By John Kinsey

In June, the CYCA board of directors accepted the resignation of two members: Susan Currier and Kyle Gowen. Kyle led the Safety Committee working with the MPD on National Night Out and on better ways to communicate safety news to CY residents. Susan served on the Membership Committee. We are sad to see them go and thank them for their service.

With their departure, your board is now down to 13 members and we are looking for new board member candidates. Please consider taking an active part in running your neighborhood. All you need is a love for Cooper-Young and a willingness to serve. We will gladly teach you the rest.

If serving on the board seems overwhelming or too large of a commitment, then consider serving on a committee. On the right hand bottom portion of this page you will find a listing of all of our committees.

What do you gain from serving your community? You’ll meet new people who share the same love of our eclectic neighborhood. You’ll learn more about the workings of Cooper-Young, the City of Memphis, and how the CYCA relates to other organizations. You’ll have a voice in events like the Art Auction, the 4-Miler race, National Night Out, the Volunteer Thank You Party, and General Meetings. You’ll be able to feel that you have made a difference in the lives of the 1,680 households in Cooper-Young.

For more information about the Board, contact us at info@cooperyoung.org.

In CY happiness,

Last month, I was fortunate enough to attend a Neighborhood Watch retreat sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security. While I can’t say I learned a great deal of new information—as I have long been an avid supporter of NW—the experience did renew my resolve to advocate this critical aspect of community. Criminals, like cockroaches, are most active when they think we’re not looking, and a well-coordinated Neighborhood Watch is, by far, the best way to keep the criminal element at bay. Get to know your neighbors, share contact information, and, by all means, if you want to play a more active role in CYNW, I encourage you to contact our Safety Coordinator, Kyle Gowen, at khgowen@hotmail.com.

Aaron James

Cooper-Young has one major thing in common with our newly chartered neighbors, the Rozelle-Annesdale Historic District to the west, and that is, of course, the revitalization of Mclean. Since we have two independent communities after one goal, this should start happening sooner rather than later. The thoughts are to put a bike path, widen, power wash, add a crosswalk (for children crossing to Peabody), add a mural to the railroad bridge, and add a small island rest area for the teardrop (shaped grassy area where Southern, Mclean, and Lamar all converge), rendering a more united neighborhood. A beautiful Mclean would really strengthen our communities as a whole.

According to Stoy Bailey (our community activist spearheading the Mclean project), the money as well as the design for the teardrop is already in place. The exact time of the project starting has not yet been determined. Details include placing a nice retaining wall on the south side (Southern side), a place for bike riders to rest, and hopefully a garbage can!

I intend to get a group of us together and power wash the concrete decorative hand rail that sits on both sides of Mclean just south of the railroad bridge. Also, it would be nice to wash the bridge itself, especially where it is to have a mural. I have not asked or talked with the Railroad people about doing this yet.

So far, Stoy Bailey and I have measured Mclean, and Stoy has tentative engineering plans that were drawn up and are available for viewing (by appointment only) at his office. We canvassed the neighbors on either side of Mclean to get documentation that can be presented for further approval of the project. As you may or may not know, getting things done like this takes time and effort. I, for one, didn’t know that there is a committee for “walkability” and the like, on top of the other Government people, which need to go along with this. Fun. Right?

The crosswalk for the Peabody Elementary students is important. The route will take them down Oliver, Nelson, or Evelyn where they will not have all of the traffic that sits on Young while school is convening. Having them walk down a dedicated route that is safe is a plan that is agreed on by all. Again, we need all of the “Government” factions to support us.

Glenn Althoff

Joseph R. Tracy

April 18th, 1936 – February 8th, 2010

Joseph R. Tracy became a Cooper-Young Community Association member in 2009 and had renewed his membership for 2010. He had been ill for a long time. After his wife of 37 years passed away, he moved to Evelyn Avenue. He leaves behind his sister, Jane Tracy, of Evelyn Avenue.

Steve and I want to personally congratulate Ben Smith for being honored by the Memphis Restaurant Association as Restaurateur of the Year. I am sure Ben would be the first to say that this honor pays tribute not only to his hard work but that exhibited by his staff, who make dining at Tsunami such a wonderful experience. The food is always superb, the staff is always warm and welcoming. It’s like our own little “Cheers” in the hood. The cooking classes at Tsunami are peppered with good food, a wealth of information, and Ben’s own special humor that encourages all to have fun in the kitchen and to just relax and feel free to experiment. Over the years, I have approached Ben and Colleen to take part in various activities in Cooper-Young, and they always respond with a willingness to do whatever is asked of them. This means a great deal to our community. So thank you, Ben and Colleen, for all you do for your neighbors. By the way, Tsunami was the first restaurant in Memphis to earn Green Fork certification for a restaurant devoted to recycling and using only green methods of operation.

Beth Pulliam

Last year I tried to plant a vegetable garden in my backyard and was so overcome by the effort that I fell flat on my face. Who knew so much actual w-w-work was involved! But the desire for fresh veggies and healthy alternatives to corporate food sources remains, which is why I’m so excited to learn of efforts to bring a farmers market to Cooper-Young. Just imagine a mini-CY Fest every weekend (maybe without quite as much beer!): mingling with neighbors; supporting local growers, canners, artisans, and musicians; and bringing home red, ripe, juicy tomatoes! Woohoo! Can’t wait!

Aaron James

Drum Shop has plans on Blythe

To our Cooper-Young Neighbors:

This is to let you know that I have recently purchased the property at 877, 883, and 885 Blythe Street. We plan to improve the value and appearance of the property with landscaping and improvements to the existing buildings. Plans are for the 877 Blythe church building to be used as an in-house recording/student studio, storage area, and single-family rental of the upstairs apartment. The 883 Blythe house will continue to be a single-family rental with the adjacent 885 Blythe property continuing to be parking area. Special events, limited to no more than three (3) times per year, might require the use of a temporary tent(s).

The 877 Blythe church building is currently being rented by the Salvation Army and is being used as a church and office space. The lease expires on September 30, 2011. They plan to have the new Kroc Center that is being built at Central and East Parkway completed by the spring or summer of 2011 and may move before the lease is completed.

We plan to remove the traffic that would be from our property to Blythe Street with the landscaping which will include a gate at the current entrance off Blythe Street. Church building, upstairs apartment, or rental house traffic and Memphis Drum Shop employees will enter and exit via the alley between the church building and Memphis Drum Shop. We are very excited about the Kroc center and what it will do for Memphis and, particularly, our neighborhood.

Memphis Drum Shop has enjoyed being a part of the Cooper-Young neighborhood since 1991. We have strived to be a good business neighbor, a contributing factor, and an asset to the community. We believe our plans for Blythe Street will enhance the image that both Memphis Drum Shop and the Cooper-Young neighborhood seek to promote.

If you have any comments or questions, please forward them to 878 South Cooper. We look forward to many more years of being your neighbor in Cooper-Young.

Sincerely,

Jim Pettit