between Airways and Getwell, might be the most comfortable. Call 901-543-7920 for additional information.

Dee Nollner is the Shelby County Election Commissioner.

New food options coming to Cooper Street
By Barb Elder

More change is on its way to 940 South Cooper. This location, formerly filled by Grace and Au Fond Farm Table, is being transformed into a new restaurant called Alchemy. Perhaps some of you saw their sign out during the CY Festival with a sample menu scrolled across the window (Irish car bomb bread pudding and Parmigiano Reggiano French toast just to name a few of their tempting items). The opening date is unclear, but you can follow them on Facebook for the most up-to-date information.

Artisans on a mission
By Steve Garcia

In 2006, some members of St. John’s United Methodist Church (1207 Peabody Ave.) were having lunch, and one of them remarked that their congregation seemed to have an unusually large number of talented artists/crafters. One Sunday a few weeks later, their senior pastor at the time offered the following words from Frederick Buechner: “Vocation is where our greatest joy meets the world’s greatest need.” In other words, there are many ways to minister and effect change in the world, even through something like painting or knitting.

Soon after, a group of artists (painters, knitters, quilters, jewelry-makers, etc.) came together and called themselves Artisans on a Mission (stjohnsmidtown.org/artisansonamission). Their goal is to channel their artistic passions toward serving our community. As an organized group, they set up a booth annually at the Cooper-Young Festival to sell their artwork and handcrafted items. The money they make is applied toward various service projects. Artisans on a Mission is open to all members of the community. For more information or to join in, please call 901-726-4104 or visit the church’s website at stjohnsmidtown.org.

Newest addition to the Palladio Group
By Tamara Cook

The Palladio Group has just opened its newest shop, The WaterWorks Annex. The Annex, located at the corner of Central and Cox, showcases smaller items for the garden. The store has a large assortment of both glazed and clay pots, antique and new urns, garden statuary, bird feeders, as well as wild bird feed. A fenced courtyard which faces Central displays a large inventory of fountains. The Annex is open Monday through Saturday, 10am until 5pm at 2231 Central Avenue.

The Annex is a welcome addition to The Palladio Group’s ever growing collection of shops, gallery, and studio, which includes: Palladio - 2169 Central; Market Central - 2215 Central; Gallery Fifty Six - 2256 Central; WaterWorks – 741 South Cox; The WaterWorks Annex – 2231 Central; Architectural Arts – 749 South Cox; Café Palladio - 2169 Central; Memphis Art Factory - 777 South Cox; and Crafted Classic – 2215 Central. For more information, call 901-276-3808 or visit them online at thepalladiogroup.com.

David Perry Smith Gallery October show
By Barb Elder

In a recent press release, David Perry Smith Gallery announced the opening of their new show called summariness’ end that features new work from artists Alex Walter, Brad Robertson, Martica Griffin, Mary Long-Postal, and John Sadowski. The opening reception is to be held Friday, September 30, from 5-8pm, and the show will be available for viewing September 26 thru October 29. David Perry Smith Gallery is located at 703 New York, and gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 10am-5pm. For more information go to davidperrysmithgallery.com or call 901-606-9690

Clark Butcher and Robert Taylor, co-owners

By Julia Steffen

When it opens its door in mid-October, the Victory Bicycle Studio will be a bicycle studio like Memphis has never seen before. The new location on Broad Avenue will feature not only the quality bicycles and high-end service that Victory’s customer’s have come to expect, but also exceptional full-service bike maintenance, bicycle maintenance classes, and fitness classes four mornings a week.

The store carries bikes in all price ranges and services for all fitness levels. “We have bicycles starting at $400 and offer free bike maintenance classes to bike buyers,” notes co-owner Clark Butcher. “We are here to match you with the right bike that is going to work for you.”

What sets the store apart from other local stores is the owners’ combined 30 years of experience and their dedication to providing each customer with the precision-centered attention that will get them on their bikes and prepared for optimum performance. Owners, Robert Taylor and Clark Butcher, are also committed to timely and masterful repair services. “Our maintenance team is dedicated to high quality, fast turn-around work. Our job is to keep you on your bike, not off it,” Butcher says.

The Broad Avenue location, directly on the Shelby Farms Greenline, is five times larger than the old location in Cooper-Young and will hold more bikes and allow for more activities. The larger space will allow the store to hold on-site fitness classes to help riders reach and maintain performance fitness levels. “Victory is a full-service bicycle studio,” Butcher stresses. “We aim to help local riders meet and surpass their fitness goals.

“Our primary focus is still fitting the customer to the correct bike,” Butcher adds. “Victory Bicycle Studio offers specialized fitting, so our customers leave the shop knowing that their bike is matched to them perfectly and will provide the most comfortable and efficient rides.”

Victory’s new location along the Shelby Farms Greenline also allows convenient, safe access to the pedestrian bridge that will connect the Greenline to Overton Park.

Victory Bicycle Studio carries Orbea, Eddy Merckx, and Kona Bicycles as well as boutique items not found in typical bike stores. The Victory Bicycle Studio staff can be contacted by phone at 901-746-8466 or at the new location on 2549 Broad. Visit Victory online at victorybicyclestudio.com.

By Dalila Early

For a Reggio teacher, the most commonly asked question is not “What are your views on education?” or “How do you teach math?” or even “Do you give standardized tests?” The most asked question is “Who is Reggio Emilia?” The truth is Reggio Emilia is not a person, but a place – a city in northern Italy.

After the destruction of World War II, the citizens of Reggio Emilia decided that a new approach to early childhood education was necessary. Families worked together not only to physically build schools, but also to develop a philosophy based on an emergent curriculum where children learn by becoming part of their world through direct experiences, relationships, and exploration. They also believed that the children would develop as individuals through respect, responsibility, and following their own interests. This innovative approach stressed that a child’s education is in the hands of the child, and that teachers are present not to teach, but to facilitate the child’s learning.

A Reggio education occurs through questions. Information is not given by teachers, but rather discovered by students. Teachers step in when a child truly cannot either perform a specific skill, or cannot find answers after much investigation. When a child asks “Why?” the Reggio teacher answers with the question “What do you think?” Children then have to look inside themselves for answers; in other words, they have to think. They form their own opinions and theories, and come to their own conclusions. This is true learning, and is the heart of the Reggio philosophy.

This approach is only possible if one trusts in the fact that children are innately curious and eager to learn. Following the interests of the child through project based curriculum, children learn math, science, social studies, art, language arts, movement, and music in a more in depth manner. As a Reggio Emilia teacher, this is proven to me every day at the Natural Learning School. Whether it is a baby watching leaves falling from the trees, preschoolers mixing colors for the first time, or an elementary student researching and finding the answer to the all-important question “How does an airplane stay in the sky?” our teachers have the privilege of being a part of discovery every day.

Located in the heart of the Cooper-Young at 1992 Nelson Ave, the Natural Learning School is the best kept secret in town providing a child centered, project base, Reggio inspired education for children 1 year to 11 years old. For more information check our website at naturallearningschool.com.

By Renée Massey

In Cooper-Young and around Memphis, we’re finally getting some relief from the intense heat of the recent summer months. As the weather cools and autumn festivities get underway, many of us start thinking about and planning for the holidays. When you visit family in far-away places, will your pets be going with you? If Fido pants, paces, and whines or Fluffy howls and hisses in the car, you may have second thoughts about taking your beloved furry family member on a long trip. Many of our pets are happy travelers, but others need the comfort and security of their own environment. If your furry friend is happier at home, but you plan on traveling this fall or during the holidays, your Cooper-Young Community Association membership can save you some cash, and I’ll tell you how.

Mr. Scruff’s Pet Care offers CYCA members a 15% discount on the purchase of a package of 24 TLC visits. But what if you don’t need 24 visits? When I recently asked Eileen Castine of Mr. Scruff’s Pet Care about her CYCA sponsorship, she said she can even deduct a smaller percentage for those of us who only need a few visits per year or per month. So whether you need pet care while you’re out of town, when you’re working long hours and can’t get home for a pet potty break, or if you need someone to look in on an elderly pet during the normal work day, your CYCA membership can help save money on this service.

When asked why Mr. Scruff’s Pet Care is a CYCA membership sponsor, Eileen told me that she wants to contribute to making Cooper-Young a good place to live. That goes right along with the CYCA mission! Eileen keeps a busy schedule, and the sponsorship allows her to contribute to Cooper-Young even when she doesn’t have enough time to volunteer. She said, “I love living here because Cooper-Young is a vibrant, creative, caring, and diverse neighborhood, filled with people who are always looking for ways to celebrate and better our community and beyond. I feel at home here.” Eileen told me that being a membership sponsor has positively impacted her business because it gives Mr. Scruff’s Pet Care visibility. Community members know who to call when they need home care, even if that is some time in the future. She expressed how rewarding it has been serving our area and meeting caring pet guardians and their furry family members. Because Eileen’s business offers the kind of love and care that comes with knowing pets are family, Mr. Scruff’s Pet Care is very busy during the holidays. If you will need Mr. Scruff’s Pet Care this holiday season, be sure to contact them soon to ensure they will have availability for your pet. Mr. Scruff’s can be reached at 901-725-9216, on the web at mrscruff.net, or on Facebook.

Speaking of pets, puppies to be exact, another of our CYCA membership sponsors has the goods to hush your puppies. Along with increasingly famous fried catfish, po’ boys, and fresh vegetables, Soul Fish Café at 862 South Cooper has some of the best hushpuppies in the South. (And where else are you going to get hushpuppies?) Soul Fish Café generously offers CYCA members one complimentary lunch or dinner entrée (up to $7) when a second lunch or dinner entrée of equal or greater value is purchased. Sweet! Oh, and speaking of sweet, did I mention that Soul Fish also has great desserts? The word “popular” does not begin to touch the demand for Soul Fish’s food, and the wait that can be seen outside the restaurant on almost any night will attest to this fact. So if your dogs are barking, take your CYCA membership card to Soul Fish Café and ask them for some hushpuppies with your entrées.

If you’re not yet a member of the CYCA, there is no better time than now to support the special things happening in this neighborhood. Join the CYCA online at cooperyoung.org, in person at 2298 Young Avenue, or by telephone at 901-272-2922. Your dues are your ticket to the membership card that wins you discounts at local businesses like Mr. Scruff’s Pet Care and Soul Fish Café. Check them out today, and be sure to thank them for sponsoring the organization whose entire mission is to make Cooper-Young a safer and more desirable place to live, worship, work (while your pets are being looked after), and play (like eating at great local restaurants)!

Press Release from Memphis Drum Shop:

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jim Pettit, Owner
Memphis Drum Shop
878 South Cooper Street
Memphis, TN 38104
901.276.2328

LifeQuest Benefit

The LifeQuest Benefit Concert, sponsored by Memphis Drum Shop and the Scott Nelson Pettit Foundation, will be presented on Friday, November 4, 2011, at 7 P.M. in Stauffer Hall at Lindenwood Christian Church, 2400 Union Avenue, on the corner of Union and East Parkway.

Prior to the show drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and dessert will be served in the Grand Foyer at 6:00 P.M.

The Memphis Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece big band, will provide the Music with featured vocalists JoJo Jefferies, Tom Prestigiacomo, Marcella Pinilla, and Doug Saleeby.  Tickets are $35 and are on sale until November 2 at Memphis Drum Shop at 878 South Cooper, 901.276.2328. or online at www.memphisdrumshop.com.