By Amanda Ball

Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 3. It’s time for the annual St. Jude Marathon again! With all races sold out this year, there will be 8,100 participants in the half marathon and 3,500 in the full marathon. That means we need lots of volunteers for the Cooper-Young aid station at mile marker 18 just across the street from the Drum Shop on Cooper near Nelson.

As a Cooper-Young resident and CYCA board member, I invite you to join me and other neighbors for a fun time at our aid station. We had a blast last year cheering on the runners, handing out water and PowerAde, and grooving to the band just in front of us. It really is spectacular and inspiring to see the set up, the police escort, and the runners coming through – all ages, body types, and sizes – motivated and participating for a great cause.
Dress warm and come out to volunteer, because we need your help! Call me at 901-595-4797 or email me at  amanda.ball@stjude.org to sign up so that we will know in advance how many folks to expect and also have your free race day t-shirt ordered for you. We will start shifts at 7:30am and finish around 2:00pm, with warm beverages and snacks provided. You are welcome to come and hang out all day, or just for an hour or two. Anyone interested is welcome to participate, whether you are a CY resident, a friendly Midtown neighbor, or a marathon fan. See you on race day in Cooper-Young!

By Holly Smith

The House of Mews had two surprise additions during September’s Cooper-Young Festival. A box labeled “Free Kittens, Take One” was left on Evelyn Street near the Festival. A passer-by discovered the box containing four five-week-old kittens. Two kittens were adopted by Festival-goers on the short walk from Evelyn to The House of Mews, and the remaining two were brought to and accepted by the cat sanctuary. Volunteer Abby Wallace named the male kittens Cooper and Young.

The kittens were quite the attraction. They posed as mascots for the day, accompanying volunteers outside the rescue center’s door helping promote The House of Mews Meowathon. While people kissed and cuddled, they also signed up for the 5K Run/Walk and Silent Auction, which takes place Saturday, November 21, at Overton Park. Race day registration begins at 7:30am, and the race begins at 9am (enter off of East Parkway, between Poplar Avenue and Sam Cooper Boulevard). Everyone is encouraged to sign up and “Run For The Claws.”

The Meowathon is an important fundraiser for The House of Mews, a no-kill feline sanctuary and adoption agency in the Cooper-Young Historic District. Proceeds from the race and auction go directly to The House of Mews, which is currently home to more than 140 otherwise homeless cats and kittens and is staffed entirely by volunteers.

“The Meowathon is a fun event for everyone and it supports a great cause,” said Abby Wallace, volunteer race director. “Last year we had 404 participants, 44 event sponsors, and a profitable silent auction, raising the most revenue in Meowathon’s history.”

The Meowathon 5K Run/Walk is sanctioned and coordinated by the Memphis Runners Track Club (MRTC). Top male and female finishers in multiple categories will receive medals engraved with The House of Mews cat logo.

There are several ways to register. Race day registration at Overton Park begins at 7:30am. Online registration is available at racesonline.com. A registration form is also available from houseofmews.com/meowathon.html. The downloaded form and registration fee should be mailed to 933 S. Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104. Runners may register in person at The House of Mews or over the phone by calling 901-272-3777 during store hours: Tuesday 1-5pm, Wednesday 4-7:30pm, Thursday 6-9pm, Friday 4-7:30pm, and Saturday 12-4pm.

Registration fees are $18 from October 1 through November 13 and $25 November 14 through race day. MRTC members receive $1 discount through November 15. Those who aren’t able to participate in the 5K can sponsor a cat for the day for $15. All race and sponsor fees are tax-deductible charitable donations.

More information on the event, including a continuously updated list of silent auction items, is available at houseofmews.com/meowathon.html. Friends of The House of Mews can stay updated at facebook.com/thehouseofmews and at twitter.com/thehouseofmews.

This month I’d like to share an actual conversation between me and Tyler, my 12-year-old stepson.

Tyler: “Why are you running so much lately? You hate running.”

Me: “I’m training for the CY Festival Friday 4 Miler next month. I’m running it dressed in a Wonder Woman costume to raise money for the LampLighter.”

Tyler: (With a look of sheer horror and disgust) “Why would anyone give money to see you run in a Wonder Woman costume!?!”

Me: “I’m guessing that some people will think it’s funny.”

Tyler: “There is nothing funny about that at all! I can’t think of anything more embarrassing!”

Me: “Dear, sweet boy. I can always think of more ways to embarrass you. Some day you can tell your therapist all about it.”

Tyler was right about one thing. I really do hate running. But I love the LampLighter more! I just hope that my willingness to drag myself around the race route in an old, 80s style, ill-fitting Wonder Woman costume inspires a few more people to donate to help our beloved, yet struggling, monthly paper. Residents can donate at the CYCA office, to me personally, or donate online. Just go to cooperyoung.org for more information.

Speaking of the race, I’m so excited that runners are signing up at an even faster pace than last year, and we are well on way to hitting our goal of 2000 runners for our 20th year. I was pleased to find out that a number of our regular race volunteers are choosing to run the race instead, but it has left us needing a good number of people to step up and fill those volunteer positions the night of the race. Please contact Kristan at the office at 901-272-2922 or info@cooperyoung.org as soon as possible to volunteer! Now let’s all have an exciting and safe Festival weekend!

June Hurt

By Anthony Siracusa

This year, the Memphis Hightailers have agreed to donate all of the proceeds from their largest ride of the year – The Bluff City Blues 100 – to bicycling and walking advocacy in Memphis!

This is a huge step towards making Memphis into a bike and pedestrian friendly city, so let’s show the Hightailers how much we appreciate their support by volunteering at their upcoming “Red, White and Blue” club ride on July 2.

The Hightailers need us to provide at least 6 volunteers for the event to help with the rest area, the finish area, registration, the refresh area along the route, and the post-ride party. Volunteers are need from 7:30am until noon.

Please contact Ms. Alicia Cobbs from Livable Memphis at (901) 725-3124 or info@livablememphis.org if you can help out.

Thanks in advance for helping make Memphis into a wonderful place for biking and walking!

By Laura Johnson

Other than the appearance of Cooper-Young 4 Miler runner Richard Coletta, a lot has changed since the first race in 1992. We no longer have to worry about the CD in our Discman skipping while we run; we now have our entire music collection available on a device smaller than a beeper. In 1992, no one could post a note on Facebook and instantly let thousands of people know that they just passed the 3 mile marker. In the beginning things were quite different.

Former Cooper-Young Community Association President, Richard Coletta, said, “The first year was very challenging. It was the first time we attempted this kind of fundraiser.” He and another CY resident and running enthusiast, Tim Thomas, had an “ah-ha” moment standing at the corner of Cooper and Young. In that moment they came up with the unique features of the race. First, it would be held on the Friday night coinciding with the Festival; and second, a night race would allow for the creation of a distinctive post-race party.

The first race attracted around 200 runners, who celebrated afterward with pizza from Coletta’s Restaurant and beer provided by the Festival vendor. Steve Bishop’s band entertained the crowd and continued to play for the next four post-race parties. The race committee was then approached by Rodney Nash to see if he could play. Coletta said, “It was definitely nice to have people coming to us to be involved.” Camy’s Pizza, Easy Way, and Outback Steakhouse have been major contributors to the post-race party over the years. In fact, countless loyal sponsors have made this entire event possible, with some, such as National Economy Plumbers, Schwartz Electric, and Sowell and Co. Realtors (just to name a few), supporting the CYCA from almost the beginning.

One humorous memory that Coletta shared about the 4 Miler involved a food fight that resembled a scene from the movie Hook. Those involved will certainly remember the event. The post-race party was being held on Young down the street from a vacant building. There was a surplus of fruit leftover, and the organizers started a fruit throwing contest at the vacant building. Coletta explains, “It must have been a release of energy. We had been working so hard on the race and needed to let loose. We got to a ‘that’s enough’ moment when we realized that it was shameful, because we had just been trying to get people to behave.”

Since CY has a large artist community, it only made sense to feature a piece of art on the signature race T-shirt. According to Coletta, the T-shirts were a nightmare the first year. Over time and with the help of Bluff City Sports, the popular race T-shirt has become much less stressful. A very important accomplishment of this year’s race committee and the CYCA Board is that the artwork is finalized. This is the earliest in the year that it has ever been completed. For a sneak peak look carefully at the cover photo of Coletta holding the artwork.

The four mile route around CY has changed to give different blocks the opportunity to hold “Neighbors Light the Way” parties to support the runners. Coletta worked with the Memphis Track Runners Club the first year to figure out a race route that was the correct distance. The changing route has also coincided with the changing location of the post-race party; as participation grew they needed to find larger spaces to hold the event.

This past year over 1800 people ran the race. All of the hard work from those who were involved with the race in its inception has paid off in a big way. The funding that the CYCA receives from the race each year is turned into services and support for CY residents, truly making the neighborhood a better place to live, work, worship, and play.

While a lot has changed since 1992, a few things have remained the same – Cooper-Young neighbors still pull together to put on an exciting and unique race to raise funds and to kick off the Festival weekend.

By Kyle Wagenschutz

As spring approaches many people are considering taking to two wheels for the first time in many years. Dusting off bikes long forgotten in the deep recesses of garages, sheds, and basements, many are pumping air into flat tires and reintroducing the simple pleasures of bicycle riding into their lives. For good reason too – riding bicycles improves cardiovascular fitness by making exercise a part of daily transportation, it improves air quality by reducing the amount of automobile exhaust pumped into our air, and it assists in weight loss and muscle building fitness routines.

While riding a bicycle is considered a lifelong skill never to be forgotten, many have common questions about the intricacies of organizing their lives around a commute to work that doesn’t take place in a car. With so many retail options available today, it is often difficult to know what products are necessary to make a commute more convenient versus those that are sold as novelty items. For many the cityscape has changed dramatically since their last ride, causing concern over safety and convenience.

Below are some basic tips for making your commute more successful and enjoyable. While these will get you started, be sure to find some local bike commuters and find out what they recommend. Often times these “experts” know the best routes, equipment, and techniques for making your commute more enjoyable and convenient.

Choosing a bike
You don’t have to spend a fortune to ride a bicycle. Unless you are planning to ride in the Tour de France this year, spending a couple thousand dollars on a bike is not necessary. Any bike that you feel comfortable on will work after making sure it is in good working order. Be sure to consider weather protection such as fenders and a rack for carrying items to and from the office. Owners of Cooper-Young’s Victory Bicycle Studio (victorybicyclestudio.com) at 2294 Young Ave are experts in finding the right bike to fit the type of riding you want to accomplish. For a more hands on approach, you can visit Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop (revolutionsmemphis.com) in the basement of First Congregational Church at 1000 S. Cooper St. to learn how to build a bicycle from the ground up.

Keeping it maintained
Regardless if you purchase a bicycle from the local department store, pawn shop, or retail bike shop, have your bike checked over by a mechanic at your local bike shop. Find out if local bike shops offer basic mechanic training so you can learn how to repair a flat, fix a chain, and inspect your brake pads for wear. Routine maintenance is the key to maximizing the lifespan of your bicycle. Ask your mechanic how often you should be changing your tires, chain, and brake pads.  Be sure to inquire at Revolutions about classes that specialize in teaching bicycle repairs.

What to wear
You don’t need special bicycle clothing to commute to work. If the weather is nice, a pair of jeans and a t-shirt is more than adequate. You may find that you can ride in your work clothes at a relaxed pace if your commute is short enough. For longer more strenuous rides, cycling specific clothing may be a good option as it is design to wick away moisture from your skin and dry faster than cotton clothing. In cold weather be sure to layer clothing, and in wet weather be sure to have a waterproof jacket and/or pants to cover your riding clothes. Be sure to wear shoes that are comfortable and are resistant to slipping. Be sure to tuck the laces in the side of your shoes and roll up your pant legs before riding to avoid having them caught in the drive train.

Choosing a route
One of the most important aspects of your commute will be the route you choose. Be sure to consider distance, traffic volume, road width, road condition, and terrain when choosing a route. The shortest route is not always the safest route for bicyclists. Some routes may be a bit longer but much more pleasant and safe because of lower traffic volumes and speeds. Stick to streets with on-streets facilities such as bike lanes or signed shared roadways. Often times these routes have already been identified as ideal routes for bicycles and have added infrastructure to alert motor vehicles of your presence.

Getting there safely
According to state and local laws bicycles are vehicles and should act and be treated as such on the roadways. Remember to ride on the right with the flow of traffic, obey all stop signs, traffic lights, and lane markings, and look and signal before changing lanes or making a turn. Be aware of your surroundings, and take special note of hazards such as glass or debris in the roadway that may interrupt your travel path. Be sure to be visible by wearing bright clothing. At night you should always have a front and rear light on your bicycle to alert oncoming motorists of your presence. Do not swerve and ride in a haphazard manner. Riding predictably in a straight path and using clear hand signals for turning will keep you safe in the roadway. Ask your local bike shops about bike safety and riding technique classes that may be offered in the community or if printed copies of the local laws are available.

Parking your bicycle
Finding a place to put your bicycle and riding gear can often be a challenge. Try to find an indoor parking area in your office or building in which to keep your bike safe and dry. If you have to park outside and there is no bike rack available, lock your bike to an immovable object in a highly visible area out of the elements. Many buildings have bike racks tucked away in a hidden corner. Be sure to ask your employer or building owner if parking already exists for bicycles.

Showering
Often times cleanliness and hygiene are the biggest obstacles to commuting by bicycle. In some instance, showering may not be necessary in the morning when it is cool outside. For some simply cleaning up in the bathroom sink will be appropriate. For others a full shower is the only way to go. As with the availability of bike racks, many workplaces have showers located in the building; be sure to inquire about access and location. Nearby health clubs may offer shower-only memberships for a few dollars a month.
To ease the burden of carrying toiletries back and forth on your bicycle, keep a set on hand at the office tucked away in a drawer. You may also consider driving a week’s worth of work clothes to your office on your off-days so that during your normal working schedule, your work clothes are readily available without the burden of carrying them back and forth from home.

By Mesha Crump

Hope House will host its 12th annual Help for Hope 5K presented by Comcast on Friday, March 25. The race will start at Greenbelt Park located in Harbor Town beginning at 6:30pm. Now in its 12th year, the Help for Hope 5K aims to mobilize community support in an effort to further its mission to improve the quality of life of HIV-impacted children and their families. Caitlin Steiger founded the race. At age 15, Caitlin organized the corporate community to raise more than $25,000 for Hope House in the race’s first year. This year more than 700 runners and walkers are expected to support the event.
Registration begins at 5:15pm with the inaugural all-ages Fun Run beginning at 6pm and the 5K starting at 6:30pm. The racecourse takes participants through the Harbor Town neighborhood, finishing at the river in Greenbelt Park. Immediately following the race will be an after party in the parking lot of Maria Montessori School to include food, beverages, and an awards ceremony.
Pre-registration for the 5K is available until March 24 at $20 per person, and race day registration is $25 per person. Memphis Runner’s Track Club members and groups of 10 or more will receive a $3 discount on entries. Fun Run pre-registration is available until March 24 at $12 per person and race day registration is $15 per person. Each participant will receive a long sleeve T-shirt, food and drinks, and will enjoy musical entertainment during the race. Packet pick-up and early registration will take place at Fleet Feet Sports located at 4530 Poplar Ave, Suite 102 on Saturday, March 19 from 2-4pm, and Tuesday, March 22 and Thursday, March 24 from 5-7pm.
Hope House is a not-for-profit organization that addresses the educational, social, psychological, and health needs of HIV-impacted children and their families in an effort to improve their quality of life. A comprehensive social services organization, Hope House is one of seven organizations of its kind in the world and exists to assist in the prevention and containment of the disease through community outreach and donor support. Hope House offers programs and services such as housing assistance, mentoring, and early childhood development/daycare. For more information about Hope House, Help for Hope 5K, and registration please visit hopehousememphis.org.

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.

It’s kind of a dreary day and I wanted to ride my bike to work today but the forecast calls for rain all afternoon. Hopefully I can bring it to work tomorrow but until then I want to share a video that has continued to inspire me since I first saw it a few years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o

This is Danny MacAskill doing what’s called trials riding. More often its done in natural environments and on rocky areas but obviously it works in the city. What I didn’t expect after seeing such amazing talent is that even though he is sponsored Danny isn’t pro. Despite the incredible amount of talent and dedication he has he still works a day job as a bicycle mechanic at a shop.

Anyway I just wanted to share this little gem with everyone. Short of a good Kung Fu movie nothing gets me more amped to start moving than this video.

This post is pretty much just for me. I doubt anyone reading here would know the word parkour to be asking about it, but odds are if you work in an office, then someone has sent you a video of people doing crazy climbing and stunts. These are often labeled with something like free running, Russian climbing, urban climbing, freestyle walking, parkour or crazy indian monkey man . These amazing videos will feature things that nearly no one can do because the people in them are the best in the world.

All of these things are more or less the same. Parkour means climbing on buildings, over walls or past obstacles to train yourself to be better at it and get more fit. Ideally it’s something you train at so that you can be prepared to act in an emergency situation (fire, earthquake, being attacked/chased).

So why am I talking about this on a local community blog? Because it’s fun! I don’t train like I used to, and I want to get out more, but one of my concerns (though no excuse to lay around) is the response people will have to it. Training parkour sometimes looks like you’re breaking in to a building, and like with skating, many business owners are afraid people will get hurt and sue them. I’ve had pretty good reactions to my training, but I know some people that have been arrested for exercising this way. I understand the concerns though, and I think Cooper Young is a progressive enough place for people to appreciate this out-of-the-norm activity.

If you are interested in giving it a try, there are several websites that offer tips and advice like American Parkour. Don’t be intimidated by the level of activity you see in web videos either because those are usually world class athletes showcasing the best of their abilities. There are a couple of facebook groups for Memphis parkour, but they are definitely not that active. I still recommend nonetheless that you train with a partner even if you are both inexperienced because of the potential for accidents. Having someone around to help if things go wrong makes all the difference.

And last but not least, if you see me on top of a building or leaping over a wall, please don’t call the cops, or the psych ward.

Thanks for reading,
Jonathan McCarver