By Kara Chamberlain

Cooper-Young is making news. The newly coined CY Jabberwocky is a list of events in or about CY that other media found interesting and buzzed about.

House of Mews stays

John Giannini, founder and CEO of Memphis-based information and technology firm Service Assurance, made a long-term financial agreement with the House of Mews. The nonprofit cat adoption agency has struggled financially, but thanks to Giannini and Kelli Mitchell the House of Mews is here to stay.

Zoning meeting fills school

Residents of Midtown show up in force to back new planning district. 100 Midtowners filled the Peabody Elementary Cafeteria on June 17th to discuss the changes involved in the new zoning districts. The Q&A session explained some of the changes that will make commercial districts more appealing to pedestrians and bikers. Two more meetings will be held before July 8th.

Art at LeBonheur

The new LeBonheur Hospital features artwork by CY artists Jeanne Seagall and Yvonne Bobo. LeBonheur held an opening celebration on June 15th. LeBonheur’s new location is at 50 N. Dunlap.

Pie for sale

Cooper-Young’s Pie Factory condos hit the auction block in July. J.P. King Auction Co. Inc. is auctioning off the property’s 18 remaining lofts on July 24th at 11 am. The condos are located at the former Keathley Pie Factory on Young and are currently listed from $110,000 to $135,000.

Bike path signage survey

Pat Faundree is recruiting volunteers to help assist in the bike tours. One of the main problems that the City Council faces with the routes is missing signs. Pat also encourages residents to keep pressure on city council to make sure that bike facilities are included in the next round of repaving. Contact Pat Faundree if you are interested in volunteering at patfaindree@yahoo.com.

CYCA booth at July 10th market

Stop by the community association’s booth at the Cooper-Young Community Farmers Market on July 10th. The CYC Farmers Market is 8 am to1 pm on Saturdays. We will have information about the Smallest User Competition and items for purchase such as “Life is good in CY” koozies and other CY gear.

Summit at First Congo

The Neighborhood Community Action Summit is meeting at First Congregational Church (1000 South Cooper St.) on Wednesday, July 14th at 6:30 pm. The meeting will focus on the Issues First Campaign, which covers awareness and promotes advocacy over issues pertaining to health, poverty, jobs, crime, and violence in Memphis. For more information contact Ivy Thompson of the Mid South Peace & Justice Center at 901-725-4990.

Calling all couch potatoes

Training for the Cooper-Young Fesitival Friday 4-Miler is just around the corner. Star Runners will lead a group called Couch to 4-Milers which meets Mondays and Wednesdays at 6 am, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 pm, and Saturdays at 8 am. The group begins at Inbalance on weekdays and Saturday runs change locations each week. For more information call 901-461-2049 or send an email to stars1472@hotmail.com.

Otherlands July music line-up

Saturday, July 10th: Holly & the Memphis Dawls. Americana vocal trio featuring Holly Cole on guitar, Jana Misener (Giant Bear) on cello, and Krista Wroten (Yazoo Shakes) on violin and accordion.

Tuesday, July 13th: Will Kimbrough, with Blair Combest. Will is a popular singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer who made his national debut with Will & The Bushmen.

Saturday, July 17th: Black Max, a whimsical cabaret folk and vaudeville act, featuring a rotating cast of stellar Memphis musicians.

Sunday, July 18th: Star & Micey, a swirling mix of acoustic folk and blue eyed soul.

Saturday, July 24th: Cotton and Coal, fronted by Southern Illinois transplant (via Los Angeles), songwriter and crooner Caleb Sweazy, the band features members of the Memphis Hepcats and Groundspeak.

Otherlands has live music every Friday and Saturday in a smoke free, all ages environment. See their complete events calendar and food menu at otherlandscoffeebar.com or friend them at facebook.com/otherlands.

BY TAMARA WALKER

On July 14th, 2008, the Cooper-Young Business Association initiated talks with Mary Baker of the Office of Planning and Development and Bill Schaffer of the Memphis City Engineering Office to discuss ways to slow down traffic on Cooper Street. After meeting with Mary and Bill, we asked the ETI Corporation, an Engineering Planning Company, in March of 2009 to design different possible configurations of Cooper Street that would help us make the street more pedestrian friendly and easier for patrons of our area to access, as well.

At first, we thought that we could reduce the four traffic lanes to two traffic lanes and install a median down the middle. The median would act as a landing spot for the patrons between the traffic lanes. Diagonal parking along Cooper Street was another consideration during this first phase. We thought that if we could increase street parking and make it more accessible than we would effectively eliminate some of the residential parking that occurs during the weekends and on weeknights. The diagonal parking would also help slow down traffic because vehicles would be backing into the street.

The Memphis City Engineering Office determined that diagonal parking was not possible, however, due to all the curb cuts along Cooper Street. In addition, the Engineering office wanted to install parking meters, which we thought would drive business to areas of town where parking is more convenient and free (i.e. East Memphis). At this time, we had ETI Corporation design several mock-ups to include existing parallel parking, a median, two traffic lanes, bike lanes and a turn lane down the whole of Cooper Street from Central to Young. This design would slow down traffic, keep a place in the middle where a pedestrian could land, add bike lanes to connect Midtown, and still maintain the current required parallel parking spaces that exist and are needed by business owners.

We were then faced with the physical limitations of Cooper Street starting at the Young intersection. At the intersection, Cooper Street’s width narrows to 40 feet wide as it goes south toward Southern. This made a real challenge opposed to the 60 foot width that runs from the Trestle Art to Young. At this point, it only made sense that the bike lanes would go from dedicated lanes to ride-share lanes at the Young intersection. These ride-share lanes are common all over the Memphis area and certainly the 2 blocks from Young to Southern shouldn’t be a problem. The last design had two traffic lanes, bike lanes (3/4 dedicated, 1/4 shared), a middle turn lane and parallel parking. It was submitted to Engineering in December of 2009, and it is a win-win for all.

I wanted to provide a background on the modification of Cooper Street that has been on our table for the last several years. The Cooper-Young business district with its thriving retail shops, service locations, antique stores and restaurants is in a delicate position when it comes to losing even one parking space, let alone two whole blocks of parking. In this economy, we must do everything to protect the limited parking that we have otherwise we lose our patrons. If we lose our patrons, we lose our shops.

This opportunity to improve Cooper Street will be a positive for our neighborhood. I hope that the all or nothing attitude of some doesn’t put a negative spin on the whole process. It will be a benefit for our residents, our business owners and our patrons regardless of their mode of transportation.

Tamara Walker is the Executive Director for the Cooper-Young Business Association.

Odd Normality is a three piece all original instrumental group that will perform at this month’s First Thursday Night Out in Cooper Young. Band members Adam Biser, Scott Carter and Dwayne Caudill will entertain with their versatile sound that derives from a mix of rock, jazz, funk, classical and a little bluegrass. In addition, some of our talentedarea artists such as Darla Linerode-Henson, Lisa Blake, Chuck Parr, Angie Cooper and representatives of the Memphis Arts Collective will be setup to sell and show their artistic pieces and vintage collectibles. Come as you are and join us to celebrate the best holiday of the summer on July 1 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm with these local musicians and artists.

Cooper Young is home to over 178 independent business owners who offer everything from roofing to tattoos and sushi to French antiques. First Thursday Night Out is when 38 of these independent business owners stay open late, offer discounts and free live music all over the area. With over 18 restaurants and 20 retail/art/antique shops within walking distance, why not spend some time getting to know the hip merchants who make up Cooper Young. You won’t find any big box here just friendly folks offering the best they have at reasonable prices.

Midtown Martial Arts is offering a cool place for the kids to play while the adults are away. Stop at their 2166 Central location and get in on big water slide fun along with hot dogs and drinks. Celtic Crossing has Bob and Susie Salley on the patio starting at 6:30 pm and Jeremy Stanfill at 10:00 pm. Greg Bowden is the featured “live performance artist” at the Painted Planet. Receive a 15% discount on Greg’s work and 50% off all gallery jewelry on this night. Toad Hall Antiques is hosting a catered reception for Memphis Artist, Andrew Prislovsky along with discounts on last minute July 4th decorations as well. It’s buy one, get one free on any single flower, handful of flowers or any flower arrangement at The Enchanted Florist located at 820 South Cooper.

Underground Art welcomes the return of their favorite talent, Nico Roussin, all the way from Paris. He will be in town for the month of July, so don’t miss this opportunity! Its open mic night at Java Cabana and summer FLAX is ready to be picked up at Loudeans. Gallery Fifty-Six, Market Central, Worlds Apart and Memphis Waterworks are all open on this evening offering refreshments while you browse. Au Fond has extended bistro hours with no corkage, bring the kids and sit outside. Café Ole is offering Happy Hour Margaritas all night long on the patio or inside with a DJ starting at 9:00 pm. Inbalance Fitness has half-off group fitness tonight and its 50% off all cat/kitten adoptions at House of Mews. Paint at ArtJAMn and receive $10 off your fun as well as gift certificates. Bring your friends and enjoy this eclectic little hot spot known as Cooper Young.

Tired of hearing about the economy? Me too, but it doesn’t make sense to ignore. It’s hit harder for some than others, and both local and national charity-based operations have taken their licks. There has been recent press in The Commercial Appeal and Memphis Flyer about the House of Mews, run by Elaine Harvey. Located at 933 S. Cooper, the House of Mews has been a CY mainstay for years, saved thousands of cats, and helped place them in forever homes. The house currently homes 95 cats that need placement.

Unfortunately, even with volunteer only staff, the House of Mews has been hit quite hard by the financial downturn. In a May interview in Memphis Flyer, Harvey disclosed that rent alone is $980 a month and expenses for food, litter, and veterinary care can exceed $20,000 annually. Harvey has put her home up for sale to help with the costs.

You can help keep House of Mews in the CY neighborhood by donating financially, or if this is not possible, you can foster one cat should House of Mews be forced to close. The goal, of course, is to keep House of Mews open and running, but a backup plan for the cats’ welfare must be
solidified just in case. So far, 17 people have offered to foster a cat.

For more information on how to donate, go to houseofmews.com or call 901-272-3777. Or stop by, the hours are: Tuesday-Wednesday 1–5 pm, Thursday 6–9 pm, Friday 1–5 pm, Saturday 12–4 pm, Closed on Sunday and Monday.

By: Kyle Wagenschutz

Proudly, Cooper-Young is a neighborhood in Memphis where everything is done a little different. Niche shopping, eclectic dining experiences, and a bustling atmosphere of excitement help make this neighborhood stand out among all others in Memphis. These are a few of the reasons why residents move to this neighborhood, and why local businesses have achieved success.

One of the greatest assets that Cooper-Young has is its ability to support and sustain an active neighborhood where patrons can access storefronts, places of worship, and residences completely by human-powered modes of transportation. Because of the orientation of the storefronts to the sidewalks and the minimal distance between businesses, patrons can easily walk and bike around Cooper-Young enjoying the wide array of retail experiences it has to offer.

It is surprising then, that at a recent public meeting that discussed the future implementation of bicycle lanes along Cooper Street, business interests suggested that bicycle lanes should come to Cooper Street, but not at the expense of removing parking spots for automobiles. The plan presented did maintain parallel parking along Cooper Street from Central Ave. to Young Ave.; however, once the proposed bike lane crossed Young Ave towards Southern Ave, the width of the road no longer allows for both parking and bike lanes to exist.

Since the first automobile was brought to Memphis, city officials have supported zoning ordinances, building codes, and developmental practices that enabled use of the automobiles in our neighborhoods and city. The streetcar system that originally supported the street life and economic vitality in Cooper-Young was removed to make Cooper St friendlier to automobile traffic. This has turned the business district, during daylight hours, into a pass-through intersection where high speeds are the norm and business activity is lacking.

Nearly 25 percent of all automobile trips in the US are within 1 mile from home (a 5 minute bike ride). If this holds true in Cooper-Young, residents fill a quarter of all parking spots now available to patrons. By providing increased safety through the removal of a couple parking spots, businesses can expect an increased traffic flow of local cyclists accompanied by increased pedestrian traffic and parking availability to market their services. Removing parking spaces is not about reducing the number of patrons coming to Cooper-Young, it is about changing the way in which they come. This is the mindset that residents and businesses must have to go forward as transportation changes come to this city.

For the first time since the Memphis Metropolitan Planning Organization adopted its Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan in 2005, the City of Memphis officials are proposing a shift from an auto-centered focus by implementing bicycle lanes inside the city limits. They chose Cooper-Young because of its long standing history to do things differently and its embrace of the public realm where pedestrians and cyclists are welcomed. Many neighborhoods in other cities like St. Louis, MO and Charlotte, NC have realized this potential. This process, however, is not business as usual. It will require residents and businesses alike to take hold of Cooper-Young’s tradition to show Memphis that doing things a little bit differently can yield great success.

Kyle Wagenschutz is the Director of Revolution Community Bicycle Shop.

By Lurene Kelley

Peabody Elementary has been in the heart of this neighborhood long before the community was called “Cooper-Young,” but is the school really in the hearts of CY residents? That’s the question school administrators would like its neighbors and local business owners to answer with a resounding ‘yes’… and some money, ideas, and elbow grease to back it up.

According to the school’s principal, Kongsouly Jones, because Peabody is a desirable optional school, approximately 50 percent of the student body comes from open enrollment. This means that nearly half of the children at Peabody live outside its designated boundaries.

Mandy Grisham, a member of the Peabody Leadership Board, says the first step in giving the school a more neighborhood feel is obvious – have more children who live in and around Cooper-Young enrolled at Peabody. This fall, approximately 10 children from the Cooper-Young Parents Network (CYPN), parents who live in or near the neighborhood, will be enrolled in this year’s kindergarten class (In fact, my own child will be among these kindergartners.)

“Cooper-Young is overflowing with young families who want the best for their children’s’ education. The CYPN currently has 70 members representing over 60 families and over 100 children. Only a handful of these kids are school age,” Grisham says. “If Cooper-Young wants to keep these young families in the neighborhood, education is a key component.”

In the last year, the CYPN has hosted 3 education forums to allow parents to talk candidly about educational decisions. As a result, Grisham says more families are committing early on to sending their children to Peabody. She calls this “a neighborhood, grassroots movement” that she believes will continue to grow.

Grisham claims that the second step in making Peabody an integral part of Cooper-Young is through the involvement of the many individuals who have shops and restaurants in the CY area. Central BBQ owner and Cooper-Young resident, Elizabeth Blondis, is asking fellow CY entrepreneurs to become adopters of Peabody Elementary. This means that businesses like Central BBQ would not only back Peabody with donations of money or goods, but also get involved with the school. For example, a chef from a local restaurant might give lessons to the school’s cooking club or a local artist could help with class projects. “We have so many talented people in Cooper-Young,” says Blondis, “it just makes sense that we use these gifts to make Peabody an even better school.”

You don’t have to be a business owner to lend your talents to the school. The Peabody Leadership Board want everyone to get involved, such as a community garden on the grounds of the elementary school. One that is planted, tended, and harvested by local residents and students.

The Leadership Board recently surveyed the school’s teachers to find out what they believe to be their most pressing needs. The two areas that repeatedly surfaced in the survey were landscaping of the school’s entrance and improvements for the library. Based on feedback from the school administration, building the library’s holdings is a long-term goal that would take an entire year. The school believes, however that the landscaping project could happen relatively quickly. By rallying the support of local business owners and residents, work could begin as early as July.

Grisham believes that the landscaping project could be similar to the KaBoom! playground on the grounds of Peabody, a community effort that involved 200 volunteers building an entire playground in one weekend. Built in 2008, the playground has become an asset to the school and the entire neighborhood. It serves as a gathering spot for community events, and is used regularly by neighborhood children as well.

“If everyone works together, meaning residents, with and without children, and businesses, we make the community more livable. It’s a neighborhood where we walk our children to school, walk to restaurants, promote staying in our community,” says Blondis. This fall, Blondis will walk her own kindergartner to Peabody each morning. It’s a scene reminiscent of simpler times. But, as Blondis points out, it’s not just about re-creating a Norman Rockwell painting. Community investment in Peabody has practical roots. “Even if you don’t have kids, it’s as simple as this. A true, strong neighborhood school raises property values. It makes Cooper-Young an even more desirable place to live.”

These changes take place at a symbolic moment in Peabody’s history. This fall, the school will celebrate its 100^th year. Supporters of more neighborhood involvement believe this historic school could provide an even brighter future for Cooper -Young. “It’s crucial for Cooper-Young residents and businesses to become more involved with Peabody, regardless of whether they have children or not,” says Principal Jones. “These children are the future of our community and education is essential in the development and prosperity of a community. It just makes good sense to invest in something that can only benefit everyone in Cooper-Young.”

If you would like more information about how to become an adopter of Peabody Elementary, contact Elizabeth Blondis at 901-237-6984, or if you would like to join the Cooper-Young Parents’ Network, send a request to cooperyoungparentssubscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Lurene Kelley is a professor of broadcast journalism at the University of Memphis.

By Robert Tom

The vacant Union Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, a historic building on the National Register of Historic Places, sits under a sales contract with CVS Caremark drugstores. CVS Caremark Corp. runs a chain of over 7,000 CVS drugstores throughout the country. Walgreens recently purchased the Ike’s Pharmacy across the street setting up a competitive confrontation. The dilemma arises with the possible demolition of a historic building on the National Register of Historic Places. Nevertheless, many people do not realize that being on the National Register does not prevent destruction, but advocacy and public outrage does. June West, Director of Memphis Heritage says, “Being listed on the register doesn’t guarantee survival. So, many buildings in the Vance-Pontotoc Historic District either burned or were demolished and eventually were taken off the list.” What will be the fate of the Union Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church?

As for the church’s historic significance, architect John Gaisford designed the Union Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church and started building the church in 1916. He died before it was completed. Gaisford wasan English immigrantthat settled in Memphis in 1896. In 1912, Gaisford wrote “How to Build a Church.” The Board of Church Extension of the Methodist Episcopal Church commissioned the book, which included designs for the Methodist Episcopal Church South in Batesville, South in Conway, and 1912 Church in Clarendon. The Union Ave Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the finest existing examples of the Classical Revival style, was one of Gaisford’s last designs. He died on August 31, 1916, and the church architectural design, while minimally ornate, reflected Gaisford’s Classical fondness. The First United Methodist Church was added to the National Register on May 19, 1987. His other Classical Revival buildings included the 1914 Falls Building and the 1912 Mississippi County Courthouse in Osceola, AR. In December 1913, the Memphis Architects’ League held at exhibition at the Nineteen Century Club representing the best architectural buildings in Memphis by its premier architects. Walk C. Jones was the President, John Gaisford became the First Vice President, and George Mahan Jr. became the Second Vice President. Gaisford’s work is displayed in this exhibition. These designs demonstrate Gaisford as a significant Memphis architect of the early twentieth century in the Classical Revival style.

Historic buildings commonly occupy chosen corner sites, like the Union Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church at the corner of Union Avenue and Cooper. Chain drugstores, unfortunately, demolish these historic buildings, replacing them with large, freestanding stores with a vast wasteland of parking, drive-through windows, blank-brick exteriors, bold signage, and one story elevations that directly ignore the existing traditional pedestrian-oriented design. This rubber stamp, generic store design ignores the street scale, which not only results in the destruction of historic buildings, but also destroys a neighborhood’s distinctive sense of place.

Chain drugstores are rapidly adding new stores in traditional downtown and urban neighborhoods throughout the country. Research by the National Trust Mainstreet Center shows that drugstore chains can collaborate in revitalizing older urban neighborhoods. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sees these investments made by chain drugstores where they improve the neighborhood’s character and preserve its historic integrity.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation helps communities to protect historic buildings from this chain drugstore threat. They published Better Models for Chain Drugstores and met with the leaders of the largest drugstore chains, obtaining written commitments from CVS Pharmacy, the former Eckerd company, Rite Aid, and Walgreens prohibiting them from demolishing sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places. By holding these meetings early in the development process, neighborhoods can prevent a major fight exploding at the local level, and it allows the National Trust for Historic Preservation to work with the chain and the community to help find alternatives to the proposed demolition. With the recent adaptive, historic reuse, an opportunity to create a similar occurrence here in Midtown Memphis may simply begin with a dialogue. Memphis Heritage held a neighborhood meeting to discuss the situation with Union Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church building on May 27th, 2010 at Howard Hall, 2282 Madison at Edgeworth. To get an update from the meeting go the Memphis Heritage website: memphisheritage.org.

To view the remodel of the CVS at the Golden Gate Theatre on the National Register visit: http://www.ourla.org/east-la/1549-the-golden-gate-theatres-second-act-becoming-a-cvs-drugstore-updated.

By Tamara Walker

“Working seven days a week is what it takes,” says Steve Stearns, owner of The Enchanted Florist. He goes on to say he has been growing flowers and vegetables on his family’s farm since he was a young boy. And you believe it, all you have to do is look around his shop and smell the crisp aroma of fresh cut flowers. The Enchanted Florist is the newest business member of the Cooper-Young District moving in at 820 South Cooper Street.

Steve has a passion for growing and to me it seems he must have green blood in his veins. He is the only local florist in town that actually grows his own flowers. Steve makes it all look easy, as he explains, “it is all just second nature” with a chuckle and a grin. He grows all his cut flowers in two greenhouses behind his home where he lives with his wife, Tammy and their two children. In his spare time, he manages a 700 acre farm by Kentucky Lake that has been in his family for as long as he remembers.

At forty-years-old, Steve has three businesses he operates with his wife: Blooming Arbors, Blooming Arbors Spray Service, and the new Enchanted Florist. He is happy about his recent move from Horn Lake to Memphis noting he wants to capture some of the CY foot traffic for his shop which is why he moved from Highway 51. The bulk of Steve’s business comes from the Internet but he welcomes calls and walk-ins. He can deliver locally, regionally, and internationally talking about a recent order for the United Kingdom.

Steve will be open and offering Happy Hour prices on all cut flowers on the First Thursday Night Out in CY. The Enchanted Florist store hours are Monday—Saturday from 9 am–6 pm. For more information, please call 901-907-0819.

By Kara Chamberlain

Cooper-Young is making news. The newly coined CY Jabberwocky is a list of events in CY that other media found interesting and buzzed about. Lewis Carroll wrote “Jabberwocky” using nonsense terms and jargon to let the reader interpret the story his or her own way. Carroll’s intention was to demonstrate the power of words and the meaning behind them. How even silly words and phrases can tell the biggest and best stories. In CY, all news is important and nothing is too silly to be overlooked, and that is why I felt that Jabberwocky was an appropriate name for this column (and because it’s a really cool word and it’s fun to say).

CYDC director steps down

Sutton Mora Hayes, executive director of the CYDC, resigned to become state director of Keep Tennessee Beautiful. Hayes bagan her new job May 17th after leading the organization for almost 5 years. Hayes is a resident of CY and has been a tremendous advocated for the neighborhood on all types of zoning and code enforcement issues. She has offered to continue sharing her assistance and expertise in the future stating, “I’m enjoying the change of work, but my heart is in CY. You’ll definitely see me around.”

Board members will be handling buisness for the CYDC. Please contact the office at 901-272-1459.

Lux closes shop

Tadd Feazella, owner of Lux, announced on Facebook that he will close the store by by July 1.

Smallest User competition

MLG&W along with the University of Memphis and the Community Foundation is sponsoring an energy conservation competition between Cooper-Young and Evergreen neighborhoods. The one that uses the least amount of energy will be honored with the “smallest user” award.  Updates on the competition will be reported monthly on Action News 5. Keep tallies on your favorite teams at mlgw.com/smallestuser.

Meet the rug expert

Alex Safdari with Legacy Oriental Rugs will offer rug consultations at Palladio Antiques and Art, 2169 Central Avenue. Learn how to take care of your antique rugs, how to match an old rug with a new (or vice versa), or just come find a new rug  for your living room. Consults are every Wednesday in June from 11 am–3 pm. Please set up by appointment 901-276-3808.

Casa Grill moves east

CY’s Middle-Eastern Moroccan-style restaurant, Casa Grill (previously known as Casablanca Café) has moved from their 2156 Young Avenue location to 5030 Poplar Avenue. We will have to go a little further now if we want Hommus or Baba Ghannouge.

Commit to quit

The Church Health Center is offering a six-week course in smoking cessation at the Church Health Center Wellness, 1115 Union Ave. Classes begin Tuesday, June 22 at 6 pm. The course is free to Church Health Center Wellness members and Church Health Center patients. Members of the community may join for a $60 fee. Call Sheila Harrell for sign up and more details 901-259-4673 ext. 1606 or go to churchhealthcenter.org.

Bands not bombs

Saturday, June 5, 2 –10 pm at the Lifelink Church on the corner of Cooper and Walker. $10 come and go admission. Kids 12 and under FREE.

Local Music Fest benefitting the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center. Featuring Star & Micey, the Magic Kids, Bluff City Backsliders, Bake Sale, the Stand-Ins, Andrew Bryant, Speakerboxx and special guests. Performances by Memphis Raqs, Firetribe Memphis, and Danza Azteca. A family centered event with games for the kids, food, drink, and vendors. Bouncy things and water slides for kids of all sizes! Bring a lawn chair or blanket.

CYBA meeting at Café Ole

The Cooper-Young Business Association hosted a Spring Membership Meeting at Cafe Ole Restaurant on May 10th to celebrate Colonel Lori Bullard’s new position at the Union Station Police Precinct. Over 20 business members met with Colonel Bullard and Peggy Williamson, director of the Midtown Security Community to discuss ways to get involved in the fight on crime. 

By Trisha Gurley

For a lot of people, family is the root of their lives. If you’re like me, you regard your pets as family. As great as having a family is, it can also be expensive. I have no children, but my cat Milton needs food, shelter, attention, toys, medical care (more than most cats, since he is diabetic), and, of course, lots of love. When I adopted him in 2003, I made a pledge that I would keep him for life. Like children, he’s a permanent fixture.

I am feeling the economical crunch as much as anyone. My husband and I both have suffered work cutbacks. Even so, Milton is non-negotiable. He was already neutered when I got him, but not everyone is so fortunate. Sadly, the real sufferers of unspayed or unneutered pets are the animals themselves. Every year, the city of Memphis must euthanize 14,000 animals due to overpopulation—around 38 animals per day.

As bleak as that sounds, there is an alternative. Barbara Standing is the Director of Development for Mid-South Spay and Neuter Services (formerly the Animal Protection Association), which gives pet owners an affordable alternative for spaying and neutering their pets. Standing is a former pilot for FedEx and now devotes herself full-time to Mid-South Spay and Neuter Services and animal welfare.
“We are seriously committed to reducing the unwanted pet population, but it takes a community effort,” Standing explains. “There is no simple answer as to why we have such a high stray and unwanted pet problem, but there is only one solution, and that is spaying and neutering pets! The problem is, of course, multi-faceted, as everyone has such different views about animals. Irresponsible pet ownership is certainly one aspect of the problem. Also, the cost of spays and neuters and vaccinations can be prohibitive to many pet owners. The cost of the surgery, vaccinations, and microchipping can add up fast, easily surpassing $300 for a large female dog at a private veterinarian clinic.”
The cost of spaying/neutering a dog at Mid-South Spay and Neuter Services ranges from $50 to $70, depending on the dog’s gender and weight. Cats are $35 to $40, with gender again being the variant. Feral cats can be fixed for $25 (they can loan you a humane trap for feral cats). There are other services offered (at the time of surgery only), including: rabies vaccines, heartworm testing, microchipping, deworming, and FIV testing. If these costs are not feasible for you, don’t despair. “We offer free and ‘Pay What You Can’ spay and neuter surgeries whenever possible,” Standing says. “When we get donations or grant monies for a specific program, we immediately make it available to the public. When we get a grant award, for example, from the H.W. Durham Foundation, we are able to offer a ‘Pay What You Can’ program to help pet owners aged 55 and over with the cost of their pet’s surgery. We also just received a very generous two-year grant from the Margarette J. Sather Animal Welfare Fund, which will allow us to spay or neuter the pets of people who cannot pay for surgeries. These types of grants really allow us to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Some of those grant monies will also support quarterly free Planned PetHood Spay days at our clinic that will also target pet owners that are unable to pay for the surgeries.” 
Not only does spaying or neutering your pet make life easier for you (and your pet!), it betters the community at large. “By helping Mid-South Spay & Neuter Services to spay and neuter as many animals as possible, you help all the other rescue groups and shelters!” Standing says. “If we can prevent the births of unwanted litters and those litters’ subsequent births, literally thousands of unwanted animals that would meet untimely and often cruel deaths are spared by prevention. I look forward to the day that Memphis Animal Services is not forced to euthanize so many wonderful pets each day because there is simply no one to adopt them.” The most commonly euthanized breed at Memphis Animal Serivces (and nationwide) is the pit bull, so Mid-South Spay and Neuter Services has an annual Dog Days of Summer program to spay or neuter pit bulls and pit bull mixes for no charge.

If you find yourself facing a financial situation where you are no longer able to keep your pet, Standing has some wise advice: “When it becomes necessary to try and find a home for your pet, you are always your pet’s best advocate. Ask friends, neighbors, and family members initially. You can also send out an email blast to everyone you know with an irresistible photo and a very thorough bio about your pet. Be sure to give perspective adoptive pet parents all the pertinent information to be able to make an informed decision. Include age, sex, redeeming characteristics, special needs, likes/dislikes kids, and does the pet coexist with other cats/dogs? It can make the difference of a good, permanent match or not. Someone may even know the perfect person to adopt your pet based on your email ad. You can try calling local pet rescue groups in the area. If your dog is breed specific there may be that particular breed rescue group willing to take the dog. A lot of rescue groups also take cats, and there are also several cat-only no-kill shelters in the Memphis area. Mid-South Spay and Neuter Services will certainly do our best to spay or neuter the pet and provide age-appropriate vaccinations, which will help the pet to get adopted too.”

Standing is quick to mention that the entire staff, from veterinarians to administrative, at Mid-South Spay and Neuter Services is fully devoted to the animals in their care. “There is a great force of compassion and skill behind our front doors…as a nonprofit organization, though, we depend on donations to operate, so we are always looking for donations and financial support.” They have just begun a greeting card program that will allow people to go to their website, select an occasion, and purchase a card for $25. “We will send the card out to the designated recipient on their behalf, letting them know they have given the gift of spay and neuter from someone special. This can all be done on our website.” There is also a Balls-Go-Lore fundraiser coming up on September 5th at the home of Kent and Dana Farmer, involving mint juleps, croquet, live music, and food.

If you are not able to donate but still want to help the animals, there is also a need for volunteers.

Mid-South Spay and Neuter Services is located at 854 Goodman, just off of Park. Go to spaymemphis.org for more information. You may contact Barbara Standing at 901-213-8210 or at b.standing@spaymemphis.org.