Hattiloo Theatre building to open in Overton Square

The new Hattiloo Theatre is expected to be completed in June, near other established theatres such as Playhouse on the Square.

Currently located on Marshall Avenue, the Hattiloo Theatre brings the presence of black theatre to Memphis.

Read the story here. 

Midtown Music Shop offering something a little different

The Midtown Music Shop, which opened in November, is the newest addition to music-oriented shops in the Cooper-Young Area, offering instruments that are a little different - everything from ukuleles to mandolins to banjos.

Read the story here.

Q&A: Goner Records a great place for music, vinyl

Located on 2152 Young Avenue, Goner Records is owned by Eric Friedl and Zac Ives. Friedl, who is a musician started the store with Ives after the Goner Records label was already in existence. Now the store is a great place for fans of vinyl records. Friedl discussed Goner Records and why vinyl is making a comeback.

Read the interview here.

Anne Frank ends an unforgettable run at Playhouse

The unforgettable play The Diary of Anne Frank, has had quite a unique run at Playhouse on the Square, according to director Irene Crist.

“I had done the role when I was thirteen years old and it had a profound effect on me,” said Crist, “and when I read this script, it was a different adaptation, and it is so much more realistic than the old one.”

Crist mentioned just how different it was, including the time period it was first done in, where the war had just finished and the Holocaust was a raw concept.

Read the story here.

Sonic Massage heals body, reduces stress at the Memphis Drum Shop

The Memphis Drum Shop features a one-of-a-kind experience every month called the Sonic Massage that is designed to heal the body and relax the mind.

The Sonic Massage uses sounds as a stress reliever, and people who have used it said it has worked for them.

Read the story here.

New ballet ensemble’s Springloaded begins this weekend

The New Ballet Ensemble, located on York Avenue, is having their spring show, Springloaded, from April 25-27.

This program will present the ballet Coppélia, a story about a toymaker who wishes for his favorite doll to be alive. However, this dance company is adding their own twist to this classic tale.

Read the story here.

Abortion in Memphis

No one can doubt that the topic of abortion and women’s rights is frequently brought up in today’s politics. Rebecca Terrell, executive director of CHOICES, says “Women get used to make political points. And these flames are fanned very deliberately by conservative politicians who know a good socially divisive issue when they see one.”  Especially in the United States, society is placing emphasis on either maintaining women’s rights to terminate their pregnancy, or removing those rights. Both sides are very vocal in this country. 

Even though Tennessee is in the conservative south and considered to be a red state, there are safe places that take care of women. There are a few in Nashville, such as the Women’s Center, and more in East Tennessee, such as the Bristol Regional Women’s Center. In Memphis, however, there are three clinics that provide abortion services: Memphis Center for Reproductive Health (CHOICES), Memphis Area Medical Center, and Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region. 

Planned Parenthood is perhaps the most well-known organization that provides services in health care. Forming in the early 20^th century, it began in New York and soon spread throughout the entire country in every state. Part of its mission statement says that Planned Parenthood “believes in the fundamental right of each individual, throughout the world, to manage his or her fertility, regardless of the individual's income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or residence.” It provides services in areas such as birth control, testing for sexually transmitted infections, vasectomies, and of course, abortion. There are four cities in Tennessee that hold Planned Parenthood clinics: Johnson City, Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis, whose clinic is located on Poplar Avenue. However, Planned Parenthood is not the only choice for a woman who might need abortion services.

            CHOICES is a medical center located near the intersection of Poplar Avenue and Evergreen Street, a white and green brick building placed in a densely populated area of the city. The organization’s mission statement, posted on its website, states that it is there “to empower individuals in the Mid-South community to make informed choices for and about their reproductive health.” In addition to extending their aid to men and children as well, and helping individuals with sexually transmitted infections, LGBT issues and birth control, this center offers a variety of ways to assist a woman who wants to terminate her pregnancy. Both surgical and medical abortions are offered, with surgical abortions(abortion by operation) being offered to women who are between 6-15 weeks pregnant, and medical abortions(abortion by medication) being offered from only 6-9 weeks. 

            Rebecca Terrell, as mentioned above, works for this organization. She is a woman who believes that places like CHOICES are absolutely necessary and beneficial to women.

            “We offer excellent, safe, clinical care in a compassionate and caring environment,” she says. “We also advocate for the rights of all people to make informed choices about their reproductive health and lives.” Terrell’s views on abortion have not changed, and tend to be in favor of a woman’s choice. “I have always thought that women should have the right to decide if and when they had children.  I have always been pro-choice.”

            However confident Terrell may be in her convictions, others may be doubtful or even hateful towards her practices. When asked about patients’ reactions toward having to get an abortion, she said that “emotions run the gamut from sadness to elation.  Many women are sad that their circumstances do not support continuing a pregnancy: not enough money, no job, bad relationship.  Some women are so relieved that they have a safe and legal option.” Yet the nervousness of some patients is the least of the less positive reactions. Terrell mentions protestors outside of the clinics, who sometimes yell at staff and patients as they make their way inside.

            This shows the negative reaction towards clinics that provide abortion services, from protestors who frequent CHOICES to groups such as 40 Days for Life. 40 Days for Life is a Christian campaign that is dedicated to showing the world the horrible side of abortion. Their website mentions that it “takes a determined, peaceful, and lawful approach to showing local communities the consequences of abortion in their own neighborhoods, and it puts into action a desire to cooperate with God in the carrying out of His plan for the end of abortion in America.” They have practices such as praying, fasting, and bringing the community a pro-life message. This group also can be seen holding signs displaying “Pray to End Abortion” in front of places such as Planned Parenthood.

            Libby Park, a member of this group, is very passionate about the direction abortion is taking in this country and believes that women should “make a more life giving choice, other than the destruction of their baby.” Park indeed feels the need to help women who might make the choice of terminating their pregnancy.

            Park has been a Christian for a while, and every fall and spring for 40 days, she joins a group of people who attempt to persuade potential abortion patients to make another choice. “There is help, and no woman should feel like they need to make that choice, no matter what life situations they have,” she says. “That’s where prayer comes in, and we ask God to please intervene and touch their hearts.”

            Park is among those who hope that one day abortion practices will cease to exist in this country. “I really do think one day it will be,” she says, “when we all come to realize what a tragedy it has been, and how many different people are not here because of it. Our world is not the way it’s supposed to be.” The efforts of Park and 40 Days for Life try to achieve that goal. They reach out to everyone, even women who have had an abortion, to spread their views about every potential human’s right to live.

            Naturally, Terrell has an opposing view, and believes that the abolition of safe abortion clinics would be a bad thing. “Women will continue to try to end unwanted pregnancies,” she says. “They will seek illegal providers, order drugs over the internet, try to self-abort.  Many women will die as they did prior to Roe v. Wade in 1973.” This is why CHOICES is so important to Terrell. The lives of women are at stake and her work can insure their safety. “At CHOICES we are transforming the way that reproductive health is perceived and delivered in our community.  I regret that I don’t have more hours in my days!”

The future of Raleigh Springs Mall is still being decided

From first sight, the Raleigh Springs Mall can seem a little deserted.

Located on Austin Peay Highway in the Raleigh area, the mall has stood for more than 40 years, being developed in 1971 by what is now known as the Simon Property Group. In the past it held four anchor stores, such as JC Penney, Sears and Goldsmith’s, and also a movie theater in the ‘90s. Raleigh Springs was once the dominant mall in Memphis. However, things have certainly changed.

“It’s dead,” said Keisha Harris, a woman who has been shopping at the mall “basically all her life” as she describes. “There aren’t a lot of stores anymore.”

And Harris’ comments hold truth to them. There are only 18 spaces in the mall that are being used. Some of the stores still standing are places such as Lenscrafters, Citi Trends and Hibbett Sports. There is even a church called the Spirit of Life that is located inside of the mall. 

Walking through the shopping mall, however, there are a lot of stores that are closed off and have gates blocking the entrances. At least 25 former spaces are not being used, including all of the anchor stores that used to hold business in the mall.

“Unfortunately, we, the citizens of Raleigh, started going over to the Wolfchase Mall and looked to other pastures,” said Kevin Brooks, vice president of the Raleigh Community Council, a non-profit organization.

“To tell you the truth, we don’t utilize the Raleigh Springs Mall, and we allowed it to go down by not utilizing it.”

One employee, Tony Moore, who has been working at the Lady Foot Locker there for four years, mentioned the increase of security being needed for people drifting in the vacant stores. 

“There has been a lot of changes in security. They’re working on securing the mall more, since there are more empty stores, so people just won’t be coming in.” 

Indeed, there are safety issues with the absence of tenants becoming more of a problem.

The decrease of tenants, however, is not the only problem the Raleigh Springs Mall seems to have.

In November of 2012, demolition began on the part of the mall that used to be JC Penney. The demolition process is incomplete, and there is a gap in the walls that one can see from the inside. The building is drab white inside and out, and there are areas in the mall that are not very well lit and low in temperature. If the mall is taken care of, these problems could possibly be fixed. 

The mall might undergo some major changes soon, and maybe the mall could change for the better. Redevelopment plans by the Housing and Community Development Department are being made up for the mall to turn it into a civic center. Not only will there be retail stores, but also other services are entering the site. 

“There’s gonna be good revitalization in the area, because they’re still gonna have commercial interest and retail stores,” said Brooks. “There’s gonna be good redevelopment and it looks really nice.”

The redevelopment could start as soon as next year, and will feature a new Raleigh Springs Library, a skate park, and a farmer’s market. It will also have a walking trail and a possible amphitheater on the site. Much effort is being put into this project to ensure that the area does not lose this once thriving business.

Moore said is confident and optimistic about the mall’s future, and hopes to see that it will get better. “I can see them bringing it up, but they have a lot of work, so it really depends on how much time the city is going to give them to keep on working with it,” he said. “I just want to be on the front end of it when it gets back to where it’s supposed to be.”

Brooks has similar sentiments, and talked about what he wishes for the future of the Raleigh Springs Mall and the community in general. 

“Basically, we need to revitalize Raleigh,” he said. “Unfortunately, Raleigh has gone downhill somewhat, but it’s still a good and very vibrant community, and we’re gonna turn it around.”

Memphis City Council fails to conclude McDonalds/University District conflict

The latest Memphis City Council meeting showed no progress in coming to a conclusion about the design of a McDonalds restaurant in the University District. 

On Oct. 15, people filed in City Hall, and soon the meeting came to its third resolution, which concerned the McDonalds development and the University District Overlay.

The University District Overlay is a plan from the neighborhood, businesses and the university, to bring shops closer to the street, for an area more open to pedestrians. The plan is focused around Southern Avenue and Highland Street. The existence of this plan, however, brings an issue with building a McDonalds on the southeast corner of Southern and Highland. The McDonalds development failed to be compliant with the University District Overlay plan.

Cindy Reeves, a representative of SR Consulting, wished to have more time to come up with an alternate plan, a plan that would possibly meet the standards of the University District Overlay more accurately. However, David Wade, who represents those opposed to the project, thought differently.

“I have met with the representative for the applicant,” he said, “and I have been shown the basic design changes that are being proposed, and the design that is going to be recommended does not  address, in any way, the basic objection that all of these people in this university area have.

“It would be fruitless,” he continued. “It would be a waste of time. A lot of people have taken off to come down here today, and we would respectfully urge the city council to move forward with the application today.” And indeed, a group of around 30 attending the meeting came for a resolution and were against the delay that would push the decision making to Dec. 17. 

Reeves said that more time was necessary and voiced her views to the council. 

“We feel there is a lot of change. We’ve come up with another design that we discussed with the University District,” she said. 

When asked by Councilman Joe Brown why the McDonalds location cannot comply with the overlay, Reeves responded that it was impossible to situate the building at the corner. But Reeves said that the alternate design, while not exactly meeting the standard of the overlay, compromises it affectively. 

“We feel that it will meet more of the intent of the overlay, and it’ll make it more pedestrian friendly,” she said. “It will still have a drive-thru that loops around the building. That is a requirement of this restaurant. But it does offer more pedestrian access.”

Among the council members there were mixed opinions concerning whether a resolution should be found that day or on December 17^th. A few were against the delay, and spoke about coming to a decision. Councilwoman Wanda Halbert was one, and also Councilman Jim Strickland, who had this to say: “I’d ask my colleagues to vote against the delay. This application has been here for almost five months already. If they’re not gonna budge on a very important issue, it’s not gonna be settled. So I think we ought to vote tonight, and I ask you to vote no on the delay.”

Councilman Shea Flinn and Harold B. Collins, however, were among those for the delay. Collins talked about the “spirit of compromise” and was willing to wait. “If they are committed to a new design, we ought to give them the benefit of the doubt,” he said.

The vote for the delay was taken, and with the vote coming to 9-4, the conflict between McDonalds and the University District will be delayed to December.

Jury will determine whether Nico Farmer will be sentenced to life in prison

Murder suspect Nico Farmer, 24, is on his way to life in prison if he is found guilty in the courtroom of Judge Christopher Craft, at his trial on Oct. 30.

The case was marked with high security. Some involved in the case were perpetrators of gang violence and members of the gang the Kitchen Crips. Extra metal detectors were put in place right outside of the courtroom doors because of threats from gang members aimed at the jury.

Farmer was on trial for first degree murder and perpetration of robbery, but the story went further than just a simple murder. There was more that went on during the morning of Oct. 6, 2011.

Reports from the Memphis Police Department say that Antonio Pierce, the victim of the murder, was walking home in the Frayser area near the Cypress Gardens Apartments. He was approached by two men and robbed at pistol point. Pierce refused to give anything and was shot. However, he was able to run and be pursued by the two men, until he was shot several more times. In total, eight bullets were fired.

 The first male was Farmer, and the second male who accompanied him was Terry Johnson. Johnson was involved in the murder of Pierce, who showed up to the Med and died soon after, but was also found at the Med the same night with gunshot injuries. 

George Cave, a man who testified on Oct. 30, gave his account. 

“I was sent there involving a case of Terry Johnson who had shown up to the Med with gunshot wounds. He arrived around the same time that the victim [Pierce] of the case arrived.”

Cave, an employee of the Memphis Police Department, was on the midnight shift. He reported on seeing Johnson there, remarking on his appearance and verifying that the gunshot wounds ran deep.

Johnson was shot by his partner, Farmer, after Pierce had already been shot. And even later, Johnson was killed in late 2012. 

In the courtroom, the jury listened to Cave while Farmer sat on a bench behind his lawyer, Robert Parris. Farmer had a different appearance than that of his mug shot. While the mug shot showed a longer mane of hair, the Farmer that sat before the jury had a cleaner look with a shaved head, even with the tattoos on his face. 

Another person who Farmer sat before was Marie Minter. Minter was a relative of Pierce and was there for support. She spoke of the things that Pierce would be missing. “He didn’t even get to see his son graduate. He’s 19 years old.”

If convicted, Farmer will have life in prison without parole.