Author: Rachel Stinson

Get the Blues

Post author By Rachel Stinson
Post date July 12, 2007

On July 14th, people will have the chance to see the regional impact of blues music in photographs. Then, they’ll get to hear the music for themselves.

“Blues in the Park,” a concert series in West Memphis put on by the Crittenden Arts Council, is in its second year. Saturday’s event also includes a special viewing of the Center for Southern Folklore’s archival photo exhibit “Memphis Rhythms” at the Crittenden Arts Council, from 4 to 6 p.m. The blues/gospel concert follows at Worthington Park.

“The concert is a way to honor our blues heritage in West Memphis,” says Janine Earney, executive director of the arts council. “In the ’40s and ’50s, West Memphis was the incubator for electric blues.”

The concert kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and will feature the gospel group Spirit of Memphis, 1983 inductees into the Gospel Hall of Fame. Blues music will take over at 7 p.m. with Blind Mississippi Morris and Brad Webb. Morris has been rated among the top-10 harmonica players worldwide by Bluzharp magazine. Webb has played the blues since age 13 and has been performing with Morris for more than 20 years.

“Blues music brings people together and crosses all barriers,” Earney says. “It’s indigenous to the area and reaches everyone, no matter what race, age, or sex. It’s a wonderful unifying music.”

The culmination of the concert series will take place October 20th with an amateur blues/rhythm competition. But for now, park-goers won’t be competing — just listening and, most likely, moving their bodies.

“Blues in the Park,” Saturday, July 14th, 5:30 p.m., Worthington Park (South Worthington Drive, West Memphis). free.

“Memphis Rhythms,” AT Crittenden Arts Council (1800 N. Missouri Street, West Memphis), 4 to 6 p.m. For more information, call 870-732-6260.

Tags Blues in the Park, concert, live, Music, preview, We Recommend

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Branch Office

Post author By Rachel Stinson
Post date July 12, 2007

CREDIT: Silberschuh9875 | dreamstime.com

For a lot of people, art is a mysterious, half-smiling woman without eyebrows. For Catherine Blackwell, art also includes a tea party at a compost pile.

On Saturday, July 14th, Blackwell, a Memphis College of Art graduate student, will unveil her latest work at the Memphis Botanic Garden. But “Fallen From View” does not incorporate traditional pieces of art. Instead, Blackwell will lead a series of environmental tours on Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings. As she explains, “The tour itself will be the artwork.”

Consisting of several stops, each tour will last approximately 45 minutes. Blackwell will talk about the environment, touching on topics such as invasive plant species and tree diseases caused by global warming.

The tour ends with a tea party near a compost pile, something Blackwell calls “totally ironic.”

Blackwell realizes that her idea of art might raise a few eyebrows.

“It’s very nontraditional, and I welcome debate on whether it’s art at all,” she says. “I’m all for discourse. I’m trying to offer lots of vantage points to let people make up their own minds on environmental issues.”

Blackwell will lead day and night tours, with the latter showing something people rarely see: the Botanic Garden after hours.

Blackwell says, “I hope my tour will allow people to understand the environment a little more. Information is half the battle.”

“Fallen from View,” Memphis Botanic Garden, Saturday tours at 10 a.m. Tuesday tours at 9 p.m. July 14th-August 28th (no tour on August 18th). $2. For more information, call 576-4100.

Tags art, Botanic Garden, exhibit, preview, University of Memphis

News The Fly-By

Q&A: Martavius Jones,

Post author By Rachel Stinson
Post date July 12, 2007

When Memphis City Schools (MCS) superintendent Carol Johnson announced she’d be leaving for Boston in August, students asked her to stay and school officials quickly recognized that hiring both her successor and a qualified replacement to serve in the interim would be a challenge. Now, following the July 5th application deadline for an interim candidate and a July 9th search committee meeting, MCS must make an important decision. The Flyer recently spoke with Martavius Jones, MCS board commissioner and head of the search committee, about the interim search process and position.

— By Rachel Stinson

Flyer: How long do you think it will take to hire an interim superintendent?

Jones: When we had the original June 29th [application] deadline, I was hopeful that we could have the process done by the 16th. In light of the process being reopened until July 5th, I’m hoping we can make the decision by July 30th.

What qualities are you looking for?

The board feels that we’re headed in the right direction with MCS. We’re not looking for someone to come in and change the way things are. We want to continue in the same direction.

How will the interim’s salary compare to Johnson’s?

The interim’s salary range will start at $150,000 with the upper end at $185,000. The upper end is about $20,000 less than Dr. Johnson’s salary.

Do you think it would be beneficial to hire someone who is already familiar with MCS?

I think it would be a benefit. I also think it would be a benefit to hire someone with a management or business background. There are merits to both.

I’d like the board to select the top three traditional candidates and the top three [management or business] candidates.

How long will it take to hire a new superintendent?

We think that a comprehensive search will last six months to a year, but Boston’s search for a superintendent lasted 18 months. Finding a qualified superintendent for a large urban school district is a challenge. We have our work cut out for us.

Do you believe this is a competitive position?

Finding someone qualified to do the job is difficult. It would be a lot easier if we had 25 qualified candidates for a large urban school district knocking on our door.

Why is this an important decision, even though interim superintendent is only a temporary position?

The loss of Dr. Johnson is a definite setback. The interim will decide if that setback is permanent or not.

Tags Boston, Carol Johnson, Interim, Martavius Jones, mcs, Memphis City Schools, school superintendent

News The Fly-By

Rhodents in the Wild

Post author By Rachel Stinson
Post date July 5, 2007

CREDIT: Patrick Deveau

The more than 1,300 pictures in Jacy Gentry’s scrapbook reveal sunbathing cheetahs, wind-sculpted sand dunes, and sunsets that bleed orange and pink. But it is only a small peek into a world that blurs the line between nature and civilization.

A Rhodes College junior from Collierville, Gentry was among nine biology students who participated in an environmental field study in Namibia from May 16th to June 6th. The excursion was a “Maymester,” Rhodes’ intensive summer program in which students earn credit hours by hands-on learning in a foreign country.

In this case, the biology students were studying wildlife preservation. Because the population of Namibia is only about 1.8 million people and the country is equivalent in size to France, wildlife is abundant.

Biology professor Rosanna Cappellato, who has led the Maymester to Namibia for the last three years, taught the spring 2007 class that was a prerequisite to the trip.

“There is incredible space,” said Cappellato, “and something about the country makes you feel good.”

A guide accompanied the group to such wildlife sites as Etosha National Park, the Elephant Human Relations Association, and the Cape Cross Seal Reserve, home to 150,000 seals.

Patrick Deveau

Jacy Gentry dances with a Himba woman while children look on.

The group also visited AfriCat, a non-profit organization that protects carnivorous animals, especially cheetahs and leopards. In Namibia, cheetahs number 2,000 — more than any other African country — and the students could track the animals on foot. Several of the cheetahs wore special collars that allowed the students to remotely monitor their movements.

But an especially memorable part of the trip for Gentry was meeting the Himbas. The Himba men were away from the village, but the women took the students inside their huts and then performed a dance outside as their children looked on.

“The kids were adorable,” said Gentry. “They would hang on to me, grab my legs, hold my hands, and not let go.”

Though the students were an ocean away from the United States, Gentry felt at home in the environment. Likewise, some of that environment felt at home with the students.

“One time, two troops of baboons broke into our bungalow and raided our kitchen,” Gentry said, laughing. “Afterward, we found a big pile of trash behind the bungalows.”

Upon their return to the States, the students began writing research papers based on their trip, and Cappellato hopes some will be published. For Gentry, the trip further fueled her desire to study biology and wildlife preservation. “It taught me how important it is to preserve what you have while you still have it,” she said, “because once you go so far one way, you can’t go back.”

Tags Nambia, Rhodes College, wildlife preservation

We Recommend We Recommend

Brainiacs

Post author By Rachel Stinson
Post date July 5, 2007

Use it or lose it.

The saying rings especially true for the brain. Now, a workshop led by the Alzheimer’s Association will instruct people how to use it to prevent memory loss.

“Once we get into habits, we don’t stimulate different parts of our brains. It’s important to do things outside of your comfort zone,” says Sheryl Ludeke-Smith, the association’s regional director. “The key is to stimulate the whole brain so that if you do have a stroke or get dementia, you can use other parts of your brain.”

The July 10th workshop will reinforce the significance of whole-brain stimulation by providing information and introducing interactive exercises. Among those exercises are working a Sudoku puzzle and a challenge in which participants must remembering color names that are written in different colors.

“We’ll also be talking about the Nun Study,” Ludeke-Smith says. The ongoing study began in 1986, using nuns to identify risk factors for Alzheimer’s. In part, thanks to the study, doctors now know that eating well, exercising regularly, not smoking, and interacting socially can all strengthen brain synapses.

But an especially beneficial activity might come as a surprise: ballroom dancing. As Ludeke-Smith explains, “You’re learning and being social, and it’s physical activity.”

Though aimed at baby boomers, the workshop welcomes all ages. “You’re never too young or too old to start protecting your brain for the rest of your life,” Ludeke-Smith says. “Very small changes over the course of your lifetime can make a big difference. Your memory is who you are.”

“Maintain Your Brain” workshop, Alzheimer’s Association, Tuesday, July 10th, 6:30 p.m. the village at Germantown, 7820 Walking horse circle. Free but limited registration. Call 565-0011 or e-mail lisa.bobal@alz.org for required pre-registration.

Tags alzheimer, alzheimer's, brain stimulation, preview

News The Fly-By

By Leaps and Bounds

Post author By Rachel Stinson
Post date June 28, 2007

Twenty feet in the air, the young athlete seems as confident as if he were standing on the ground. Within seconds, he drops back to the surface of the trampoline, which contours to his feet for a moment before he springs even higher.

At the USA Gymnastics’ 2007 Trampoline and Tumbling National Championships, youths and young adults from around the country are bouncing about everywhere.

As the athletes warm up at the Memphis Cook Convention Center, a young woman sprints onto a mini-trampoline before catapulting herself into the air. Nearby, men with triangular torsos leap and flip in synchronization.

Clearly, no one here is scared of heights.

But it takes far more than confidence to arrive at the national championships. According to Ann Sims, trampoline and tumbling program director, “Anyone can jump on a trampoline, but to excel, you need spatial awareness, flexibility, and a strong mental attitude.”

Sims, who has been with USA Gymnastics since 1999, first became interested in trampoline and tumbling when her children participated in the sports. Now, she witnesses others determined to excel.

“They have to jump through all the hoops to get here,” she says. And, of course, they have to jump quite a bit literally.

This year, more than 1,700 athletes are competing in the championships.

Because trampoline and tumbling competitions are dangerous, safety must be taken seriously, Sims emphasizes: “All sports have liabilities, but we limit that to a minimum through the best equipment and safety.”

According to Sims, trampoline and tumbling are evolved forms of activities children enjoy anyway. “With competing, the kids just go higher and faster,” she explains.

Elite athletes soar up to 20 feet, Sims tells me. I later notice coaches and safety guards huddling around a trampoline, necks craned, while a young athlete rises higher and higher. Her turquoise leotard shimmers as she artfully twists her torso and extends her legs.

But Sims is referring just as much to passion as to physical skill when she states, “This is when they peak.”

Tags championship, gymnastics, nationals, Sports

We Recommend We Recommend

Have a Blast

Post author By Rachel Stinson
Post date June 28, 2007

Everyone’s heard of celebrating red, white, and blue on July 4th, but red, white, and blues? Only in Memphis.

One of this year’s major Independence Day celebrations, the Red, White, and Blues Star Spangled Celebration merges two events: the WMC Star Spangled Celebration and the Red, White, and Blues Celebration.

With the help of sponsors Entercom Radio Memphis and the Beale Street Merchants Association, the event will be the largest Fourth of July celebration and fireworks display in the Mid-South.

“Where else can you go and see an American Idol finalist, Skillet, and the Average White Band all in one show?” says Baker Yates, promotions director for WMFS 93X and Country Legends WMC 79. That AI finalist is Kimberley Locke, and as an added bonus, she’ll be performing the National Anthem.

In addition to the music and fireworks, there will be a Harley-Davidson ride, featuring the Elvis Presley 30th Anniversary Signature Series bike, as well as kids’ activities, such as a pony ride, games, and a moon bounce.

Everyone is welcome to bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets, but plenty of food will also be available on site.

“It’s a fun, family-oriented event, and there’s something for everyone,” Yates says. “It’s our official Independence Day celebration for the city. This is the party to go to.”

Red, White, and Blues Star Spangled Celebration, Tom Lee Park, Saturday, June 30th. event begins at 2 p.m. and fireworks at 9:45 p.m. free. 729-3269.

Tags blues, celebration, July 4th, Red, Star Spangled, White

News The Fly-By

Q&A: Denise Bollheimer

Post author By Rachel Stinson
Post date June 21, 2007

In a study released last week titled “Aiming High: Results from a State Scorecard on Health System Performance,” the South failed miserably. But barbecue and deep-fried Twinkies can’t take all the blame. The private health foundation study evaluated states in five categories: access, quality, avoidable costs, equity, and healthy lives.

Hawaii came out on top, while Mississippi and Oklahoma tied for last. Arkansas was 48th, and Tennessee came in 40th. The Flyer recently spoke with Denise Bollheimer, chair of the Healthy Memphis Common Table, about these results and their implications for Memphis. — by Rachel Stinson

Flyer: Why did Mississippi tie for last?

Bollheimer: Health conditions in Mississippi — and Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana — might have been prevented with timely and appropriate health care.

In the study, nearly 20 percent of adults in Mississippi went without care because of costs. Mississippi is among the states with the highest rates of uninsured adults in the nation. Because of the lack of access, people in the region use expensive emergency care more than in other states.

Memphis is situated next to two of the three lowest-ranking states.

Many of the health concerns in the Memphis region could be reduced with better diet, exercise, stress control, and access to care. Obesity and diabetes occur at epidemic levels in this area. These conditions lead to many other problems. In addition, improved access to care is a critical factor in improving health. It is far less expensive to the patient, employers, and the economy if care is received in the early stages of a disease.

Should this study be taken seriously?

Yes, very seriously. Poor health outcomes in states with high poverty rates place a heavy burden of illness on everyone, including employers, taxpayers, and local governments. The problem raises serious challenges for care systems like the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, the UT doctors who help patients there, and public-health policies and funding.

Tags Denise, health, healthy states, Memphis Health Care

News The Fly-By

Q&A: Phil Cannon,

Post author By Rachel Stinson
Post date June 14, 2007

“Golf is a good walk spoiled,” Mark Twain once famously said. But for Phil Cannon, tournament director of the Stanford St. Jude Championship golf tournament, golf is a good walk, period — especially when it benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A volunteer with the tournament since 1968, Cannon became tournament director in 2000. Last week, the Flyer spoke with Cannon during the tournament’s 50th anniversary. — by Rachel Stinson

Flyer: What is your favorite memory from the tournament?

Cannon: Working with the volunteers has generated hundreds of memories for me because they’re donating their time and raising money for children. For every five years of volunteering, we award the Volunteer Year Pin. After someone has volunteered for 25 years, we give the gold pin. This year, Gertie Tribo was the first volunteer to get the diamond pin for 50 years of volunteering.

On a more personal level, I’ve loved the opportunity to make friends with Bill Murray; he came to play in the pro-am in 2005. He is the most generous, down-to-earth celebrity in the world. Every once in a while, my cell phone rings, and it’s Bill Murray.

What about the tornado in 1986?

That was FedEx’s first year as title sponsor, and it was then that we really saw FedEx’s “can-do” spirit. The storm came in about 6 p.m. the night before, and it blew down trees everywhere. The PGA tour accessed everything and said we were in jeopardy of not being able to have the tournament. Either we were going to need hundreds of people to clean up, or we were not going to have it.

The next morning at 5 a.m., there were 250 people out there working as human vacuums. They weren’t even trained volunteers; they were just hard workers. That really was an indicator of FedEx and the local community.

Which hole is the most difficult?

The 14th hole is the most challenging. It’s over water, and [with the wind blowing] 15 to 20 mph, it’s difficult.

The slogan for the tournament used to be “Hush, Y’all,” but it changed this year. Why?

Early on in conversations with Stanford, we came to the realization that this was much more global for them than for FedEx; certain things that translated well in the Mid-South didn’t translate well globally. “Hush, Y’all” may have fit the Mid-South and been endearing here, but it wasn’t global. Our new slogan is “Desire Knows No Bounds.”

How long does it take to plan the tournament?

We have 1,850 volunteers this year, and they’ve worked a combined 22,500 hours. They love the family atmosphere, and they love the chance to combine effectively into big teams to raise money for St. Jude children. We also have six full-time staff members year-round. On Monday, June 11th, we start planning the next tournament.

Tags FedEx, interview, Sports, St. Jude Golf Tournament