Home, Sweet Home Harder to Attain

March 17-23, 2012, Vol. 5, Issue 12

special emphasis: RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

Home, Sweet Home harder to attain Special coverage on residential real estate, which, despite some green shoots, still struggles with foreclosures and sagging values Page 14

Immigrants from Ireland find success – and similarities to their homeland – in Memphis

Irish

Stories Page 22 Photo: Lance Murphey Students practice soft-shoe at the Inis Acla School of Irish Dance in Cordova. Founder Mary McGinty named the school after Achill Island of County Mayo in Ireland.

26 Sports The Memphis Grizzlies’ recent loss to the Los Angeles Lakers proved that some local fans remain star-struck when Kobe Bryant & Co. come to town. Despite playing without two top players, however, Memphis almost knocked off the visitors.

weekly digest: page 2 Employment: page 10 health care & Biotech: page 12 law talk: page 32 EDITORIAL: page 38

A Publication of The Daily News Publishing Co. | www.thememphisnews.com 2 March 17-23, 2012 www.thememphisnews.com

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Passenger Traffic Down, is owned by The TJX Cos. Inc., the parent 14, that eight C-17 aircraft will replace the military bases as part of a new Air Force company of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. C-5A fleet at the Tennessee Air National strategy. Cargo Up at Airport The home décor chain currently has five Guard base in Memphis in fiscal year 2013, February passenger counts for Memphis stores in Tennessee: in Brentwood, Chat- which begins July 1. International Airport showed a 16.7 percent tanooga, Hendersonville, Knoxville and U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee drop from February 2011. The passenger Mt. Juliet, according to TJX Cos.’ website. on Wednesday asked for a specific timeline Rhodes Named Finalist count of 533,474 compared to 640,806 a The Daily News reported in November a for the transition as Schwartz testified For Service Honor Roll year ago – before Delta cut a large number HomeGoods store might be in the works before the Senate Appropriations Subcom- of regional flights into and out of Memphis for Gallina Centro shopping center in Col- mittee on Defense in Washington. Rhodes College has been named a International starting in August. lierville. “I would like to give you the exact time- Presidential Award Finalist in the 2012 The 177 scheduled flights for February line,” Schwartz said. President’s Higher Education Community was 28 percent less than the 246 flights in “But I think that is a reflection of a larger Service Honor Roll. February 2011. effort that’s under way to reshape airlift Fourteen higher education institutions For the calendar year, the number of Nat’l Guard Base to Get capabilities by retiring the big aircraft, the were selected as finalists. Honorees were passengers is down 18.6 percent from 2011 C-17 Aircraft in 2013 27 remaining C-5As and repopulating with announced at the American Council on with just more than 1 million. C-17s.” Education’s annual meeting this week. The 701.3 million pounds of cargo U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton The new cargo planes due at the guard Since 2006, the Honor Roll has been handled at Memphis International Airport A. Schwartz confirmed Wednesday, March base will deliver both troops and cargo to administered by the Corp. for National and in February was a 5.3 percent increase from a year ago. The 1.3 billion pounds of cargo for the calendar year so far is up 4 percent from a year ago. Meanwhile, airport executives are planning to mark the one-year anniversary of the flooding of DeWitt Spain Airport in Frayser. The airport was heavily damaged May 5 when a levee near the airfield broke as the Mississippi River and its tributaries reached their highest levels since 1937. The airfield reopened in August and is still operating with a temporary office building that the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority plans to replace with a permanent structure.

Planned Riverfront Grille Would Open in July

The Riverfront Development Corp. is in the final stages of negotiations with Beale and Second Inc. to operate the restaurant at the Beale Street Landing project. The boat landing, dock and park at the foot of Beale Street would open in April with the Riverfront Grille & Dockside Bar to open in July. Beale and Second Inc. was the only company to respond to the city’s request for proposals to run the restaurant.

HomeGoods Preps For Memphis Store

Plans are under way for home décor retailer HomeGoods to enter the Memphis market in Cordova. Metro Construction Inc. has filed a $950,000 building permit application with the city-county Office of Construction Code Enforcement for interior renovation of a former Samuels Furniture and Interiors at The Commons at Dexter Lake, 1615 N. Germantown Parkway, according to The Daily News Online, www.memphisdailynews.com. Samuels closed that location in fall 2010, citing economic reasons. The Commons at Dexter Lake is a 166,958-square-foot center owned by Houston-based Weingarten Realty Inves- tors. Situated 1.5 miles south of Wolfchase Galleria mall on Germantown Parkway, the 6525 Quail Hollow, Memphis, TN 38120 C/901-277-5839 center is anchored by Kroger, Stein Mart, Marshall’s and Dress Barn. Framingham, Mass.-based HomeGoods www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 3

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Community Service. The Honor Roll rec- to humans, but the basis for why is un- Additionally, CBU won Bronze for its and commanded a medical squadron. ognizes higher education institutions that known. “Distinguish Yourself” billboards in the At UTHSC she will be responsible for reflect the values of exemplary community The findings from Courtney’s study lay category of Outdoor Transit/Billboard and education, research, clinical care and service and achieve meaningful outcomes the foundation for developing therapies or earned a Merit for its radio advertisement public service at the College of Nursing, in their communities. vaccines to block this bacteria. featuring a voiceover by a CBU student in the leading producer of nursing faculty and More than 80 percent of Rhodes stu- the master’s of business administration graduate nurses in the region. dents participate in service. Twice, the col- degree program. lege has been ranked No. 1 on Newsweek’s Winners are selected for programs and “Most Service-Oriented” list of schools. St. Jude Researchers Aid materials that display exceptional quality, In Gene Discovery creativity and message effectiveness. Theatre Memphis Announces 2012-13 Season St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Evolve Designated Washington University Pediatric Cancer Theatre Memphis has announced its Preferred Lender Genome Project and Memorial Sloan-Ket- Mayor Wharton Appoints 2012-2013 season, which will include mu- tering Cancer Center say they’ve discovered Education Task Force sicals, comedy, drama, classics and new Evolve Bank & Trust has been desig- the first gene alteration associated with work. nated a preferred lender within the U.S. patient age and neuroblastoma outcome. Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. has The 411-seat Lohrey Stage will begin the Small Business Administration Preferred Researchers identified the first gene named a 21-member task force to recom- season Aug. 24 with “Fiddler on the Roof.” Lender Program. mutation associated with a chronic and mend the role of city government once the The Lohrey Stage season will continue with That means Evolve Bank & Trust will often fatal form of neuroblastoma that typi- county’s two public school systems are “Dangerous Liaisons,” “Six Degrees of Sepa- have the authority to issue the loan guar- cally strikes adolescents and young adults. consolidated. ration,” “A Chorus Line,” “Brighton Beach anty agreement and other necessary loan The findings provide the first clue about Wharton anticipates that with schools Memoirs” and “Singin’ in the Rain.” approval forms to allow qualified small the genetic basis of the long-recognized but consolidation, the city of Memphis will no “A Christmas Carol” will be performed businesses to receive an SBA-backed loan. poorly understood link between treatment longer be required to fund local schools at as a special holiday offering in December Evolve’s SBA division, which was added outcome and age at diagnosis. a certain level. for the 35th consecutive year. in 2011, is located in Denver, Colo. Evolve The study appears in the March 14 edi- But Wharton has said that doesn’t mean The Next Stage season will begin Sept. Bank & Trust is based in West Memphis tion of the Journal of the American Medical the city wouldn’t have any role in local 21 with “Talley’s Folly,” followed by “Altar and currently operates five full-service Association. education. Boyz,” “A Steady Rain” and “Sylvia.” branches in Arkansas and Tennessee and He has talked specifically of the city more than 25 mortgage production offices funding some effort apart from the merged nationwide. school system to promote early childhood A2H Honored by Three development and education. Grant Funds STEM Professional Organizations Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Summer Sessions Systems Vice President Cato Johnson and Doug Carpenter & Assoc. Askew Hargraves Harcourt & Associ- former Booker T. Washington High School Funded by a special grant from the Ten- Hires Art Director, Intern ates Inc., also known as A2H, recently principal Elsie Bailey are the co-chairs of nessee Board of Regents, the University of won three awards from two professional the committee. Memphis will offer a residential summer John David Dowdle has joined the ad- organizations. session July 8-21 for high school students to vertising firm doug carpenter & associates The Tennessee Society of Professional explore the STEM fields – sciences, technol- as art director. Engineers, Memphis Chapter, has chosen ogy, engineering and mathematics. Dowdle is responsible for conceptual- A2H as the Outstanding Employer of the UTHSC Names Talbot The STEM Academy is open to students izing, developing and executing the design Year. It also named Mark W. Askew, found- Dean of Nursing College who will be high school sophomores and and branding efforts for the firm’s clients, ing partner of A2H, as Outstanding Engi- juniors in fall 2012. whose roster includes recent additions neer of the Year. Dr. Laura Talbot has been named dean Chosen from Memphis City Schools Dunavant Logistics, Keep Tennessee Beau- The American Council of Engineering of the University of Tennessee Health Sci- and Shelby County Schools, the students tiful, Peer Power, Ruch Clinic and Fisher & Cos., Tennessee Chapter, gave its Honor ence Center College of Nursing. She will will live in U of M residence halls during Phillips. Award for Small Projects to A2H for its de- assume the role in June. the two-week session. Dowdle has earned multiple ADDY and sign of Memphis Skate Park. Talbot currently serves Housing, meals and all activities will be industry awards and is widely regarded for A2H has more than 75 employees, and as Dean W. Colvard Distin- paid for by the grant. his branding capabilities and experience in offices in Lakeland, Nashville and Jackson, guished Professor in Nursing, To be selected, students must have the hospitality industry. Tenn.; as well as in Hernando. and professor in the College successfully completed algebra I. They also Also, University of Memphis journalism A2H employs engineers, architects, of Health and Human Services at the must have finished the 9th grade and have student Walter Smith is on board as the surveyors and landscape architects and University of North Carolina at Charlotte. a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75. A let- firm’s spring intern. averages more than 200 projects a year, In addition, she leads the college’s Health ter of recommendation is required from a such as roadways, bridges, industrial and Services Research Ph.D. Program. Talbot teacher or staff member. commercial facilities, public buildings, served more than 30 years in the U.S. Air Space is limited. The application dead- parks, water/wastewater improvements, Force, where she rose to the rank of colonel line is April 13. UTHSC Awarded Grant and airports. To Study Strep Infections

Dr. Harry S. Courtney, professor in the Department of Medicine at the University CBU Awarded For Call for an appointment today! of Tennessee Health Science Center, has Education Marketing received a $126,000 grant from the National 901.685.5008 Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Christian Brothers University has won a subsidiary of the National Institutes of multiple honors in the 27th annual Edu- A Patient’s View: Health. cational Advertising Awards, sponsored by “I’ve had a lot of dentists before (I’ve lived in a lot The award will fund research on strep- Higher Education Marketing Report. of places), and I’ve had dentists whose work is tococcal infections that will be conducted The competition is the country’s largest definitely shoddy. Finding a good service provider is over a two-year period. for educational advertising. hard. It’s a lot like finding a good hair stylist/barber; Courtney’s research is on molecular CBU won Gold for its student orienta- once you find someone, you stick with them.” mechanisms of group A streptococcal infec- tion T-shirt “Get BUC Wild” in the category tions, which can range from mild and self- of Imprinted Materials. I highly recommend Dr. Castle. His work is top notch limiting infections of the throat and skin The university won two Silver awards in and he is extremely nice; he’s definitely not one of to highly invasive diseases with significant the category of Magazine Advertisement/ those uppity, crusty doctor types!” - Paul C. rates of morbidity and mortality. Single and Newspaper Advertisement/ Cases of severe, invasive infections by Single for its “Distinguish Yourself” and “RN William N. Castle, D.D.S. the bacteria have been increasing through- to BSN” ads. Both materials are targeted general dentistry out the world. to the graduate and professional studies 79 n. cooper (in midtown) • memphis, tn 38104 The bacterial infections are limited market. 4 March 17-23, 2012 www.thememphisnews.com

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Grahamwood Elementary On Location: MEMPHIS To Open School Garden Announces Passes, Grant Grahamwood Elementary School will On Location: MEMPHIS festival passes FROM THE BLOG open its school garden March 14. are now on sale at www.onlocationmem- The project is an effort of the Memphis phis.org. City Schools Central Nutrition Center The all-access pass is $60 and gains New York Tech Company Boxee and involves area farmers, students at the the holder admittance to all films, music school at 3950 Summer Ave., and the stu- events, parties, panels and workshops dur- Wowed During Trip to Memphis dents’ parents. ing the festival, which will be held at several The project involves a raised garden bed Malco theaters April 19-22. Editor’s Note: “From the Blog” is a weekly feature that highlights and hoop house to cultivate some plants. The weekend pass is $30 and covers some of the enterprising work our staff and contributors post on The Since becoming director of the Central films being shown at the Malco Ridgeway Daily News blog, blog.memphisdailynews.com. Nutrition Center, Tony Geraci, a chef, has Four on April 21-22. Weekend passes can pursued plans to buy more fresh ingre- only be claimed on those two days. dients and food items from area farmers. The list of films being screened can ANDY MEEK | The Memphis News He is setting up a network for work with be found on the website. Schedules of all local farms to supply produce for the food events are being finalized and will be posted operation that feeds more than 100,000 once they are confirmed. t was great to meet some of the leadership of Boxee last week at students a day. On Location: MEMPHIS also has been IEmergeMemphis. Boxee is a relatively new New York-based startup awarded a grant from the Film Festival Committee of the Broadcast Film Critics built around a device that connects to your TV and lets you watch Association for the second consecutive year any TV show from the Internet, movies from services like Netflix and Iberiabank Celebrates to assist with its production. other offerings that don’t make it to broadcast TV. 125th Anniversary Those guys were in town on their way to South by Southwest, Iberiabank is celebrating its 125 an- stopping off at EmergeMemphis to talk to its innovators and en- niversary this year with activities aimed at Mortgage Rates Rise, trepreneurs. It was a great rooftop party, with a comfortable breeze giving back to the community. Still Near Historic Low One promotion: Each branch is giving blowing, good drinks flowing and plenty of insights from the Boxee away an Apple iPad. No purchase is neces- The average rate in the U.S. on the 30- guys – plus some entertainment, too. sary, and legal residents of the U.S. 18 years year fixed mortgage hovered near historic Avner Ronen, Boxee’s CEO and co-founder, talked about the things of age or older may enter by completing lows this week, making home-buying and an entry form at any branch location or by refinancing more attractive to those who he faces as a business owner. He said he loves the day-to-day details “liking” the company’s Facebook page and can qualify. most of the time, but admitted they’re quite often “annoying.” He completing an online registration form. En- Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said talked about the ideal investor, someone who writes a check and try forms will be accepted Monday, March Thursday, March 15, that the U.S. rate on 12, to April 30. the 30-year loan increased to 3.92 percent. gives the business owner enough room to run. On Wednesday, March 14, Iberiabank That’s up from 3.88 percent the previous He also generated some good-natured “ooohs” when someone associates will engage in random acts of week. The rate touched 3.87 percent four asked him, since his team had come from a visit in Knoxville, too, kindness by offering to pump and pay for weeks ago, the lowest since long-term as much as $20 in gas for individuals at mortgages began in the 1950s. whether they preferred “blue or orange.” several gas stations in the Memphis area. The average on the 15-year fixed mort- “Orange,” Avner said, eliciting some groans before adding, “Wait, More than $12,500 in gas will be given away gage rose to 3.16 percent, up from a record wait, I have a rational explanation.” companywide. low of 3.13 percent last week. Rates on the 30-year loan have been Turns out, it’s an official company color. below 4 percent for three months. Low rates Some of the other guys marveled at the living spaces near Emerge, are among the positive signs emerging that wondering how much they would cost in New York. Memphis Invest’s Clothier suggest this year could mark a turnaround To Speak at Nat’l Conference for the depressed housing market. Still, many people are unable to qualify for the To read the rest of this post, visit blog.memphisdailynews.com. Chris Clothier, partner at Memphis In- rates. vest, will speak at the annual BiggerPockets Real Estate Investing Summit this month. BiggerPockets Inc. is an online news source for the real estate investment in- Commerce Dept. Says Trade rose 0.6 percent to $473.4 billion, the largest Schulman seeking assurances that the dustry, focused on educating real estate Deficit Rises to $124.1B imbalance since 2008. agency’s recent string of inquiries into some professionals throughout North America. Economists think the deficit will keep tea party-affiliated nonprofits is not based Clothier is a regular contributor to the A slight drop in exports and a rise in rising in 2012. Europe’s debt crisis is likely on politics. website and provides his insights into suc- imports widened the broadest measure of to drag on U.S. exports, as is slower growth The letter says the senators have re- cessful real estate investing each week on the U.S. trade deficit at the end of last year. in Asia. And stronger growth in the United ceived complaints of excessive IRS inquiries the BiggerPockets Expert Blog. The increase pushed the gap to its widest States should boosts imports. from tea party organizations in Tennessee, Clothier will host “Doing That Thing point in three years. The January deficit for U.S. trade in Kentucky, Ohio and Texas. You ‘Due’ in 2012” – a session that will The Commerce Department said goods and services increased to $52.6 bil- A spokesman for the IRS did not im- focus on how to conduct due diligence for Wednesday, March 14, that the current ac- lion, the largest monthly imbalance in more mediately return a phone call. each property investment opportunity. His count trade deficit increased 15.3 percent than three years. March 24 talk will be Clothier’s first presen- in the October-December quarter, to $124.1 tation at the annual summit. billion. Clothier and his team at Memphis A higher trade deficit acts as a drag on House Sponsor Likes Invest currently manage more than 1,100 growth. It means more goods and services Alexander, Corker Question Scholarship Cut Idea rental homes in the Memphis and Dallas are being purchased from overseas, while IRS Over Tea Party areas on behalf of hundreds of out-of-state U.S. companies are making fewer sales The House sponsor of a proposal real estate investors who solely own the overseas. U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob that seeks to cut some students’ lottery properties. Exports decreased slightly to $380.4 bil- Corker of Tennessee are among 12 Repub- scholarships in half said he supports an Memphis Invest locates, renovates lion, in part because of a drop in overseas lican senators questioning whether the amendment that would make such a move and sells the properties to investors. The demand for U.S. airline tickets. Imports Obama administration is using the Internal contingent on lottery revenues. company then manages each property on ticked up to $566.7 billion. The increase Revenue Service to target tea party-related The original bill was scheduled to be behalf of the investor after that transaction was partly driven by increased purchases nonprofit organizations. heard in the House Education Subcom- takes place. of imported airplanes. The 12 senators sent a letter Wednesday, mittee. Republican Rep. Harry Brooks of For the year, the current account deficit March 14, to IRS commissioner Douglas Knoxville delayed the measure from last www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 5

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week to give lawmakers a chance to review to protect such secrets, even though the the amendment that has been approved in Justice Department since then has recom- the Senate. mended other ways under current law for The original legislation sought to reduce officials to guard the data. bill dries President & CEO by 50 percent the award for students who Public interest groups applauded the Senior Reporter PETER SCHUTT Dries, from Memphis, has been a reporter for more than 30 do not meet both standardized testing and Supreme Court’s decision because it re- years. His career stops include The Commercial Appeal, WHBQ General Manager Emeritus high school grade requirements. A special stricted when the government can keep AM, WREC AM and WLYX FM 89 way back in the 1970s! He now covers legal issues and other news. ED RAINS panel of lawmakers recommended the secret information about internal person- 528-5277 | [email protected] proposal in November. nel rules and practices. Publisher ERIC BARNES Under the legislation, the requirements Keith Bunting, executive director of won’t change if proceeds of at least $10 mil- the National Freedom of Information Co- Associate Publisher & Executive Editor lion are sustained through 2015. alition, urged the committee not to give JAMES OVERSTREET government “carte blanche” to withhold Managing Editor information. LANCE ALLAN WIEDOWER

Deputy Managing Editor Senate Delays Vote On andy meek ERIC SMITH Mountaintop Removal Ban Senior Reporter Deficit Rose in February, On Meek, from Memphis, covers politics, the business community Senior Reporter and other news of general interest. He has won awards from BILL DRIES The Senate has voted to delay for three Pace to Top $1 Trillion Again the Tennessee Press Association and the Society of weeks a vote on a proposal to halt moun- Professional Journalists. Senior Reporter taintop removal coal mining in Tennessee. The U.S. federal deficit was slightly 528-5279 | [email protected] ANDY MEEK The decision came despite the objec- smaller through the first five months of the Reporter tions of the bill’s sponsor, Democratic Sen. budget year than the previous year. Still, the SARAH BAKER Eric Stewart of Winchester, who called for imbalance is on pace to exceed $1 trillion Reporter a vote Monday evening. for the fourth straight year, a troubling sign AISLING MAKI Republican Senate Majority Leader for President Barack Obama’s re-election Mark Norris of Collierville said the delay prospects. Associate Editor is aimed at finding a compromise on the The Treasury Department says last KATE SIMONE measure, and not an effort to kill the bill by month’s budget deficit was $232 billion. SARAH BAKER Lead Pressman REPORTER TOMMY COON holding it until relevant committees finish The imbalance for the first five months Sarah Baker covers commercial and residential real estate, transportation and logistics. A native Memphian, she previ- their business for the year. of the budget year grew to $581 billion, or Pressman ously worked for two regional magazines in Knoxville. The measure seeks to deny permits 9 percent lower than the same period in ROBERT SHANNON 521-2464 | [email protected] that would alter any ridgeline more than fiscal 2011. Pressman 2,000 above sea level. Stewart said he op- The Obama administration expects CEDRIC WALSH poses a Republican amendment attached the deficit will reach $1.3 trillion when the that would continue to permit current budget year ends on Sept. 30. Graphic Designer & Photo Editor practices. BRAD JOHNSON Graphic Designer & Illustrator EMILY MORROW

AISLING MAKI Senior Production Assistant US Retail Sales Rose REPORTER SANDY YOUNGBLOOD Aisling Maki covers health care, the nonprofit sector and small 1.1 Percent in February business. Her career has included newspaper and magazine Production Assistant writing, broadcast and new media. LAURIE BECK Americans stepped up spending on 528-8622 | [email protected] retail goods in February, evidence that Administrative Specialist a stronger job market is boosting the MARSHA PAYNE economy. Senior Account Executive Consumers bought more autos, clothes JANICE JENKINS and appliances. They also paid higher Account Executive prices for gas. ROBIN BENDER Retail sales increased 1.1 percent last Advertising Director month, the Commerce Department said JONATHAN DEVIN DON FANCHER Tuesday. It was the biggest gain since Sep- ARTS WRITER tember. The government also revised up the Jonathan Devin is a full-time freelance writer covering the Business Development Manager arts, business, and life in the Mid-South. He is a singer, actor, PATRICIA McKINNEY previous two months. instrumentalist, painter, poet, and playwright.

528-8625 | [email protected] DO YOU NEED A Marketing Manager BUSINESS LOAN? DONNA WAGGENER Official Says Decision Puts Controller DO YOU HAVE LESS PAM MALLETT US Information at Risk THAN PERFECT To reach our editorial department, e-mail: In the middle of Sunshine Week, a peri- [email protected] od dedicated to government openness, the CREDIT? or call: 901-523-1561 Obama administration is urging Congress FREDRIC KOEPPEL We offer business loans for your Freelance WRITER Published by: to change the Freedom of Information Act business and we accept credit Koeppel writes about restaurants and wine. He is a former arts THE DAILY NEWS PUBLISHING CO. to keep secret new categories of informa- and culture reporter for The Commercial Appeal and has been 193 Jefferson Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 scores as low as 520 with in Memphis for most of his life. tion that it says have been put a risk by a P.O. Box 3663 [email protected] Supreme Court ruling. Memphis, TN 38173-0663 NO COLLATERAL! Tel: 901.523.1561 Melanie Ann Pustay, director of the Fax: 901.526.5813 Justice Department’s office of information Requirements Include: www.memphisdailynews.com policy, said Tuesday that lawmakers need The Daily News is a general interest 6 month bank statements newspaper covering business, law, to protect against disclosures of material Articles of Incorporation government, and real estate and about cyber security, critical U.S. computer development throughout the Memphis metropolitan area. networks, industrial plants, pipelines and 520+ Fico Score The Daily News, the successor of the Daily more. Businesses have sought such protec- No Credit Card Processing LANCE MURPHEY Record, The Daily Court Reporter, and The tions for at least 10 years. Required! PHOTOGRAPHER Daily Court News, was founded in 1886. Pustay told the Senate Judiciary Com- Lance Murphey is an award-winning photographer and film- AUDIT PENDING (901) 308-8533 maker. He has 20 years of experience including The mittee that the March 2011 court ruling Commercial Appeal, The Naples (Fla.) Daily News, the narrowed an exemption under the open Associated Press, The New York Times and Bloomberg. records law and left federal agencies unable [email protected] 6 March 17-23, 2012 www.thememphisnews.com

news

Redistrict Debate government Moves to Chancery

BILL DRIES | The Memphis News

t is now up to a court to decide on a new set of district lines for the Shelby County Commission. I And Chancellor Arnold Goldin is not being asked to approve a simple tweaking of district boundaries that will essentially keep the commission as it is. The plan attorney Ronald Krelstein is reporting to Goldin that received seven votes on the 13-member commission this week would change the commission from a set of five districts – four of them multi-member districts – to a set of 13 single-member districts. And seven of those districts would have majority African-American populations. Goldin is likely to set a hearing date once he looks over Krelstein’s report. The most recent vote count did not meet the nine- vote, two-thirds majority the county charter says is required to approve a plan on third and final reading. But Krelstein says he will report and Goldin is certain to note that state law only requires a simple major- Photo: Lance Murphey ity of seven votes for final passage. And Krelstein told James Rogers, with pit bull Buster, is the interim director of Memphis Animal Services. Rogers worked for the U.S. commissioners near the end of a long day Monday, Postal Service for 38 years. March 12, that state law trumps the charter. Commissioner Mike Ritz pushed for a new set of single-member district lines that included an eighth majority-black district, saying it more closely reflected a move to have the 13 districts either majority within the city of Memphis or majority county outside the Adopting Changes city of Memphis. Krelstein represents county government as a Interim MAS director plans to clean up shelter whole in the redistricting lawsuit filed by Ritz and fellow commissioners Walter Bailey and Terry Roland. Asked by commissioner Steve Mulroy if he would be comfortable defending Ritz’s plan in Shelby County BILL DRIES | The Memphis News ing at an animal shelter. He is a event of a fire, there are three types Chancery Court, Krelstein answered no. former U.S. Postal Service senior of people – the ones that run from it, “State law controls my opinion,” Krelstein said. manager of customer service opera- the ones that watch it and the public “That’s what I’ll advocate.” tions, a profession that Rogers ad- servant that goes to put it out. I’m a Ritz argued it isn’t Krelstein’s role to point to the hen the new Memphis mits trains carriers to avoid contact public servant. That’s what I do.” conflict with state law. Krelstein said Goldin is likely to Animal Shelter opened in with dogs. The Booker T. Washington High at least explore the issue anyway, whether he brings it WNovember, an undercover “Yeah, I know dogs and postal School and LeMoyne-Owen College up or not. Another change Ritz favored moved Repub- police officer was among its employ- employees aren’t supposed to mix,” graduate has lived in several other lican commissioner Heidi Shafer from District 9 – as it ees, working as a technician. he said. “We both spend the majority cities. But Memphis is home, he says. became the eighth majority black population district But by this month – when three of our time dealing with the public Rogers succeeds Matthew Pep- – into District 5. Shafer’s home is just on the District 5 shelter employees were indicted on and we both probably could do a per, an experienced shelter ad- side of one of the borders with District 9. felony animal abuse charges and the better job when it comes to custom- ministrator and the shelter’s fourth Commissioner Steve Mulroy pointed to an 11 per- undercover operation was revealed er services. We both have employees director in seven years. He lasted cent deviation in the population each district would – James Rogers was already settled driving around town in highly iden- less than a year. Since then, there have under the Ritz plan. Attorneys have repeatedly in as the interim director of the $7 tifiable vehicles, and we both work have been new allegations of animal advised the commission that a 10 percent deviation million facility. rain or shine, snow or sleet. The job abuse and lingering questions about either way is the limit established by past court cases In both its old home and its new is never done.” whether pit bulls that come into the and court rulings. But Ritz contends the deviation home, the city-run animal shelter Rogers started early, reading the shelter are being diverted by corrupt goes over 10 percent because the population count in has exhibited its own institutional thick policy manual for the shelter employees to dog-fighting rings. one district includes prisoners at the Shelby County timing. The shelter’s policies and several times over, and after five Rogers and Wharton acknowl- Corrections Center. how employees have been follow- days set up teams and shift rotations edge Rogers’ function at MAS is a Leaders from the Memphis branch of the National ing – or not following – those policies to begin cleaning kennels multiple rescue mission to put the shelter on Association for the Advancement of Colored People surfaced as an issue in October 2009, times a day. He says the policies a solid foundation for the permanent as well as Shelby County Democratic Party chairman on A C Wharton Jr.’s first full day in are sound. The problem has been administrator. But they both admit Van Turner backed the other plan that later got seven office as Memphis mayor. That was getting employees to follow them. that for now there’s no specific date votes, saying seven majority-black districts was “fair.” the day the old shelter was raided by And in that area he promises major by which that will happen. “I wanted to avoid this issue,” he said. “Race is not Shelby County sheriff’s deputies and changes he hopes will be “seamless.” “If an angel with a background the ultimate issue. We have to put race in perspective.” investigators with the Shelby County Rogers will apply productivity were to descend, we’d sit down and Commission chairman Sidney Chism, a former district attorney general’s office. standards to the shelter from other say this is a better person for the local Democratic Party chairman, said he was “ap- Wharton refers to the Memphis businesses, “then get more idealis- job,” Wharton said. “All of the folks palled” by the statements. Chism looked at the divi- Animal Shelter as “Mr. Rogers’ neigh- tic” once those standards and the who tell us that there’s got to be sion as political and not necessarily racial. borhood.” After Wharton’s introduc- ways of measuring them are in place. somebody else out there – send me “The numbers dictate that we should have eight tion, Rogers said, “I bet a lot of you Rogers bristles at questions a name and we’ll check them out. Democratic districts,” he said. “Fairness is you got the weren’t expecting someone like me about why he would take on the We got two or three names, but the numbers, you do what’s necessary.” to be the next administrator for job knowing what a minefield it has minute we get the names, we get Commissioner James Harvey called the plan with Memphis Animal Services. Up until been for the last four years. a hundred people telling us how eight majority-black districts “acceptable gerryman- seven months ago, I wasn’t either.” “I’m from this community,” rotten the people are. That’s the way dering.” Rogers has no experience work- Rogers said. “I live here and in the this works.” www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 7

news

education

to school a superintendent for municipal schools.” Schools Decision Could Go If the May ballot question is approved, voters in those municipalities would then move to school board elections on the No- vember ballot and the school board would Until August in Bartlett hire the superintendent. “I’m not necessarily trying to stop the train,” Luttrell said. “I’m just saying if you BILL DRIES | The Memphis News give proponents on the merged school by Southern Educational Strategies LLC, want to get on that train know where your system a chance to get their plan to those the consulting group hired by all six of the seat is.” voters and persuade them to go with that suburban communities as part of their Luttrell has urged the countywide instead of a municipal school district. move to municipal school districts. school board to not wait for its August wo of the five suburban towns and But he is quick to add there are a lot of “By August we should have a pretty elections but to move ahead now with cities pursuing municipal school questions still to be answered about the clear picture of the financial status, op- picking a superintendent for the merged T districts have their May 10 refer- countywide school system to come as well erational structure … where in May we system to come and start mapping out endums on the ballot and a second one as the municipal school systems waiting won’t have that,” Luttrell said. “I’d hate how students are assigned to schools in a scheduled for Aug. 2. on approval in May. for them (suburban voters) to make the system with no boundaries separating city The May ballot question is about a Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell has decision based on one set of assumptions from county. McDonald said the deci- municipal school district, not the half-cent urged the suburban leaders to delay the only to see in August that the assumptions sion to move to a structure with multiple local sales tax hike that is the other part of May votes until August. But Luttrell doesn’t have changed. In August, the assumptions paths to autonomy for schools or groups forming such a school district. see the two-steps of voter approval as a should be a lot more solid than they are in of schools is a “solid” decision for the That isn’t the way Bartlett Mayor Keith chance to make the case for the county- May.” countywide plan. He adds that parents are McDonald wanted the timing to work out. wide school system. McDonald and Luttrell, who both serve looking for more definition beyond gen- He wanted the whole issue decided with “I think the definitive vote will be in on the planning commission, agree on the eral concepts like high expectations and the May 10 vote count. But the half-cent May,” Luttrell said. “I’ve stated time and need for more information about both op- achievement by every student. sales tax hike will be on the Aug. 2 ballot in again that I wish they would wait until tions suburban residents face. “There are two established school Bartlett as well as in Collierville. The same we’ve got a plan in place because there are “I think regardless of where you are in systems and getting somebody to take the is expected to hold for the Germantown still so many unanswered questions on the the county, I think the same thing is going formal steps to merge them with whatever and Arlington ballot questions to come. financial side of this.” to hold true for municipal schools,” Mc- recommendations we have is real impor- By then the schools consolidation By “this” Luttrell means both the Donald said. “I think people are going to tant,” he said. “If they’re not listening to planning commission should have its plan countywide school district and the munici- want to know who the leader is and what this part of it, if they don’t feel the meaning for the consolidated countywide school pal school districts. He has been openly is their philosophy. First they have to elect behind this then it’s just words to them. I system ready. And McDonald said it does skeptical of the financial estimates made school board members and then they have can interpret this anyway I want to.”

A3;7

FEBRUARY 9 SOCIAL MEDIA STEVE GIBSON APRIL 5 HEALTHCARE REFORM Health care reform remains a hot topic with new EMBA 2011 rules and regulations taking effect each year through 2013. We’ll take a look at the impact the legislation is having and what we can expect in 2012-2013.

JUNE 7 MONEY & MARKETS The international, national and local economies have been under tremendous pressure since The Great Recession of 2008-2009. We’ll take a look at how the economy is recovering and what the markets have in store for us in 2012.

AUGUST 2 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY Sustainable energy continues to be a priority both locally and nationally, and we’ll take a look at how the industry is growing, from biofuels to green construction. The Best Never Settle SEPTEMBER 20 BUSINESSOF HEALTH CARE Health care remains one of the for Second Best primary drivers of economic development in Memphis. We’ll take an in-depth look at the industry, its challenges and opportunities and its outlook for the rest of 2012 and 2013. For your Executive MBA, choose the only business school in Memphis NOVEMBER 1 CRE REVIEW & FORECAST With a focus on commercial real estate (office, industrial, retail and multifamily), we’ll take a look at how each sector has fared fully accredited by AACSB International — the premier accrediting agency during 2012 and what can be expected in 2013. for business schools worldwide. Our Fall-to-Fall EMBA program has developed the area’s best executive talent for over three decades — enrolling could be your best move toward achieving your career goals.

To learn more, join us for an Information Session:

Each seminar will feature a keynote speaker followed by an interactive Thursday, March 22, 6:00–7:30 p.m. discussion with a panel of industry leaders. A cocktail reception with the speakers Flight Restaurant & Wine Bar · 39 South Main Street and panelists will follow the presentation. RSVP to [email protected] or 901.678.4866 For information on the seminars or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Don Fancher at 901-528-5283 or [email protected].

Fogelman College of Business & Economics A3;7

MSCAA Reacts financial services To Passenger Diversified Trust Concerns Promotes Smithwick BILL DRIES | The Memphis News

ANDY MEEK | The Memphis News

hen U.S. Airways opens its three daily nonstop flights to Reagan Na- Memphis-based wealth management firm continues growth Wtional Airport in Washington out of Memphis in about a week, Memphis Interna- tional Airport officials will celebrate. iversified Trust, a Memphis-based comprehensive executive committee. And they will emphasize to passengers wealth management firm, has a new managing Smithwick served for 10 years as a member of the that the service along with Delta Air Lines Dprincipal of its Memphis office. board of governors of The Community Foundation of Inc.’s existing Washington service now means Robert “Robin” Smithwick III assumed the role effec- Greater Memphis and is a past board chair. someone from Memphis traveling to the tive Jan. 1. He’s taking the role previously held by Samuel He graduated cum laude from Washington & Lee nation’s capital can have a full day sched- Graham, who became the firm’s CEO in 2011. University. uled there and still be able to make it back to Smithwick has been with the firm almost since its Graham said Smithwick has been instrumental in Memphis by the end of the day. founding in 1994. He joined in 1995, and over the course helping the firm achieve its success to date. “From my house to the White House in of his 17 years with the firm, it’s grown today to now have In addition to his new role of overseeing the Memphis one day and back,” is the way Memphis- more than $4 billion in assets under management and office, Smithwick will continue to be actively involved in Shelby County Airport Authority board chair- several offices throughout the Southeast. the development and management of client relationships. man Arnold Perl put it. “If we want more air “I was brought in primarily to work with clients, de- He also chairs Diversified Trust’s Business Development service then we’re going to have to use it.” velop new business, and that’s been my main role over my Group, and serves on the company’s Investment Strategy The attention on the new service from an 17-year career here,” he said. “And we’ve really grown quite Group and the Institutional Advisory Committee. airline other than Delta comes as the airport a bit in that time.” The firm recently expanded its Memphis space in the board is becoming more vocal in its reaction Diversified Trust, which was founded in Memphis, Crescent Center. Smithwick said Diversified just added an- to concerns among Memphians about high provides investment management, trust and estate, fam- other 2,400 square feet there that it’s filling out right now. fares and less service from Delta, which has a ily office and advisory service to clients throughout the “We have really grown organically since we started hub at Memphis International. Southeast, with additional offices in Atlanta, Greensboro, here,” Smithwick said. “We just said we’re going to serve “When it is steadily decreasing,” asked N.C., and Nashville. clients in this market and do a good job for them and grow board member Ruby Wharton, “where are we In January 2011, the firm opened its fourth office in organically as we go forward. That’s how we’ve done it.” going?” Greensboro under the leadership of Wallace Johnson III, Diversified Trust clients include individuals, multi- The airport’s February passenger counts a Diversified Trust board member and former regional generational families, single-family offices, foundations, and bottom line were better than expected in managing director for Wells Fargo Family Wealth. endowments, retirement plans and family-owned busi- what is traditionally the slowest month of the Smithwick, a Memphis native, spent a decade at Mor- nesses. year for air travel even without the Delta cuts gan Keegan & Co. Inc. prior to joining Diversified. “We manage our client assets the same way we man- at Memphis mainly to regional service. He’s active with a variety of charitable and civic orga- age our personal assets, and it really keeps our incentives See Page 2 for February traffic figures. nizations through leadership roles. He’s a member of the aligned with what our clients need,” Smithwick said. “And Airport authority president and CEO Board of Trustees of the Memphis College of Art and is that’s really important. Larry Cox said the airport is following a past chair of the board. “I tell people all the time, we own the firm, we’re going proven practice of conservative revenue He’s also a member of the Board of Trustees of St. to be here for the long term, and we’re going to take care of projections with several cuts in Delta service George’s Independent School and serves on the board’s you and your family way down the road.” in the last year. “We’ve had to step on the brakes before,” he said, citing the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that shut down all air traffic. But the Delta cutbacks are a long-term real estate & development phenomenon that promises to be a permanent change in the way airlines do business, at least as far as Delta is concerned. “None of us are thrilled with the downsiz- Parkway Closes Renaissance Sale ing of Delta,” Perl said. “Why is it happening? One word – profitability. … The worst thing that could happen to us is to lose a hub car- SARAH BAKER | The Memphis News rier.” Perl and airport authority board member Jack Sammons acknowledged they are fielding a lot of complaints from Memphians Parkway Properties Inc. has November, and local experts projected “As a result of the thorough review about the service cuts and higher fares. completed the sale of its in- the deal to close by 2011’s end. of all of our markets, we determined Sammons, who is a frequent flyer and Mterest in Renaissance Center In January, Parkway announced that Jackson, Memphis and Richmond spends a lot of time in the Delta Crown Room – a 190,000-square-foot, Class A office the disposition of the majority of its were non-core markets,” Heistand Club lounges, points to flights that get to a building at 1715 Aaron Brenner Drive in Memphis portfolio – Falls Building; said. “A portfolio sale of these assets gate early but passengers still have to wait be- the Poplar Avenue corridor – to partner Forum I, II & III; and Toyota Center, allows us to quickly realign our overall cause there is no one at the gate from Delta. Parkway Properties Office Fund LP. totaling 672,247 square feet – to Santa portfolio and focus our resources and Cox said any possibility of other uses for The $500 million discretionary Monica, Calif.-based Hertz Acquisi- capital on building critical mass in our now unused Delta gates at Memphis Interna- fund was formed on July 6, 2005, and tions Group LLC. Parkway’s contract remaining core markets.” tional will have to wait. Months after the an- was fully invested at Feb. 15, 2008, ac- to sell a portfolio of 15 assets spanning As of March 1, Parkway still had nouncement of Southwest Airlines service to cording to Parkway’s Monday, March 1.9 million square feet in Memphis; 100 percent ownership in Forum II & come at Memphis International, Perl said he 12, filing with the U.S. Securities and Jackson, Miss.; and Richmond, Va.; for III (180,000 square feet, 78.3 percent is still getting a lot of questions about a larger Exchange Commission. The sale of the a gross price of $147.5 million is ex- occupied), Morgan Keegan Tower presence beyond the conversion of the exist- three remaining assets totaling 580,000 pected to close during the first quarter (337,000 square feet, 93.5 percent ing AirTran flights to the Southwest brand. square feet in the Fund I portfolio is of this year. occupied), Falls Building (155,000 “We can’t get ahead of the story,” Perl expected to close by the end of the first James R. Heistand, who took over square feet, 71 percent occupied), cautioned as he added there have been a lot half of the year. as president and CEO Jan. 1, said in an Toyota Center and Garage (175,000 of discussions with Southwest about what the The transaction comes after the earlier release that part of Parkway’s square feet, 87.4 percent occupied), entry into the Memphis market will mean. Orlanda, Fla.-based real estate invest- new strategy is to pursue an efficient and Forum I (163,000 square feet, 78.5 “That’s the start. That’s the beginning.” ment trust announced the sale in exit from certain non-core markets. percent occupied). www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 9 /QPG[/CTMGVU'ZVTC The MSCI World index of global stocks That said, I don’t think we should get the euro zone is in recession. Later on and corporate investment-grade bonds has risen more in about two months carried away with this. There’s a real this year, we are likely to find that while in the U.S. Staying cautious than it has in seven of the last 12 years. possibility that this year turns out like we have kicked the can down the road in But Alan Brown says the market may be last year: a good beginning to the year terms of the euro zone’s problems, they For emerging markets, you’re not headed for a rough second half of the and a much more difficult second half. will be surfacing again. Perhaps in the worried about possible rising infla- InsiderQ&A year. He is group chief investment offi- As I look to see what’s coming down the next few months, questions will rise tion? cer of Schroders, which manages about pike, it seems highly likely that we will again about the sustainability of Greece. We don’t really believe in inflation being Who he is: $300 billion in assets. see a slowdown in the U.S. Nothing by We may have had the best couple of a problem any time soon. We certainly Group Chief any means particularly worrisome, and months at the start of a year. Our advice acknowledge that’s a real risk down the Investment Can stocks keep up their torrid pace? nothing that will lead to a double dip re- is: Don’t get carried away. road, but that only becomes a real risk Officer at We’ve had a lot of good news this year: cession, but growth in the fourth quarter when two actors climb back aboard: will- Schroders stronger economic performance out of was largely a result of inventories being So where do investors go? ing borrowers and willing lenders in the What he the U.S., some pretty robust intervention restocked. And that can never go on for There are so many political events go- developed world. That’s when it could suggests: Don’t get carried away by the European Central Bank, which too long. The very strong set of news ing on in Europe that that remains the turn to inflation. In the meantime, it’s un- by stocks’ strong has certainly reduced the imminent risk that we’ve had is likely to moderate. epicenter. You want to stay away from likely. We might get transient effects, start in 2012 of chaos in the euro zone, and we’re get- that epicenter even if you miss out on a like high oil prices, but it wouldn’t be ting some compromise in relation to the How about Europe? possible rally. worrying until it translates into accelerat- Greek debt initiative. All of that is good Come the end of the first quarter, when You are better off in the U.S., Asia, ing wage growth. Alan Brown news and supports the brisk perfor- we get the GDP number for the euro emerging markets. In fixed income, mance that we’ve seen so far this year. zone, we’re likely to get confirmation that there are still possibilities in high yield Answers edited for content and clarity. AP

BEHIND THE BRAND BorgWarner (BWA) Dropping the ball Revving up profits If it helps make a car or truck go Even pro baseball players drop the ball. But anyone The study notes that one-year performance results faster, while improving its fuel paying for investing expertise may be dismayed to learn can vary depending on whether the market was up, down economy and reducing its that stock mutual fund managers had an unusually tough or flat. But over a five-year period, a majority of stock emissions, BorgWarner probably time last year. Fewer than one in five delivered returns fund managers in most categories lag their benchmarks. makes it. that beat the stock market. That's the lowest number in It’s more ammunition for those favoring lower-cost The auto parts supplier the 10 years that S&P Indices has analyzed the data. index funds. manufactures transmissions, All told, some 84 percent failed to surpass the Believing you can find a fund manager who’s likely to turbochargers and other power train Standard & Poor's Composite 1500. That broad index beat the market “is like saying, ‘I’m the smartest guy in parts for vehicles made by returned 1.8 percent including dividends last year, while the room,’” says John Osbon of Osbon Capital everyone from BMW to John Deere. stock mutual funds lost an average 2.6 percent. Management, whose firm manages about $50 million for And as the auto industry’s fortunes have brightened on S&P examined funds based on market capitalization — wealthy private clients. “You might be, but your chances improved sales, so has the Thursday’s close: $87.05 large-, mid- and small-cap — and investment strategy — aren’t good.” outlook for the Auburn Hills, Price-earnings ratio: 20 growth, core or value. Large-cap value fund managers Managed funds often underperform because their Mich.-based company. (based on last 12 mos.) posted the best results, with 54 percent failing to beat returns are lowered by fees. Index funds generally charge Sales of cars and trucks have 52-week price range their benchmark. The worst were large-cap growth fund much less — as little as $6 per year for every $10,000 been surging and are expected to $54.59 $87.05 managers, with 96 percent missing the mark. invested, compared with $134 for managed funds. outpace last year’s. And carmakers are adding workers and looking to U.S. stock funds 1-yr. stock change: 18.0% that failed to beat the S&P Composite 1500 churn out more vehicles. That U.S. stock mutual funds means heightened demand for 1-yr. S&P 500 change: 9.4% 80% that failed to beat the stock market components from auto suppliers. Market value: $9.5 billion 60 BorgWarner ended 2011 with a Target stock price: $89.41 profit of $571.6 million, a 44 percent 40 61.9% 56.5% increase from a year earlier. Avg. broker rating: Revenue jumped 26 percent to 20 SELL HOLD BUY $7.11 billion. 0 Europe accounts for about 55 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 Over 3 Years Over 5 Years percent of BorgWarner’s business, while Asia makes up about 20 company has put forth a brighter percent. The rest comes from outlook for 2012. North America. Earlier this year, BorgWarner A key growth area for the raised its full-year earnings company, which runs manufacturing forecast, saying it expected its plants in 19 countries, is products backlog of new business to help that make cars more efficient. boost its sales this year between 10 That’s just one reason the percent and 12 percent. Source: S&P Indices " #AP Source: FactSet Data through March 15 Alex V(,*$(11, 2+1=AP

.QECN5VQEMU 52-WK RANGE CLOSE YTD% 1YR% 52-WK RANGE CLOSE YTD% 1YR% COMPANY TICKER LO HI CLOSE THUR. %CHG WK MO QTR CHG RTN P/E DIV COMPANY TICKER LO HI THUR. CHG %CHG WK MO QTR CHG RTN P/E DIV AT&T Inc T 27.27 0 31.94 31.64 +.19 +0.6 s s s +4.6 +17.7 48 1.76f MedcoHealth Sol MHS 44.60 0 70.97 70.43 -.54 -0.8 s s s +26.0 +17.7 19 ... AutoZone Inc AZO 256.86 0 386.00 379.00 -.92 -0.2 t s s +16.6 +43.5 19 ... Medtronic Inc MDT 30.18 7 43.33 39.37 +.75 +1.9 s t s +2.9 +4.6 12 0.97 BancorpSouth BXS 8.23 7 16.25 13.68 +.36 +2.7 s s s +24.1 -13.8 30 0.04 Merck & Co MRK 29.47 9 39.43 38.06 -.16 -0.4 s t s +1.0 +23.0 19 1.68 Boyd Gaming BYD 4.12 7 10.39 8.31 +.19 +2.3 s t s +11.4 -14.4 dd ... Mid Amer Apartments MAA 55.10 6 73.36 64.59 -.26 -0.4 s s s +3.3 +8.8 59 2.64f Buckeye Technology BKI 22.45 9 38.50 35.39 +.22 +0.6 t s s +5.8 +46.3 14 0.28f Monsanto Co MON 58.89 9 83.95 79.30 +.81 +1.0 r s s +13.2 +18.8 25 1.20 Community Hlth Sys CYH 14.61 4 41.09 24.08 +.41 +1.7 s s s +38.0 -38.8 10 ... Mueller Inds MLI 32.37 9 49.86 47.41 +.89 +1.9 s s s +23.4 +40.9 21 0.40 Corrections Corp CXW 18.41 0 26.43 26.23 +.34 +1.3 s s s +28.8 +9.7 17 ... Navistar Intl NAV 30.01 3 71.49 42.20 +1.14 +2.8 s t s +11.4 -35.5 13 ... Cummins Inc CMI 79.53 0 124.69 126.99 +3.11 +2.5 s s s +44.3 +28.5 13 1.60 Nike Inc B NKE 69.43 0 111.23 110.73 +.43 +0.4 s s s +14.9 +29.5 24 1.44 Delta Air Lines DAL 6.41 7 11.60 9.63 +.33 +3.5 s t s +19.0 -15.2 8 ... Pinnacle Entert PNK 8.06 5 15.50 11.14 +.37 +3.4 t s s +9.6 -13.6 29 ... Dillards Inc DDS 37.87 0 64.24 63.64 +.07 +0.1 s s s +41.8 +56.6 7 0.20 Regions Fncl RF 2.82 8 7.50 6.44 +.27 +4.4 s s s +49.8 -15.7 38 0.04 Dover Corp DOV 43.64 8 70.15 64.17 +.24 +0.4 s t s +10.5 +3.2 14 1.26 Renasant Corp RNST 11.80 8 17.59 16.17 +.28 +1.8 s s s +7.8 +10.5 16 0.68 DuPont DD 37.10 9 57.50 53.56 +.90 +1.7 s s s +17.0 +2.4 15 1.64 Sara Lee Corp SLE 15.66 9 22.04 21.26 -.14 -0.7 t s s +12.4 +28.5 53 0.46 Education Realty Tr EDR 7.16 0 10.90 10.55 -.07 -0.7 s t s +3.1 +43.3 dd 0.28 Smith & Nephew PLC SNN 42.07 5 58.25 49.92 +.62 +1.3 s t s +3.7 -12.4 71 0.87e FedEx Corp FDX 64.07 9 98.66 94.61 +2.41 +2.6 s t s +13.3 +4.8 17 0.52 Smucker, JM SJM 66.43 8 81.40 77.76 +1.77 +2.3 s s t -0.5 +10.9 20 1.92 Fst Horizon Natl FHN 5.38 9 11.70 10.69 +.16 +1.5 s s s +33.6 -5.1 19 0.04 Suntrust Bks STI 15.79 6 30.45 24.49 +.88 +3.7 s s s +38.4 -17.0 23 0.20 Freds Inc FRED 10.27 8 15.27 14.06 +.09 +0.6 s t t -3.6 +12.2 17 0.24f Synovus Fincl SNV 0.94 7 2.77 2.14 +.09 +4.4 s s s +51.8 -16.3 dd 0.04 GTx Inc GTXI 2.28 3 6.86 3.65 +.20 +5.8 s t s +8.6 +43.8 dd ... Sysco Corp SYY 25.09 6 32.76 29.69 -.50 -1.7 t s s +1.2 +12.6 15 1.08 Ingram Micro IM 15.45 6 21.63 18.96 +.22 +1.2 t t s +4.2 -6.4 12 ... Thomas& Betts TNB 37.51 0 72.39 72.03 +.03 ... t s s +31.9 +29.5 20 ... Intl Paper IP 21.55 0 36.50 35.94 +.23 +0.6 s s s +21.4 +41.7 12 1.05 Trustmark TRMK 17.06 9 25.89 24.93 +.47 +1.9 s s s +2.6 +14.0 15 0.92 Isle Capri Casino ISLE 3.90 5 9.89 6.42 +.06 +0.9 s s s +37.5 -29.9 34 ... Tyson Foods TSN 15.60 8 21.06 19.69 +.04 +0.2 t s t -4.6 +4.9 12 0.16 Kellogg Co K 48.10 6 57.70 52.92 +.44 +0.8 s s s +4.6 -0.7 16 1.72 UPS class B UPS 60.74 0 78.45 78.94 +.70 +0.9 s s s +7.9 +9.8 21 2.28f Kirklands Inc KIRK 7.69 0 17.37 17.26 +.05 +0.3 s s s +29.8 +18.7 18 ... Utd Technologies UTX 66.87 9 91.83 86.89 +.08 +0.1 s s s +18.9 +9.9 16 1.92 Kroger Co KR 21.14 7 25.85 24.41 +.07 +0.3 s s s +0.8 +3.9 26 0.46 Valero Energy VLO 16.40 8 31.12 28.02 +.04 +0.1 t s s +33.1 -1.8 8 0.60 LifePoint Hosp LPNT 28.95 7 43.45 38.75 +.38 +1.0 t t s +4.3 ... 12 ... Verso Paper Corp VRS 0.85 3 5.44 1.79 -.24 -11.8 t s s +86.5 -57.2 dd ... Macy’s Inc M 22.50 0 39.95 39.77 -.14 -0.4 s s s +23.6 +72.2 14 0.80f Wright Medical Grp WMGI 13.37 9 19.05 18.47 +.30 +1.7 s s s +11.9 +10.8 34 ...

Dividend Footnotes: a - Extra dividends were paid, but are not included. b - Annual rate plus stock. c - Liquidating dividend. e - Amount declared or paid in last 12 months. f - Current annual rate, which was increased by most recent dividend announcement. i - Sum of dividends paid after stock split, no regular rate. j - Sum of dividends paid this year. Most recent dividend was omitted or deferred. k - Declared or paid this year, a cumulative issue with dividends in arrears. m - Current annual rate, which was decreased by most recent dividend announcement. p - Initial dividend, annual rate not known, yield not shown. r - Declared or paid in preceding 12 months plus stock dividend. t - Paid in stock, approximate cash value on ex-distribution date. PE Footnotes: q - Stock is a closed-end fund - no P/E ratio shown. cc - P/E exceeds 99. dd - Loss in last 12 months. 10 March 17-23, 2012 www.thememphisnews.com

‘Sales’ Seldom employment Save, Always Cost Money ‘Positive Message’

ANDY MEEK | The Memphis News Ray’s Take Stores love to run sales to entice you, and everyone loves a bargain. However, don’t confuse getting a discount with saving money. Anytime you buy something you are spending money, not saving it. You might be spending a little less – maybe even substantially less – but you are still spending. If you buy a $100 jacket at 25 percent off, you didn’t save $25. You spent $75. Unless you were looking for a jacket, with the money budgeted, you didn’t save money at all – you splurged, possibly on something you don’t really need. Stores have short-term sales to push you to buy before you think. They rely on impulse purchases driven by the desire to get a deal. It’s not ray & dana Brandon rays of wisdom often easy to resist, which is why so many people wind up with less money in the bank or worse, cancerous credit card debt. They see themselves as saving money. Unfortunately, their credit card balances show how wrong they are. The only time a sale price is a bargain is if you were planning to purchase the item anyway, plain Photo: Lance Murphey and simple. Warren Vaughn of The ServiceMaster Co. speaks to prospective candidates at a job fair at the East Memphis Hilton It’s not just retail stores that use the “on sale hotel recently to fill nearly 100 information technology positions for the company. for a limited time” technique to get you to spend your money. Vacation packages, car dealers, health clubs – virtually any company with a product or Hiring figures, job fairs signal encouraging turnaround service you might want will use the enticement of a sale to separate you from your hard-earned money. he most recent figures from Millington at the NSA Pat Thompson worst of the recession. The national Don’t fall for it. Don’t give in and buy things you the Tennessee Department of Conference Center. That free event unemployment rate, however, stayed don’t want, need or have room for. Be conscious TLabor and Workforce Devel- was open to National Guard mem- unchanged at 8.3 percent. about what you’re really doing. When you are opment show a falling jobless rate bers, reservists and all veterans and “Since peaking in March 2009, tempted by that “sale” sign, remind yourself that for the Memphis metro area. military spouses. the four-week moving average of you are spending, not saving. Put that money in the New, more current figures will be Mahaffey Tent & Party Rent- initial claims for unemployment bank instead and congratulate yourself on saving out later this month that show the als hosted a job fair March 10 at its insurance has fallen steadily and is 100 percent. area’s latest unemployment picture. headquarters, 4161 Delp St. The now approaching a level that signals When I see a company with a particularly entic- But in the meantime, the Memphis company is hiring for a variety a broader economic recovery is ing sale strategy, it makes me want to buy their area has played host to one job fair of positions, including local tent taking hold,” said Dr. Robert Trimm, stock, not their products. after another in recent days, while installers and warehouse staff, na- economist with Legacy Wealth across the state there have been tional supervisors and tent installers, Management in Memphis. “I think Dana’s Take more than 20 such fairs in the past warehouse and manufacturing staff, it is possible that we could break Sometimes a pair of shoes or purse catches 15 months. and national project managers. below an 8 percent unemployment your eye and you think, “It’s on sale. I like it. I can The fairs have run the gamut of That same day, The ServiceMas- rate this year, but downward move- afford it. Why not buy it?” Actually there are several industries and have cumulatively ter Co. held a job fair at the East ments will be slow. In addition, we reasons why you should usually resist, but one in held out the hope of hundreds of Memphis Hilton as part of its plan to have seen gradual improvements in particular stares you in the face every time you new jobs. The Great American hire 100 new information technology hours worked and earnings – small open a certain door: Your closet is packed. Steamboat Co., for example, sched- workers for positions ranging from increases, but better than going the If you’re like most people, you probably have uled a career fair at the Memphis technical support to management. other way. a few favorite items you wear a lot, while most ev- Cook Convention Center Feb. 21 as All of the positions will be based “All in all, I think that the job erything else simply takes up space. How does this the company works to fill positions in Memphis supporting the Ser- market has improved as evidenced happen? Unless you are a particularly disciplined and hire more than 300 employees viceMaster home and commercial by the fall in initial claims data, and shopper, you impulse-buy items that don’t really fit for its opulent riverboat that will see services American Home Shield, that the jobs market may be more your needs even though these purchases seem like its maiden voyage next month. Merry Maids, Terminix, TruGreen, healthy than what is currently being signaled by the unemployment rate.” good ideas at the time. On Feb. 23, Mitsubishi Electric AmeriSpec and Furniture Medic. Power Products Inc. held a job fair Those jobs are among 350 local jobs Chris Low, chief economist for Try shopping your own closet. You might be at Embassy Suites Hotel in East ServiceMaster will add through June. FTN Financial, which is a division surprised at what forgotten items you’ll find. These Memphis as part of its effort to re- The company is adding 6,700 of First Tennessee Bank, said recent are the best bargains of all, because they’re already cruit workers for its new transformer jobs nationally during the same employment data provides a “start” paid for. plant in the city. period. Most of the jobs require ex- toward getting the nation back on Next time you go in a store remember what MEPPI is filling salaried positions perience and a bachelor’s degree in better economic footing. Granny said: “You can go broke saving money.” in accounting, information technol- computer sciences or a related field, “The jobs picture has been Ray Brandon is a certified financial planner and ogy, manufacturing, engineering while an associate’s degree is accept- improving for some time,” Low said CEO of Brandon Financial Planning (www.brandon- and quality assurance. Hiring will able for some of the jobs. Friday, March 9, during his most planning.com). His wife, Dana, has a bachelor’s de- be followed by extensive training in Economists have allowed them- recent economic update conference gree in finance and is a licensed clinical social worker. Memphis and Japan, so candidates selves some optimism because of call. “But it’s still not fantastic. We Contact Ray Brandon at raybrandon@brandonplan- must be able to travel to Japan for recent employment figures. In Feb- need sustained job growth of more ning.com. extended periods. ruary, the U.S. added 227,000 jobs than 300,000 if we’re going to make a A few days ago, an employment as part of what’s been the strongest significant dent in the rate of unem- workshop and job fair was held in three months of job growth since the ployment.” www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 11

SMALL BUSINESS Brass Door Preps for St. Paddy’s Day

AISLING MAKI | The Memphis News

owntown Irish pub The Brass lic Church bless the pub on St. Patrick’s Door is gearing up to celebrate Day, as he did on its opening day. Dits first St. Patrick’s Day with live Loftus said that although he’ll still music, food and drink specials, and plenty attend mass in the morning and treat the of craic – an Irish term for having a great holiday as a holy one in some respects, he time. welcomes what Americans have added to “There’s a tremendous amount of the celebration. energy for it at the moment,” said Seamus “This wonderful new culture decided Loftus, managing partner of The Brass a somewhat sterile and stodgy religious Door, which opened at 152 Madison Ave. holiday ought to be turned into a big in August. festival,” Loftus said. “There’s a correlation In addition to every staff member, Lof- in an odd way, because before Patrick the tus has enlisted the help of friends to pull Irish were pagans, and they celebrated off a celebration that’s expected to exceed every good event with a big party. So, really the roughly 800 people who, throughout America kind of peeled the onion a little the course of the day, attended the pub’s bit. It’s really lovely. I think the American grand opening celebration last summer. experience is a more joyful one. In Ireland, “We’re hoping, with St. Patrick’s Day they’re not celebrating being Irish because on a Saturday, that we’ll top that this year,” they’re Irish, so you’d feel kind of odd said Loftus. “We’re excited about that.” about celebrating it. In this country, it’s a The pub’s neighboring alley will be celebration – a real reconnection to your closed off, with a stage set up for live mu- Photo: Lance Murphey roots, and it’s been adopted by everyone.” sic. Eight bands are scheduled to play, in- Seamus Loftus is a co-owner of the Downtown Irish pub and restaurant The Brass Door Loftus said he believes the Irish cluding Memphis-based Big Betsy, whom at 152 Madison Ave. Loftus is preparing for the restaurant’s first St. Patrick’s Day. people’s zest for life and raw, emotional Loftus calls “a wonderful Irish experience.” honesty is what continues to attract people “They’re local musicians who play The banished about eight years ago. lost is that it’s a religious festival, so there around the world to St. Patrick’s Day cel- Pogues and Flogging Molly and all kinds of “It’s an odd thing when you open a would always be mass in the morning, ebrations, and to Irish culture in general. stuff,” he said. “They’re pretty raucous.” pub to go completely non-smoking,” followed by a parade,” Loftus said. “It really “In Ireland we have the expression: Both the upstairs and downstairs bars Loftus said. “In that way, I feel that we’re wasn’t a heavy drinking day. It was more a ‘Ceol, Caint agus Craic’ (Gaelic for music, will be open for business, and drink spe- very much a leader. We took a very brave religious observance than anything else. conversation and having fun). What the cials, including a corn beef and cabbage step because a lot of people wouldn’t do it. It’s a different experience.” Irish generally bring to the table is that plate and $5 fish and chips and burgers We’re a family pub. We always wanted to be Loftus’ mother sometimes made the sense of fun. It’s very hard to be around and chips, will be offered throughout the a place where families could gather, which pilgrimage to nearby Croagh Patrick, a any Irish community and not have an aw- day. is how it ought to be. … It’s more honoring mountain believed to have been the site ful lot of fun. It’s raucous, and we’re kind And Loftus says the kids won’t be left our commitment to being truly an Irish of a 40-day fast by the fifth-century saint, of a raw people, kind of true to ourselves out; pint-sized children’s meals such as fish pub.” as well as the place where he’s said to have emotionally in a way that a lot of people and chips will be available, as well. Loftus says St. Patrick’s Day revelry in banished all snakes from the Emerald Isle. aren’t. To be true to yourself emotionally He and business partner Meg Crosby the U.S. is a different experience from the “My mother climbed nine times in her is to embrace happiness. I think that’s the decided early on that The Brass Door sacred feel of the day back home in his na- bare feet,” Loftus said. real essence of it. You’re going to end off would welcome families, as is customary tive County Mayo, in the West of Ireland. Loftus said he hopes to have his parish dead, so you might as well have fun while in Ireland, where smoking in pubs was “One of the things that shouldn’t be priest from Downtown’s St. Patrick’s Catho- you’re here.”

What Are Your Legal Responsibilities as a Nonprofit?

Part one of a three-part series organization and what Form with the IRS. One or something else. A person acting in a it takes to start one. He must also file the Articles fiduciary role must exercise a high degree What legal issues should you be shared with us that a of Incorporation with of care and must subordinate his or her aware of regarding your involvement with nonprofit is a corpora- the Secretary of State in own personal interests in the event that nonprofit organizations? tion or corporate entity which the company will there is a conflict. Wanting to provide executive direc- that is not primarily be headquartered, form “While the executive director may tors, board members, employees and organized to make a a board of directors to handle the day-to-day obligations of the volunteers with information, we talked with profit. MEL & Pearl shaw govern the company and nonprofit, ultimately, the legal respon- Memphis’ own Van Turner, a partner in the “In fact, nonprofits FUNdraising develop by-laws to govern sibility for the organization lies with the law firm of Brittenum Bruce PLLC. Turner’s are organized and oper- the board of directors.” board of directors. For example, if the law practice is concentrated in the areas of ated exclusively for religious, charitable or Because we put great focus on the board must decide between what the business and commercial litigation, busi- educational purposes,” Turner said. “The role of the board of directors in this col- executive director wants to do and what ness transactions, government relations, 501(c)3 language comes from the United umn, we asked Turner for his perspective is in the best interest of the nonprofit, the municipal law and estate planning. He is States Internal Revenue Code and section on their legal responsibilities. We asked board has a responsibility to do what is also an experienced board member. which defines the types of organizations who runs an organization, the board or best for the nonprofit.” Understanding that no interview can which are exempt from federal income tax- the executive director/CEO? Here is what You can reach Turner at vturner@brit- take the place of legal counsel, we asked es. In essence, for profit corporations must Turner shared. tenumbruce.com or 271-3794. Turner to help provide a high-level over- pay federal income taxes and nonprofit “The board of directors has a fidu- Mel and Pearl Shaw are the owners of view of the types of legal issues that can corporations do not have to pay federal ciary obligation to the organization,” he Saad & Shaw. They are the authors of “How emerge within the nonprofit sector. income taxes. said. “The legal definition of fiduciary is a to Solicit a Gift: Turning Prospects into We started at the beginning, asking “In order to start a nonprofit, an indi- person or entity entrusted with the duty Donors.” Visit www.saadandshaw.com or Turner what it means to be a 501(c)3 vidual must first complete and file a 1023 to act for the benefit of someone else call 522-8727. 12 March 17-23, 2012 www.thememphisnews.com

Reform Efforts health care & biotech Likely After Resignation

BILL DRIES | The Memphis News

rving Hamer made at least two, possibly three comments about a co-worker’s Ibreasts last month at a private party. And the deputy superintendent of the Memphis City Schools system appeared to be intoxicated, according to his boss, Super- intendent Dr. Kriner Cash. Hamer’s apology made matters worse. The outside report on the incident recommended Hamer seek help through an employee assistance program. The result of the incident is the exit of Cash’s top supervisor in charge of carrying out the schools reform agenda Cash has made the centerpiece of his nearly four-year tenure in Memphis. Hamer was arguably Cash’s most trusted lieutenant, having worked together in the Photo: Lance Murphey upper ranks of the Miami-Dade County Mike Markee, nursing student EdTerrica Dickson (right) and nurse Waquime Darham (back) help Aloha Ralph walk after knee school system in Florida before Cash was replacement surgery in the orthopedic and spine unit, part of a recent expansion at Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett. tapped for the superintendent’s job in Mem- phis. Cash frequently has said he expects controversy because of the reform measures he is advocating. And in nearly four years, he hasn’t hesitated to explain those reforms and the ideas behind them in detail to just about any audience that will listen. Meeting Needs When he did, Hamer would frequently follow up with the details of how Cash’s AISLING MAKI | The Memphis News specific ideas for the classroom and teacher evaluations as well as accountability would work on a system-wide basis. And it was Hamer who attracted his own brand of Bartlett’s continued growth leads to hospital’s expansion controversy as point man in issuing the new marching orders to teachers. aint Francis Hospital-Bartlett down beds from eight to 16, expanding ing pharmacy was just 1,535 square Hamer’s departure, with his resignation is seeing record numbers of women’s services beds from 10 to 26, feet, whereas the new pharmacy is effective April 30, is the latest indication Spatients after unveiling its $34 and dedicating 16 beds to the hospi- 2,812 square feet. To accommodate that the reforms Cash has advocated have to million, 83,000-square-foot expansion tal’s new Ortho/Spine Unit. No longer increased patient volume, the phar- coexist with other changes including schools earlier this month. stifled by its capacity limitations, the macy’s hours have now been expanded consolidation that are certain to alter at The hospital at 2986 Kate Bond hospital now plans to seek chest pain to 24 hours a day, seven days a week. least the timetable of Cash’s carefully crafted Road, which opened in 2004 as a 100- and stroke certification, as well. “We built our support services this agenda. A report to the school system from bed facility, features a wide range of “This expansion allows us to make time to support and accommodate this Glankler Brown PLLC attorney Andre B. medical services, including emergency our units more specialized by service expansion as well as future expan- Mathis says Cash based his judgment about and intensive care, cardiology, oncol- line, and we’ll focus our nursing care sions,” Mullins said. Hamer’s intoxication on Hamer falling to the ogy, vascular services, orthopedic and on nurses’ experience so our patients The hospital has also expanded floor once during the party at Cash’s house. spine services, and a family birthing will get the most expert care,” said Deb its surgical capacity, adding four new, Hamer also attempted to play music while center. Taylor, chief nursing officer at St. Fran- state-of-the-art, fully integrated surgi- Cash was speaking and gave a speech that Kem Mullins, CEO of Saint Francis cis Hospital-Bartlett. “The focus is on cal suites, 10 new surgical recovery was “nearly incoherent.” Hospital-Bartlett, part of Dallas-based providing excellent patient care with bays and six new same-day surgical The remarks he made about a coworker Tenet Healthcare Corp., said Bartlett every experience. We’ll be able to move suites. The hospital has already done whom he had little contact with at work and continues to grow, and with popula- our patients out of the ER more quickly some hiring, and the expansion is none personally, however, were clearly heard tion growth comes an increased need and into the specific area associated expected to create a total of about 150 by everyone in the room. And Cash immedi- for health care services. with their complaint, focusing on that new full-time jobs. Construction on ately scolded Hamer by his own account and “We’re advancing our clinical specialty type care.” the expansion began in 2010. Hinson the account of the woman Hamer insulted. services,” Mullins said. “Saint Francis Mullins said that in order to add Miller Kickirillo Architects PLLC de- “I appreciate you speaking up immedi- Hospital-Bartlett has been open go- beds, the hospital had to expand its signed the project, with Hoar Con- ately telling Dr. Hamer that you would put ing on eight years, but it certainly has support services. The facility added a struction serving as general contractor, him out of your house if he didn’t straighten matured a great deal in that time. I Diagnostic Imaging Center featuring both based in Brentwood, Tenn. up,” the woman wrote Cash in a Feb. 21 letter think with this expansion we’re going state-of-the-art technology, including Sub-contractors included Inner in which she made a formal complaint about to be able to compete with any of the a 32-slice CT scan with radiation dose Design Studio, Enfinity Engineers, Hamer’s conduct. other facilities in this community in modulation, ultrasound and a wide- EMC Structural Engineers, Littlejohn The letter and other documents are in- terms of the clinical offerings, and it’s bore MRI, which helps ease the minds Engineering Associates and Gene Bur- cluded in the March 7 report from Mathis. going to be closer to home and more of claustrophobic patients by provid- ton Associates. Mullins said 81 percent Hamer’s resignation apparently became convenient.” ing more inner-diameter space. of the sub-contractors hired for the a done deal when he offended the woman The hospital’s recent expansion Saint Francis-Bartlett’s ancillary project were local. He also said the even more with an e-mailed apology that had resulted in the addition of 56 services have been relocated and hospital will start construction in April she felt insinuated that there was some kind patient beds, with the capacity to add expanded considerably. The hospital’s to expand the hospital’s emergency of personal relationship. Cash had ordered another 40 beds that can be phased in former laboratory space was just 722 room services. Hamer to apologize to her in person as well as needed, ultimately increasing the square feet, while the new space is “The construction firm that we’ve as everyone else at the party, which included hospital’s total bed capacity to nearly 5,278 square feet, increasing in-house had here onsite for a year and a half is most if not all of the top tier of supervisors in 200. That includes doubling both the lab testing and enhancing support for staying for another six months,” Mul- the school system. number of intensive care and step- surgical services. The hospital’s exist- lins said. www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 13

GOVERNMENT SOPA, PIPA Local Leaders Make Pitch And ‘Free’ Access For Harahan Bridge Funds A battle rages around us: the battle for the future of the Internet. As Congress debates the Stop Online Piracy BILL DRIES | The Memphis News Act (SOPA) in the House and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) in the Sen- ate, most of us are unaware of the issues at stake. This battle is between the forces of emphis leaders went to to cost $30 million using a combina- The Memphis end of the board- supply (artists and producers) and demand Washington last week tion of public and private funding. walk would have a new entry point off (Internet consumers). The question is how to push for two projects The split hasn’t been worked out, and Channel 3 Drive instead of previ- M readily available will copyrighted material, they hope will win a share of federal the specific plan is still tentative and ous plans for an entrance between like songs and movies, be from independent Transportation Investment Generat- general. Martyrs Park and the First Unitarian ing Economic Recovery – or TIGER “It’s not a foregone conclusion,” Church of Memphis (Church of the sites? Businesses and individuals who rely IV – grants. Downtown Memphis Commission River) that would have relied heavily on free Internet content for entertainment, They are seeking funds for President Paul Morris cautioned a on a link to the southern end of the research and leads should monitor this bat- streetscape improvements for Elvis group of several hundred supporters existing walkway along the bluff. tle closely. SOPA and PIPA seek to give the Presley Boulevard in Whitehaven Monday evening at a gathering in the “You don’t have to go through Mar- U.S. government and private persons more between Shelby Drive and Brooks South Main Historic Arts District to tyrs Park,” Morris said. “We go along tools to combat distribution of copyrighted Road. They also want funding for a talk about the new plan. the rail all the way along Channel 3 material without payment of royalties. This is revamped Harahan Bridge Project The decision to make Broadway Drive. … One of the reasons is Church typically done on websites that allow users to that would use the pedestrian/bicycle the destination for the westbound of the River was concerned about us “upload” content and other users to “down- boardwalk across the Mississippi River walkers and bike riders came after taking their property. We don’t have to load” the same content free or for a small as a centerpiece and link between those involved in the Harahan Bridge hit their private property at all.” fee, but which are not licensed by the owners Main Street Memphis and the Main Project became convinced pursuing A path along the river’s edge by the of the copyrighted Street of West Memphis – Broadway a pathway along levees in the flood church also raised questions about the ALAN CRONE material. It seeks to Avenue. plain that is east of West Memphis steep access that would be required guest column shut off access to Meanwhile, in Memphis, Tennes- would raise too many environmen- to get to the north side of the bridge. such sites located see Transportation Commissioner tal issues. West Memphis Planning There were also security concerns outside U.S. jurisdiction via servers and John Schroer spoke with other local Division Director Paul Luker admitted about pedestrian and bicycle access websites inside the U.S. In the ever-changing leaders about potential state funding Broadway’s 3.5-mile stretch needs that went under the bridge. environment of the Internet, this is proving for the Harahan Bridge Project, among some work. And West Memphis is pur- Morris said the new surroundings difficult. other topics. The state has already suing funding for a separate dedicated amount to multiple ways to reach the Many critics of SOPA point to provisions committed funding to the Elvis Pres- greenway parallel to Broadway with bridge entrance on the Memphis side that would enable the government or courts ley Boulevard improvements. access along the Interstate 55 viaduct. instead of just one route tied to the to sanction or “shut down” an entire site even And the Center City Revenue “This is a game-changing project,” bluff walkway. if it provides access to only a limited amount Finance Corp. approved $2 mil- Luker said. “We are working to make The federal TIGER grants are of “pirated” material. Many critics fear that lion in funding toward the Harahan Broadway a more pedestrian-friendly aimed at projects like Main Street such a law would inhibit the free and open effort at its March 13 meeting. The road.” renovations and other corridors open nature of the Internet. Proponents counter funding is contingent on getting the He expressed hope it could spur to multimodal transportation options. that the real victims of these sites is not federal grant. The week began with mixed-use retail and residential de- Morris said the odds of Memphis consumers, but artists who lose the value of the unveiling of the new Main Street velopment, particularly on the eastern winning a TIGER grant for either the copyrighted material they created. emphasis for a project now estimated end of Broadway. Memphis project are long. The real complication is the nature of the Internet itself. Thirty years ago, if someone wanted to sell pirated copies of an album, they would have to mass produce tapes or records and distribute them in the market- real estate & development place. Even if such production took place in China, the bootleg copies could be interdict- ed and seized as they entered the country, while being warehoused in preparation for Morris: It’s Time to Redevelop Chisca sale or at the point of sale. These Internet sites can do all of those things physically far from the reach of law enforcement. SOPA BILL DRIES | The Memphis News seeks to stop the transmission of those materials not at the source but at points that are on U.S. soil, like Internet service providers. Everyone says they are against intellectual he Downtown Memphis Commission There was a 2006 plan to turn the more living choices for the area. property theft, but the devil is in the details; is working with developers interested adjacent, more-modern hotel that “We need that option,” Morris how one fights such theft, who can fight and in converting the Chisca Hotel into a had been added onto the Chisca into said. “This could be the best and T what they can recover if successful. set of smaller studio apartments. a Hilton Garden Inn motel. The effort last chance to save the Chisca. If this DMC president Paul Morris on Tuesday, failed to gain traction. And other, doesn’t work, the next chance for the On Jan. 18, Wikipedia and other promi- March 13, talked in general terms about more tentative plans for the original Chisca might not involve saving the nent sites staged a “blackout” to bring working with the developers, noting the hotel withered in the national reces- building.” awareness to SOPA, which was gaining commission has signed a confidentiality sion that followed. The area of Downtown has been speed in Congress. The blackout worked as agreement with them. The property remains boarded a hot spot for hotel plans in recent it slowed the progress of SOPA, PIPA and “The people that need to be behind up as nearby properties in the South years including the nearby Westin similar efforts. Now the parties are back to this are behind it,” he told members of the Main Historic Arts District are trans- Memphis Beale Street Hotel. Also, square one and the lobbying effort of rewrit- Center City Revenue Finance Corp. board. formed into businesses, restaurants plans were announced in 2010 for the ing the bills returns to the relative obscurity The property is under contract with the and retail shops. Royal Phoenix Hotel at Linden and of the legislative process. The battle’s out- same local development partnership that Morris said the building’s time in Fourth Street, but that project has yet come may determine whether the Internet bought and is renovating One Commerce limbo has been “embarrassing.” to materialize. continues to be a place of access to free Square. The hotel at Linden Avenue and Any plans are in the very early An apartment building, presum- content or if you have to pay as you go. South Main Street has been subject over stages, Morris emphasized. But the ably with retail on the ground floor, the years to several plans for renovation as concept is to reopen the Chisca as would be a unique use in an area Alan Crone is a partner with Crone & either apartments or rebirth as a hotel. But apartments with smaller square foot- where most of the housing is single- McEvoy PLC. for decades none of them have made it off age that would rent for less than the story or two-story condos or apart- the drawing board. Downtown market average to provide ments. 14 March 17-23, 2012 www.thememphisnews.com

special coverage

special emphasis: RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE NOT APPLES TO APPLES Foreclosures throw wrench into appraisers’ work as home values free-fall

SARAH BAKER | The Memphis News

Photo: Lance Murphey Barbara Demster speaks with Sam Harris of Code Enforcement at the Office of Community Affairs Open House, which was offering help on a variety of subjects, including income tax preparation, setting up a bank account and paying property taxes.

he weak demand for housing, value is twofold, said Cleo Stevenson, because some of the bank sales we can’t calculated during the 2009 countywide coupled with the stout foreclosure regional appraiser with Synovus Bank. use,” Stevenson said. “The other problem reappraisal – a process that happens once Tinventory, has translated into vast “Not only do you have to have sales, is that for the people borrowing the mon- every four years to ensure changes in the price declines in nearly every one of Shelby but you have to look at each one and see ey, the values may actually be lower than local real estate market are reflected in County’ 34 ZIP codes, affecting the bottom how comparable it is to the subject project, what they paid for it and that flows into the property values. lines of homeowners and the city alike. which may eliminate all of them,” Steven- underwriting. If someone’s going to go in “In a falling market, because the asses- Almost half – 46 percent – of February’s son said. “You may go into a neighborhood and get a mortgage or a home equity, their sor by law doesn’t reappraise but for every home sales fetched less than $50,000, ac- and there may be on the surface 10 sales house may be worth less than what they four years, the appeal process allows the cording to real estate information com- that look comparable, but half may be bought it for in 2006 and 2007.” recognition of that diminution in value pany Chandler Reports, www.chandler- bank sales.” In a depressed market, what protects that’s occurred in the market,” Raines said. reports.com. When appraising residential property, homeowners is the ability to file an appeal Explaining the appeal process as With bank, or foreclosure, sales ac- Stevenson likes to compare sales that with the Shelby County Board of Equaliza- “weighing the evidence,” he said the counting for 31 percent of last month’s closed within the last 12 months; for com- tion for their property tax values to then market currently yields more information 997 home sales, average home sales prices mercial properties comparables can go lower property tax bills, said Andy Raines, and comps to justify the position of the continued to drop, falling to $97,704 in back 36 months. shareholder and property tax attorney taxpayer rather than that of the Shelby February. “We have more sales on the residential with Evans Petree PC. The updated tax County assessor of property, Cheyenne The challenge of determining a home’s side, but we have to look at them closely, values of the county’s 330,000 parcels were Johnson. www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 15

special coverage

“When the market recovers, that will probably turn around,” Raines said, “but at this point, there are comparable sales available. I think the appeal process is Different Reporting Methods Yield just recognizing that market values of homes have fallen over the past two or three years, and taxpayers are taking advantage to get accurate valuations on Data Gaps in Housing Numbers their properties. This is just an unusual time. … It’s probably only happened | twice before in my career and never to SARAH BAKER The Memphis News such an extreme as it has this time.” Homeowners aren’t the only ones feeling the sting of the housing crisis. Because the assessor is only required Varying approaches can mean big differences in monthly sales totals to re-evaluate property once every four years, it can be difficult in areas where foreclosure activity is taking place. he Memphis Area Association of does report sales without square footage less, we count,” Burda said. “Those home’s values or condi- Realtors began tracking home sales because it typically involves new construc- Meanwhile, MAAR includes condo tions can change drastically within six Tbased on recorded dates instead of tion, said general manager Jennifer Burda. sales in its stats but not a sale that is part of months,” Johnson said. closing dates in January 2011, a method “We still count that sale,” Burda said. a multi-parcel sale, such as a portfolio sale And it’s essential that every sales real estate information company Chandler “What we do is we just don’t average in from one investor to another. transaction be reviewed in detail, since Reports has been using when gathering a zero square footage into the average in “Not all sales in a multi-parcel sale state guidelines don’t allow foreclosures data for its market reports since its found- dollar per square foot so that we’re never are given equal value,” Blakeney said. to be counted as a validated sale, John- ing in 1968. skewing the dollar per square foot value. “Some of these sales are average, others son said. But with this change in MAAR’s report- But we’re still counting it as a sale and are totaled, so we do not include them. “When you have a lot of homes selling, the 100-year-old real estate … If somebody buys a building ing for the same price in one neighbor- trade organization last summer full of condos, you can’t divide it hood, it’s easy to evaluate sales because identified a software glitch that equally to determine a value per it’s a level of consistency,” Johnson said. caused flaws in six months of condo and that’s why they’re not “However, if you’re looking at sales and previous housing reports. included.” there’s one every blue moon, you really The monthly numbers Burda said that a warranty need to take the time to review that sale became inflated – presenting deed across multiple properties to make sure it was a good arm’s length a rosier-than-normal view of usually only makes up about 2 transaction – a sale which you had very the local housing market – and to 3 percent of Chandler’s total limited restrictions on the sale.” weren’t deflating until months monthly sales reports, but it’s From 2010 to 2011, Memphis saw later when they were then relevant information for the a decline of about 2 percent in its total reflected on the year-to-date business’ following. assessed value of property, including reports. “The reason why we include residential, commercial and personal That software glitch has the deeds that have multiple property, said city finance director Ro- since been corrected, but parcels is it’s part of the activity,” land McElrath. MAAR’s monthly home sales Burda said. “It shows a bigger, Converting that into taxes that are reports are still indicating large clearer picture of what’s actually paid on those properties, the 2 percent discrepancies in overall home going on in the marketplace. Do reduction represented approximately sales totals compared to data compiled by I have a bunch of low-end houses sell- $10 million in declines. Chandler Reports, a real estate informa- ing? If I don’t have all of the differences, “About 70 percent of that reduction company that was acquired by The the sales by price range, how can I report tion – let’s say $7 to $8 million of that Daily News Publishing Co. Inc. in 2004. that? These houses have properties … trust – impacts our general funds operations,” The inconsistencies come just three What we do is we just don’t deeds and mortgages on them. We work McElrath said. “That means we have $7 months after the National Association of average in a zero square with lenders, they want to know that. We’re to $8 million less in general revenues to Realtors had to downwardly revise sales of footage into the average in not excluding any sales.” fund city operations.” previously owned homes dating back to dollar per square foot so Granted, including sales with three Property taxes represent about 40 pre-crash levels in 2007. that we’re never skewing parcels or less could slightly skew in the percent of the revenues that the city For instance, MAAR’s February home big realm of things including the average the dollar per square relies on to pay for police officers, fire- sales report stated that Memphis-area “ price, Burda said, but Chandler counts fighters and other operating costs. home sales for February climbed 31.6 per- foot value. But we’re still that as a whole sale, therefore capturing “Ultimately what happens is that we cent from a year ago, with 992 total sales counting it as a sale and the total dollar amount of that sale. have to adjust our service delivery ef- recorded in the Memphis Area Association we’re still counting it in “If you look at for the county as a forts and provide fewer services because of Realtors MAARdata property records the average price for the whole, we have the correct average dollar we have resources to cover our operat- database, which includes records of all amount based on the number of homes ing costs,” McElrath said. property transactions in Shelby, Fayette ZIP code and also into all sold,” Burda said. But even with tax collections trend- and Tipton counties. of the Shelby County, or Overall, Blakeney said MAAR’s stats ing downward, McElrath said the as- Chandler’s totals conversely reported Fayette or wherever that are for market gauging purposes, and that sessor’s reappraisal will not impact the 1,072 sales across all three counties, with happens to be.” it reports properties that are arm’s-length city’s fiscal 2013 operating budget that 997 units sold in Shelby County alone. transactions, or sales “that have money begins on July 1. One difference in reporting by the two Jennifer Burda exchanged between people I guess is the General manager, Chandler Reports “The reappraisal will impact us in groups is that MAAR does not include way to say it,” Blakeney said. “If it was fiscal year 2014,” he said. “It’s a couple sales that have no provided square footage recorded at the Register’s Office as a sale of years away from a planning perspec- in any of its residential stats. with money changing hands, then we do tive, but we are certainly cognizant that “We are reporting information for we’re still counting it in the average price include it. the reappraisal will likely result in even marketing reports,” said MAAR executive for the ZIP code and also into all of the “We have intentionally kept the way greater reductions in assessed value director Melanie Blakeney. “I can’t give Shelby County, or Fayette or wherever that we report statistics very uniform over of property, which will again reduce you an exact answer as to why we don’t happens to be.” the years so that we’re always comparing the resources that we have available to include properties without square footage. Chandler’s methodology is pretty cut apples to apples, which provides good operate the city government.” I guess just my gut feeling is if we’re doing and dry, Burda said. All warranty deeds stats, but the normal real estate transac- McElrath said the city’s first option is reports on things by square footage, not all that have a sale price on them are counted tion is not always defined the same way to not raise property taxes amid the cur- agents report square footage when they’re as a sale. That includes condominiums, that it used to be.” rent economic climate, but “to look for describing the properties in the MLS (mul- duplexes, triplexes and single-family ways to streamline operations … more tiple listing service) system.” homes sales from a warranty deed. Chandler Reports is a division of The efficiently.” Chandler Reports, on the other hand, “Anything up to three living units and Daily News Publishing Co. Inc. 16 March 17-23, 2012 www.thememphisnews.com

Learning special emphasis: RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE : SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Balance From Little Kids Hayes Thrives Even in Slump

Have you ever seen little kids spin RICHARD J. ALLEY | Special to The Memphis News around and around until they get so dizzy they become totally out of balance and fall down? They try to get up a few times and fall down again and again. s a child, Michelle Hayes When they regain their equilibrium and dreamed of owning her own their ability to stand up, what do they do? Ahotel. They start spinning around and around until Instead of going toe to toe with Hilton and Marriott, however, the they fall down again! Kids laugh and have a Whitehaven native and LeMoyne-Ow- great time as they repeatedly spin around, en College graduate instead entered lose their balance and fall. It’s a fun game. into the world of real estate in 1998. It’s quite different with adults. With the “I woke up one morning and exception of Grateful Dead fans and ice skat- decided I was going to real estate ers, you don’t see many “spinning adults” school,” she said with a laugh. who seem to be She went to work for Willoughby having fun. Fun is Realtors after school, but the daughter a great indica- of entrepreneur Charles Hayes, owner tion that you are of Hayes Body Shop, wasn’t content to going in the right work for others. direction in life, Photo: Lance Murphey While working as a real estate and kids seem Michelle Hayes, left, is president, Carolyn McAfee is office manager, and Charles agent with another company, she Hayes is affiliate broker with Hayes Homes and Realty Inc. chris cRouch to be experts on opened a home improvement com- SMART STUFF what is fun. pany. In 2001 she added a real estate Southwind Realtors and the immedi- agent more so a lot of times than the 4 WORK That’s why I division to the company and then ate past president of the Memphis company.” pay close atten- formed her own realty firm, Michelle Area Association of Realtors. “If an There are many obstacles beyond tion to kids when I’m trying to learn about a Hayes Homes and Realty Inc., at the agent applies herself and uses all the an agent’s control in the residential concept that will improve my life. So what do age of 23. tools she has at her fingertips, whether real estate market, from a glut of in- kids know about balance that we adults may “I started out with a small com- it’s with a large company or a small ventory to interest rates to a full-blown have forgotten? One of the most common pany, so it was just the independence company, the success rate can almost catastrophe in the national markets recommendations offered in self-help and and flexibility, and I’d gotten used to be about the same.” such as we’ve recently seen. What personal-growth books is to always “live a the smaller structure,” said Hayes, The satisfaction garnered from Hayes has done to move the unmov- balanced life.” In general, I think this is good 34. “The company that I was with commitment and dedication, and able mountains is to work harder. advice; however, there is another side to was more like a small family so it just the reward when a sold sign is finally “One thing that happened with every story, and balance is no exception. worked better for me and my per- planted in the front yard of a house, a lot of real estate agents during the First of all, in this complex and chaotic sonality, I didn’t want to get into a big Hayes said, is “knowing that it’s some- slump was that, overall, morale was world, especially in the business world, it is company and get lost in it. I really like thing that I’ve been able to attain from down. A lot of us had been hurt, we difficult and impractical to always maintain the small, intimate environment.” hard work.” were down, and it just felt better to balance. Things happen that disrupt our The smaller size allows her to do In the beginning, while in her early stay down,” Hayes said. plans. As it turns out, periods in which we are more for the 11 part-time agents, and 20s, age could be seen as an obstacle But staying down isn’t in her nature out of balance may not only be good for us three full-time, in her office. as well, but she knew real estate and and she’d worked too hard to acquire personally, they may be a necessary part of “I’m able to help those agents that her confidence won her new clients what she’s built. She came out stronger personal and professional growth. are in my office get business that they and helped her to excel in her chosen for not only surviving, but growing Kids instinctively understand that learn- would not normally get if they were profession. and excelling during that time. ing, innovation, creativity and other activities somewhere where they have to com- The business of real estate, Hayes “From my personality, I was not that result in growth usually occur “at the pete against 200 people,” Hayes said. said, “is mostly about your indepen- willing to take what was just given to edge of things,” where you often risk tempo- She finds the part-time agents dent effort, you have to be willing to me, I knew that I had to continue to rarily losing your balance. High-performance work with the same drive as those market yourself, you have to be willing work, so I worked harder,” she said. “I airplane drivers refer to this position as “the working full-time. Her biggest pro- to advertise and you really have to sell did more marketing, I did more flyers, envelope.” To improve their skills, they occa- ducer works for FedEx in addition to yourself before you can sell a house.” I positioned myself in front of people sionally “push the envelope,” going slightly be- selling real estate. Real estate firms, despite their size, who could hopefully buy. So I just yond the edge of their current capabilities to When it comes down to it, “most operate much the same way in terms continued to push through and, even a somewhat extreme position. They know it’s agents will get out of real estate what of selling and interacting with buyers though it hurt for a minute, I made it a not a good idea to stay out on the edge too they put into real estate,” said Leon and sellers, Dickson said. “People go to point not to let it control my environ- long or go too far beyond their current edge, Dickson, owner of Benchmark at a particular company because of the ment.” but they learn from flirting with the edge. People who achieve great things in life are those willing to go to extremes to learn new things and stretch their current abilities. As they explore new possibilities and change the way they do things, they often discover that Magna Bank goes with the passage of time, what once seemed like an extreme position eventually becomes beyond perceived their new normal. “customer service. Growing a successful business involves taking some risks. And risk-taking often temporarily throws our comfort-zone world out of balance. Many years ago, the people at — Robert Creech, President Apple computer, known for their passion for ” innovation, introduced a concept called “better sameness” in some of their advertising Contact Magna Commercial Division for the very and promotional materials. Their belief is that if you never go to the edge of your current ca- best in customer service for your company. pabilities, all you can hope for in life is better sameness. And who wants that? Magna Commercial Division 901.259.5642 magnabank.com www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 17

special emphasis: RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE Bank Sales Sully RPAC Keeps Housing on Policymakers’ Minds Housing Increase

JEFF IRELAND | Special to The Memphis News SARAH BAKER | The Memphis News

arol Lott understands that some been turned down very often. In that case, the court ruled that the ocal home sales posted a 36 people have misgivings about giv- The National Association of Real- First Amendment prohibits the govern- percent increase in February, but Cing money to politicians, particu- tors set MAAR’s 2012 “fair share” goal, ment from restricting political expendi- Lmany of those sales were executed larly when budgets are tight. which is based on the local group’s size, tures by corporations. by banks and investors. But Lott, a Crye-Leike Realtors broker at $49,000. As of March 8, approximately “It’s more important than ever now,” Shelby County saw 997 home sales and president of the Memphis Area $60,000 had already been raised, more Lott said. “We’re playing with the big last month, compared to February Association of Realtors, has been in the than halfway to the $105,000 goal set by boys.” 2011’s 735 sales, according to real estate business 26 years and knows how things Lott. Rosemarie Fair, the owner of One information company Chandler Reports, work. “It’s unheard of,” Lott said. “No as- Source Commercial in Memphis, was the www.chandlerreports.com. That’s why she’s spearheading a sociation does that.” Tennessee Association of Realtors presi- Almost half – 46 percent – of residen- campaign by the MAAR chapter of the There are approximately 3,000 mem- dent in 2006 and the MAAR president in tial sales in Shelby County sold for less Realtors Political Action Committee to bers of MAAR, and Lott said every one of 1998. Once again this year she’s involved than $50,000, driven mostly by bank (or raise $105,000 by the end of September. them is being asked to contribute. in the money-raising process. foreclosure) sales and investor activity. Lott said that RPAC, a nonpartisan Only MAAR members are allowed “We’re up against large corporations, Bank sales made up 31 percent of PAC with 1.1 million members, is the to give money to RPAC, but not all of and for the first time other PACs can total home sales with 312 recorded, largest PAC in the country. the members are Realtors. The PAC has get contributions from them,” Fair said. compared to 228 during the same month “The bipartisan thing is a big deal,” received contributions from attorneys, “When I was president, corporations a year ago. Bank sales averaged $61,811 Lott said. “We do have people that come bankers, home inspectors and others were certainly limited.” for the month, a 21 percent plunge from to me and say, ‘We don’t want to give to whose livelihood is directly affected Approximately 30 percent of area February 2011’s averages. RPAC because we don’t like the people by the real estate business, which has Realtors historically contribute money to Plenty of positives also emerged from you give to.’ Well, I may not like some of struggled for the past few years. RPAC. last month’s data. February’s home sales the people we give to, to be honest. But “With that money, we buy their ears Contributors who give $1,000 or more increased 8 percent from January’s 924. if they’re going to vote in a way that’s and their voices,” Lott said, “because we are classified as major donors, and there And 2012 has shown a 21 percent im- going to help our consumer maintain the want that to be our voice on Capitol Hill.” are 35 to 40 of those far. provement through the first two months. value of his home, be it through interest The organization will travel to Wash- When trying to convince a company Total sales revenue was up 13 percent reduction or loan limits, then I may not ington on May 16. Nashville’s Day on or individual to part with some money from February 2011 with $97.4 million, like everything they vote for, but if they’re the Hill is March 28 and the Tennessee for the cause, Lott said potential contrib- compared to $86.5 million last year. going to vote to help the consumer, then Association of Realtors will meet March utors are asked to look at the big picture. One gauge of the state of local real we’re going to try and help their cam- 26-28 in Cool Springs, Tenn., for a spring “No other group advocates for hom- estate can be seen in February’s weak paign out.” meeting. eowners,” Lott said. average home sales prices. That category “Our Realtors are somewhat unique In 2004, a record $104,000 was raised. “We sell these people houses and fell 17 percent to $97,704 from the prior in that we are the only voice for hom- Lott plans on exceeding that number, they get up and go to work every day, but year and was also down 11 percent from eowners,” said Aubrie Kobernus, the di- although MAAR’s membership was 5,500 no one’s really watching their back as to, January. Frayser (38127) had the most rector of governmental affairs for MAAR. then. ‘Is our mortgage interest reduction going home sales with 68, followed by 64 in “Because of that, our PAC is truly non- Garnering influence in Washington to be taken away? Are my loan limits Raleigh (38128). Collierville (38017) had partisan because homeownership is not has become more difficult for many PACs going to go up to make it harder for me the highest revenue with $10.7 million a Republican issue. It’s not a Democratic since a United States Supreme Court to resell? Am I not going to be able to get across 40 sales. issue. It’s not right wing or left wing. It’s decision in the January 2010 Citizens flood insurance the next time I go to refi- something that everybody aspires to do.” United vs. Federal Election Commission nance my house?’ … That kind of thing is Chandler Reports is a division of The So far, Lott and her group have not case. important.” Daily News Publishing Co. Inc.

Green Features Changed Game for Appraisers

Energy-efficient home features Some green renovations, such as is ignored. homes with specific energy-efficiency continue to increase in popularity among adding Energy Star appliances and extra The Appraisal Institute’s Residential improvements. EEMs are available as consumers, yet placing a value on these insulation are likely to pay the home- Green and Energy Efficient Addendum conventional loans and through the FHA “green” products can be challenging. owner back in lowered utility bills relative- allows appraisers to identify and describe and the U.S. Department of Veterans When appraising a green home, the ly quickly. Lower utility costs are a draw a home’s green features as well as site Affairs. They can be used to purchase appraiser evaluates supply and demand for potential homebuyers, attributes and possible new houses or to finance energy-efficient ERIC A. TROTZ and competition in general, as well as which could have an effect GUEST COLUMN incentives. improvements in existing homes. specifically for green homes. Is the on value. If a new home is being The public should look to appraisers subject home the only green home in the To help appraisers, the appraised, homebuilders as the experts on housing trends and area? Appraisal Institute created a form as can use the addendum to provide data to their impact on values. Are typical purchasers in that mar- an optional addendum to Fannie Mae appraisers. Real estate agents also can For additional information on the ket area knowledgeable about green Form 1004, the appraisal industry’s most use the data to help populate the Multiple Appraisal Institute, and to view a list of building? Are they willing to pay more widely used form for mortgage lending Listing Service. local chapter members please visit www. for a green home? Or, given the choice purposes. Appraisers need to have all informa- appraisalinstitute.org or www.aimemphis. between a green home and a non-green Form 1004 is commonly used by tion from underwriters, builders, real es- org. home, are they more willing or likely to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal tate agents and home inspectors related Going green is a worthy cause that buy a green home? Housing Administration. to energy-efficient features in order to can help to save the environment, but It is certainly logical that green homes Currently, the contributory value of a recognize them and to make appropriate, consumers should consult with an ex- should sell for more than conventionally home’s green features is rarely part of the market-based adjustments. The ap- perienced appraiser to determine if cost constructed homes. However, that is not equation as Form 1004 devotes limited praiser will obtain all of this information equals value for energy-efficient items. always the case. But, as the buying public attention to energy-efficient features. on behalf of the consumer. becomes more and more aware of the Therefore, green data usually don't On a similar note, energy-efficient Eric A. Trotz is owner of Trotz Real Es- advantages of green homes, one would appear in the appraisal report or it is mortgages (EEMs) make it easier for tate Services and president of the Memphis expect this to be the case. included in a lengthy narrative that often borrowers to qualify for loans to purchase chapter of the Appraisal Institute. 18 March 17-23, 2012 www.thememphisnews.com

special emphasis: RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE Johnston Finds Life’s Passion With Career Selling Homes, Helping People

LESLEY YOUNG | Special to The Memphis News

Real estate gig was ‘love at first sale’ for 29-year-old Prudential Collins-Maury agent

exie Johnston likes to stay busy – The St. Mary’s Episcopal School and Johnston said. “I realized real almost to a fault. University of Memphis graduate first got estate was everything I loved L “I’m pretty restless. In fact, into real estate while searching for her about social work. It’s em- when things get hard, I usually find some- first home in late 2008. Her Realtor, Sally powering people by provid- thing else to do,” said the 29-year-old. Isom, a top producer in the industry, ing them with information to The hustle and bustle of the real estate approached her about becoming her as- make decisions to better their business was instantly attractive to the sistant. lives. It’s a perfect fit.” native Memphian, so much so that she’s For Johnston it was love at first sale. She said working with a top stuck it out for three years in a down “Within two months I figured out this producer on the front end was economy. was what I wanted to do with my life,” she vital to her success. “I love it just as much today as I did said. “I saw how a top producer the first day. It’s the first thing I’ve thought Three months later, in March 2009, does well, how to get busi- I could do every day for the rest of my Johnston had her license. ness,” she said. life,” said Johnston, an agent for Pruden- Besides keeping her interest, real Her philosophy in the tial Collins-Maury Inc. estate fulfills Johnston’s yearning to help world of buying and selling is a Working primarily in Midtown and people. simple one. East Memphis, Johnston averages a clos- She earned her degree in social work “You treat everybody as ing every two months and says she is – only after first majoring in forestry at though they are your only cli- lucky she started out in a bad economy. Montana State. ent, and in listing, you treat all “I consider myself fortunate. I’ve “I figured out pretty quickly I wouldn’t houses the same no matter the price range,” she said. never had a license in a good market. To like vet school, so I transferred to Univer- Photo: Courtesy of Lexie Johnston me it’s just real estate,” Johnston said. sity of Memphis and studied social work,” In a short period of time, Lexie Johnston, an agent with Prudential Collins-Mau- Johnston has also become a ry, helped launch the Memphis Young Professionals pioneer in her field. Network. With the help of colleague Amanda Lott, now an agent for Crye- agents in the business right now, and WORLD WIDE HEALTH SOLUTIONS Leike Realtors, Johnston established the most of them are having to work two jobs. Memphis Young Professionals Network, We were afraid if we didn’t rally the troops MAIL ORDER PHARMACY an offshoot of the Memphis Area Associa- and energize people, they would get out tion of Realtors. of the business and we don’t want the The year-old organization sponsors profession to die out,” Johnston said. Xanax (Alprazolam) ……………………… 90 tablets ………… $10.00 Norvasc (Amlodipine) …………………… 90 tablets ………… $10.00 monthly events for young real estate Networking exists not just for real Protonix (Pantoprazole) ………………… 90 tablets ………… $20.00 agents and, according to Johnston, “the estate agents but anyone associated with Adipex-p (Phentermine) ………………… 90 tablets ………… $20.00 young at heart,” to facilitate career ad- the business of buying and selling houses, Ativan (Lorazepam) ……………………… 90 tablets ………… $10.00 vancement and camaraderie among local such as attorneys and pest control com- Simvastatin (20, 40mg) ………………… 90 tablets ………… $10.00 panies, and it’s an important factor in any Wellbutrin XL (Buproprion XL) ………… 90 tablets ………… $45.00 fledgling agent’s career. Synthroid (Levothyroxine any mg) …… 90 tablets ………… $7.50 “The network was vital to me because Flonase (Fluticasone 50 mcg) ………… 1 bottle …………… $35.00 it was my first introduction to agents out- Motrin (Ibuprofen any mg) ……………… 90 tablets ………… $7.50 side of the company. It was the first way I Effexer XR (Venlafaxine any mg) ……… 90 tablets ………… $40.00 Ambien (Zolpiden) ………………………… 90 tablets ………… $20.00 started making contacts with real estate Prilosec (Omeprazole) …………………… 180 Capsules …… $30.00 associates that a professional needs,” she Soma (Carisoprodol) …………………… 90 tablets ………… $15.00 said. “I don’t know what else I would have Valium (Diazepam) ………………………… 90 tablets ………… $10.00 done starting at square one.” Lovastatin (10, 20, 40 mg) ……………… 90 tablets ………… $15.00 “You treat everybody as When she’s not making regular clos- Coreg (Carvedilol any mg) ……………… 90 tablets ………… $7.50 though they are your only ings or networking with her colleagues, Benazepril (any mg) ……………………… 90 tablets ………… $15.00 client, and in listing, you Johnston still finds time to tutor in geom- Lopid (Gemﬁbrozil) ……………………… 90 tablets ………… $30.00 etry and Spanish two days a week. Flomax (Tamsulosin 4mg) ……………… 90 capsules ……… $30.00 treat all houses the same no “I love it. I’m not ready to give it up,” Coumadin (Warfarin any mg) …………… 90 tablets ………… $15.00 matter the price range.” said Johnston, who first began tutoring – Lexie Johnston four years ago as a part-time job. “Plus, “Real estate agent, Prudential Collins-Maury Inc. I’m just a nerd, and I love geometry, and it FREE MEDICATIONS gives me a chance to use my Spanish.” LISINOPRIL, METFORMIN, CELEXA (CITALOPRAM), ATENOLOL, LASIK (FUROSEMINDE). PROZAC Johnston likes to share a positive (FLUOXETINE), ZOLOFT (SERTRALINE), GLIMEPIREDE, HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE (HCTX), MOBIC (MELOXICAM), TRIAMTERENE HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE Realtors. outlook during weak economic times and “We do everything from educational tries to do what she does best – stay busy. Have your doctor call or fax prescription to (t)423-296-9022 (F) 423-296-9023. presentations to happy hours at bars, “I just hope to stay busy during these Toll Free: 1-877-426-9022 Toll Free Fax 1-877-426-9023. Any medication on the free list is free for the and next we’ll be offering the (Accredited months so that when things do pick back 1st 90 days then reﬁll is $5. NO QUESTIONS ASKED! All state and federal taxes do apply. Buyer’s Representative) accreditation, up, I’ll have a business to build on,” she Pharmacist counsel available via phone 24-7 365 days a year for your medication convenience. which is the first accreditation agents get, said. We also stock a large supply of other generic medications and brand name medications. Just give us a call for a price. We are not an insurance or do not offer insurance. at a discounted price,” Johnston said. “People should not be dismayed by No application fee or monthly dues. PO Box 8338 Chattanooga,TN 37414 She started the local chapter of the the market. It is what it is, and we will organization, which has affiliates across always need buyers and sellers. It may the nation, because of her passion for the not be what it used to be, but houses are WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU!! industry. still being sold and people are still buying “We realized there are very few young houses.” www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 19

special emphasis: RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE Stamps Opens Realty Venture in Collierville

SARAH BAKER | The Memphis News

ocal real estate professional John open houses – a topic somewhat debated “I’m going really make it more of a back in touch with his Collierville roots Stamps is investing in his home among residential real estate agents neighborhood production because I and tapping into community involve- L town by setting up a namesake when it comes to return on investment. think that’s a big way that sellers sell their ment. business venture in Collierville Town He plans to work with neighborhood houses is through the network of the “We’ve got real supportive people Square. stakeholders as a launchpad for home neighborhood. People buy houses around out here,” Stamps said. “I’ve talked with Stamps – an active member in the shoppers. people they know and they like or they’re Michael Green with John Green Realtors. Memphis Area Association of Realtors “It’ll be more of an event for the comfortable with.” He’s right next door. We’re good friends and former principal broker of Prudential neighborhood than just an open house,” Stamps also plans to get involved with and he kind of welcomed me to the Collins-Maury Inc. Realtors’ German- Stamps said. “I’ll be sending out flyers to Main Street Collierville and the group’s neighborhood, so to speak. He said that town office – has started his own firm, some of the neighbors, knocking on doors Thursday night summer concert series. there’s enough business to go around for The Stamps Real Estate Co. LLC, at 109 N. and have food and things like that. He said it all ties into his goal of getting all of us.” Center St. “I just decided to branch out on my own and rebrand myself,” Stamps said. “I’m really excited about it; it’s been something that’s been in the back of my head for a long time.” Stamps’ family is from Collierville, and he currently serves on the town’s Planning Commission. He hopes to eventually grow his firm to 10 or 12 agents and emphasize on Collierville residential real Present Tense estate. “I want to develop a niche,” Stamps New Art from Memphis said. “I want to build a company that’s not real big, but people that all get along real well and do a good, core group of business.” It’s a move that has its challenges amid the current economic climate, but one that Stamps is approaching with cautious optimism. “I’ve been scared to death because I’m jumping off in a climate that has been really tough over the last several years, but I’m kind of feeling, sensing, hoping that things are coming back around,” Stamps said. “I feel that if my timing’s right, then hopefully I’ll be on the forefront on a wave of things coming back. Nothing grandiose, but I feel that sales are going to start doing better.” One way Stamps plans to keep over- head low is by implementing a “grass- roots marketing” campaign with a heavy emphasis on electronic support. Instead of having paper flyers, his sig- nage has a 24-7 toll-free number where potential buyers can call, enter the street colored pencil Tree, Ali Tea Delgado, number and get information and pricing on a particular lisiting. Stamps’ website now has a splash “Memphis is continuing to grow into a thriving arts community. February 3 – April 10, 2013 page (www.TheStampsCollection.com), To inspire and encourage young artists in the area, we are pleased and in the coming weeks, he plans to roll to present outstanding artwork by some of the most talented high out a full-blown site where viewers will be able to access Web flyers and informa- school students in this exhibition. We are proud to be a part of tion on properties. Memphis’ cultural landscape and are excited to see it blossom.” The Stamps Collection is also on Fa- Jim Meeks – Managing Partner, Northwestern Mutual dixon.org cebook (www.facebook.com/TheStamp- sCollection), a medium that has already yielded a positive response from users of the social media site. “I’ve been actually getting a lot of attention – more than I thought. I just wanted to kind of get out there and get quietly started. Last Saturday, I put a pic- insurance / MEMPHISinvestments / ideas® ture up of my new signs and it’s got my website on there,” Stamps said, adding he was amazed he got about 70 likes and about 50 comments. “It made me really present-tense-memphis.com feel good.” Another area of focus for Stamps is 20 March 17-23, 2012 www.thememphisnews.com

special emphasis: RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE Permit Data Show Housing Market Slowly Improving

SARAH BAKER | The Memphis News of the different associations across the real estate firm Crown Realty Co., has a on local real estate agents for marketing state and some are doing very well, like slightly different theory. its homes through the Multiple Listing Chattanooga and Nashville,” Moore said. “Last year, there were a lot of begin- Service. “Then some of the other cities across the ner homes started, which were the much “Most of our contacts are made either emphis last month was named state maybe aren’t doing that well. Com- smaller homes,” Todtman said. “I think the through people coming through our as one of 29 metropolitan areas pared to some of the places, Memphis may market since last year for move-ups has house, or by agents looking at specific M to be included on the National statistically be a little better, but anything gotten a little bit better.” criteria for their clients,” Todtman said. Association of Home Builders/First Ameri- is welcome.” Regency Homebuilders LLC filed the “We closed a couple in February. It seems can Improving Markets Index, which is Memphis new home construction most permits for the month, with eight like we run in spurts where we’ll have four now nearing 100 cities. was basically unchanged year over year in averaging 2,893 square feet and $200,502. or five sales at one time and then it’ll stop, The index identifies metro areas that February, but average size and value both Other active builders were Forest Hill and then a month or two later, we’ll have have shown improvement from their saw impressive gains. Properties Inc. (five; 4,080; $275,000), Hall- three or four more.” respective troughs in housing permits, Shelby County homebuilders filed 71 mark (five; 3,251; $285,200), Karen Garner Builders sold 28 new homes in Febru- employment and house prices for at least new home permits last month, averaging of Magnolia Homes (four; 4,967; $418,750), ary averaging $231,932 and totaling $6.5 six consecutive months. 3,553 square feet in size and $298,253 in Grant Homes (four; 2,705; $181,084) million. That’s a 46 percent drop-off from Other notable new entrants to the list value, according to real estate information and Klazmer/Skylar Homes (four; 3,002; the 52 that were sold in February 2011, in February were Miami; Boston; Detroit; company Chandler Reports, www.chan- $272,000). averaging $206,229 and $10.7 million. Kansas City, Mo.; Portland, Ore.; and Salt dlerreports.com. Collierville’s 38017 ZIP code was the It’s also a 59.4 percent decrease from Lake City. In February 2011 builders filed 73 new highest performing area by a considerable February 2010, when 69 new homes were But to Jimmy Moore, 2012 president of home permits averaging 2,518 square feet margin, with 22 new home permits averag- sold, averaging $200,686 and totaling $13.8 the Memphis Area Homebuilders Associa- and $188,794. ing 3,332 square feet and $308,095. That million. tion and builder with J. Moore & Associ- Moore said last month’s numbers are ZIP also yielded February’s most active Moore is hopeful that spring on the ates, Memphis isn’t out of the woods yet. likely indicative of more people building a subdivision, Schilling Farms, with eight horizon will spur homebuilding and buyer “I guess I’m a little hesitant to get too custom home, since that type of construc- permits averaging 3,097 square feet and activity. excited too fast about that because it’s not tion typically yields higher-than-market $279,250. “Usually we have just almost a down happening very rapidly, but I think we are home averages. Hallmark’s concentration right now is year during election year,” Moore said. better off than some states and even some “I have talked to some builders in the Wolf River Ranch and Wynstone at “But we’re hoping that since it has been parts of Tennessee, not many,” Moore said. who have picked up pre-sales,” he said. Schilling Farms subdivisions. slow, because the weather is getting better MAHBA attended the state legislative “They’re not coming real fast, but evident- “We had bought five lots (in Schilling and it seems like there is a little more activ- agenda in Nashville last week, where many ly, they’re large enough and the number is Farms) and we just filed for four of our ity, that we’re looking for an improved year statewide homebuilder associations were increasing that would cause the average permits to get started on,” Todtman said. this year for sure.” present, meeting with different legislators price to go up.” Hallmark Builders has been in busi- about issues affecting housing. Harry Todtman, principal/owner of ness since 1983. The company has recently Chandler Reports is a division of The

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COVER STORy Irish Stories Immigrants from Ireland find success – and some similarities to their homeland – in Memphis

Story by AISLING MAKI : Photos by LANCE MURPHEY

hroughout the nation’s history, millions of Irish men and women – in an effort to escape poverty, famine, joblessness and English oppression at home – made the journey across the Atlantic seeking fresh starts in the “land of opportunity.” Among earlier immigrants, men worked as laborers, building America’s canals andT railroads, as well as taking jobs in mills, factories and construction, while Irish women worked largely as domestic servants. They later became law enforcement officers, politicians, teachers and nurses, but despite their transition into the middle class, perva- sive negative stereotypes – often perpetuated through newspaper illustrations by cartoonists such as Thomas Nash in the 1870s – meant Irish immigrants did not escape bigotry in their adopted homeland. Although they had some visibility in Southern cities such as Savannah, Ga., and New Orleans, Irish immigrants largely settled in northern metropolises such as Boston, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. Irish immigration to the U.S. slowed in the mid-1990s, when the Celtic Tiger – a period of rapid, robust economic growth – swept Ireland. Those who did come to the U.S. were a far cry from the poverty- stricken immigrants of previous generations. They The Scientist : Louise Treanor, Hematologist, St. Jude were more likely to work in information technology or { financial services than in factories and construction. “The Irish are one of the best-educated populations in the world, and one of the youngest in terms fter matriculating from Trinity big family. It really helped me to settle of demographics,” said Aidan Cronin, Consul General College Dublin and earn- in much more easily in Memphis.” of Ireland based in Chicago, who serves a 20-states region that includes Tennessee. “They’re young, well- ing her doctoral degree from As a scientist, Treanor said St. Jude’s educated and looking for different types of jobs when A the University of Edinburgh, Louise model, which enables scientists to they do move overseas.” Like the U.S. economy, the Irish economy in recent Treanor five years ago relocated to more readily see the translational side years has experiences a serious downturn. Despite the U.S. to work at St. Jude Children’s of their research, helps foster unity. that, Cronin says, the Consulate has not noticed a marked increase in the numbers of new arrivals. Research Hospital as a hematologist, “Our work here is very much fo- Cronin said most of the immigrants coming now are specializing in leukemia research. cused on making sure we’re working here for a specific reason – usually a job. “For the most part, people who are coming over “We’re testing mutations to see towards our goal of therapies,” she are students coming on summer visas, sponsored what sort of leukemia they form,” said said. “That’s really fantastic for scien- visas, business visas – this kind of thing,” Cronin said. “I think the days of huge numbers of Irish people im- Treanor, a Dublin native. “It’s a par- tists to see. You always feel like you’re migrating to the States are gone essentially. It’s much ticularly aggressive form of leukemia part of a bigger team.” more difficult to move here than it was in the middle of the last century, or even in the eighties during the that we’re looking into to see if we Treanor has found Memphians to last great influx of Irish people moving to the U.S.” can find novel pathways and through be among the warmest, most hospi- Cronin said there tend to be some Irish natives – whether they’re recent arrivals or long-term residents that maybe eventually find something table people she’s met in the U.S. – in most major U.S. cities nowadays. therapeutic.” “I think it’s a Southern thing,” she “People tend to move on more than they did in previous decades,” he said. “They’re still arriving first Treanor said working at a world- said. “The hospitality, people are very in the major urban centers, but I think it’s fair to say renowned pediatric hospital and friendly and welcoming – it’s similar that they’re spreading out about a bit more.” Memphis at one time was home to a sizeable Irish research center, whose diverse staff to home. A lot of people will go to immigrant community, most of whom settled in the includes researchers and clinicians New York and Chicago, but Memphis Pinch District. However, the yellow fever epidemics of the 1870s took a heavy toll on the city’s Irish popula- from around the world, helped her ac- is cool because it’s got a lot of history tion. Memphis today continues to attract small num- climate to life in the U.S. associated with it and it’s small, but bers of native Irish people, and work is what typically brings them to the Bluff City. “There’s a really good community there’s a lot going on. You feel like part Here are the stories of four Irish citizens who make here at St. Jude,” she said. “It’s like a of the community.” their home in Memphis. www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 23

{ The COACH : Richie Grant, Men’s soccer coach, University of Memphis

soccer scholarship brought in this profession, but we’ve been here the Northeast, and I’m not knocking Dubliner Richie Grant to Ver- 13 years – quite a long time in coach- them at all, but it’s like you’ve never left Amont’s Green Mountain College ing – and Memphis has really grown home because everyone around you is in 1989, and his coaching career began on us. I like the people. There’s a blue- Irish.” six years later at Lambuth University in collarness to this city that I love, hav- Grant said diversity is a large part Jackson, Tenn. In 1999, Grant took the ing grown up in Dublin, and there’s a of what attracted him to the American helm coaching the men’s soccer team at tremendous sense of humility in Mem- melting pot in the first place, and he the University of Memphis. phis. People are grounded and they enjoys the cultural exchanges that result “I love working with 17- to 22-year- have good family values.” from bringing together players from a olds in that university setting,” said Recruiting players to Memphis isn’t wide array of backgrounds. Grant, now 42 and a naturalized U.S. always an easy sell considering most Grant said Americans don’t receive citizen. “To have an impact on shaping young men, especially those from enough credit for their genuine sense of their lives is a pretty special environ- abroad, dream of scoring goals in bigger hospitality toward immigrants. ment to be in.” cities like Boston, New York or Chicago. “I was always just floored by the hos- Off the field, Grant and his Canadian But Grant emphasizes the opportunities pitality of Americans,” he said. “You can wife, Jodi, an assistant coach for the for growth Memphis offers by requiring sense genuineness in people wanting women’s soccer team, keep busy raising foreigners to step outside their comfort you to do well and support you. That their two young, Memphis-born chil- zones. wasn’t what I had heard about America dren. “Even though I miss home I never before I came here. I think the real ad- “Now we’re very settled,” Grant said. wanted to live in a mini-Ireland,” Grant vantage of being Irish in America is how “We don’t know where our jobs take us said. “There are Irish communities in well-received you are. It’s flattering.” 24 March 17-23, 2012 www.thememphisnews.com

{ The RESTAURATEUR : Patrick Reilly, Chef and owner, The Majestic Grille

hen the Irish economy boomed in the Lounge, and later the now-defunct Swig Martini Bar. 1990s, young, upwardly mobile Irish The grit, soul and historical poverty of Memphis Wmen and women began introducing cu- reminded him of the land he’d left behind. linary concepts to the island from abroad. But prior “Memphis and Ireland are very similar in a lot of to the so-called Celtic Tiger years, Ireland historically ways, with the music scene – it’s like an art incuba- lacked a sizable middle class, limiting career options tor – and the food culture. Old Southern food was a for an aspiring high-end chef like Patrick Reilly. lot like old Irish food – pigs’ feet and fried chicken – “When I was growing up In Ireland, there were no cheap, peasant food.” restaurants,” he said. “You’d just go to the pub and After marrying his Irish-American wife, Deni, the have a few pints after dinner, but you never went out couple remained in Memphis, opening their own for a meal.” restaurant, The Majestic Grille, in 2006. The spark of the Kildare native’s passion for qual- “In Ireland, businessmen are looked at with suspi- ity food was ignited during holidays in his mother’s cion and loathing … but here business people by and native Mayo on Ireland’s salty West coast, where he large are looked at as having done well,” Reilly said. sampled fresh country and coastal fare. “People are just genuinely glad that we’re here and After a culinary education at Dublin School of we’re doing well.” Catering and Hotel Management, Reilly in the early Reilly said that from a small-business owner’s per- 1980s moved to London, where he further honed his spective, Memphis has a commerce-supportive local skills. In the late 1980s, Reilly crossed the pond to the government that lacks the rigid regulations imposed U.S, working at corporate restaurants such as Planet on entrepreneurs in many other cities. Hollywood and Hard Rock Café in cities such as Bos- But the best thing about Memphis, said Reilly, ton, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. who recently celebrated becoming a naturalized U.S. In 2001, Reilly headed to the Home of the Blues, citizen, is that “you’re not lost in the shuffle. You can opening the Gibson Beale Street Showcase Guitar really make an impact here, which is nice.” www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 25

The CULTURIST : Dr. Mary McGinty, Pediatrician, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital { Owner/teacher, Inis Acla School of Irish Dance

rowing up in an im- ric emergency medicine brought Germantown Community Center. rick’s Day, complete with dancing, migrant household McGinty to Memphis in 1992, she And a year later “Riverdance” – traditional live music, and poetry Gin Cleveland, Ohio, was somewhat surprised by the starring her dance contemporary recitation – in Memphis, but it first-generation American Mary South’s lack of a vibrant Irish cul- and fellow Irish-American Mid- proved to be unsustainable due to McGinty was just like everyone tural scene often seen in Northern westerner Michael Flatley – took a lack of community support. else in her neighborhood. cities. the world by storm, increasing A mother of two, McGinty does “Where I grew up, you were “Here everyone’s a Southerner; local demand for McGinty’s skills. her best to keep the traditions alive Irish-American or Italian-Amer- that’s their identifier,” she said. In 2000, she opened an official through her students and her two ican or Yugoslavian-American; In addition to her day job as an studio in Cordova to house the 70 children – a daughter who dances everyone had an immigrant con- emergency room physician at Le students of her Inis Acla School of competitively and a son with an in- nection,” said McGinty, whose Bonheur Children’s Hospital, the Irish Dance. She also founded the terest in Irish history – who benefit mother hails from remote, Gaelic- former Irish dance champion and Memphis Fèis – an Irish cultural from the care of their native Irish speaking Achill Island off the coast certified step-dancing instruc- and arts festival featuring step- grandmother, who lives with the of County Mayo. tor found a niche teaching the art dance competitions – as well as the family. But McGinty said she’d like Extended summer visits with form to children – at first flying Memphis Irish Arts Foundation, a to see that cultural interest reach family in Ireland – which Irish- monthly to Georgia to teach a nonprofit with the goal of support- far beyond the walls of her home Americans commonly refer to group of about 60 kids. ing the fèis. and studio. among themselves as “going She began receiving calls from Like many Irish-Americans, “I think there’s no place for us to home” – marching in St. Patrick’s transplanted Irish-American McGinty views green beer, don- connect in Memphis,” she said. “I Day parades, playing traditional Northerners whose jobs had car- ning leprechaun suits and other don’t know that there are enough music, and attending folk dancing ried them to Memphis, and who commonplace St. Paddy’s Day Irish people to have our own club socials called céilí dances were all wanted their children to continue debauchery as a cultural insult. or our own center. I don’t know that regular occurrences in McGinty’s their competitive Irish dancing. She attempted to start an an- there’s anybody who would teach childhood. In 1993, McGinty began offering nual Emerald Ball – like those held language or tin whistle. I don’t When a fellowship in pediat- classes to a handful of students at in other U.S. cities around St. Pat- know if there’s enough interest.” 26 March 17-23, 2012 www.thememphisnews.com

SPORTS TICKER: The Grizzlies traded Sam Young to the Philadelphia 76ers on March 15 in an effort to avoid the luxury tax. Memphis in return receives the rights to Ricky Sanchez, although the team won’t sign him to a contract. sports

GRIZZLIES

THE PRESS BOX DON WADE Believe Memphis? Heart Same As Head In Not if Lakers in Town Picking Games ne of the beauties of the NCAA Tournament is the more you know, Othe less you know. Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins knows more about the game than most of us could forget and he believes Kentucky will win this time. “None of Cal’s other teams had the full package,” he said, referring to Kentucky and former Memphis coach John Calipari. Hollins believes the other No. 1 seeds – Syracuse, Michigan State and North Carolina – also will make the Final Four. But what mattered most was what he said next: that his opinion probably carried as much weight as the nearly empty plastic water bottle he was holding. President Obama correctly picked North Carolina three years ago but the last two went with Kansas and the Jayhawks lasted about as long as Herman Cain’s presidential run. So the president is back on the Tar Heel bandwagon, the closest thing he has in this field to an incumbent. But upsets are more than an occasion- al happening in the NCAA Tournament. To put it in political terms: don’t trust the polls. The bracket-busting upsets are what we love, yet when it comes time to fill out a bracket we all are faced with the struggle between head and heart. Grizzlies guard Mike Conley played in an NCCA Tournament title game with the Ohio State Buckeyes. He wants to believe, but ... “They’re not looking too good lately.” Guard O.J. Mayo’s alma mater, USC, didn’t even make the NCAA field. But younger brother Todd is a fresh- man at No. 3 seed Marquette. So, go Golden Eagles. AP Photo: Alan Spearman In Memphis, there is a natural anti- Despite Tony Allen’s strong efforts for the Memphis Grizzlies, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers were able to pull out Calipari sentiment and some people, the double-overtime win in FedExForum. including all three of my sons, refuse to pick Kentucky even though they agree with Hollins. “Lake Show” still holds allure for some fans at FedExForum David Gross, avid Tigers fans and se- DON WADE | Special to The Memphis News nior vice president at First Alliance Bank, is picking Kentucky. And he was even in San Antonio when the Tigers had the NCAA championship won – only to hand it to he evening started with such a great vibe. FedEx- Hollywood’s Team. Kansas. Forum public address announcer Rick Trotter just In the beginning, it was somewhat understandable. “It was a bad taste when it ended,” he Tmentioned the visiting Los Angeles Lakers and sweet Kobe was becoming the face of the league, Shaquille O’Neal said of Calipari’s tenure at Memphis, “but I boos rained down onto the court. hadn’t yet become a caricature of himself, and the Grizzlies don’t hold any grudge.” Then Trotter introduced the starters, and good guy were still a punch line – as much Tony Massenburg, Stro- Neither does Bank of Bartlett presi- Derek Fisher was booed, former Grizzly Pau Gasol was mile Swift and Grant Long as they were Gasol, Shane Battier dent and U of M diehard Harold Byrd, who booed louder, and even Kobe Bryant received a surprising and Lorenzen Wright. was going to Columbus, Ohio, for the No. 8 level of hate mixed with love. But more than a decade down the line and fresh off the seed Tigers’ game against No. 9 seed Saint “It felt like we had a home-court advantage,” point best season in franchise history, a season that saw the Griz- Louis, and, he hopes, much further. guard Mike Conley was saying after the Grizzlies had come zlies come within a game of making the Western Confer- “I try to always be objective,” Byrd said. out on the short end of a 116-111 double-overtime thriller ence Finals, loyalties should have found their natural order: “I’m picking the Tigers.” on Tuesday, March 13. “Normally, they seem to have more hometown team first, Tinsel Town team not at all. Especially Don Wade is a former sports reporter fans. But at the beginning of the game, it definitely felt like when the Grizzlies represent that rarest of commodities in for The Commercial Appeal. His column we had the crowd on our side.” pro sports: a consistently hard-working team where the sum appears weekly in The Memphis News. Quick Memphis sports history lesson for the uninitiated: is greater than its individual parts. Since the Grizzlies started play here in 2001 at The Pyramid The current edition of the Lakers, it should be pointed this city has been embarrassingly star-struck at the sight of out, represents just the opposite. Kobe Bryant almost sin- www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 27

sports March Madness Stymies Economy gle-handedly kept the Lakers in a double- If fans didn’t view the “I can’t go there, man,” said center hicago-based Challenger, overtime game his team once trailed by Grizzlies as underdogs Marc Gasol. “I don’t want to give my 17 points; he scored 11 of his 34 points in money away.” CGray & Christmas Inc. before, how could they the fourth quarter as the Lakers erased a Meaning, saying what he really thinks earlier this month released its nine-point deficit. not see them that way isn’t worth the $50,000 fine he might get “study” on how the NCAA men’s The Grizzlies have played without on a night like this? The from the league. basketball tournament cuts into Zach Randolph almost all year (his pres- box score from this game Coach Lionel Hollins invoked his U.S. worker productivity. From the tongue-in-cheek ence would have been a check against An- looked as stacked against constitutional rights: “I plead the fifth,” he drew Bynum, 37 points and 16 rebounds), said with a grin. study: “Based on last year’s and on this night they were also without Memphis as those bogus If fans didn’t view the Grizzlies as data, online March Madness Rudy Gay (concussion). Yet for most of national Top 10 lists that underdogs before, how could they not coverage could attract more the game, it didn’t seem to be a question label Memphis as more see them that way on a night like this? than 2.5 million unique visitors of if the Grizzlies would win, only by how dangerous than L.A. The box score from this game looked as per day, each spending an much. stacked against Memphis as those bogus average of 90 minutes watching But when Bryant went to the free- national Top 10 lists that label Memphis games. With private-sector throw line with 38 seconds left in the as more dangerous than L.A. workers earning an average of second overtime and he knocked down Plus, this game really mattered. The $23.29 per hour, Challenger both shots to put the Lakers up 114-111, ever many thousand fans and I’d say 60 Grizzlies are locked in a tight race with estimates that employers the entire atmosphere changed. Chants percent of them had on Laker jerseys,” the Lakers and others for playoff seeding. will end up paying distracted of “M-V-P, M-V-P” filled the arena. Conley said Tony Allen. “You know, that’s kind of You’d think that would count with fans workers about $175 million over looked around in utter disbelief. tough.” who, a few months ago, proudly wore the first two full days of the “That didn’t sit well at all,” Conley So was the officiating. While Kobe & “Believe Memphis” T-shirts. tournament.” said, albeit in a calm tone. “This is our Friends shot 34 free throws on the road, Now, come Friday, March 16, when Here’s the breakdown for the city. This is our home, not L.A. It hurts. the Grizzlies shot five at home and two the Grizzlies have their next home game tourney’s first two days: We’re playing two, three guys down, guys of those were from technicals called on against Toronto, they’ll be opposite the are diving on the floor, playing through Bryant and Metta World Peace (the player beloved University of Memphis Tigers injuries, leaving everything out on the formerly known as Ron Artest). playing on TV in their opening NCAA court.” Repeat, the Grizzlies only shot five free Tournament game. The “Grind House” To a man, the Grizzlies agreed this throws – while taking 116 shots from the could be just about empty. AVG. TOTAL viewers game had a “playoff atmosphere.” But at floor. And Kobe Bryant played 52 minutes “The Tigers are a big deal, especially WAGE LOSS the end did it feel more like FedExForum without being whistled for a single foul. this time of year,” Conley said. “As long as or Staples Center? Not one little chirp. they’re rooting for a Memphis team, we’re 2.5 million $23.29 $175M “Unfortunately, you’ve got how- Can you say double-standard? fine with that.”

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EDUCATION Luttrell Pushes for Quicker School Decisions

BILL DRIES | The Memphis News “Where will my baby be going to mean there would be no selection until sets the stage for more specific decisions school and who’s going to lead the sys- January. to come by the body on the differing tem?” is how Luttrell described the ques- “I don’t think that’s giving comfort to brands of autonomy. tions. our citizens. It’s not giving them what they “It addresses the new reality of where ow that the schools consolidation School board members discussed the need,” Luttrell said. “We’re transitioning a we are,” said planning commissioner planning commission has settled issue of selecting a superintendent at a system. We are mandated to make some David Pickler, who is the other countywide N on a structure for the merged recent retreat. tough decisions and then try as best we school board member on the commission. school system to come, Shelby County Board member Martavius Jones, who can to gain the respect and the confidence “It’s a map that does give us the opportu- Mayor Mark Luttrell is pushing the county- also serves on the planning commission, of the citizens.” nity to fill in the blanks.” wide school board to make a decision said many on the board want to delay any Jones countered that he and others on Still to be decided by the planning sooner rather than later on arguably the decision until after the Aug. 2 elections for the school board feel the continuing un- commission is how the process of “award- two most immediate concerns of parents. seven seats on the 23-member board. certainty about the school system to come ing” school autonomy to some schools Luttrell said the board should move be- The seven positions covering the entire is another factor that works in favor of within the district would work. That fore school board elections in August to set county will be the smaller school board selecting a superintendent at a later time. autonomy might not be the same as a attendance zones for the merged school that emerges at the start of the 2013-2014 “The reality is someone coming into charter school. It could be limited to items system to come and pick a superintendent school year when the other 16 positions this particular job – Memphis and Shelby like letting a school set different hours or to run the merged school system. are abolished under the merger plan. County – based on the national publicity extended days to the school year. It could The school systems are to be merged “You could have complete 100 percent we’ve received, they didn’t feel that any- also allow a certain curriculum. starting with the 2013-2014 school year. turnover on that board,” Jones said. “I body would touch it with a 10-foot pole,” All of the schools across the four differ- “I would just strongly encourage the don’t know of anyone who would want to Jones said. ent types of schools would be held to com- board to engage those two questions go into a job where they know that their Meanwhile, the planning commission mon performance standards. The differ- sooner rather than later,” Luttrell said of bosses – 100 percent of them – could be has approved a general structure for the ence is in how they are held accountable. the two most common questions he and different.” merged school system that allows several Schools within the district would be others involved in working out the merger Luttrell argued that waiting until after paths for school autonomy. held accountable by the superintendent of details have encountered from parents. August to pick a superintendent could The commission’s decision last week the school system.

INKED Former Cleo Distribution Site Sells for $2.6 Million

SARAH BAKER | The Memphis News

A Memphis-based buyer has bought more than 1 is expanding and they were out of room in their current and parking field. million square feet formerly occupied by Cleo Inc. gift- facility and were providing for room for growth.” “Linda looked at it in the middle of January and within wrapping company in Airport Industrial Park Section A for Varma Family LP in September bought a 14.4-acre site two weeks of the first time we looked at it, she had a lease less than two-thirds of the listing price. with an a 141,134-square-foot existing building at 2085 signed, which is pretty unusual,” Buring said. “What I told Varma Family LP acquired 4025 Viscount Ave. and W.E. Freeman Drive in Memphis Defense Depot from Linda was, ‘It’s a built-out restaurant space on German- 4063 Viscount Ave. from Corporate Property Associates The Depot Redevelopment Corp. of Memphis and Shelby town Parkway at a traffic light, and that’s a pretty unusual 4 for $2.6 million, according to The Daily News Online, County, Tennessee, for $1.1 million. hot commodity.’ I thought it was something she should www.memphisdailynews.com. The purchase was fi- Cordova Safety Products, a division of International move on quickly and they did.” nanced through a $2.1 million loan through Bank of Sourcing Co. Inc., which is owned by Varma, is headquar- Vacio is from Memphis and wants her first restaurant America NA. tered at 2085 W.E. Freeman Drive. Founded in 1994, Inter- venture to be “more modern” than other Mexican dining The 39.5-acre warehouse/distribution site consists national Sourcing imports and distributes safety products options in town. of connected properties at 4025 and 4063 Viscount – to distributors and retailers across the country. “We’re still going to have authentic Mexican food, but 614,274 square feet and 391,896 square feet, respectively International Sourcing was named one of the Fastest it’s more relaxed and laid-back,” Vacio said. “You go into – served by BNSF Railway Co. in Southeast Memphis. Growing Private Companies in America by Inc. Magazine every other Mexican restaurant and it looks the same. This Gift-wrapping manufacturer Cleo Inc. formerly occupied for 2008, 2009 and 2010. The company, which employs 74, is more like a Mexican restaurant-bar … a place where you the property in its entirety and was headquartered at 4025 approached $47 million in revenue in 2010. want to come and watch basketball games but still have Viscount until the company closed last fall. the option of eating other kinds of Mexican food.” The seller is an entity of W.P. Carey & Co. LLC out of In other commercial leasing news, Crazy Cactus has Crazy Cactus is aiming for a mid-April opening, in New York, according to the Shelby County Register of inked a 4,800-square-foot lease in Parkway Plaza Shop- time for Cinco de Mayo, Vacio said. Deeds. The buyer lists a Memphis address, in the attention ping Center, 2200 N. Germantown Parkway. Also, Leslie J. Johnson, office manager at State of Himanshu Varma. The Mexican restaurant will take over the Farm Insurance, has leased 1,600 square feet in The Shelby County Assessor of Property’s 2011 ap- southern end-cap of the 28,000-square-foot Hacks Cross Shopping Center, in the space of a praisal for the site, which was built in 1964 and is listed by Cordova shopping center anchored by Newk’s. former State Farm representative who retired. the assessor under the 4025 Viscount address, was $10.4 The space formerly housed Grisanti’s Bol a The Shopping Center Group’s Shawn million. The listing price, according to LoopNet, was $6 Pasta, and most recently, Slim Skillets. Massey and Robert Sloan represented the million. Danny Buring, partner with The Shopping landlord, PMT Partners XVIII. The tenant rep- Jimmy Lewis with Rasberry Commercial Real Es- Center Group LLC, represented Linda Vacio, resented herself. tate was the buyer’s representative. Dave Curran with the owner of Crazy Cactus. The landlord, Alea Commercial Advisors LLC represented the seller of the Properties (USA) LLC, represented itself. Send commercial lease announce- property. Buring said the second-generation ments to Sarah Baker, who can be “I think the price was certainly a factor,” Lewis said. restaurant space was a good fit for the reached at 521-2464 or sbaker@mem- “Moreover, they were motivated because their business tenant, due to the connected patio phisdailynews.com. www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 29

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ly to be inching up as vacancy rates can drop pretty quickly in a market of our size Memphis: Industrial Small Giant when it isn’t that unusual to see leases of more than half a million square feet. The Memphis Metro is an the space. This creates significant volatil- ers and enterprise partners worldwide.” Finally, there’s nothing more funda- interesting industrial market. Like many ity in the numbers when a major lease is We’re home to FedEx and therefore, mental to real estate value than location. other markets, we’ve begun to see positive won or lost. So it is the fundamentals that North America’s busiest cargo airport. But You can reach nearly 75 percent of the U.S. signs in the numbers: We ended 2011 with paint a better, more realistic picture of the that’s just the start. We have the second- population within 48 hours from the Mem- positive absorption of more than 1.6 mil- market. While relatively small in size, we’re largest inland port on the Mississippi, han- phis Metro. The recent Newegg transac- lion square feet. a giant in terms of the infrastructure that dling 11 million tons of cargo per year. We tion highlights a trend that we anticipate Because nearly all of the space added makes us attractive to major players. A few are served by five Class I railroad systems. will further solidify the fundamental in 2011 was build-to-suit, our of the major leases over the And we have more than 200 fixed-route soundness of the Memphis industrial mar- vacancy rates have begun last 12 months help illustrate regularly scheduled common carriers with ANDY CATES ket. The explosion in e-commerce means to decline a bit. IDI has just that: Trane’s 626,000 square access to Interstate 40, the nation’s third- Guest column that more companies will look for centrally announced plans to build two feet, Newegg Inc.’s lease of busiest trucking corridor, and Interstate located cities that can offer cost-effective buildings totaling 1.1 million square feet in 414,000 square feet, and Kimberly Clark’s 55, America’s primary north/south cor- shipping options. Olive Branch, which will be the first new lease of 556,000 square feet. ridor for the Midwest. Like everyone else, we experienced a speculative development since 2008. Memphis has long been known as In addition to great multi-modal trans- downturn during the recession. But we see But it’s hard to look at the numbers “America’s Distribution Center.” More portation options, you’ll find relatively low nothing but growth ahead for an industrial and really get a sense of our market. That’s recently, we’ve been recognized as an labor costs – and a high percentage of market that is as fundamentally sound as because, when compared to behemoths Aerotropolis – “an urban form whose workers trained specifically in distribution it gets. like Chicago and Dallas, we are a relatively layout, infrastructure and economy is cen- and transportation. Then you can factor in small industrial market: +/-210 million tered on an airport, offering its businesses competitive rental rates, which have been Andy Cates is a broker with Colliers square feet, depending on how you count speedy connectivity to suppliers, custom- hovering around $2.75 NNN – though like- International Memphis.

4450 getwell road story, Class B complex built in 1986. memphis, tn 38118 It sits on 11.7 acres on the east side permit cost: $2.5 million REAL ESTATE RECAP of Quail Hollow Road north of Great Oaks Road in the 38120 ZIP code. Permit Date: Applied March 2012 The Shelby County Register of Owner: Southeastern Freight Lines Deeds, which lists the property ad- Site Work for St. Jude Tower Tenant: Southeastern Freight Lines dress as 6790 Great Oaks, appraised Contractor D.F. Chase Inc. it in 2011 at $8.8 million. Details: Southeastern Freight Lines Hunters Trace Apartments was Part of Permit Application has filed a $2.5 million building one of two that sold at the same time permit application to add an office to related entities in 2007. KATE SIMONE | The Memphis News and parking lot to its transit center G&I V Hunters Trace bought this at 4450 Getwell Road. complex from Hunter’s Trace-Mem- The permit lists Nashville-based phis LLC for $11.6 million, while G&I D.F. Chase Inc. as the general con- V Dogwood Creek LLC bought the

St Jude Pl tractor. Collierville complex from Dogwood St Jude Pl Lexington, S.C.-based South- Creek-Memphis LLC for $24.2 mil- eastern Freight Lines’ Getwell Road lion. St. Jude Tower property is between Crowfarn Drive Danny Thomas Pl to the north, East Shelby Drive to the 6555 quince road south and Delp Street to the east. memphis, tn 38119 SEFL has 6,600 associates and loan amount: $8.6 million operates in 12 states and Puerto Rico, according to the company’s Loan Date: Feb. 29, 2012 website. Maturity Date: n/a Its Tennessee’s transit centers Borrower: 6555 Quince Building Overton Ave are in Memphis, Jackson, Kingsport, Owner LLC 315 DANNY THOMAS PLACE • MEMPHIS, TN 38105 Knoxville and Nashville. Lender: UBS Real Estate Securities Inc. 315 Danny Thomas Place 1730 hunter’s trace drive Details: In-Rel Management Inc., Memphis, TN 38105 memphis, tn 38120 working under the name 6555 Permit Cost: $5 million loan Amount: $10.9 million Quince Building Owner LLC, has financed the nearly 124,000-square- Project Cost: $190 million Loan Date: Feb. 29, 2012 foot office building at 6555 Quince Permit Date: Applied March 2012 Maturity Date: n/a Road through UBS Real Estate Secu- Owner: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Borrower: Hunters Trace LLC rities Inc. for $8.6 million. Tenant: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Lender: CBRE Capital Markets Inc. The five-story, 123,924-square- Contractor: Flintco LLC Details: Hunters Trace LLC has foot, Class A office building was Details: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is in construction mode. A $5 million financed Hunters Trace Apartments constructed in 1989. It is on 5.9 acres building permit application has been filed with the city-county Office of Construc- through CBRE Capital Markets Inc. at the southwest corner of Quince tion Code Enforcement to begin work on a seven-story tower at 315 Danny Thomas for $10.9 million. On the day of the Road and Kirby Parkway, near Inter- Place, next to the Chili’s Care Center. Flintco LLC is listed as the general contractor. financing, the borrower changed state 385 in Koger Center II. The description on the permit says it is part of a fast-track project for a seven-sto- its name from G&I V Hunters The Shelby County Register of ry addition to an existing building and covers “the building’s concrete mat founda- Trace – an entity comprised of New Deeds’ 2011 appraisal was $3.8 mil- tion and under-mat drainage system.” York-based DRA Advisors LLC and lion. St. Jude in May applied with the state Health Services and Development Agency Memphis-based Fogelman Man- In-Rel bought the property in for a Certificate of Need for a $190 million medical tower to serve as a new patient agement Group – which bought the 2009 for $5 million. Formerly the care and research building with space for a number of new programs, surgery suites complex in 2007. Comcast building, In-Rel renamed it and an expanded intensive care unit. Hunters Trace is a 192-unit, two- Quince Centre. 30 March 17-23, 2012 www.thememphisnews.com

ARCHITECTURE 100 Years of Design Architectural firm Evans Taylor Foster Childress celebrates centennial

SARAH BAKER | The Memphis News

vans Taylor Foster Childress, which when Mahan’s firm designed the Shelby celebrates its centennial in March, County Criminal Justice Complex. Ecan trace its origins to two distin- A major past and present client is guished Memphis architectural firms. Nashville-based Corrections Corp. of George Mahan Jr. founded Mahan and America, with whom Childress works Broadwell in 1912; it later became Cole- very closely with. ETFC’s relationship man Foster Architects. Nathan/Evans/ with CCA has led it to projects such as Taylor was founded in 1958 by Francis last year’s completion of the Hardeman Gassner and Thomas Nathan. County Justice Center in Bolivar, Tenn., Today, known by many as ETFC, the and the DeSoto County Jail in Hernando 13-employee firm is led by partners Rusty now under construction. In total, ETFC Taylor, Rusty Foster and Michael Childress. has planned facilities in nearly 30 states The firm’s practice includes a broad range from Indiana to California represent more of projects for business, government, than $1 billion in construction dollars. The education, industry, health care, research firm currently has a satellite office in West laboratories and criminal justice. Memphis and has projects in Mississippi, “Our legacy is 1912, that’s how it all Kentucky and even Afghanistan. happened,” Taylor said. “When we merged, “We’re more regional now, I’d say in the there were several name changes, but it Tri-State areas,” Taylor said. “That’s kind of was a continuous operation, there was no our target.” buy-out, it was a straight merger.” That’s not to say ETFC isn’t heavily Older than ETFC’s heritage is its office BAY SPRINGS INTERPRETIVE CENTER involved in design locally, especially with at 343 N. Main St. in the Pinch District. university planning. For the University of It’s an environment that fosters creativ- the years has ranged from the original therapy instead of traditional radiation Memphis alone, ETFC designed practice ity for the modern and contemporary FedEx Corp. headquarters in the 1980s on therapy for cancer patients. and game facilities that house the men’s design that the firm produces, which over Airways Boulevard to the Crescent Center “We’ve worked for every hospital in baseball, football and basketball teams, as at Poplar Avenue and Interstate 240 to the town – St. Francis, Baptist, Methodist, Le well as the Tigers’ basketball locker room original C&I Bank building that’s now the Bonheur, the Regional Medical Center,” inside FedExForum. Visible Music School on Madison Avenue. said Foster, who oversees ETFC’s health The firm also designed the Anfernee “If you’re around long enough, your care projects. “Most of our business is “Penny” Hardaway/University of Memphis buildings start recycling, either get repeat business and referral. That’s really Athletic Hall of Fame and the new locker knocked down or they find a new use for where we get most of our work from.” room inside the Elma Roane Fieldhouse them,” Taylor said. That’s because when competing for for the women’s basketball team. ETFC ETFC’s work with St. Jude stems back projects, ETFC strives to set itself apart has its own interior design component, to 1961, when Danny Thomas came to from other firms. a luxury many smaller companies can’t Memphis with his friend and architect, “Almost every project we do, one of afford. The firm has considered expanding Paul Williams. the three of us is involved in the project its marketing efforts to social media, but “They chose to work with a local firm, throughout the project, it’s not just handed right now it’s not a priority. that local firm was George Mahan,” Taylor down,” Foster said. “That’s a complaint Perhaps that’s because the three said. “So that firm and us have continued from clients sometimes, they’ll see a prin- partners come from an era when sketches working over there since 1961. We’re doing cipal come to the first meeting, sign the started on paper instead of computers. a large project over there right now, so it’s contract and never hear from them again “To me, it’s the reason I got into the been a great relationship.” until the ribbon cutting. We don’t do that.” job,” Taylor said. “I like to draw and I still That project is a seven-story, 330,000- Besides health care, a good portion of do, I love to sketch. I don’t know how the square-foot tower in conjunction with The ETFC’s business comes from corrections new people create architecture without DO YOU NEED A Crump Firm Inc. that will provide proton work, which, again, traces back to the days doing that, but they do.” BUSINESS LOAN? DO YOU HAVE LESS THAN PERFECT law & the courts CREDIT? racketeering and other murders for hire. Testimony Ends in Fed Drug Trial Vaughn was a witness for the defense, and We offer business loans for your he brought the testimony to a close accus- business and we accept credit BILL DRIES | The Memphis News and Kalonji Griffin ordered by drug kingpin ing Lewis of the 2006 kidnapping, torture scores as low as 520 with Craig Petties from exile in Mexico. Small and murder of Marcus Turner. was feuding with Petties over a woman, ac- Defense attorney Marty McAfee, NO COLLATERAL! cording to other members of the organiza- representing Martin Lewis, got Vaughn to Requirements Include: fter five weeks of testimony, the last tion who testified for the government. He say that he saw Marcus Brandon and Terry witness testified March 14 in the and Griffin also robbed drug dealers, those Antonio Peete abduct Turner. Brandon and 6 month bank statements ACraig Petties drug organization trial same witnesses testified. Peete were two key witnesses against Mar- Articles of Incorporation in Memphis federal court. Clarence Broady, who also robbed drug tin Lewis and the defense’s brief case was 520+ Fico Score He was Vacha Vaughn, a high-level dealers before becoming a hit man for Pet- to point to them as uncharged and more No Credit Card Processing member of the organization who was shot ties, said he killed both of them as retalia- likely suspects in several of the murders. Required! in a 2004 robbery by men dressed as police tion for Vaughn’s wounding. The jury heard “There is no question in your mind,” officers. Three years later, he was a target of none of the broader details about Vaughn’s McAfee began two questions about (901) 308-8533 the organization itself because he was be- changing status in the organization as the Brandon and Peete as the men Lewis saw lieved to be cooperating with authorities. trial closed with a focus on the two defen- abduct Turner after Vaughn arranged for Vaughn’s wounding in the robbery led dants – Clinton Lewis and Martin Lewis. Turner to meet him on a dead-end street in to the retaliation murders of Latrell Small Both are accused of drug conspiracy, South Memphis. www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 31

Memphis NEWSMAKERS Engagement Warmath Nears 50 Years at Firm Drives Sales,

TAYLOR SHOPTAW | The Memphis News Loyalty

There’s no better way to immerse potential customers in your brand than through experiential market- James “Jim” D. Warmath is approaching 50 years of service ing – a form of guerrilla marketing seeing at Allen & Hoshall engineering firm. He began as a draftsman a resurgence. and today is project manager in the electric utility department. Experiential marketing allows prospective customers to interact with your Hometown: Jackson, Tenn.; although radios in the late ’40s and ’50s. Then brands, products and services in sensory I’ve been in Memphis for 50 years. I got into the electric utility end of it. ways. The most successful experi- Education: I attended University of How did you begin? I came to Mem- ential campaigns Tennessee between 1961 and 1963. phis to visit my sister-in-law in 1962, utilize as many of and Allen & Hoshall had an advertise- the five senses as Family: I’ve been married to Carole ment for a draftsman. I went to talk possible – allow- for 39 years. I have three children and to Mr. Allen and he asked me to come ing consumers three grandchildren. to work. I’ve been there since. to see, hear, touch, smell and/ What talent would you like to What projects are the most re- Lori turner- or taste your have? I would like to be able to play warding? The Heber Springs Pri- wilson product. Photo: Ben Fant guerrilla sales the banjo, because the banjo has five mary Substation because it was the and marketing Experiential strings on it and it’s a little difficult to first one I’d ever designed. I guess it Photo: Lance Murphey marketing is play. worked because it’s still standing. I’ve warmath mounting in popularity in response to designed close to 200 since. growing consumer skepticism toward Who has had the greatest influ- Trudi and Ed Pierami, owners of Jan- traditional advertising. No longer as trust- ence on you? I would have to say two What are your greatest profes- Pro Cleaning Systems of Memphis, ing of brand self promotion, Generations people: C.H. Robinson, my former sional accomplishments? I just love have been awarded the 2012 Franny X and Y prefer to experience a product boss at Allen & Hoshall, and William what I do. That’s the main thing. I en- Award, given annually to Jan-Pro or service firsthand, before buying, in a Gilbert Buie, my other boss at Allen & joy working with people. Franchising International Inc.’s top context similar to how they might actually Hoshall. office. The award is based on leader- use the product. What do you enjoy about your ship and commitment to excellence Furniture and décor retailer IKEA has Why a career in engineering? I al- work? I enjoy being able to be of ser- in all aspects of the business. long been a proponent of experiential ways liked fooling around with ham vice to the people that I work with. marketing. Recently, they refurbished Mike Garrard has joined Silvercreek select mid-priced hotels with their prod- Senior Living Community in Olive ucts. These hotels received a complete Branch as executive director. Missy makeover from beds and chairs to tables Powell has joined Silvercreek as mar- and kitchenware. Hotel guests had the keting director. Jerry L. Peoples, who opportunity to live with the IKEA furniture originally developed the property, has and décor for several days, versus just a re-acquired it and serves as owner cursory look in the store, allowing them to and chief managing officer. imagine how the products might work in their space. Kenneth F. Clark Jr., an attorney at Car dealerships that loan the new- Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP, has est model to past purchasers while their joined the board of directors at Treze- vehicles are “in the shop,” are engaging in vant Manor. Clark also serves on the experiential marketing. They’re allowing a board of trustees for the Trezevant customer, who already has an affinity for Manor Foundation. their brand, to get up close and personal with all the bells and whistles the latest The Association of Fundraising Pro- model offers – creating a sense of “need” fessionals Memphis Chapter has the customer may not have previously been named a 2011 Ten Star Chapter. realized. Chapters receive the award for per- Arguably the most recognizable forming specific activities designed to increase professionalism within brand in the world, Coca-Cola, created a fundraising and public awareness of two-level experiential marketing extrava- the importance of philanthropy. ganza in Las Vegas where consumers can purchase Coke memorabilia, have a photo Deb Nichols, a community outsource taken with the Coke bears for holiday consultant for SRVS Industries, has cards, and even taste test the brand’s been chosen a Greater Memphis various soft drinks from around the world. Chamber ambassador. Where else can you try Bibo Kiwi Mango from South Africa or Kinley Lemon from Mike Watson has joined BlueCross Japan? Coca-Cola is known widely for its BlueShield of Tennessee as regional ability to emotionally appeal to consum- sales director. Watson will be ac- ers. They aren’t selling ingredients, or countable for the overall manage- price, or distribution (ease of finding a ment of sales operations in West Ten- Coke) – they are selling an experience. nessee. Experiential marketing is the difference between telling people about your Jodi Davis, an interior designer and brand attributes and allowing them to associate at Askew Nixon Ferguson experience the brand on their own. Architects, has been appointed a Lori Turner-Wilson is an award-win- &RIDAY¬AT¬PM¬7+./ member of the 2012 National Coun- ning columnist and managing partner of &RIDAY¬AT¬PM¬7+./ cil for Interior Design Qualification RedRover Sales & Marketing, www.redrov- Item-Writing Task Force for the interi- 3UNDAY¬AT¬AM¬7+./ ercompany.com. or design examination through North America. 32 March 17-23, 2012 www.thememphisnews.com

Memphis Law Talk Diggs Sees Career as ‘People Business’

ANDY MEEK | The Memphis News

sia Diggs, a senior associate in the Mem- At Ford & Harrison, Diggs assists employers phis office of Ford & Harrison LLP, took with a broad range of employment matters, any- Athe long way to get to her current job – thing from the employee handbook to doing em- literally. ployee opinion surveys to responding to charges Her college education and career path has of discrimination, up to and including litigation. taken her from Houston and Austin in Texas She’s participated, for example, in a federal to Fayetteville, Ark., before landing the job she trial defending a national restaurateur and in has now with what is today a national labor and handling labor campaigns in New York. She’s also employment law firm. conducted numerous trainings on federal laws She’s in her fourth year of practice with Ford that have changed that employers need to be & Harrison. Diggs also is a board member of the aware of. Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Associa- She’s also represented a client in a case alleg- tion, and she sits on Ford & Harrison’s Diversity ing state and federal age and disability discrimi- and Inclusion Committee. nation claims before the Sixth Circuit Court of She also is an active member of Delta Sigma Appeals, receiving affirmation of a summary Theta Sorority Inc., MPACT Memphis and the judgment motion that was received at the district Junior League of Memphis. court level. “I attended the University of Texas at Austin Her specific practice areas include employ- for my undergraduate (degree) and decided I ment law, layoffs and plant closings, manage- didn’t think I could handle all the blood and be ment training, retaliation, wrongful termination a doctor,” Diggs said, recalling the memory with and discrimination, among other things. a laugh. “So I thought about what I could do and Her memberships include the Association for knew I had a knack for analyzing and reading Women Attorneys and the American, Tennessee, between the lines, and I said, ‘Hey, why don’t I Memphis and National Bar Associations. give law school a try?’ What she likes best about the job is the diver- “So I ended up in Fayetteville, Ark., at the sity of tasks and of the different challenges from University of Arkansas. I actually interned in one day to the next, all built around the people Walmart’s legal department in the summer of ’06 she comes in contact with. and ended up clerking at a firm in Memphis in “I am in the people business,” she said. “My the summer of ’07.” job is to understand people. Because of the na- After sending out a batch of resumes, she was ture of my job, I am in contact every day and have offered a job with Ford & Harrison. to understand the human psyche and be able to “I am the first person in my immediate family relate. My job never gets boring.” to have graduated college, so, naturally, am also As far as advice for aspiring attorneys, she the first attorney in the family,” Diggs said. “I just adds: “It’s not rocket science. But it is an exercise stepped out on a limb, prayed about it and here in diligence, perseverance and discipline I am.” “And if you can master those three things, Ford & Harrison was founded in Atlanta in you’ll be a successful attorney.” 1978. It has more than 200 lawyers in offices diggs around the country. Photo: Lance Murphey

Fixing ‘All’ the Wrong ‘Ones’ in Times Crossword

The theme of the Thursday, Jan. 5, you think a good it wrong, and the correction was retracted New York Times crossword, which ran in answer to ‘Spir- in Saturday’s paper. I don’t appreciate I Swear Crossword syndication Feb. 9, was: ited’ is NIVELY.” your accusing me of lying. Please do not 14A “That was funny!” GOODALL; The Star’s write me back.” Fleming’s weekly puzzle Page 36 59A Jane who wrote “In the Shadow of “readers’ The Times issued no correction; none Man” GOOD ONE; 24A Captivates EN- representative” was needed. Troubled by the rep’s last THRONES; 47A Crowns ENTHRALLS; 3D replied: “The note to Johnny, though, I looked online correction ran. Not so fast, said several Set up, as software IN STONE; 41D Fixed VIC FLEMING New York Times and found his byline under a piece titled crossworders today, proving that my mind INSTALL; 4D Schoolyard game T-BONE; I SWEAR itself issued the “Correcting the correction – NY Times simply doesn’t operate on the same level 49D Certain steak T-BALL. 34A/21D correction. The crossword puzzle.” It reads: as theirs. I’ll let one of them explain it: Catchphrase that provides a hint to eight answer to 14A is ‘good one’ and 59A is “For the second time … in my days [explanation, from someone other than answers in this puzzle ALL FOR ONE, ONE ‘Goodall,’ but those don’t fit in the puzzle. as readers’ representative, I’ve … written Johnny, omitted]. FOR ALL. They work if switched, as today’s key a correction to a previous correction. …” “So, yes, it now makes perfect sense, Get it? ONE and ALL are substituted indicates.” He notes and quotes the correction that and it obviously tripped up several people. for each other in words and phrases. Enter Johnny, who has a wry sense of concluded “the clues to 14 and 59 across ‘[O]ur world has more serious problems my friend Johnny, who writes of a “cor- humor, wrote back: “This isn’t DEWEY [sic] were switched.” The reason for the to consider!’ wrote one of my emailers, rection” in the Kansas City Star, reading, DEFEATS TRUMAN, but the correction correction, he writes, is that more than and she’s right – but the record still needs “In the Feb. 9 New York Times crossword is incorrect. I doubt the Times issued a one person told him “the clues must have to be set straight.” … the clues to 14 and 59 across [sic] were correction. If you have an answer grid that been switched” because 14A’s answer fit As a friend of mine often says, “Hm- switched.” shows GOOD ONE for 14-A and GOODALL 59A’s clue and vice versa. Oh, how little mmph!” Johnny emailed the Star, explaining for 59-A, I’ll eat Truman’s hat.” President some know of Thursday Times puzzles! Vic Fleming is a district court judge in the theme to show “the clues were NOT Harry Truman, known for wearing Panama “I checked with the syndicate who Little Rock, Ark., where he also teaches at switched.” If they had been, “then all six of hats, was from the area. also looked into it [sic],” he continues. the William H. Bowen School of Law. Con- the Down crossers would be wrong, unless The readers’ rep responded, “They got “Verdict: Yes, there was an error. So the tact him at [email protected]. www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 33

Memphis STANDOUT Sister Joan Byrne Realizes Calling in Memphis

AISLING MAKI | The Memphis News positioning and feeding them, and works with them on specialized equip- helping them to develop their fine ment such as swings and trampolines, motor, play and self-help skills. which she says helps regulate their cen- Byrne then worked for a time at tral nervous systems. hen Sister Joan Byrne complet- nonprofit Special Kids and Families “Madonna is committed to making ed her high school education before being invited to teach chil- the best for every child and family there,” Wat a boarding school run by the dren at Madonna Learning Center, she said. “What’s really nice about those Irish Sisters of Mercy in County West- a private, independent, faith-based students is they’re just so open and ac- meath, Central Ireland, she made the nonprofit school for 5- to 18-year- cepting and welcoming of each other and biggest commitment of her life: to stay on olds with special needs, located at of everyone. They inspire me, and I’m and join the religious order. 7007 Poplar Ave. in Germantown. sure other people too, to keep in mind the It was the 1960s, and Catholic bishops Founded in 1969 by three Bene- important things in life that sometimes in the United States were inviting Irish dictine Sisters from Ferdinand, Ind., we forget – acceptance and love for each nuns from that order, which has a par- the center focuses on children’s other.” ticular focus on the education of women cognitive, social, emotional, spiri- The Madonna Learning Center con- and children, to come to the U.S. to teach. tual and physical developmental tinues to grow. In addition to its day In 1966, Byrne left the Land of Saint byrne needs. school program, the center now offers and Scholars and headed to Florida, Photo: Lance Murphey “Since it was started by nuns, it’s B.I.G., which stands for Building Inde- where she spent the next 10 years teach- easy for me to work there because pendence Group, a transitional program ing children then began pursuing a de- decided she wanted to work in early in- people there understand what nuns do,” for young adults 18 and older that helps gree in occupational therapy. tervention for infants with special needs, said Byrne, who has served as the center’s participants further develop independent “As I went through my college educa- a field that at that time – the late 1970s – occupational therapist for eight years. “I life, employment and social abilities. tion, doing internships in different areas, was beginning to grow. support and work with the teachers, and “We’re actually outgrowing our space, I felt occupational therapy was the one in Her calling in 1979 brought Byrne to they support and work with me because so we’re going to be involved in a build- which I could do the most good,” Byrne Memphis, where she worked with new- I’m trying to help the children be more ing campaign in the future to make the said. “I love working with families, and borns through preschool-age children at successful in their school setting and in school bigger, so that’s going to be a nice this gave me an opportunity to work with Les Passees Inc., an organization dedi- their life setting.” project,” said Byrne, who is the only parents and children, and teach parents cated to enhancing the quality of life for The children with whom Byrne works member of her order in Memphis said how to help their own children at home. local children and their families. For have a wide spectrum of disabilities. she never feels alone because “I’m part of That’s the aspect of it that I just love.” 12 years she worked mostly with young Many students have both cognitive im- something bigger than myself that’s con- After receiving her degree, Byrne children diagnosed with cerebral palsy: pairments and sensory issues, and Byrne cerned about the big issues in life.”

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arts & culture

theater Plenty to Like in Flashy ‘Chicago’

JONATHAN DEVIN | The Memphis News

Alexis Grace por- trays murderess Roxie Hart in the Theatre Memphis production of “Chi- cago,” which runs through April 1. Roxie is framed by “her boys” (from left, clockwise) Justin Nelson, Jared Johnson, Chris Hanford and Mark Gill.

Photo: Courtesy of Theatre Memphis

heatre Memphis hopes to get audi- sway the media in what they hope will be versation with her husband Amos, played ensemble playing the jury can take most ences’ blood pumping with a pro- an acquittal in the court of public opinion. by Randall Hartzog. of the credit for that. The rest goes to a Tduction that gets away with murder. Theatre Memphis has been anticipat- Other early numbers had plenty of sass confident performance by Robert Hanford “Chicago,” which opened March 9, of- ing the opening of this show for quite some and titillating vignettes yet lacked the heat, as Billy Flynn, Roxie’s flashy, ne’er-do-well fers more heat and intensity than expected time. It’s one of the largest productions in intensity and charisma considering the attorney. at first glance. terms of dollars, time, and energy in the desperation of reality in 1920s Chicago. Amy Hanford, who is making her The 1975 Broadway musical with book theater’s vast experience. But when Cecilia Wingate as Matron Theatre Memphis directorial debut with by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse and music by And for their efforts they are recouping Mama Morton stepped onstage, every- this production, was wise to cast Roberts John Kander tells the story of the bratty plenty on their investment. thing changed for the hotter. Wingate as Velma. Vaudeville chorus girl and wannabe star, The shows starts out just a half-beat flooded the stage with energy and the cast Roberts’ energy seems boundless, Roxie Hart, who murders the faithless lover too slow with the opening number, “All picked it up and ran with it. particularly in late Act I and Act II numbers who jilted her. that Jazz,” having a slightly mechanical Grace and Lindsey Roberts as Velma like “I Can’t Do It Alone,” “When Velma She tries to pin the crime on her dot- feel to it, but that’s not a reflection on Pam seemed to feed off each other’s energy as Takes the Stand” and “Class.” Several ing, naïve husband, but when he learns of Hurley’s exciting and masterful choreogra- soon as the two characters meet in prison times she belted out songs while doing the her infidelity, she finds herself on her own phy, which is as complex, challenging, and and all of a sudden the show was cook- Charleston with the ease of a springtime against an equally cold-blooded legal sys- entrancing as one could expect in non- ing with fire. The two made quick work of walk in the park. Her energy is impressive. tem hungry for sensationalistic headlines. professional theater. songless jail scenes and made a Las Vegas A live ensemble of brass, keyboards In prison, Roxie meets another de- Former American Idol contestant, Alex- cabaret show of the various musical num- and drums under the director of Gary famed Vaudeville star, Velma Kelly, facing a is Grace, who plays Roxie, gets upstaged bers in Act I. Beard adds the frosting on the cake. stiff sentence herself for murdering her sis- a bit in the fast-moving murder sequence Roxie’s trial has to be one of the funni- Audiences will get plenty for their ter and her husband who were having an and a complicated split scene between her est courtroom scenes on a stage in Mem- money in this production, which runs affair. Velma and Roxie rival each other to piano-top solo “Funny Honey” and a con- phis in the last 10 years, and a quick-witted through April 1. happenings

»Community The In-Synk Business Growth Series ning your European vacation. or call 272-3700, ext. 107 by Rhodes College will host For tickets, call WKNO at Sunday, March 18. speaker Ken Stern, board Muslims in Memphis Month will continue Friday, March 23, from 8:30 a.m. 325-6565. member of the Children’s will feature a health fair and to 9:30 a.m. at Commercial Bank & Trust, 510 The RISE Foundation’s Radio Foundation and former legal seminar Saturday, March HopeWorks Inc. will host its Responsible Lending Col- head of National Public Radio, 17, at 10 a.m. at Kate Sexton » S. Mendenhall Road. The topic is “Would You fourth annual Evening of Hope laborative will meet Monday, Tuesday, March 20, at 7 Community Center, 1235 Enthusiastically Rehire Your Team?” and cost is dinner and fundraiser Thurs- March 19, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Blount Auditorium of Brown Ave. For more informa- day, March 22, from 6 p.m. to p.m. at 1548 Poplar Ave. Buckman Hall on the Rhodes tion, call 576-7070. $49. Visit in-synkccc.eventbrite.com to register. 8 p.m. at Woodland Hills Event campus. The talk is free and Center, 10000 Woodland Hills The Memphis Rotary Club open to the public. The Oakland Regional Drive. Ruby Payne, founder will meet Tuesday, March 20, Chamber of Commerce will of aha! Process and author of at noon at the University Club Cannon Wright Blount will host Gala 2012 Saturday, auction. Cost is $35 per will be held Saturday, March more than a dozen books on of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. continue its series of semi- March 17, from 5:30 p.m. to person and $280 for a table of 17, at 7 p.m. at The Buckman poverty, will speak. Tickets are Eric Groenendyk will speak nars that teach professionals 11 p.m. at Carahills II, 1960 eight. For more information or Performing Arts Center at $50 per person or $500 for a about political behavior. Cost how to use the accounting Highway 70. The evening will tickets, call 466-0286. St. Mary’s Episcopal School, table of 10. For more informa- is $18 per person. Email Taylor include wine, dinner, com- 60 Perkins Road Extended. tion or to purchase a ticket, Hughes at taylor@memphis- HAPPENINGS, CONTINUED munity awards and a silent An Evening with Rick Steves Steves will offer tips on plan- visit www.whyhopeworks.org rotary.org for reservations. ON PAGE 37 www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 35

food & wine

RESTAURANT INSIDER

A Few Simple Rules MEMPHIS GRAPEVINE Fredric Koeppel For ‘Brown-Bagging’ Stock Up On

FREDRIC KOEPPEL | The Memphis News Lovely Rioja From Spain

e don’t hear the term “brown- ush right out and buy a few bot- bagging” much now. It was a tles of this wonderfully appeal- Wholdover from the time when Ring yet suitably serious example the city of Memphis did not allow liquor of Rioja, from Spain’s most renowned by the drink in restaurants, so if patrons wine region. Burgo Viejo Reserva 2006, wanted a cocktail, they had to bring Rioja, was produced by a cooperative their own liquor to the restaurant, often established by six families in 1987, since inside a brown paper bag, and pay for grown to 16 families. Altogether, they set-ups. The city did not rescind that draw on 494 acres of vineyards, the ordinance until 1972. majority by far devoted to red grapes. I know, kids, life was strange in the While the average age of the vines is 30 olden days! years, some of the garnacha (grenache) If anyone does “brown-bagging” at goes back 90 years. Oak is 90 percent the present time, it’s to take a bottle of Illustration: Shutterstock American, 10 percent French. wine to a restaurant, technically called Burgo Viejo Reserva 2006, Rioja, is a “taking a bottle of wine to a restaurant,” When Wally Joe opened in May 2002, Automatic Slim’s, $10 blend of 85 percent tempranillo grapes, and no one except a waggish type would the restaurant’s corkage fee was $45 a The Majestic Grille, $10, or $20 for a consider concealing the bottle inside a bottle, a policy based on the fact that large-format bottle 10 percent garnacha and 5 percent cari- brown paper bag. the wine list was carefully assembled, Chez Philippe, $25 gnan. The color is an entrancing deep The motivations for taking a bottle of call it curated, to reflect the nature The Grove Grill, $10 ruby with a dark wine to a restaurant instead of ordering of the cuisine. If you don’t think this Erling Jensen: The Restaurant, $10. violet rim and from the wine list usually involve special charge caused a stink, you don’t know (Beverage manager John Condy said a purple center occasions and special wines. your Chateau Petrus from Paisano Red; that it’s chef-owner Erling Jensen’s that almost Collectors like to take wine to restau- wine collectors raised such an outcry policy to keep the corkage fee low, even pulses with rants because they know that, except for that the restaurant backed down and for an expensive fine dining restaurant, intensity. Scents establishments with deep pockets and “to encourage people to dine with us.”) of tobacco leaf, the requisite capital-devouring storage Sweet Grass, $8 (the bargain!) sandalwood, space – few restaurants can afford to “lay Alchemy, $15 bacon fat and tar down” young wines for aging – restau- River Oaks, $10 at lunch, $20 at dinner are woven with vivid rants seldom stock the older vintages Circa, $15 notes of black and red that they prize. On the special occasion currants and cherries and undertones side, when an anniversary or birthday The corkage fees at restaurants in of rose petal and fruitcake; give the seems to require a momentous wine, Memphis fit nicely into national aver- wine a few moments in the glass and diners may draw on their own collec- ages, though on the coasts, corkage at it accumulates hints of leather, cloves, tions or stop at a wine and liquor store After all, if a diner temples of fine-dining can rise to heady sandalwood and green peppercorns. to find something suitably festive and brings a bottle of wine heights; the corkage at the legendary As if that panoply of delights were impressive. to the restaurant, the French Laundry, in Napa Valley, is $75. not enough to entice you, in the mouth, In turn, the restaurant will usually To stay on friendly terms with the the wine is beautifully balanced and charge what’s called a “corkage fee” or establishment is losing restaurants you patronize, a few rules integrated, though dense, slightly grainy simply “corkage” (though logically the money, and a waiter’s involving taking in wine need to be tannins and a subtle and supple oak term should be “uncorkage,” n’est-ce time is being occupied, followed. Here, then, is the protocol for influence lend a firm foundation and pas?) After all, if a diner brings a bottle “ brown-bagging wine to restaurants: framework, abetted by a burgeoning not to mention the use of n of wine to the restaurant, the establish- glassware and someone When visiting a restaurant for the element of graphite-like minerality. ment is losing money, and a waiter’s first time, call ahead and check on the to wash the glasses. All of these qualities, including time is being occupied, not to mention corkage fee and any other details. Men- spiced and macerated black and blue the use of glassware and someone to Corkage seems a small tion what wine you want to bring; older, fruit flavors, are bound by vibrant wash the glasses. Corkage seems a small price to pay for such a rare wines sometimes require decant- acidity that arrows straight to a sleek, price to pay for such a service. service.” ing, and the restaurant should know that spice-laden finish concluding with a These activities are completely ahead of time. final fillip of lavender and licorice. Drink n legitimate. According to an opinion filed Don’t take to the restaurant a now through 2015 or 2016 with roasted on June 14, 1977, by Tennessee assistant bottle that is on the wine list; many chicken, game birds or hearty stews. attorney general William C. Koch Jr., lowered the fee to $30, but as Wally Joe’s restaurants post wine lists on their web- “the practice of ‘brown-bagging’ is legal brother and wine guru Don Joe asked sites, so you can check. under state law,” and “‘brown-bagging’ me at the time, “Would you bring your n Purchase from the list a bottle for is permissible as a matter of state law in own pork chop to a restaurant?” each wine you bring to the restaurant. FOR YOUR VERY all parts of the State.” I’m not a lawyer Standard corkage in the city ranges n Allow whoever provides wine – though it’s never too late to go back from a bargain-priced $8 to $25, a fee service to taste the wine, especially if it’s OWN BOTTLE to law school! – but the phrasing of this sometimes waived if the patron buys a bottle from an older vintage or a rare ARTHUR’S WINE & LIQUOR opinion seems to imply that restaurants a bottle of wine from the list, but don’t wine. Send a glass to the kitchen for the 5475 Poplar Ave., $19 in Tennessee may not ban customers count on such a concession unless chef. great wineS & spirits you’re a steady customer. n from bringing in their own wine or in- Be sure to leave a tip based not 6150 Poplar Ave., $19 stitute a policy against brown-bagging, Here’s a brief list of local restaurants only on the amount of the check (minus even in dry counties. and their corkage fees, to give readers a tax, of course), but also on the service POPLAR WINE & SPIRITS Anyway, the real issue here is what a survey of the landscape: provided for the wine you brought to the 2136 W. Poplar Ave., Collierville, $19 fair and legitimate corkage fee is. Restaurant Iris, $15 restaurant or its estimated price. 36 March 17-23, 2012 www.thememphisnews.com Week of 3/12/12 - 3/18/12

The Weekly

Crossword Edited by Margie E. Burke The Weekly Crossword by Margie E. Burke ACROSS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

1 Foretell 14 15 16 5 Leak slowly 9 Old Turkish title 17 18 19

14 Tied, scorewise 20 21 22 23 15 Hand-fist connector 24 25 26 16 Deed holder 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 17 Bath powder 18 Nothing but 35 36 37 38 19 Get used to 39 40 41 42 20 Top athlete 23 Feathered scarf 43 44 45 46 24 "Spy vs. Spy" 47 48 49 50 magazine 25 Mars' neighbor 51 52 53 27 Stagehand 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 31 Eliciting laughter 35 U2 album, 62 63 64 65 "Rattle and ___" 66 67 68 36 Mr. Magoo's malady 69 70 71 38 Country singer Campbell Copyright 2012 by The Puzzle Syndicate 39 Concert venue DOWN 33 Sailor's vacation 54 Did some laps 41 Far-many link 1 Old VHS 34 Keyboard key 55 Game on 42 Use marked alternative 37 Cook's need horseback cards, e.g. 2 D.C. office 40 Plane part 56 Mate or mobile 43 Type of palm 3 Big name in PC's 42 Transparent starter 44 Ceremonial act 4 Set up tents 44 Tear apart 58 Horse height unit 46 Morn's opposite 5 Sooner or later 45 Sneeze inducer 59 Exam format 47 Waistband 6 At any time 48 Cheap and 60 Pen residents material 7 Spine-tingling gaudy 61 Leg joint 49 Surprise 8 Unstable 50 Type of tax 63 Batted first, with success 9 Scoreboard 52 Ceded a seat "off" 51 Roof part display Answer to Last Week's Crossword 53 So. Cal. airport 10 Beard on grain 54 Health resort 11 Social slight CRAB ADAPT ELAN 57 Rooster on a 12 Protagonist YALE DOBIE NONE roof 13 Surface SCOTCHTAPE SNOW 62 Is willing to measure TEETHE RETICENT 64 Wild hog 21 "_____ Mia!" EURO REDO 65 Golf club 22 Opera solo STARTERS RENTED 66 Raise a hem, 26 Word before PEN ENDON SCONE perhaps five or dive UNTO TENOR EAST 67 Kind of division 27 Temporary state MOIRE RAVEN SUE ENCAMP REGISTER 68 Playing with a 28 Urban's opposite TIER LIST full deck 29 End of the Greek DEPORTEE SEADOG 69 Apt to pout alphabet OVER INAPTITUDE 70 Counter current 30 Hard to miss DELI TASER UPON 71 Otherwise 32 Censor sound ONTO ELEGY SERE

Sudoku Edited by Margie E. Burke Edited by Margie E. Burke  12n-3p Difficulty : Medium HOW TO PLAY Each row must contain the   numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3    boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.       Answer to Last Week's Sudoku                                     Copyright 2012 by The Puzzle Syndicate  www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 37 happenings

HAPPENINGS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34 software program QuickBooks Wednesday, ties in Conversation series with a lecture by March 21, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the firm, Dr. Jane Landers titled “African Kingdoms, 756 Ridge Lake Blvd. The two-hour classes Black Republics and Free Black Towns in the cost $75 per person. Seating is limited. Visit Iberian Atlantic” Thursday, March 22, at 7 p.m. GoToMyPC: www.cannonwrightblount.com/resources to in Blount Auditorium of Buckman Hall on cam- reserve a place. For more information about pus. The lecture is free and open to the public. the QuickBooks seminar series, call Debbie Bossé or Cathy Russell at 685-7500. » The arts It’s this easy. Talk Shoppe will present the seminar “What Amy Franklin-Willis will sign and discuss her Social Security Programs are Available?” with novel “The Lost Saints of Tennessee” Saturday, Ann Clifton of the Social Security Administra- March 17, at 1 p.m. at The Booksellers at Laurel- tion Wednesday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to 10 wood, 387 Perkins Road Extended. a.m. at the Better Business Bureau, 3693 Tyndale Drive. For more information, call Jo The Iris Orchestra will present “Beethoven Garner at 482-0354. Rhythm, Shostakovich Soul” featuring violinist Vadim Gluzman Saturday, March 17, at 8 p.m. The Sales and Marketing Society of the at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre, Mid-South will hold a luncheon featuring busi- 1801 Exeter Road. For information or tickets, ness adviser Voss W. Graham, who will speak visit www.irisorchestra.org or call 751-7500. on the topic “Do You Really Understand How People Make Decisions?” Wednesday, March The Orpheum Theatre will present “La Cage 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Racquet Aux Folles” Tuesday, March 20, through March Club of Memphis, 5111 Sanderlin Ave. Atten- 25 at the theater, 203 S. Main St. For tickets, dance is free for members, $25 for guests in visit www.orpheum-memphis.com or call 525- advance and $30 at the door. Visit www.sms- 3000. midsouth.org to register. Film director Eric Swartz and producer Sarah The Greater Memphis Chamber will hold Bolton will screen their documentary “Children a breakfast forum Thursday, March 22, from of the Wall” Wednesday, March 21, at 7 p.m. at 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Memphis Marriott Malco’s Studio on the Square, 2105 Court St. East, 2625 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Mike Brewer, The film explores art, history and the threat of vice president of Nike’s North America supply gentrification in Berlin, Germany. The screen- chain, will speak. Cost is $30 for members and ing is open to the public. Visit childrenofthe- $35 for nonmembers. Contact Ericka Milford wall.eventbrite.com to reserve a ticket. at 543-3518 or emilford@memphischamber. com to register. Theatre Memphis will present “Chicago” through April 1 at the theater, 630 Perkins The Urban Child Institute will host an ar- Road Extended. For tickets, visit www.thea- ray of speakers for Brain Awareness Night trememphis.org or call 682-8323. Thursday, March 22, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the institute, 600 Jefferson Ave. To reserve Playhouse on the Square will present “God a seat, contact Susan Day at [email protected] or of Carnage” Friday, March 16, through April 385-4242. 1 at Playhouse, 66 S. Cooper St. For more information or tickets, visit www.playhou- Rhodes College will continue its Communi- seonthesquare.org or call 726-4656.

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www.simplicitysofas.com/freedelivery155 38 March 17-23, 2012 www.thememphisnews.com

opinion

Easy to Get Lost In Defining Memphis: Wrap-Up Last week we spotlighted to call myself a Memphian and an art- more heartfelt responses to the ques- ist. The arts in Memphis never cease Redistricting Mess tion: “What does Memphis mean to to amaze me. With the growth of the you?” It has been amazing, over the last Hattiloo Theatre in the theater district, he once-a-decade redistrict- suspects. few weeks, to have Memphians share Artspace meeting and designing space ing season may be draw- Redistricting is a political process their personal thoughts for artists, and organiza- ing to a close four or five no matter who does it. But we think and how they define our tions like ArtsMemphis tying months later than it was it is a process that should be done at great city. This week let them all together, Memphis supposed to. the local and state levels by appointed us offer one last set of can only continue to make TThe district lines for the Shelby bodies formed once every ten years for colorful responses – but an impact in the arts world. County Commission will probably be set the sole purpose of drawing the fairest I encourage you to keep It's a wonderful time to be in a courtroom across the street from the lines possible using existing federal laws the conversation alive as involved and supporting the County Administration Building. and court cases that have set some very we work together to create arts in Memphis.” And the temptation will be great to specific guidelines for how to do this and our Memphis narrative and Jeremy Park Kathryn Dewey: “As an forget all about this for another 10 years how not to do this. spread it worldwide. giving back Army wife and transplant to when once again we will rely on those In what part of the guidelines does Michael Drake: “Mem- Memphis, I view Memphis we elect to set the boundaries for the it say all maps – and we mean all maps phis means entrepreneurial spirit to as a city of service. People are always districts they will represent. They choose under consideration – must include me. From our heritage of visionaries like ready to help their neighbor." their voters before voters choose them. as a dominant feature the locations of Clarence Saunders, Kemmons Wilson Mike Bowen: “… Memphis means It’s not just the County Commission. the homes of every incumbent on the and Fred Smith to current entrepre- freedom. I was free to swim and fish the It’s the Memphis City Council and the legislative body? In what part of the law neurs in industries like health care and Nonconnah Creek in the ’60s. In the Tennessee House and the Tennessee does it say that is even supposed to be a technology, Memphis pioneers have ’70s, I was free to attend Wooddale H.S. Senate. consideration? not only changed the world, but they We ushered in busing with little prob- The council gave final approval to Yet it is. And it is given greater con- have changed our community by their lems … and then on to Memphis State. a set of district lines two days before sideration than keeping Cordova intact personal involvement. I think our people In the ’80s, I was free with my parents the filing deadline for candidates in last instead of split among several county are different – engaged, hospitable and and brother to start several small com- year’s city council races in which 12 of commission districts. caring. We hear it from visitors all the panies and merge them into the family the 13 incumbents sought and won re- Elected leaders with future political election. ambitions are not the only citizens ca- time. Must be the vibe we have with the business. In the ’90s, I was free to raise The next races for the commission pable of applying those standards. There water, food, music and fun.” a family in the county. … In the 2000s, are in 2014 and six of the incumbent is ample proof others may apply those Kenneth Whalum Jr: "I love living we were free to purchase a condo in commissioners won’t be running again standards more rigorously and with less and working in Memphis because of our Downtown Memphis to enjoy the re- because of term limits. But those who self interest. rich heritage of music and ministry. The vival of South Main Arts District, Beale are term limited and those who aren’t Twenty of the 50 states have some same atmosphere that birthed Aretha Street, two great basketball teams and can make it harder for the new blood, form of redistricting commission, ac- Franklin, Booker T & The MG’s, and a baseball team. … In Memphis, you which is vital to our local political pro- cording to the National Conference of Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire is have the freedom to grow, learn, work, cess, to win office. State Legislatures. The idea of a redis- still producing world-changers today. play and enjoy one of the greatest cities Term limits have gone a long way tricting commission for local govern- That’s why I introduced the idea of cre- and all its surrounding counties in the to helping guarantee some change on a ment was floated during the drafting of ating the Memphis Academy of Musical world!” Arts & Sciences to teach young people regular basis. the metro consolidation charter in 2010. Jeremy Park, director of communica- But our politics needs a better The idea is worth a look again at both the business side of music as well as tions at Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance and chance to “break the mold” with those levels, not to try to create some fairy tale enhance their natural talents. Because director of the Lipscomb & Pitts Breakfast who are the usual suspects and those land void of politics, but to improve our of music, Memphis is on the come up!" Club, can be reached at jeremyp@lpinsur- waiting in the wings to be the usual politics. Abby Elzemeyer: “I love being able ance.com.

It’s True – But Only if You Don’t Check Snopes.com

IF YOU WANT TO HELP, STOP. wet sponge to seal them. I scrub the top Qaeda or Hugo Chavez. My high school classmate Donna of every can for the same reason.” “I can’t eat fast food chicken be- Davis and I are doing an intervention. That’s snopes.com. cause it’s made from horrible mutant We’re asking our other classmates, and “I no longer worry about my soul,” freaks with no eyes, feet or feathers,” yours, to stop sending helpful, lifesav- she says, “because I have 363,214 angels she fears, “and even if I smell like a water ing email. Tell us what you’ve been up to looking out for me, St. Theresa's Novena buffalo, I can’t use deodorant because it MEMPHASIS … briefly … maybe even something … a dan conaway has granted my every wish, and I don’t causes cancer.” little something … about your children/ drink soft drinks made by atheists who In short, leave us alone. If we die, grandchildren or your plastic/heart/ anyone’s toilet but mine because a big, won’t stamp ‘Under God’ on their cans.” we die, blissfully unaware of the brown knee/hip surgery, but, please God, stop black snake could be lurking under the However, as we all know, all of that is recluse in my golf shoe or the black spreading the dismal fog of spreading seat. And I keep my toothbrush in the in jeopardy if you don’t make a wish and widow in the flat of impatiens Donna germs and apocalyptic prophecy. living room, because I was told by email email it to seven friends within seven just brought home. Snopes.com, and Write this down – snopes.com. that water splashes more than 6 feet out minutes. for those of you claiming that Snopes is Donna forwarded me an email … I of the toilet.” “I can’t have a drink in a bar,” she a vast liberal conspiracy to deny God’s read Donna’s emails … with tongue-in- Snopes.com. Bookmark it. bemoans, “because I’ll wake up in an own truth, well, bless your heart. check grateful recognition for all that the “I can’t use the remote in a hotel ice-filled bathtub without my kidneys. I I’m a Memphian, Obama is a native sender has learned from her high school room because I don’t know what the last can’t bend over to pick up a quarter in a Hawaiian, and absolutely nothing is hap- friends over the years. person was doing while surfing the adult parking lot because I’ll be jumped by a pening in Roswell, N.M. “I can no longer open a bathroom channels,” she continued. “Can’t sit on sex molester. But I can’t drive anyway, Dan Conaway is a lifelong Mem- door without using a paper towel, or ask the hotel bedspread either.” because if I buy gas, a serial killer will phian, longtime adman and aspiring for lemon slices in my ice water, or touch “I send special thanks to whoever hide in my backseat.” local character in a city known for them. a purse that might have touched a bath- sent me the one about rat poop in en- As we’re all aware, you can’t buy gas Reach him at dan@wakesomebodyup. room floor,” the email read. “I can’t use velope glue because I now have to use a anyway because that funds either al- com. www.thememphisnews.com March 17-23, 2012 39

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