Month: August 2024

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Astrology Fun Stuff

Free Will Astrology: Week of 08/29/24

Dario Bronnimann | Unsplash

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Although there are over 7,000 varieties of apples, your grocery store probably offers no more than 15. But you shouldn’t feel deprived. Having 15 alternatives is magnificent. In fact, most of us do better in dealing with a modicum of choices rather than an extravagant abundance. This is true not just about apples but also about most things. I mention this, Aries, because now is an excellent time to pare down your options in regard to all your resources and influences. You will function best if you’re not overwhelmed with possibilities. You will thrive as you experiment with the principle that less is more.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus comedian Jerry Seinfeld, now 70 years old, has testified, “As a child, the only clear thought I had was ‘get candy.’” I encourage you to be equally single-minded in the near future, Taurus. Not necessarily about candy — but about goodies that appeal to your inner child as well as your inner teenager and inner adult. You are authorized by cosmic forces to go in quest of experiences that tickle your bliss.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I’m not saying I would refuse to hire a Gemini person to housesit while I’m on vacation. You folks probably wouldn’t let my houseplants die, allow raccoons to sneak in and steal food, or leave piles of unwashed dishes in the sink. On the other hand, I’m not entirely confident you would take impeccable care of my home in every little way. But wait! Everything I just said does not apply to you now. My analysis of the omens suggests you will have a high aptitude for the domestic arts in the coming weeks. You will be more likely than usual to take good care of my home — and your own home, too. It’s a good time to redecorate and freshen up the vibe.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): These days, you are even smarter and more perceptive than usual. The deep intelligence of your higher self is pouring into your conscious awareness with extra intensity. That’s a good thing, right? Yes, mostly. But there may be a downside: You could be hyper-aware of people whose thinking is mediocre and whose discernment is substandard. That could be frustrating, though it also puts you in a good position to correct mistakes those people make. As you wield the healing power of your wisdom, heed these words from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “Misunderstandings and lethargy produce more wrong in the world than deceit and malice do.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had an older sister, born under the sign of Leo. Her nickname was Nannerl. During their childhoods, she was as much a musical prodigy as he. Supervised by their father, they toured Europe performing together, playing harpsichord and piano. Nannerl periodically got top billing, and some critics regarded her as the superior talent. But misfortune struck when her parents decided it was unseemly for her, as a female, to continue her development as a genius. She was forcibly retired so she could learn the arts of housekeeping and prepare for marriage and children. Your assignment in the coming months, Leo, is to rebel against any influence that tempts you to tamp down your gifts and specialties. Assert your sovereignty. Identify what you do best, and do it more and better than you ever have before.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): When an infant giraffe leaves its mother’s womb, it falls six feet to the ground. I suspect that when you are reborn sometime soon, Virgo, a milder and more genial jolt will occur. It may even be quite rousing and inspirational — not rudely bumpy at all. By the way, the plunge of the baby giraffe snaps its umbilical cord and stimulates the creature to take its initial breaths — getting it ready to begin its life journey. I suspect your genial jolt will bring comparable benefits.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Many people living in the Napo province of Ecuador enjoy eating a dish called ukuy, which is a Kichwa word for large ants. This is not an exotic meal for them. They may cook the ukuy or simply eat the creatures alive. If you travel to Napo anytime soon, Libra, I urge you to sample the ukuy. According to my reading of the astrological omens, such an experiment is in alignment with the kinds of experiences you Libras should be seeking: outside your usual habits, beyond your typical expectations, and in amused rebellion against your customary way of doing things.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The theory of karma suggests that all our actions, good and bad and in-between, send ripples out into the world. These ripples eventually circle back to us, ensuring we experience events that mirror our original actions. If we lie and cheat, we will be lied to and cheated on. If we give generously and speak kindly about other people, we will be the recipient of generosity and kind words. I bring this up, Scorpio, because I believe you will soon harvest a slew of good karma that you have set in motion through your generosity and kindness. It may sometimes seem as if you’re getting more benevolence than you deserve, but in my estimation, it’s all well-earned.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I encourage you to buy yourself fun presents that give you a feisty boost. Why? Because I want you to bring an innovative, starting-fresh spirit into the ripening projects you are working on. Your attitude and approach could become too serious unless you infuse them with the spunky energy of an excitable kid. Gift suggestions: new music that makes you feel wild, new jewelry or clothes that make you feel daring, new tools that raise your confidence, and new information that stirs your creativity.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): On a Tuesday in August in 2012 — one full Jupiter cycle ago — a Capricorn friend of mine called in sick to his job as a marketing specialist. He never returned. Instead, after enjoying a week off to relax, he began working to become a dance instructor. After six months, he was teaching novice students. Three years later, he was proficient enough to teach advanced students, and five years later, he was an expert. I am not advising you, Capricorn, to quit your job and launch your own quixotic quest for supremely gratifying work. But if you were ever going to start taking small steps towards that goal, now would be a good time. It’s also a favorable phase to improve the way your current job works for you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Three years ago, an Indonesian man celebrated his marriage to a rice cooker, which is a kitchen accessory. Khoirul Anam wore his finest clothes while his new spouse donned a white veil. In photos posted on social media, the happy couple are shown hugging and kissing. Now might also be a favorable time for you to wed your fortunes more closely with a valuable resource — though there’s no need to perform literal nuptials. What material thing helps bring out the best in you? If there is no such thing, now would be a good time to get it.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): For many years, I didn’t earn enough money to pay taxes. I was indigent. Fortunately, social programs provided me with food and some medical care. In recent years, though, I have had a better cash flow. I regularly send the U.S. government a share of my income. I wish they would spend all my tax contributions to help people in need. Alas, just 42 percent of my taxes pay for acts of kindness to my fellow humans, while 24 percent goes to funding the biggest military machine on earth. Maybe someday, there will be an option to allocate my tax donations exactly as I want. In this spirit, Pisces, I invite you to take inventory of the gifts and blessings you dole out. Now is a good time to correct any dubious priorities. Take steps to ensure that your generosity is going where it’s most needed and appreciated. What kind of giving makes you feel best? 

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We Recommend We Recommend

Healthier 901 Fest Returns for Year Two

Try out a fitness class at Healthier 901 Fest. (Photo: Courtesy MLH)

For the past year, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (MLH) has been challenging Memphians and people across the Mid-South to lose one million pounds as a community within three years through the Healthier 901 initiative. So far, 6,828 pounds have been lost by those who have joined through the Healthier 901 app. 

This Saturday to celebrate the initiative’s first year and push for more success, MLH will host its second annual Healthier 901 Fest on Saturday at Shelby Farms Park. “Everyone is so excited,” says April Wilson, one of Healthier 901’s associates. “We have made it even better this year.”

This year’s fest will have live cooking demos by Kelly English and other local celebrity chefs, giveaways, live music, and food trucks. There will also be fitness classes throughout the day including tai chi, yoga, meditation, hip-hop, jazzercise, aerobics, and more. 

“This year, we really want people to find their fit,” says Sarah Farley, Le Bonheur’s communications specialist. “We’re having the Find Your Fit Zone this year with about 20 different vendors who will be on site with various fitness activities. So you can try it out and see if you like it, and then work with that vendor for a longer term to explore whatever that exercise or activity is. There’s a million ways to get active. You don’t have to go to go to the gym; you don’t have to walk on a treadmill.”

There’ll also be the Le Bonheur Family Zone, which will have pickleball courts, hula hoops, bungee trampolines, a rock wall, a ninja tower, and educational activities. Both Wilson and Farley recommend downloading the Healthier 901 app before attending the fest to get enrolled into the raffles for special giveaways. 

The app and Healthier 901’s website will also have more information about ongoing programming throughout the year. Wilson, for instance, speaks of working with businesses, churches, and schools. “The things that we’re doing out there in the community are really bringing everyone together,” she says. “And what I can see just from outside looking in, people are really enjoying learning about health and just being active. If you’re moving constantly every day on a daily basis, of course, you gonna see pounds drop, but your overall goal is to be healthy.”  

Healthier 901 fest, Shelby Farms Park, Saturday, August 31, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., free.

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Film Features Film/TV

Blink Twice

Have you ever thought, “If I ever get super rich, I’m going to buy my own island. I’ll live there and do as I please.” 

I sure have! Hell, Sartre said, is other people. Why not get away from it all and start a new country where I can do stuff the right way for once? 

But there are two levels of wealth: Fuck You Money, which is enough money to quit my job and never have to work again; and Fuck Everybody Money, which is enough money to create my own reality. The latter may sound nice in theory, but in practice, it tends to drive people insane. The examples are numerous. There’s Henry Ford, the man who perfected mass production, who fell into a psychic morass of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. Howard Hughes, aviation entrepreneur and Hollywood studio head, lived out his last days as a paranoid obsessive compulsive locked in a Las Vegas penthouse. John McAfee, the cybersecurity pioneer who brought antivirus software to the masses, retreated to an armed compound in Belize where he had sex with whales (consensual, he claimed) before dying while in prison on a murder charge. And then there’s Elon Musk, who is … doing whatever the hell that is. 

Channing Tatum (right) is a billionaire who lures Naomi Ackie (left) and others to his private island.

If it seems like there’s more crazy rich people these days, that’s because there are. In the 21st century, wealth has become more concentrated than at any time since the Gilded Age of the late 19th century. That means more people who can only handle Fuck You Money now have Fuck Everybody Money. And we’re all suffering for it, one Twitter (excuse me, X) post at a time. 

For some people, these oligarchs are more than just annoying. Take the developers at Twitter who lost their jobs because Musk thought he knew better than them and wanted to look like a big man. Or the passengers who imploded with the Titan submersible. Or the girls Jeffrey Epstein trafficked into sex slavery for his well-heeled list of clients and friends. Maybe the right to riches is like the right to bear arms. Packing a pistol for personal protection is one thing; building an atomic bomb in your garage is another. 

These issues are very much on the mind of Zoë Kravitz, writer and director of Blink Twice. Kravitz is an accomplished actress, who gave one of the standout performances in Mad Max: Fury Road and shone in HBO’s Big Little Lies. She started work on her debut film in 2017, at the height of the #MeToo movement and Jeffrey Epstein’s final scandals. There’s a lot of Epstein in Slater King (Channing Tatum), the tech magnate whose largely undefined business has made him Fuck Everybody Money. 

When we first meet Frida (Naomi Ackie), she’s cyberstalking King in the place where most cyberstalking occurs: on the toilet. The news clips and videos she scrolls through claim that Slater has been rehabilitated from whatever horrible scandal he was implicated in and has found himself through therapy. That’s enough for Frida, who, with her roommate Jess (Alia Shawkat), is working the King Foundation banquet that night as a cater waiter. Last year, he made eye contact with her, so this year, maybe she can get some more personal attention from the billionaire. Frida and Jess smuggle in some cocktail dresses to change into, in an attempt to get into the more exclusive parts of the party. Lo and behold, it works! Frida hits it off with Slater, and Jess catches the attention of his friend Vic (Christian Slater). The night goes so well, Slater invites them to a long weekend on his private island, all expenses paid. No need to return to your apartment for your toothbrush, he’s got everything you’ll need. 

Slater’s island lives up to the hype. Free clothes, free perfume, champagne brunch every day, and a virtual buffet of drugs. The partygoers include Cody (Simon Rex), the chef; Sarah (Adria Arjona), star of the reality show Hot Survivor Babes; Stacy (Geena Davis), Slater’s fixer; Heather (Trew Mullen), who rolls fat blunts; and Rich (Kyle MacLachlan), Slater’s therapist. After a couple of days of partying, the girls fall into a party haze brought on by Slater’s proprietary mix of psilocybin and MDMA. The only downside is that the island is infested with venomous snakes. That feeling of dreadful foreboding is probably just the paranoia from all the bud. 

Or maybe not. One morning, Jess disappears, and no one but Frida seems to remember she was even there. Sarah doesn’t remember where she got those bruises. Even Lucas (Levon Hawke), the cryptocurrency himbo, is waking up with unexplained black eyes. Frida has to figure out what’s going on, and how to save herself, between snake venom shooters and bright blue skin-care masks. 

Kravitz gets a lot right in her directorial debut. Her cast is relaxed and having fun. It’s always good to see Geena Davis working, and who can fault a movie where Haley Joel Osment gets a penis drawn on his forehead in sharpie? Kravitz has been watching Jordan Peele’s high-concept horrors, and while Blink Twice lacks the crystalline perfection of Get Out, it learns all the right lessons. Kravitz’ stylish visuals, sly humor, and satirical sense hold much promise for her filmmaking future. I’m excited to see what she does next. 

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Food & Wine Food & Drink

Sufi’s Mediterranean Grill & Bar

Rabiya and Sardar Fahad Ali Khan (Photos: Michael Donahue)

What makes Sufi’s Mediterranean Grill & Bar different?

For one thing, in addition to Mediterranean food, Sufi’s also sells Persian food.

And, as far as I know, it’s the only Memphis (or maybe anywhere else) restaurant making and serving rose-flavored and saffron-flavored ice cream.

They also serve fabulous Shawarma Nachos. I don’t know anybody else doing this.

What’s more, they feature live belly dance shows from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday.

I recently visited the beautiful, comfortable restaurant, with a wonderful, spacious front porch seating area, owned by Rabiya and her husband Sardar Fahad Ali Khan, as well as Rafiq Devji and Badruddin Kheraj, at 7609 Poplar Pike in Germantown. I tried an array of appetizers, entrees, and, of course, the desserts, which I couldn’t get enough of.

Aditya Uppalapati, Shreya Challa, and Nitish Manthri

And I got to meet their children, Sardar Adam Ali Khan, 7, an aspiring soccer player, and Alizay Fahad Ali Khan, 10, an aspiring lawyer.

Rabiya was born in Dubai and Ali was born and raised in Pakistan, which is where they met. In 2017, they moved to Memphis, where Ali has family. Ali became an investor in gas stations and liquor stores.

After Rabiya began hosting parties featuring her cuisine for groups of sometimes 300 people, including business and family friends, Ali said they should open a restaurant.

Sufi’s Special Mix Grill

Their business partners, Devji and Kheraj, have more than five decades of experience in the restaurant and retail industries in multiple states and overseas, Rabiya says. 

They bought the Casablanca restaurant, which was at the current location, then changed the name to Sufi’s two years later. “Sufi” is a mystical, spiritual word that means “bringing all types of people, races, and religions together,” Rabiya says.

She and Ali enjoy traveling. “Traveling to 16, 17 countries around the world, you do get a taste of a lot of different cuisines. And you do get an idea of what people are looking for.”

Carpet cocktail

They decided to add some Persian dishes to their extensive menu because they didn’t know of any other place in Memphis selling that type of food. Persian food includes ingredients that “are famous in all the areas of the Mediterranean region.” These include sumac, za’atar, turmeric, saffron, and yogurt.

Their Persian dishes include Mirza Ghasemi, a dip made of roasted eggplant and tomatoes. They also serve Persian koobideh dishes, including “Sufi’s Koobideh Chicken” and “Sufi’s Koobideh Beef,” both served with saffron and rice.

Describing what makes it “koobideh,” Ali says, “We grind the meat and marinate it. When you hit the meat with a hammer, it’s a different kind of grinding, not the machine grinding.”

“We marinate it with onion, parsley, and different Mediterranean spices,” Rabiya adds. “And then we put it on these metal skewers and chill it in the cooler for five or six hours before it’s ready be cooked and served.”

Then there’s my favorite: the Persian ice cream sandwiches, which Rabiya says she and Ali created. “We make those two different types of ice cream in house: saffron and rose,” she says. 

“Rose petals are an integral part of Persian cuisine and part of the Persian culture as well.” 

The rose ice cream is “slightly on the sweet side. It’s as good as having a dried rose.”

Both ice creams are “basically threads of flavors,” she says. “We extract the rose petal and then fuse it in our ice cream. And these are edible rose flowers. Saffron, on the other hand, is also a spice that comes from a flower. And in order to enhance its flavor, we dip it in milk for some time and then use the saffron flowers in our ice cream base.”

Instead of cookies, the ice cream is sandwiched between two wafers.

We began the meal with the “Sufi’s Mezze” appetizer. The large one. It features hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, grape leaves, and tabbouleh with pita. 

The nachos, another Khan creation, include nacho chips made in house with veggies, cheese, sour cream, and choice of meat. I could make a meal out of this. It’s incredibly delicious.

For the entree, we had the “Sufi’s Special Mix Grill,” which includes chicken and lamb kebabs, as well as chicken and beef koobideh. 

This lavish dish serves two, Rabiya says, but I think you can squeeze in at least another person.

It’s served with rice, hummus, vegetables, naan, and, as the menu states, “our fiery sauce.” I tried the sauce and it is fiery. They make all their sauces, including mild and garlic sauce.

Sufi’s also features fusion dishes, including the Mediterranean Pizza and the Chicken Alfredo. “It doesn’t taste like traditional food,” Ali says.

Their house-made cocktails include Rabiya’s favorite, “Red Carpet, which is made with Pearl pomegranate vodka and Stirrings pomegranate liqueur.”

The Khans introduced people to Persian food by giving out samples, Rabiya says. They got the word out “slowly and steadily with word of mouth. And people started talking about it.”

They “did a lot of marketing” on Google, Facebook, and Instagram.”

And the couple did cocktail hours, where they also served food. “People got familiar with new items that they enjoyed. Their taste buds loved it. Everybody loved it. It was a win-win for everybody.”

They’ve catered corporate events for businesses, including FedEx, and hospitals. “And now we have a party hall located in the same building upstairs. People can host events: birthdays, wedding receptions, graduation parties.”

The Khans have made a lot of new friends with their restaurant customers. “We see them,” Rabiya says. “We’re happy. We dine with them. They invite us to the table to sit and talk.”

And, as Ali says, people who come to Sufi’s Mediterranean Grill & Bar have “found the hidden gem.” 

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News News Feature

2024 Educators of Excellence

Great leadership is needed in every corner of our community — from the boardroom to the classroom. Educators are essential leaders as their impact and investment is critical to our city’s future success. In response to a gap in citywide investment in educators, New Memphis, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop, activate, and retain talent in the city, created the annual Educators of Excellence Award in 2018. Each year, distinguished educator applications are reviewed and the five exceptional honorees receive a $1,500 award made possible in partnership with the Crews Family Foundation.

“As a former educator myself, I always love hearing the stories of educators and seeing the unique perspective they bring,” says Erin Wendell, New Memphis director of educator and collegian programs. “Reading our Educators of Excellence applications annually brings me joy and reinvigorates my commitment to serve teachers in Memphis. While I wish we had endless resources to recognize everyone doing great work in classrooms across Memphis, I’m grateful to highlight these five incredible educators this year. None of them are in it for glory, and yet they all deserve our praise. I hope our community takes time to learn these winners’ stories and feels inspired to show some love to other educators in our city.”

It’s paramount to recognize the contribution of our best educators, to learn from their experiences, and to support them in their growth. Their work is transformational to students, fellow educators, and Memphis as a whole. With a new school year kicking off, New Memphis unveiled their 2024 Educators of Excellence Award honorees at a co-branded Spillit Center Stage event on August 22nd, focused on educator voices to the theme of “Marathon, Not a Sprint.” Learn more about the 2024 New Memphis Educators of Excellence below and get to know previous award winners at newmemphis.org.

Devon Harkins, Primary Lead Teacher at Libertas School of Memphis

Devon Harkins (Photos: Courtesy New Memphis and Londonz Eye Photography)

Devon (she/her) is currently a primary lead Montessori teacher at Libertas School of Memphis. She came to Memphis through Teach for America in 2016 and has been in the classroom teaching kindergarten and pre-K ever since. Devon received her Montessori credentials in 2022 and now is a trainer herself with Libertas’ own Montessori teacher training program.

Elisabeth Bogart Black, sixth grade social studies teacher at Grizzlies Prep Charter School

Elisabeth Bogart Black

Elisabeth (she/her) is in her eighth year of teaching social studies in Memphis. Currently working at Grizzlies Prep Charter School, she serves as grade level lead, debate coach, and a mentor teacher for the Memphis Teacher Residency. Elisabeth is a 2022 Barbara Rosser Hyde award winner and her debate team are reigning Metro Memphis Urban Debate League Champions. She received her bachelor of arts in history at McGill University and her master’s of education at Johns Hopkins University.

LaDerrick Williams, seventh grade science teacher at Freedom Preparatory Academy – Whitehaven Middle School at Brownlee

LaDerrick Williams

LaDerrick (he/him) is currently a seventh grade science teacher at Freedom Preparatory Academy – Whitehaven Middle School at Brownlee and serves as the science department lead, sixth and seventh grade science content writer, and mentor teacher for the Memphis area Man Up Teacher Fellowship. He received his bachelor of science in biology & pre-medicine from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, his master’s of education in secondary education through Relay Graduate School of Education, and is currently in his fourth year attending Liberty University as a candidate for doctor of education in educational leadership. LaDerrick has 17 years of service in education and has participated in various professional cohorts such as Memphis Teaching Fellows, KIPP Teacher Leader program, and Relay Graduate School of Education, where he served as an assistant professor of practice immediately after his graduation in 2017.

Paige Kusmec, fourth grade ELA teacher at Compass Berclair

Paige Kusmec

Paige (she/her) teaches fourth grade at Compass Berclair and is in her third year teaching in Memphis. She specializes in teaching multilingual learners and has previously taught first, second, fourth, and fifth grade multilingual learner students. She serves as a mentor teacher for the Memphis Teacher Residency and has obtained her master’s degree in urban education from Union University. She is a proud alumna of the New Memphis Stride cohort.

Taylor Price, ninth grade English teacher at Memphis East High School

Taylor Price

Taylor (she/her) teaches English and AP African American studies at East High School and is in her third year of teaching. A proud Memphis native, she is an alumna of Bellevue Middle School and Middle College High School. She is currently the English language arts (ELA) master teacher for East High and serves as a mentor teacher for Memphis Teacher Residency. She holds a master’s degree in urban education from Union University, is a New Memphis Stride alumna, and is currently earning her master’s certification as a reading specialist with Memphis Literacy Institute and Christian Brothers University. 

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News News Blog News Feature

Frozen Snake Semen Yields Global Breakthrough at Memphis Zoo

Credit: Memphis Zoo

Scientists at the Memphis Zoo have — for the first time in the world — successfully produced the first reptile offspring using frozen semen and artificial insemination. 

The team achieved the feat through its work to preserve the Louisiana pinesnake. The Memphis Zoo’s Science team is led by Dr. Steve Reichling, Beth Roberts, and previous post-doctoral scientist Dr. Mark Sandfoss. The team collected, froze, and later thawed semen, which was then used to successfully inseminate a female Louisiana pinesnake. 

Credit: Memphis Zoo

“Today, the future of endangered reptiles got a little brighter,” Reichling said.

Reptiles are often overlooked in such breeding methods, the zoo said in a news release. The concept of a “frozen zoo” has primarily focused on mammals, birds, and amphibians. The zoo’s method used in snakes demonstrated its potential in reptile conservation worldwide, it said.   

“The emergence of these three hatchlings summed up five years of reproductive research and 30 years of Memphis Zoo’s use of cutting-edge science and dedication to save the Louisiana pinesnake from extinction,” said Roberts, Senior Reproductive Scientist at Memphis Zoo.

Testing at Auburn University confirmed that the offspring were sired by the male snake donor. 

“We see this success as a huge step forward to enable future efforts to improve the genetic health of this species and other threatened reptile species,” said Dr. Tonia Schwartz, Associate Professor in Auburn’s Department of Biological Sciences. 

Credit: Memphis Zoo

The Louisiana pinesnake is one of the rarest snakes in North America. Habitat loss continues to threaten their survival. So, researchers said the ability to use frozen semen offers new hope for maintaining genetic diversity in the species and ensuring its long-term survival. The zoo team plans to continue its work in reptile conservation, building on its research, and collaborating with other institutions worldwide.

Credit: Memphis Zoo

 “Memphis Zoo is setting an example for the global community,” said Sandfoss, who spearheaded the research. “We’ve shown that it’s possible to use cryopreserved genetic material to aid in the recovery of an endangered species, paving the way for similar efforts with other reptile species in the future.” 

Categories
Politics Politics Feature

Inside the Republican Move to Block Memphis Taxes Over Guns

Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, holding sign, gestures to House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, on the left and pictured from the rear, while Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, turns to the camera on August 29, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Tennessee’s House and Senate speakers are threatening to punish Memphis by cutting its share of sales tax revenue — more than $75 million — if the city puts referendums on the November ballot restricting weapons, a move likely to force Memphis to sue the state.

Continuing a feud with the Democratic-controlled Bluff City, Republican leaders House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge), announced Monday in a news release the legislature “will not tolerate any attempts to go rogue and perform political sideshows.” Their statement says they plan to withhold state shared sales tax to any local government that tries to circumvent state laws. 

The speakers’ move comes in response to referendums set for Memphis’ November ballot asking voters whether they approve amendments to the city charter requiring a handgun permit, restrictions on gun storage in cars, an assault weapons ban after Jan. 1, and authority to enact extreme risk protections orders often referred to as red flag laws.

Following the Republican leaders statements, Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett said his office won’t allow the referendums, all but guaranteeing a lawsuit, according to multiple reports. 

A Monday letter to Shelby County Commission Chairman Mark Luttrell from Tennessee Elections Administrator Mark Goins says state law preempts firearms regulation and extreme orders of protection from local ordinances and leaves “no authority” for the city of Memphis to propose charter amendments on them, thus any referendum would be “facially void and cannot be placed on the ballot.”

But Memphis City Council chairman JB Smiley said Monday, “We believe we’re right on the law.” If the council gives him the authority, he said he will instruct the city’s attorney to file for a declaratory judgment in Chancery Court to put the questions on the ballot.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton during the start of 2024 legislative session on January 9, 2024 in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Memphis City Councilman Jeff Warren, who sponsored the referendum resolutions, said he believes Sexton and McNally are confused on the issue, because the referendums would be “enabling” measures that couldn’t take effect without the approval from state lawmakers. Smiley agrees with Warren, saying the council would have to act on the referendums, too.

“What we’re hoping will happen is the state legislature will look at this and say, … ‘They’re trying to combat their violent crime by being able to do something about these people with these guns that don’t need them and are using them to commit crimes,” Warren said.

The local government would be able to enforce those resolutions only with state backing, he said.

Warren, a physician by trade, noted people in rural areas are more likely to need weapons to protect crops and livestock from varmints, but that the situation is different in urban areas such as Memphis, where people are “driving around in cars, doing donuts with AK-47s hanging out the car.”

Still, the House Speaker’s Office contends Memphis shouldn’t be trying to pass such measures if they don’t have the effect of law. It further believes they are a tactic to drive voter turnout in November, possibly affecting Republicans with marginal support such as Rep. John Gillespie (R-Memphis). 

“With the recent actions of the progressive, soft-on-crime (district attorney) in Shelby County and the Memphis City Council’s continued efforts to override state law with local measures, we feel it has become necessary to take action and protect all Tennesseans’ rights and liberties. We hope they will change course immediately,” Sexton said in the statement.

McNally echoed the sentiment, saying, “The Tennessee Constitution clearly outlines the roles and responsibilities of the state and local governments. Shelby County needs to understand that despite their hopes and wishes to the contrary, they are constrained by these explicit constitutional guardrails.” 

The Republican-controlled legislature has declined to pass any such proposals the past two years despite a mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville where six people, including three 9-year-olds, were killed in March 2023.

Memphis leaders say they’re searching for a solution to an “epidemic” of gun violence that escalated after the state’s General Assembly passed a permit-less handgun carry law.

Memphis Council member JB Smiley, Jr. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Memphis City Council chairman Smiley, co-sponsor of the referendums, said the legislature can’t legally withhold Memphis and Shelby County tax revenue.

Smiley contended “it’s anti-democratic if we don’t want to listen to the people,” and noted the council’s actions have not violated state law. He called the speakers’ statements “premature.”

“If they believe they’re within their right to withhold tax revenue that’s duly owed to the city of Memphis, we would like to see what the judges say,” Smiley said, predicting such action by the legislature would be found unconstitutional.

The state lost a handful of court battles with Nashville over the past two years after trying to control Davidson County’s sports, airport, and fairground authorities, in addition to cutting the number of Metro Council members from 40 to 20.

Republican state lawmakers have been at odds with Memphis Democrats for several years and passed a measure earlier this session turning back a Memphis ordinance designed to stop police from making “pretextual” traffic stops for minor violations that can lead to confrontations. The council approved that measure in response to the death of Tyre Nichols who died after being beaten by five Memphis police officers when he was stopped for reckless driving in January 2023.

In addition, Sexton and Republican Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) are trying to oust Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy, a Democrat, claiming he isn’t prosecuting criminal suspects effectively. Even so, the latest reports show the crime rate dropped in Memphis over the last year.

State Rep. Justin J. Pearson (D-Memphis) said the withholding of state tax dollars would lead to a lawsuit. Pearson was one of two lawmakers expelled from the legislature for leading a protest on the House floor for stricter gun laws in 2023 in response to The Covenant School shooting. The Shelby County Commission returned him to the General Assembly a week later.

Pearson contends Sexton and McNally “can’t help themselves but to unconstitutionally and anti-constitutionally reach into local governments’ matters.” The freshman lawmaker called their announcement “ridiculous, reckless and racist” and also referred to their actions as “tyrannical and authoritarian.”

He noted Sexton is now saying a “majority Black city can’t self-govern” after having him and Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville), both young Black men, expelled from the state General Assembly.

Pearson pointed out the nation was founded on the concept of “no taxation without representation” but that the speakers want to take Memphis’ state shared tax dollars because of the possibility that city voters could disagree with them about gun laws.

Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis) accused Republican lawmakers of “dismantling” gun laws and allowing weapons to “flood” the state while “turning a blind eye” to the impact on families and neighborhoods. Under Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s leadership, the legislature passed a permit-less handgun carry law, and the age was lowered to 18 as the result of a settlement between the state attorney general and a group that sued the state. 

Gunshot wounds are now the leading cause of death for Tennessee children, she said.

“The ballot reforms being considered by Memphis voters are common-sense measures designed to curb this epidemic of violence,” Lamar said. “Our community is crying out for solutions, and instead of being met with support, we’re facing intimidation from state politicians who should be our partners in ensuring safety and justice.”

House Minority Leader Karen Camper (D-Memphis) also blasted the speakers’ move, pointing out Shelby County generated $2 billion in sales tax revenue last year.

“To suggest that these vital funds could be withheld over a local decision aimed at ensuring public safety is shortsighted and counterproductive,” she said in a letter to McNally and Sexton.

Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com. Follow Tennessee Lookout on Facebook and X.

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Theater Theater Feature

Ostranders Salute Best in Theater

Ostrander night entertainment included an energetic scene by the cast from Hattiloo Theatre's "Blues in the Night." Photo: Jon W. Sparks

A theatrical production may end its run, but it’s never really over until the awards are announced. That happened Monday night at the Orpheum as the 40th annual Memphis Ostrander Awards were held to celebrate the best in local theater.

No production ran off with all the recognition, but ones that did well included Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Theatre Memphis) with six trophies, and Your Arms Too Short to Box With God (Playhouse on the Square) and Silent Sky (Next Stage, Theatre Memphis) which both won five awards.

For Emily F. Chateau, it was especially sweet, as she walked away with two plaques, one for Supporting Actress in a Division I Musical — Cinderella at Theatre Memphis, and the other for Supporting Actress in a Division I Play — Silent Sky on the Next Stage at Theatre Memphis. Observing that the evening was stacked with top performers, she noted that “being on stage with such talent is a gift.”

Awards are given in a wide range of categories including acting, directing, and backstage contributions in the college, community and professional divisions. The awards ceremony included live performances of musical numbers from eight nominees for Outstanding Overall Production. 

There was a special presentation for the Eugart Yerian Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, Michael Detroit, Executive Producer of Playhouse on the Square. 

Originally referred to as the Memphis Theatre Awards, the name was changed in 2001 to the Ostranders in honor of beloved local actor Jim Ostrander. 

2024 The Ostranders crowd in the lobby of the Orpheum Monday, August 26th.

The winners:

Props Design, Div II: Molly O’Connor, Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild

Props Design, Div I Play: Jack Netzel-Yates, Steel Magnolias, Theatre Memphis

Props Design, Div I Musical: Jack Netzel-Yates, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis

Scenic Design, Div II: Clare Kelly, Into the Woods, University of Memphis, and The Wasp, Quark Theatre

Scenic Design, Div I Play: J. David Galloway, The Lehman Trilogy, Circuit Playhouse

Scenic Design, Div I Musical: Jack Netzel-Yates, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis

Lighting Design, Div II: Melissa Andrews, Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild

Lighting Design, Div I Play: Nicole Northington, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Lighting Design, Div I Musical: Terry Eikleberry, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square

Sound Design, Div II: Ty Phillips, Out in the Woods: FOG Fairy Tales, Friends of George’s

Sound Design, Div I Play: Joe Johnson, A Monster Calls, New Moon Theatre

Sound Design, Div I Musical: Reyn Lehman, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis

Hair/Wig/Makeup Design, Div II: Eula Ashbee, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre, and Friends of George’s, Out in the Woods: FOG Fairy Tales, Friends of George’s

Hair, Wig, & Makeup Design, Div I Play: Barbara Sanders, Blithe Spirit, Theatre Memphis

Hair, Wig, & Makeup Design, Div I Musical: Buddy Hart, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis

Costume Design, Div II: Eula Ashbee, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre

Costume Design, Div I Play: Amie Eoff, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Costume Design, Div I Musical: Amie Eoff, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis, and Amie Eoff, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis

Music Direction, Div II: Nathan Thomas, Into the Woods, University of Memphis

Music Direction, Div I Play: Gary Beard, Master Class, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Music Direction, Div I Musical: Tammy Holt, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square

Choreography, Div II: Austin Wall, Into the Woods, University of Memphis

Choreography, Div I Play: Whitney Branan and Courtney Oliver, A Monster Calls, New Moon Theatre

Choreography, Div I Musical: Emma Crystal & Noelia Warnette-Jones, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square and Travis Bradley and Jordan Nichols, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis

Featured Performer, Div II  Play: Cary Vaughn, The Western Park Album, Emerald Theatre Company

Featured Performer, Div I Play: Fatima L. Gray, A Raisin in the Sun, Theatre Memphis

Featured Performer, Div II Musical: Jasmine Gillenwaters, Erin McKee, & Madilyn Mobbs, Into the Woods, University of Memphis

Featured Performer, Div I Musical: Justin Asher and Stephen Garrett, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis

Featured Dancer, Div I Musical: Karl Robinson, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square

Supporting Actor, Div II Play: Micah Winter-Cole aka “Goldie Dee Collins,” Out in the Woods: FOG Fairy Tales, Friends of George’s

Supporting Actress, Div II Play: Taylor Edwards, Silent Sky, University of Memphis

Supporting Actor, Div I Play: Eric Schultz, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Supporting Actress, Div I Play: Emily F. Chateau, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Supporting Actor, Div II Musical: Aidan Saunders, Twelfth Night: The Musical, Harrell Theatre

Supporting Actress, Div II Musical: Cassie Thompson, Zanna, Don’t, Emerald Theatre Company

Supporting Actor, Div I Musical: Jonathan Christian, The Prom, Playhouse on the Square

Supporting Actress, Div I Musical: Emily F. Chateau, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis

Leading Actor, Div II Play: Taylor Roberts, The Sound Inside, Quark Theatre

Leading Actress, Div II Play: Mary Hollis Inboden, The Wasp, Quark Theatre, and Meghan L. Lewis, The Wasp, Quark Theatre

Leading Actor, Div I Play: John Maness, Kevar Maffitt, & Michael Gravois, The Lehman Trilogy, Circuit Playhouse

Leading Actress, Div I Play: Flo Roach, A Raisin in the Sun, Hattiloo Theatre

Leading Actor, Div II Musical: Steele Bowers, Murder Ballad, University of Memphis

Leading Actress, Div II Musical: Campbell Williams, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre

Leading Actor, Div I Musical: Bentley Black, Catch Me If You Can, Playhouse on the Square

Leading Actress, Div I Musical: Cameron Crawford, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis

Ensemble, Div II Play: Out in the Woods: FOG Fairy Tales, Friends of George’s

Ensemble, Div I Play: A Monster Calls, New Moon Theatre

Ensemble, Div II Musical: Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild

Ensemble, Div I Musical: Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square

Original Script: Western Park Album, Howell Pearre, Emerald Theatre Company

Direction, Div II: Aliza Moran, Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild

Direction, Div I Play: Warner Crocker, The Lehman Trilogy, Circuit Playhouse

Direction, Div I Musical: Cecelia Wingate, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis

Production, Div II: The Wasp, Quark Theatre, Director: Tony Isbell; Stage Manager: Leslie Lee

Production, Div I Play: The Lehman Trilogy, Circuit Playhouse; Director: Warner Crocker; Stage Manager: Emma White

Production, Div I Musical: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis; Director: Cecelia Wingate; Stage Manager: Chelsea Robinson

The Otis Smith Dance Award: Courtney Oliver

Larry Riley Rising Star Award: Mac White

Janie McCrary Putting it Together Award: Terry Dean

Behind the Scenes Award: P.A. Bomani

For the 2023-2024 season, 14 organizations participated in the Ostrander Awards, submitting 63 productions for adjudication. The participating theaters are:

Actors Renaissance Theatre

Emerald Theatre Company

Friends of George’s

Germantown Community Theatre

Harrell Theatre

Hattiloo Theatre

New Moon

Playhouse on the Square

Quark Theatre

Rhodes Theatre Guild

Theatre Memphis

Three Diamonds Productions

True Believers Productions

University of Memphis

Categories
News News Blog News Feature

Black Business Association Switches to Chamber of Commerce Model

Photo: Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

The Black Business Association of Memphis (BBA), a 50-year-old organization founded by Black merchants with the intent to support African-American business owners in their endeavors through advocacy, is looking to expand their vision and purpose.

BBA will take on a “chamber of commerce” model and will now be known as the Black Chamber of Memphis.

Being in a unique position that sees the talent of Memphis’ own Black entrepreneurs, the BBA also recognizes the potential Memphis has to elevate such talent.

Heartland Forward, a nonprofit organization, released their report, “Black Business Opportunity Strategy: The Journey of Black Business Owners in Memphis,” in October 2023, where they found that 12,571 Black individuals in the city earn their income through self-employment. 

They also found that while the city has a density of Black-owned businesses, it is disproportionate to the population size with 46 percent of the Memphis metro area being comprised of Black citizens, with only 7.3 percent of firms being Black-owned.

Ernest Strickland, president and CEO of the Black Chamber of Memphis, said a challenge that the city faces is that the landscape is spread out and lacks a concentration other cities, like Atlanta, Georgia, and Houston, Texas, have. Atlanta and Houston have become prime locations for Black business owners not only to see their businesses thrive but also to create generational wealth and legacy.

“We don’t have the density …, which is why it’s even more important for business owners to take a step back before starting, to see where they would have the best propensity for success,” Strickland said.

He added that this anniversary year serves as the perfect opportunity to tackle these challenges and take on a new journey.

“The BBA has done amazing work over these last 50 years,” Strickland said. “One of the things I challenge my team with is, imagine Memphis being this robust metropolitan — the capital of the South if you will. People are pouring in, opportunities being bountiful, companies booming. Once you imagine that type of Memphis, I want you to take a step back and ask, ‘How do we get there?’”

Strickland said they are working to rebrand BBA into an organization that is laser-focused on helping build wealth in the Black community, while also serving as a catalyst to unlock Memphis’ full potential. As a result, they are looking to move toward a “chamber of commerce model.”

“It will allow us to do more as far as bringing on new members, identify[ing] and attract[ing] more corporate sponsors,” Strickland said. “It will allow us to focus our programming on what’s important. That’s people, helping business, and building wealth in the Black community.”

While the BBA is excited for this next chapter and the opportunity to revamp, this doesn’t mean they’ll scrap the framework that has gotten the organization to this point.

“You really have to pay homage and honor people who had the vision and foresight to recognize that Memphis was a mecca and metropolitan, but also we had a large concentration of Black people who called Memphis home,” Strickland said. “It was very visionary for them to say, ‘Hey we need an organization or agency that works to help grow these Black businesses that are here.’”

The landscape has changed significantly since 1964, with many people opting to hone their own talents as opposed to taking them to a larger corporation. Strickland said this was especially true since the pandemic, with him seeing a boom in restaurants, retail, and mom-and-pop shops.

The organization is primarily focused on growth, and they realize that growth looks different for each person. Strickland said many of their members are part-time owners looking to expand intro full-time, while some may want to build “the next FedEx.” 

Regardless of each member’s end-goal, Strickland said they meet them wherever they are and understand their viability, qualifications, and more.

“What can we do to help ensure success and mitigate failure? That’s our role in this entire process,” Strickland said.

Part of ensuring success and mitigating failure is propelling the organization forward. Strickland added they will be a stronger partner in the economic development ecosystem not only by supporting other chambers but also by ensuring that Black businesses are victorious.

Categories
News News Blog News Feature

Coletta Steps Down from Memphis River Parks Partnership

Carol Coletta, Memphis River Parks Partnership President and CEO (Photo: Memphis River Parks Partnership)

Carol Coletta will step down as CEO of the Memphis River Parks Partnership (MRPP) and the board will soon begin a nationwide search for her successor.

Coletta, a Memphis native, helmed the organization since 2018. During her time, the group completed four major projects — River Garden, Fourth Bluff Park, River Line, and Tom Lee Park. Together, the projects totaled more than $80 million. Coletta told MRPP board members those projects were delivered “on budget and on time.”    

“We have done amazing work together,” she said. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to work with you, our fantastic team, and our generous donors to begin the work of making a riverfront worthy of our magnificent river. 

“We’ve completed four major projects on budget and on time. We did it in only six years. We have attracted more than one million people to the new Tom Lee Park in its first year. We have another major project, The Flyway, underway that will significantly increase that number.”

Memphis-based Adams Keegan will conduct the search for Coletta’s replacement, set to begin next month. The search is expected to conclude by year’s end. 

The transformation of Tom Lee Park was easily Coletta’s biggest and highest-profile project in her term at MRPP. The project was lauded by many local officials and business owners, urban design firms, and media. Fast Company, for example, called it one of the top three urban design World Changing ideas.

The new park also had detractors, especially Memphis in May (MIM), which fought the design, even through a forced mediation process from then-Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. MIM blamed the new design on dwindling attendance and a few years of financial losses.     

Coletta said she will “support the [MRPP] in any way I am needed until the board finds the right leader.” 

“There is exciting work ahead, and [MRPP] is well-positioned and committed to getting it done,” said Coletta. “To maximize the value of our riverfront, it must be better connected to Downtown and nearby neighborhoods. We also have a big opportunity to activate our harbor, and Mud Island needs a successful, sustainable future.

“The next seven years of work will be just as tough as the last seven.  But the results will have as much impact — maybe more — than anything we’ve done to date. This is an intense and rewarding job for someone who will start and finish this work and who will own it all the way to completion.”