Going Green Memphis 7-10-11

8/6/2019 Going Green Memphis 7-10-11

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2 GOING GREEN | July 2011 co mm e r c i al a p pea l.co m

FROM THE EDITOR

Small changes

make differenceWhile Americans suffer fromsticker shock at the gas pumps,many are considering ways tosqueeze every possible mile from agallon of gas.

Motorists who dont have theoption of buying a fuel-efficientmodel or biking or carpooling can

find ways to improve fuel economy.Here are a few tips to reducegasoline consumption:

Go easy on the pedal:Speeding, braking and rapidacceleration waste gas. Drivingtweaks can lead to an equivalentgas savings of between 16 centsand $1.03 per gallon.

Slow down: Gas mileage

decreases above 60 miles perhour. According to the websitefueleconomy.gov, for every fivemiles per hour that exceeds 60mph, drivers pay an equivalent of24 cents more for each gallon.

Do nt load up: An additional100 pounds in your car can reducegas mileage by up to 2 percent.

Replace spark plugs: B adspark plugs can decrease fueleconomy by up to 30 percent.

Fill your tank early in themorning or late at night: If youfill your tank when it is coolestoutside, the fuel will be denser soyou get more gas for the sameamount of money.

S u bs c r i b eSign up to receive the latest

issues of Going Green theenvironmental digital magazine ofThe Commercial Appeal - as they arereleased. The e-magazine is

published on the last Sunday of eachmonth. Subscriptions are free tosubscribers of The CommercialAppeal, simply follow the one-timeGoing Green registration process toobtain access.

Upon registration, home deliverysubscribers to The CommercialAppeal receive access to the digitalproduct at no additional cost.

Raise your profileElevate your companys profile

within the Green Community. Sendus a short article or a project outlinefor consideration in Going Green,explaining what you are doing togreen up your lifestyle? Includeyour preferred contact phonenumber.

Send in your e-maila d d r es s

We ll share information andresources to help readers of GoingGreen swap money-saving tips andinformation related to green i s s u esand events. Send toke p l i n ge r @ com me r c i a l app ea l .com .

You can also follow Going Greenon Facebook and at

twitter.com/GoGreenMemphis .

Ed i t o r : Kim Coleman, 529-5243,goi n g g r e e n @ co m m e rci a l a p p ea l .com

Community Editor: Emily AdamsKe p l i n ge r ,ke p l in ger @ com m er c i al a p pea l.co m


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The Commercial Appeal July 2011 | GOING GREEN 3

High fuel prices drivingtrends in transportation

Higher sales of fuel efficientcars, biking and changingtravel habits are a few waysto deal with rising cost of gas

Conservancy seenas potential cure ofOverton Parks ills

Whats in this issue ...

14

20

On the cover: The Ford emblem is displayed on the grill of a 2011 Ford Focus compact car on the lot of a Ford

dealership. The Focus compact isselling as fast as Ford Motor Co. can build them. Steven Senne, Associated Press

31

27

FedEx alternativevehicle guru tapped asFirst Mover. PAGE 38

Businesses aretaking root alongGreenline. PAGE 42

Creamy, fruity icypops flavorful antedoteto the heat. PAGE48

Mayor Luttrellrevives Sustainable

Shelby initiative

LOCAL NEWS

Downtown gardengrows involvement,common ground

BUS I N ESS T R A N S P O RTAT I O N FO O D


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4 GOING GREEN | July 2011 co mm e r c i ala ppea l.co m

In.gredients, slated to open this fall in Austin, will be the first

packaging-free grocery store in the United States. Touting itself as the

next step in fixing some of the problems in todays food industry, it

promises to be an alternative to supermarket-style shopping by selling

only loose and bulk items, including local, organic meats, dairy, baking

ingredients, cooking oils, spices, grains and seasonal produce.

Customers bring reusable containers from home or use the stores

compostable ones. The package-free, zero-waste retail concept is

similar to that of U n p a c ka ge d in London. The benefits of precycling

avoiding wasteful packaging are many including reduction in what issent to the landfill while saving money in the process. Truth be told,

whats normal in the grocery business isnt healthy for consumers or

the environment, in.gredients co-founder Christian Lane said. We re

prioritizing reduce, reuse, then recycle and maximizing farmer

r ev e n u e. For more information, go to i n . g r e d i e n t s .co m

Micro Greens...

Next step: Packaging-free grocery store


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Green Snap...

Photo courtesy of Shelby Farms

Harvest time at Shelby Farms

Interested in sharing your green experiences: a bike ride on the Greenline, asuccessful recycling project or a neighborhood cleanup? Do you have a

stunning nature photo? Send your green snapshots [email protected] with "Green Snaps" in the subject line.

E-mail photos as JPEGs that are 1-2 MB in size and include completecaption information, including the full names of everyone featured in the

photo. Be sure to include a contact phone number in case we have questions.

Campers Veena Long, Jamison Siebert, Katie Hopkins,Madie Grace Liberto and Peyton Avant check out peppers in

the Shelby Farms Leadership Garden. Campers from theWoodland Discovery Summer Challenge and teens from

Peer Power worked together on the first big garden harvest learning where their food comes from and how

vegetables and herbs grow.


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Ev e n t s

C o o p e r -Yo u n g s Thursday Night Out

July 7 at the corner of Cooper Street and YoungAvenue, 5 - 9 p.m.

Celebrate the best holiday of the summer withneighborhood businesses as ArtJAMn hosts abenefit party to support the CY CommunityFa r m e r s Market. Join in the fun and help paint apeach for a minimum donation to the market.Peach painting starts at 6 p.m., but all otheroutdoor festivities continue until 9 p.m.

Humane Society Summer Camp

July 11-14 at Humane Society of Memphis &Shelby County., 9 a.m. - noon

Fun activities will teach children about humananimal advocacy and pet ownership. Camp isopen to children ages 7 through 12 and willfeature hands-on animal activities. They will alsohave the opportunity to interact with kittens andpuppies. Sessions are $125 or $35 per day.Parents who wish to register their child for campor would like more information, call (901) 937-3900 or go online at m e m p h i s h u m a n e.o r g .

Environmental Art Class

July 12: 6-9 p.m. and July 16, 23& 30: 9 a.m-12:30 p.m. atStrawberry Plains AudubonCenter in Holly Springs, Miss.

This four session art class led by Hilary Maslon, local artistand entrepreneur will exploreour relationship to theenvironment by using materialsfound in the grasslands, gardensand woodlands surrounding the

Audubon Center. The sessionsare $120 per person. Pleasebring your own sketch book,pencils, an eraser, a portablepencil sharpener, pocket knifeand garden tools. To register,please call (662) 252-1155.

Natural Areas of WestTe n n es s e e

July 26 at Memphis BotanicGarden, 6:30 p.m.

Allen Trently, West TennesseeStewardship Ecologist from theTennessee Department ofEnvironment and Conservationwill share photographs of WestTennessee State Natural Areas,including those found along theWolf River. Join him to discuss

what makes each area andphotograph special and theareas worthy of a visit. CallMemphis Botanic Garden at(901) 576-4100.

Going Green Memphis is nowon Facebook. Simply LIKE thepage to receive regular news andupdates about green events.

The Green Page...

Photo courtesy Cooper Young Farmers Market


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I am a student at Southwest TennesseeCommunity College and am a part of theSouthern Energy Training Consortiumgrant program.

I received a certificate in architectureand construction fundamentals fromSWCC in 2009.

I'm working on another certificate inmechanical and manufacturing CAD.

I'm also pursuing an associate's degreein Architectural and Civil Construction.

The SETC grant has been helpful to mein paying for my certificate classes andproviding me with boot camp sessionsfrom Seedco instructors.

These sessions have helped meenhance my interviewing techniques,rsum writing, problem-solving skills andstudy habits.

Seedco also provided me a chance totake a group tour of an employer, Smith &

Nephew, as well as attend roundtablediscussions with other employers.

I've also used the tutoring serviceSeedco provides to help me when the

work was a challenge, and it helped me toachieve good scores.I strongly recommend the Southern

Energy Training Consortium and Seedcoboot camp sessions to anyone who isseeking training or a degree in the greenindustry. It makes a difference in whatyou can accomplish.

Anthony Watkins, Memphis

Letters to the editor must include thewriter's name, home address anddaytime/evening phone numbers. E-mailto [email protected] or goonline to the Opinion page atcommercialappeal.com and click on the"Submit a Letter" link

Planting seeds for success

FROM THE GOING GREEN BLOG

Lisa Enderle: Laundry is the bane of my existence. Itis either piled high and spilling (dirty) from the hampersor screaming at me (clean) from the couch to be folded.

While volunteering at the Collierville Farmers Marketrecently, I found my first green treasure of the s ea s o n Alpaca Felted Dryer Balls.

Cathy Stauffer of Coldwater Alpaca Ranch makes hermost popular product from alpaca and llama fibers thatare hypo-allergenic, dye-free and guaranteed to nevercome apart. (She says they could last 100 years or more.)

Felted dryer balls can cut down on drying time by 15percent to 20 percent great for the budget and theenvironment. They also reduce wrinkles, help remove lintand are handmade locally just 40 miles from Memphisin Coldwater, Miss.

A set of four dryer balls costs $22.

To read more blog posts from Going Green, go tocommercialappeal .com/goinggreen .

Going social

For daily updatesrelated to greenissues, follow GoingGreen on Twitter att w i t t e r .co m /go g r e e n

memphis and check usout on Facebook bysearching Going GreenMemphis.


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Eco-anxiety: Stress over doing rightthing, not doing enough brings guilt

Published on June 14, 2011

To Cordova resident Megan Cathey, walking

out of a grocery store with her hands full of plasticbags is like taking the proverbial walk of shame.I get so mad at myself when I get out of the

car and realize I dont have a reusable bag withm e, Cathey said.

What shes feeling is green guilt, and shesnot alone. With messages of climate change andnew ways to go green bombarding us from alldirections, green guilt is just one more worryadded to our long list of modern anxieties.

But it isnt easy, especially for those of us whodidnt grow up with a save-the-planet mindset.

When Briscoe Ellett moved in with his new wife,Courtney Liebenrood Ellett, and her two kids, onething he brought to the household was hispersonal commitment to recycling.

Its important to me, with our children, thatwere teaching them these things, said Ellett.

Still, going green takes effort, and in the rush

In case you missed it...

of modern family life, that effort often seems

too taxing to make.In Catheys view, though, doing something

is better than doing nothing.

Stacey Wiedower, Special to the Commercial Appeal

Full article: commercialappeal .com/n ew s / 2 0 1 1 / j u n / 1 4 /eco - a n x i e ty /

Chris Desmond/Special to The Commercial Appeal

Savannah Liebenrood, 11, and herbrother, Jake, 8, sort through therecycle bins at their home.

Making do with less, giving back can be fun

Published on May 31, 2011

Pulling into the parking lot of his sleek East Memphisoffice building, where crisp suits and hulking BMWsabound, Chris Williams looks like a guppy in a sea ofsharks on his mini-motorbike.

Driving a cherry-red 1981 Honda C70 Passport,-Williams regularly arrives at the Crescent Center with awrinkled windbreaker and a case of helmet head.

Not long ago, the successful 34-year-old financialplanner was driving a spacious Lexus 470.

But Williams sold his SUV in January, and made a one-

year commitment to leave a smaller footprint on the Earthand donate the cash he saved to charity.

Williams will donate the bulk of his saved auto expensesto Memphis Child Advocacy.

"It really is just a fun way to live out loud and let peopleknow what we're doing," he said.

Lindsay Melvin, The Commercial Appeal

Full article: commercialappeal .com/news/2011/may/3 1 / f u n - fo r - go o d /

Mike Maple/The Commercial Appeal

Chris Williams hasdecorated his scooter withstickers and markerdoodles that reflect hisdownsized lifestyle.


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News you can use...

Preservation option

Schnucks is offering an easyway to support Memphis Heritage,Inc. By designating MemphisHeritage as your charity ofch o i ce, Schnucks will contributeup to 3 percent of your purchaseto MHI.

Heres how you can give

Memphis past a future:Request an eScript CustomerCard from your Schnucks store.

Activate your card by calling(800) 931-6258 and list MemphisHeritage as your charity of choice.

Present your Schnucks cardeach time you check out, and payfor your groceries.

In seasonthis month

To m a t o esGreen beansNew potatoesPurple andsweet onionsBananapeppersHot peppersBell peppers

J a p an es eeggplantSpeckled andpurple hullpea sCo r nCucumbersZu cc h i n iPatty pansquash

Ye l l o wsummersquash

Pea c h es

Bl u e b e rr i esBl a c k b e r ri esPlumsN e c t a r i n esCantaloupeWa t e r m e l o nSource: MemphisFarmers Market

Greenline safety

As the Shelby Farms Greenlineincreases in popularity, so doesthe standard of safety surrounding

it. Concerns about pedestrianscrossing busy intersections on theGreenline are being met with ananswer from the City of MemphisDivision of Engineering.

A new type of traffic light, knownas a pedestrian hybrid beacon, willbe installed at areas of theGreenline with heavy traffic. Thelights have experienced success inother places like Tempe, Arizona.

The pedestrian hybrid beaconoperates like a conventional signaland is designed to stop trafficmomentarily for pedestrians andcyclists. For questions, commentsor suggestions about the new lights,call the City of Memphis Division ofEngineering at (901) 576-6710.

Greenway dinner is on

The Wolf River ConservancysDinner on the Greenway has beenrescheduled for September 24.

The evening will begin with astrolling reception as you placeyour Wolf River Conservancypicnic blanket along the greenwayfor dinner. During the receptionthere will be hors d'oeuvres andlive music from Grassfire. Acatered picnic basket will be full of

wonderful food from Heart andSoul Catering. You and up to threeof your friends will enjoy awonderful night out and helpprotect the Wolf River all for adonation of $250.

For more information and tosave your blanket or table call LisaStephens at (901) 452-6500.

Tom Busler/The Commercial Appeal files

Facades at the LowensteinHouse are one example ofpreservation efforts byMemphis Heritage.


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Sharing is good for planet, too

DEANNA

CASW E L L

Pra c t i ca l l yG reen

BE A GOOD s h a re r.Remember that fromkindergarten? Thats being

green in a nutshell.We can think of it in a largersense, like sharing resources ofthe planet with one another, nothogging everything for ourcountry or our generation, butt h at s not where Im going.

For the past two weeks, Ivewitnessed a great deal of green

behavior, lots of reusing,reducing, recycling. But itoccurred to me that all of this

greenness was really just goodpeople sharing with one another.Let me give you some examples:

Two giant boxes ofmaternity clothes left my homethis week, bound for the nextpregnant mama, who happensto share my relative size. Now,of the massive pile of clothes,

Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal files

Paulette Hence drops off gently-used clothing items to Goodwill greeter PhilM an es s . Donations like these are just one example of how sharing is good forcommunity as well as the environment.


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very few were technically mine. Bunchescame from the gal who was picking themup to take them to our friend. The nextbiggest contributor was my best friend inCharleston. Parts of that wardrobe havetraveled across the South for seven

babies. The third contributor is a mamafrom my parish, whom I met only acouple years ago. Like a snowball gatherssize rolling downhill, it grows as it goes.Some of those items are seeing their 11thpregnancy. Imagine all those clothes thatwe re n t bought. Now thats green!

Additionally, a pile of baby clothesleft my house this week. Almost none of

them was new. Those 0-3-month girlclothes will be picked up by at least threenew mamas. Everyone will get to pickwhat they want and pass it to the nextmama before the remains head toGoodwill. Now, are we doing this to begreen? Heavens, no! Were just being goodsharers, behavior we learned as toddlers.

I got the most refreshing phone callthis week from Sarah Calvary. A

Tupperware lady for more than 30 ye a rs ,she called to let me know that adding

Tang to my dishwasher would make myplastics come out extra clean. Andduring our delightful conversation, shealso recommended that I come up in acouple of weeks to pick blackberries. Sheand her dear husband could make jamout of them, but theyd never eat it

themselves, and shed love for me and mychildren to come make a day of it. Let mecome pick my own local berries? Thatsnot just green: Its saintly. Id be morelikely to share my childrens college fundthan a homegrown crop of blackberries.

Two local master gardeners took pityon me and my sad, sad looking yard. Iwrote that I have a book photo shoot

coming up, and though I have recoveredfrom the pregnancy, I have lingeringsciatic back issues that prevent me fromdoing much yard work. These guys notonly did hours and hours of labor in theheat, but they also pulled a five-loaves-

and-two-fishes act with the plants in myyard that you wouldnt believe. Onevolunteer crop of irises turned into 15separate plantings. Donated hydrangeasand shrubs appeared in my flower bedsalongside borrowed pots of full-grownherbs. Unneeded chunks of Bermuda,morning glory sprouts, and other shootsand trimmings left my yard for new homes

as well. Gardeners are great sharers.Building community with sharing folksis my favorite way to go green. Theres noneed for us each to have our own supply ofnew things when we have attics andbackyards full of stuff our friends can use.And just because we give it away, doesntmean that we wont have it when we needit. Creating a community of sharers meansthat even though my own strollers and

bassinets died after passing through mynearest three friends, there was someoneelse in my circle ready to lend me hers.

And so what if I have to buy somethingonce in a while, because it died in thehands of another? How many thingsh ave n t I had to buy because so manypeople have shared with me?

Your kindergarten teacher still knows

best. Get up to your neck in a greatgreen crowd of good sharing people. Youwo n t regret it.

Deanna Caswell is a local writer who blogsat littlehouseinthesuburbs.com . Her first book,"First Ballet, " was released this year byHyperion. Caswell and her husband, Jeff, livein Collierville. She practices eco-friendlyliving while raising their four children, alongwith pygmy goats and chickens.


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12 GOING GREEN | July 2011 co mm e r c i ala pp ea l.co m

Peaches usher in summer,

add flavor twist to meals

Melissa Petersen/Special to Going Green

Peaches have arrived in Memphis Thesummer fruit is a great accompaniment tomeats, cheeses and desserts.

WHEN PEACHES ARRIVE inMemphis, its a sure sign thatsummer has officially begun.

We enjoy a long peach season.They first appeared a few weeks

ago, and we can

enjoy them throughS eptember.A relative of the

rose family,peaches originatedin China (wherethey still growwild). The Spanishare credited withbringing the peach

to the Americas.Peaches fall into

two categories clingstone (available now) andfreestone (look for them in earlyJuly). The names tell youeve r y t h i n g.

Those of us who cant wait tomake peach jam have toiledmightily with the clingstones,trying to get the fruit removed fromthe pit. But I just dont have thepatience to avoid peaches until thefreestones ripen.

The fruit on most peach treesripens all at once. Fortunately,there are plenty of varieties thatgrow well here, and you can expect

M E L I SSA

P E T E RS E N

Eating Local,Eating Green


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Grilled PeachesPeaches, cut in half, stone removedOlive oilSa ltFresh goat cheeseH o n eyToasted pecans

Brush cut surface of peach witholive oil, sprinkle with salt and grillover medium-high heat until warm(about 5 minutes) and grill-marked.Smear each half with fresh goatcheese and a drizzle of honey. Topwith toasted pecans.

Chilled Peach Soup2 lbs. fresh peaches, peeled, pitted andchopped1 cup dry white wine, or champagne1/4 cup honeyjuice from one lemon1 tsp. fresh ginger, grated1/2 cup plain yogurtheavy cream to tastetoasted, chopped nuts for garnish

Place peaches in a mediumsaucepan with wine, honey andlemon juice. Cover and simmer for30 minutes until peaches are soft.Carefully pure mixture in blender.Strain through a sieve and chill. Stirin ginger and yogurt. Add heavycream to taste. Chill thoroughly andgarnish with chopped nuts.

Adapted from On Cooking bySarah R. Labensky, Alan M Hause,

Peach Sangria1 bottle of dry white wine1/2 cup of brandy, cognac, schnapps or water1/2 cup granulated sugar (or to taste) juicefrom 1-2 lemons3-4 peaches, peeled, pitted and chopped

Combine all ingredients in apitcher. Chill.

to see a new one about every two weeks.Pick your favorite. Taste the difference.

Garnet Beauty, White Nectar, GeorgiaBelle, Indian Cling, White Lightning andAutumn Prince are a few of the manyvarieties that well see over the coming

weeks. Anyone who calls himself afo o d i e should be able to name afavorite local peach.

Peaches ripen best on the tree, but aday in a brown paper bag will softenthem up. While I prefer them fresh,cooked peaches are an excellentaccompaniment to meats, desserts andcheeses.

Ive made peach everything at onetime or another jam, vinegar, syrup,salsa, pickles and ketchup. Peachesoxidize (turn brown) quickly once youpeel them, so if you are cooking, dropthe peeled fruit in some water with alittle lemon juice to keep them nicelycolored until youre ready to cook.

If youre new to preserving local food,h e re s a great hint: Peaches can better

than almost anything else. The flavorand texture are not altered much by thecanning process. My own firstexperience canning was with nine boxesof peaches.

Slice for salads. Add to tomato salsa.Grill peach halves and top with freshgoat cheese, honey and some pecans fora quick summer dessert. The few earlypeaches available at farmers marketswere picked clean by chefs and shopperslast week, but there will be more.

Yo u ve been eating local. Youve beenwaiting for summer. Go ahead and grab apeach. But do it properly. The juices fromthat first bite should drip from your chin.

Melissa Petersen is the editor of EdibleMemphis, ediblememphis.com.


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BE ATINGTHEBE AST


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F YOU ARE FEELING PAIN AT THE PUMP when it comes time to gas up

your car, you are not alone. Across the U.S., prices have made a steady

climb in some places reaching four dollars per gallon.

But are the high prices prohibitive enough where motorists will begin

to contemplate changes in their daily commuting routine?

Recently, a little relief for cash strapped drivers has come with Obama

a d m i n i s t rat i o n s recent action to release 30 million gallons of oil from the

Petroleum Reserve to flood the market. The action was made to glut the

market in hopes of easing speculation in oil futures, which is believed bymany analysts to be the primary cause of the recent spikes.

Across the U.S., retail prices havesteadily dropped, in some cases bymore than .10 cents since the release.But, it is little consolation when thoseprices are still hovering around 80cents more than last year.

With the price spikes, commutersseem to be responding. Dealerships,including those around the Memphisarea, have seen the demand for smaller,more efficient vehicles grow along withthe price of gasoline.

Every since gas prices have risen wehave had a waiting list, according toWolfchase Toyota sales manager FredWilliams about the surge in popularityfuel efficient cars are experiencing.

Its been pretty chaotic. Even thecorollas are all selling. We have seen a

A LOOK AT THE REAL COSTS OF RISING FUEL PRICESAND THE IMPACT ON OUR LIVES

I

Karen Pulfer Focht/The Commercial Appeal files

Local dealerships have seen thedemand for smaller, more efficientvehicles grow along with the price ofgasoline. Every since gas priceshave risen we have had a waitinglist, said Wolfchase Toyota salesmanager Fred Williams.

Story by Jim Coleman Photo illustration by Jim Weber


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Thomas Wells/Associated Press files

James Williams shows some of the basic shells of the Toyota Corolla thatToyota produces at its plant in northeast Mississippi. Compact and more fuel-

efficient models have been in high demand since the recent spike in gas prices.

35 percent increase in Prius sales.Whenever we have one, we sell it.

They are coming through alreadysold.

Wolfchase Toyota is not alone.Around the tri-state areadealerships that sell high mileage

cars are experiencing 20 to 30percent surges in sales. In fact, fuel-efficient vehicles have become somuch in demand that several usedmodels have actually gained in valueas motorists look to gain moremiles per gallon.

Although price hikes at the pumphave translated to early success for

fuel-efficient models, commutersstill seem devoted to their vehicles.

We havent experienced as muchinterest as when the first spikehappened, said Larry Smith ofMidsouth Clean Air, whoseorganization offers several rideshare

programs to commuters in the area..S mith stressed that can change.The psychological barrier of fourdollar per gallon gasoline seems tobe the impetus that inspires change.

If prices stay high, people willsay I have to do something. I justput 80 bucks in my tank and I dontwant to do that again.


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Fuel prices force travelers torethink summer vacation plans

Deid r e OBrien of Olive Branch had to passup an invitation for a Gulf Shores getaway forher family because she couldnt afford the gas.It costs $80 to fill the tank of her Chevy Tahoe.

Her parents, Robert and Hope Powell, fa cean even more frustrating problem. Theybought a 35-foot RV and a diesel truck to pullit last year, hoping to tour the West when heretires. Now they watch gas pump prices theway a gambler watches a slot machine, hopingfor a winning set of numbers.

High gas prices have thrown a curve to folksplanning vacations. The national average forregular gas for the first week in July was$3.58, up more than 86 cents from a year ago,

according to the American AutomobileAs socia t i o ns Daily Fuel Gauge.

RV park manager Mark Hoggard has seenan 18 percent to 20 percent drop in RV visitorsat Agricenter Internationals 300-hookup park,a favorite stop for cross-country travelers.

It hits them pretty hard when youve got arig that takes $700 to fill up and you can go 500or 600 miles you cant just drive endlessly.

Airlines say soaring fuel prices are behindfare increases. Average domestic air fares for2010 were $337, up 8.4 percent from 2009,not adjusted for inflation, according to thelatest figures from the federal Bureau ofTransportation Statistics. That doesnt includethis years increases.

Its enough to discourage Brett Moore, 37,of Downtown Memphis, who used to fly to LasVegas twice a year to vacation and see familyand friends. The cost was $300 to $350 roundtrip. Now hes facing $450 minimum, he said.

Mark Parsell, 48, has bid goodbye to theunfriendly skies. He flew from Memphis toHilton Head, S.C., every two months for yearsto visit his mother, who is 87. Now he makes10-hour sojourns via Chevy Impala with noside trips. He doesnt like the price at thepumps, but he sees no choice but to pay it.Its like taking medicine, said Parsell. Heinstalled satellite radio.

Barbara Bradley, The Commercial Appeal

Paul Sakuma/Associated Press

Shell gas worker Toke Fusi changesgas prices at a Shell gas station inMenlo Park, Calif. Wary of a newsurge, the Obama administrationhas decided to release 30 millionbarrels of oil from the country's

emergency reserve.

Smith went on to say that a fewweeks back, when prices were attheir highest, interest in ride shareswas growing.

We were talking with several areacompanies until the prices dropped.

Now, interest seems minimal.

We have about 850-900 peopleregistered, but we are hoping tobuild it up.

As a owner and operator of avehicle-dependent business,Madeleine Edwards admits thathikes at the pump have been aninfluence in decisions.

Her company, Get Green


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Fuel costs draining budgets Gas prices cut deeply for families

NEW YORK There's less money thissummer for hotel rooms, surfboards andbathing suits. It's all going into the gas tank.

High prices at the pump are putting a

squeeze on the family budget as the summerdriving season kicks into gear. For every $10the typical household earns before taxes,almost a full dollar now goes toward gas, a 40percent bigger bite than normal.

Households spent an average of $369 ongas last month. In April 2009, they spent just$201. Families now spend more filling up thanthey spend on cars, clothes or recreation.

Jeffrey Wayman of Cape Charles, Va., rodehis motorcycle to North Carolina's Outer

Banks, a day trip with his wife. They decidedto eat snacks in a gas station parking lotrather than buy lunch because rising fuelprices have eaten so much into their budgetover the past year that they can't ride asfrequently as they would like.

We used to do it a lot more, but not asmuch now, he said. You have to cut backwhen you have a $480 gas bill a month.

Alex Martinez, a senior at Arcadia High Schooloutside Los Angeles, stopped at a gas station toput $5 of fuel in his car not much more than agallon the high prices are crimping social lifefor him and his friends.

We definitely can't go out as much, and wecan't go as far, Martinez said.

The squeeze is happening at a time whenmost people aren't getting raisess.

These increases are not somethingconsumers can shrug off, says JamesHamilton, an economics professor at theUniversity of California, San Diego, who studiesgas prices. It's a key part of the family budget.

They're showing it by limiting spending farbeyond the gas station. Wal-Mart recentlyblamed high gas prices for an eighth straightquarter of lower sales in the U.S

Every 50-cent jump in the cost of gasolinetakes $70 billion out of the U.S. economy overthe course of a year, Hamilton says.

Associated Press

Brandon Dill/The Commercial Appeal files

Madeleine Edwards of Get GreenRecycling decided a trailer was thebetter way to expand capacity -its more fuel efficient with lowermaintenance costs than a truck.

Recycling, fills a gap in city servicesby providing recycling services toarea businesses. In a few short years

her company has grown from a one-person operation to three. With theincreasing business, a truck withlarger hauling capacity wasre c o m m e n d e d .

Margo with Project Greenfork suggested we get a truck.

Ultimately, the decision was madeto go with a trailer.

We decided our carbon footprintwould be smaller if we got a trailerinstead. Its more efficient. We getbetter mileage than with a truckwith a big engine. It also offers moreflexibility and lower maintenancecosts.

While its too soon to say whethergas prices had an effect, biking


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Alan Spearman/The Commercial Appeal files

Tim Flack puts his bike on the MATA bus he rides to work many mornings. Flackhas been able to save about 50 per month by commuting to work using his

bicycle and the city bus.

seems to be on the rise in Memphis.

Daniel Duckworth, manager ofMidtown Bicycles, says he hasexperienced increased traffic in hisdowntown shop recently.

Yeah, there has been anincreased interest lately. But it also

coincides with the Greenlineexpansion. I cant really say whichone is responsible, he quicklypointed out.

One person who made the switchis Caley Foreman. He started ridinga bicycle to work a couple of yearsa go .

I know a guy at work who rides abike in. It got me thinking Icould ride to work, too.

Through his daily commutes,Foreman has noticed many benefitsfrom his cycling.

I think I may have lowered my

blood pressure and lost weight. I amdefinitely in better shape.

He also noted the convenience ofa bicycle.

I can use it instead of a secondcar when I need to go to work.

There is also the low upkeep, whichmakes a difference.


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LOCAL NEWS

Tarnished gemConservancy seen as potential cure of Overton Parks ills

By Tom Charlier

charlier@commercialappeal .com

In a park famously spared by aU.S. Supreme Court decisionblocking a highway project, timeand neglect have inflicted the sortof damage that legions of 1960s-eratransportation planners and power-brokers never could.

It can be seen in the patchwork

lawns and the boarded-up publicrestrooms, where graffiti completes

the picture of decay. Its apparent inthe weeds peeking through crackedpavement, in the exotic vinesextending death-grips on nativetrees, and in the Depression-erastone work crumbling on apedestrian bridge.

The troubles of Overton Park, infact, are so big theyre visible from

Photos by Alan Spearman/The Commercial Appeal

A committee of park users, tenants and advocates is beginning an effort topreserve Overton Park and make it more inviting for people like Val Russell,who uses the green space to hold classes with her circus school students.


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space. Current satellite images on GoogleEarth show the greensward that famedlandscape architect George Kesslerdesigned more than a century ago as ameadowy oasis serving instead as anoverflow parking lot for Memphis Zoo.

The condition of the iconic park inMidtown Memphis sends a badmessage, park advocates say.

T h at s one of the main things peoplejudge a city by, says Martha Kelly,president of the group Park Friends.

They think the city cant take care ofitself and the people wont take care ofit, and its so unwelcoming.

This summer, a committee made up ofpark users, tenants and advocates isembarking on what members describe asan effort to preserve Overton and makeit more inviting and vibrant.

Theyre going to the public to solicitideas for the park and gauge support forhaving Overtons management turnedover to a non-profit conservancy like theones overseeing Shelby Farms Park and

New York Citys Central Park.About 200 people turned out for the

initial public meeting June 25 to gaugeinterest in having management ofOverton Park transferred from the cityof Memphis to a non profit conservancy.

The two-hour meeting in Rust Hall atthe Memphis College of Art marked thebeginning of a public communicationscampaign by "Speak Up! For Our Park"committee members. Attendees wereasked to complete surveys, availableonline at overtonpark.org , examiningwhat the public would like to see happenwith the 342 acres in the heart ofM i d t ow n .

After gathering public input, thegroup plans to collate everything into

a request that would be taken to CityCouncil by around Labor Day, saidGeorge Cates, a retired businessexecutive who co-founded thec o m m i tt e e .

The group is made up of about 15people, including representatives of suchtenant institutions in the park as theMemphis Brooks Museum of Art,Memphis College of Art and Memphis

Zoo, as well as leaders of environmentalgroups and a organization dealing withdrainage issues.

Park advocates already attained onegoal early in June when the TennesseeGeneral Assembly approved legislationdesignating 126 acres of Overtons old-growth forest as a state natural area,providing for increased protectionagainst encroachment.

Now, committee members say, muchof the park should be placed under aconservation easement and managed bya conservancy.

That kind of non profit group, theysay, would enjoy countless advantages tothe citys perennially strapped Divisionof Park Services, not least of which is

Pets would benefit from thecommittees plan for a state-of-the-art dog park near Rainbow Lake.


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the ability to tap into private donationsto pay for upkeep and improvements thecity cant afford.

We re out talking to foundationsright now, said Gary Shorb, committeeco-founder and CEO of Methodist Le

Bonheur Healthcare.Cates and Shorb said they favor a

management agreement between the cityand a conservancy under which Memphisinitially would contribute the annualamount it currently spends on Overton.

That contribution would decline over theyears before reaching a stable amount.

We re foreseeing a light burden and a

shrinking burden for the city, Cates said.Just how much the city currentlyspends on Overton one of 166 parksin the Memphis system hasnt beenfleshed out yet, committee members say.

City Councilman Jim Strickland,whose district includes Overton, saidhes been briefed on the conservancyplan and likes the idea.

The city will get a better product for

less cost, he said.Laura Adams, executive director of

the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, alsohas talked with Cates and Shorbscommittee and agrees that a conservancywould work as well for Overton Park asit has for Shelby Farms and other high-profile facilities in other cities.

Overton Park has a great naturalconstituency, and a conservancy wouldallow it to tap into that support, Adamss aid.

If the council approves an agreementturning over management of the park toa conservancy, Cates and Shorbs grouphas identified some modest capit alprojects they say theyd like to seeundertaken almost immediately.

They include refurbishment ofplaygrounds and restrooms,construction of a state-of-the-art dogpark near Rainbow Lake and a project toremove invasive plants, such as privethedge, from the old-growth forest.

But in addition to the modest projects,the group also is focused on larger goals.

Chief among them is eliminating theuse of the greensward for parking onpeak visitation days at the zoo.

Committee members say theyll push

The forest trails in Overton Parkprovide a dose of nature just minutesfrom Downtown. Here an artist markstheir inspiration.

A project to remove invasive plantsfrom the park is in the plan.


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for construction of a 500-spaceparking garage off North Parkway inthe zoos current maintenance area.

The cost would be about $5million.

We ve got everything figured

out except for where the moneycomes from, Cates said.

The zoo also favors the parkinggarage proposal as a means ofending use of the greensward, saidJim Jalenak, its chiefadministrative officer.

We dont want to do it,Jalenak said of the parking in the

greensward. But we just cantthink of any alternative other thanthe garage.

The committee also supportsthe relocation of the citys GeneralServices facility from thesoutheastern side of the park amove suggested by Wharton.

Committee members, however,said they are not seeking any

immediate changes to the parkgolf course.

Shorb said the group, indiscussions with elected officialsand others, has heard nothing butsupport for its efforts.

The public process this summerwill involve a lot of listening towhat people want for the park, hes aid.

Its been almost exactly 40 yearssince the Supreme Court rebuffeda proposal to extend Interstate 40through Overton Park. But Shorbcontends its time for a renewedeffort to preserve the park.

It needs a lot of improvements.

- Tom Charlier: (901) 529-2572

E D I TO R I A L

A new path for Overton Park

Heres a local history lesson.Remember how Shelby Farms languished in a

rolling tide of unrealized ideas and ill uses?

Now, consider how one of the premier urbanparks in the nation has flourished under nonprofit,private governance namely the Shelby FarmsPark Conservancy.

With that successful model in place, whyco u l dn t a conservancy work for Overton Park?

A cash-strapped city does not have theresources to properly maintain the park.

Advocates for the old-growth forest got a boostwhen the Tennessee General Assembly approvedlegislation designating 126 acres of the forest as a

state natural area.That protection now needs to evolve into a

comprehensive vision of what the park can be andwhat incremental steps are needed to get it there.

A proposal to set up a nonprofit conservancy toadminister Overton Park offers many potentialadvantages. In an era in which City Councilmembers jockey for declining Park Services fundsto establish new parks and upgrade existing onesin their districts, the conservancy model couldhelp take politics out of Overton Parks future.

Perhaps more important, though, is the potentialfor a conservancy to attract private funding andgrants to maintain and improve Overton Park andits amenities, gradually weaning the park awayfrom its reliance on city taxpayers dollars.

As the proposal for a conservancy isdeveloped, two big questions are among thosethat need to be answered. Can Mayor A CWhartons administration and City Councilmembers give up control of Overton Park? Andcan entities like the zoo and the advocacy groupCitizens to Preserve Overton Park stop buttingheads over the zoos master plan?

We hope all of the parks stakeholders canagree on a course that is in its best long-terminterests. Without consensus and without a newgovernance structure similar to the one that hashelped Shelby Farms to prosper, Overton Parkmay continue to suffer from competing interests,inadequate funding and lack of vision.


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By Suzanne Thompson

Special to Going Green

Most people arent so committed to

recycling that theyll go Dumpster divingto keep cans out of a landfill. But MarcyMcConnell isnt most people.

McConnell and her husband, Michael,are members of a grand krewe named Ptah.

The main purpose of a grand krewe isto support the mission and goals ofCarnival Memphis.

Carnival Memphis turns

eye toward sustainability

Tara Bodansky and EdGalfsky of CarnivalMemphis sort and foldused T-shirts donated by

her clients. Bodanskygave one dollar for eachdonated T-shirt toCarnival Memphis andthen recycled them asrags for area businesses.

Kyle Kurlick/Special toThe Commercial Appeal


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While the terms are better associatedwith Mardi Gras, Carnival Memphis isknown locally as The Party with aPurpose.

It raises thousands of dollars a yearfor childrens charities and goes through

a significant amount of supplies at theirparties.

Ptah is one of three krewes that stockand provide bar service for the partiesCarnival Memphis hosts.

The McConnells have been in chargeof the bar at Ptahs main parties for thelast two years and have made it a pointto recycle cans, bottles and plastic cupsfrom their events.

Last April at Ptahs Black Tie andTennis Shoes gala, signs posted atevery bar read Help Ptah Go Green,Reuse your cup.

After the party, McConnell and herfamily loaded everything onto a trailerto haul off for recycling and went back inthe building for the last load.

When we got back, some helpful soul

had taken all the black trash bags filledwith cans and put them into theD u m p s t e r, McConnell said.

Because the function generated theequivalent of about three 55-gallonbarrels of recycled items, there was noway McConnell was going to just driveoff and leave it in the Dumpster thusthe Dumpster diving began.

T h at s how committed we are, shes aid.

After Carnival events, McConnellusually tries to take everything to therecycling containers at the Agricenter,but if thats not possible, it ends up onthe street outside her Collierville home.

I just wish everybody felt the sameway I do. These parties produce a lot of

t ra s h , she said.McConnell, 57, is a longtime recycler.

She said she began recycling in the1990s when her children were little.

Now she gathers up recycling fromseveral places where her family isinvolved, such as their church, FaithLutheran in Collierville.

Ed Galfsky, executive director ofCarnival Memphis, remembersMcConnell removing recycling from theoffices whenever she attends meetings.

Whenever shes here at a meeting,

Rags for a causeLeading up to Carnival Week this year,

Tara Bodansky, president of AdVisibilityPromotions, started a recycling campaignto help Carnival Memphis raise money forits charities while helping the environment.

B o d a n s ky s company produces anumber of promotional materials, andthis time of year, T-shirts are particularlypopular with her customers, she said.

In March, she began offering a specialdeal, in which her customers wouldreceive $1 off any T-shirt purchase whenthey bring in an old T-shirt to be recycledand a $1 donation would also be made to

Carnival Memphis.Originally, Bodansky had planned tooffer the program for one month, but theresponse was so positive, she had toextend it through Carnival Week, whichtook place the first week in June.

Bodansky picks the T-shirts up, and iscutting them into squares to donate toauto repair shops for reuse as rags.

We have a huge box of T-shirts ready

to be distributed, she said.Suzanne Thompson


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she takes all the recycling with herwhen she leaves, he said. C a r n i va lMemphis applauds Marcy and theGrand Krewe of Ptah for theirdedication to recycling.

Galfsky said he is interested in

trying to promote recycling among theother krewes, but its not as simple asit may seem.

Many functions are held atcorporately owned venues, such ashotels and private clubs.

I dont think you could make themdo anything like that. Certainly at aprivate club you cant make them do

that and probably a hotel would be thes ame, Galfsky said.However, when enough customers

tell business owners and managerswhat they want, change often occurs.

I think the better way to go aboutthat would be to try to educate thosevenues about that, he said. Wecertainly would want to talk to themabout that.

Carnival Memphis has activities yearround and as soon as Carnival Weekends in June, planning begins for thenext year.

Recycling will definitely be a topicthey discuss early in the planningstages for next year, Galfsky said.

Maybe we can put together aprogram, that going forward into the

next season, we can say, Look, heresthe recycling program that we have andthis is what youve got to do, he said.Then if we have to get recyclingcontainers for them, or whatever wehave to do to make that work we cando that.

Last year, Carnival Memphis starteda program called Carnival Cares, which

involved more hands-on participationfrom members than making a financialdonation to one of their charities.

Galfsky said a recycling programwould work well under the umbrella ofCarnival Cares.

We care about the environment andwe want to contribute in a positive wayto the environment, he said.

But Carnival Memphis doesntcontrol what goes on at the partieseach krewe has for its members, sogetting every krewe on board with arecycling program would make a bigd i f f e re n c e .

If one krewe is already doing it, itssomething that can certainly bere p l i c at e d , Galfsky said.

After taking stock of the wasteproduced from one party, MarcyMcConnell took it upon herself tostart a recycling effort for CarnivalMemphis events for the Ptah Krewe.


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Sustainable Shelby restartsGoals include energyefficiency, less sprawl

By Daniel Connolly

connolly@commercialappeal .com

Shelby County Mayor MarkLu tt rel l says hes reviving theSustainable Shelby environmentalinitiative started by hispredecessor, A C Wharton.

Lu tt rel l s pick for newadministrator of the office ofsustainability was Paul Young, whoformerly worked in legislativeaffairs for the county and hasmasters degrees in both businessadministration and city and

regional planning.Young started in the new role on

April 1 and aims to work with thecity of Memphis and suburbangovernments. This month, theoffice hired Christine Donhardt,who has a masters degree inlandscape architecture.

Among the offices first steps will

be to create a task force to makesuggestions on how to make buildingcodes more environmentallyfriendly, Young said.

We want to make more efficientuse of our existing resources andprotect the future generations ofShelby County, Young said. Whenyou think about sustainability, all it

Meet Paul YoungNew administrator of the Memphis andShelby County Office of Sustainability

Age: 31

Ed u c a t i o n : The University of Tennessee inKnoxville with a bachelors degree in electricalengineering; University of Memphis with amasters degree in city and regional planning

Paul A. Young, a Memphis native, found hisdirection in life by listening to his mother.

In 2003, he heard his mom, Rev. DianeYo u n g , co-pastor at the Healing Center FullGospel Baptist Church, talk about findingones calling. One thing for sure, she said,is that Gods purpose for you will never be foryou. It will always be for someone else.

Yo u n g cou l dn t find a job in the sloweconomy so he asked himself, What could I

do that would make a good living but be forsomeone else, too? Searching online, hefound a city and regional planning degreeprogram and knew that was it.

He started his new job in April after beingappointed by Shelby County Mayor MarkLuttrel. The office is funded by a $422,000grant from the federal Department of Energy.Christine Donhardt, who has a masters degreein landscape architecture, works with him.


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is is using what you have in a smartway.

Sustainable Shelby dates back to2008, when then-county mayorWharton called together dozens ofarchitects, developers, activists and

others to recommend ways to achievegoals such as reducing sprawl andboosting energy efficiency.

The group produced a long list ofrecommendations, but progress wasslow. Unfortunately, it was one ofthose studies that once it wascompleted, it sat up on the shelf fortwo or three years, Luttrell said.

He attributes that lack of action torapid turnover in local government:Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton leftoffice in mid-term in July 2009, andin October of that year, Wharton wona special election to the city mayorspost. Two short-term leaders servedin the county mayors office beforeLuttrell won election in August.

The county is using a $422,000

grant from the federal departmentof energy to restart efforts. Youngsfirst task was to go through there c o m m e n d at i o n s and identifythose that officials could implementwith minimum effort. He picked 27.

Among them:Performing a study to measure

air quality in the region. This would

serve as a baseline for futureimprovements, Young said.Working with tourism officials

to attract conferences on Gre e njobs and clean technologies.

Revising governmentpurchasing policies to consider thelifetime cost of a piece of equipment.

Daniel Connolly: (901) 529-5296

The revival is stirring excitement. John

Lawrence, acting program director for LivableMemphis, a grassroots coalition, calledSustainable Shelby, one of the mostimportant things we could be doing now. Its areal opportunity to address not onlyenvironmental issues, but address importantgrowth and economic issues.

Young called his new post beyond exciting.Sustainability is one of those things we get onboard now or get left behind.

The strongest case for sustainability is that

its financially prudent, he said. A lot offocus is on the environmental side. But to getfolks involved, we stress the benefits of it. Itsa green appeal to the green.

Among the low-hanging fruit he sees is thecost-effectiveness of putting more recyclingcontainers Downtown. They will spur recyclingat condos and apartments which have verylittle now as well as serve as silentambassadors to Downtown tourists.

He wants a green building task force to

revise building codes, such as requiring moreattic insulation in future construction. Toomany Memphians pay huge utility bills andwaste energy in poorly insulated houses. Itwould work to make this area a leader forsustainable development and adaptive reuse.

He also plans a sustainability advisorycommittee drawn from the community to stayin touch with public concerns.

Young plans to keep residents up to date oninitiatives and serve as a resource through anew website, s u st a i n a b l es h e l by .com .

We want a real community-based effort toput this plan together, he said. We want topartner with community groups when we can.

He practices the approach he saw work incommunity development. Government cansp ea r hea d , he said. But any change comesfrom the people.

Barbara Bradley, The Commercial Appeal

Meet Paul Young: Administratorof the Memphis and ShelbyCounty Office of Sustainability


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Green gadgets

Group

providesrecycled

equipment to

disabled

By Victoria Wright / Wright1@commercialappeal .com

Karen Wilson, 53, remembers when she received a four-

foot walking cane from the hospital after brain surgery.It was too heavy for her, and she had trouble keeping her

balance.But thanks to the Mid-South Access Center for

Technology, she now has a lighter cane with a handle thathelps with the balance problem.

Im not sure if I wouldve had another option if it wasntfor ACT, said Wilson, who said she could not have afforded

Kyle Kurlick/Special to The Commercial Appeal

Mary Eason tries on a pair of magnifying glasses to help with reading during anevent hosted by Mid-South Access Center for Technology.


30/55


a new cane without the ACTs help.The center provides high- and low-

tech equipment to help people withdisabilities and works with health careproviders and advocacy groups.

Besides Wilson, the center has alsohelped people who are blind and haveother disabilities by giving them SARAscanners and other devices it buys newor recycles from people who dont needthem anymore.

An event held on June 7 at the OrangeMound Community Center focused onthe re-use and recycling of assistive

technology devices.Assistive technology includes a myriadof electrical and non-electrical devices.Wheelchairs and walking canes are someof the low-tech devices, while high-techgizmos include iPads with special appsfor people with handicaps; large printkeyboards; and SARA scanners, whichread printed materials aloud.

Sateesh Madrireddy, 25, arehabilitation technologist with the Mid-South ACT, explained how a SARAscanner operates.

It has the ability to read scannedpapers, which helps people that arecompletely blind, said Madrireddy.

The scanner can hold up to 40gigabytes of text, or about 60 Bibles.

I never knew about some of thetechnology. Its great that were able toloan devices that, otherwise, peoplewould not have access to, said Wilson,who volunteers for ACT throughAmeriCorps Vista as a graphic designer.

The organization receives fundingfrom various grants.

If an individual is finished with adevice, we ask that they turn it back inso it can be reused, said Perry Claybon.

Victoria Wright: (901) 529-2794

Eddie Blackwellshows CorrineSimpson thefunction of agrabbing armduring theevent, whichaims to helppeople withd i s a b il i t i eslearn abouthigh- and low-tech solutionsto everydayproblems.

Kyle KurlickSpecial to TheCommercial Appeal


31/55


C om mon

g roundGarden sprouts vegetablesand grows unity for

a community

By Victoria Wright

Wright1@commercialappeal .com

Nestled in a discrete lot at thecorner of Linden and Lauderdale isa meeting ground that is cultivatingmore than produce.

The Common GroundCommunity Garden near Downtowngrew out of an idea by St. PatrickCatholic Church members AnneS t u b b l e f i el d and Allen Stiles in thefall of 2009, and has continued todevelop in the neighborhood.

The pair brought the idea to GrowMemphis, a nonprofit organization

Alan Spearman/The Commercial Appeal

Marva Jones, Samarah Jones, 9, and Marqis Njiru tend the Common GroundCommunity Garden at Linden and Lauderdale, where produce is being grownorganically and used by members of the community.


32/55


that provides advice and support fordeveloping community gardens.

We coordinated the concept withGrow Memphis. There was so muchunhealthy food around, it seemedlike a good idea to bring organic

vegetables to the neighborhood,said Stiles, 71.

Because of high concentrations oflead in the soil beneath the garden,the produce is grown in raised bedsframed by wooden supports. Booker

T. Washington High School shopclass students and volunteers withRedeemer Presbyterian Church

helped build the beds. The St.Patrick Center provided the lumberand screws.

Beans, peas, okra and radishesare among the vegetables grown inthe beds. All of the produce iso rga n i c .

We use a spray mixture of oilsoap and water to spray the plantsand keep the aphids away, s aid

Stubblefield, 65. We re blessed tohave good groundwater, too.

The vegetables grown in thegarden are donated to the St.Patrick Center food pantry. Produceis also distributed to residents inthe neighborhood who help in thega rd e n .

A lot of students come and

visit , said Stiles. Theyreinterested in how to grow thevegetables, and theyre willing toh el p .

Herbs grown in the garden aregiven to the Juvenile Interventionand Faith-Based Follow-Up for itsfood service trainees.

About five families in the

Shelby County Commissiontouts community gardens

Days after giving 186 parcels of land tovarious community groups so that they can

plant gardens on them, the Shelby CountyCommission is set to donate 64 more parcelsfor the same purpose.

Commissioners are scheduled to discussthe current round of donations in a committeemeeting today. The measure is likely to passeasily and move to the full commission forfinal approval Monday.

Commissioner Henri E. Brooks says shebegan promoting the community gardenconcept at local meetings after reading an

article about the idea in USA Today.She sees it as a way to reduce blight in inner-

city neighborhoods and to educate youth.T h ey ll learn number one, that you do grow

food that it doesnt grow from a can or afreezer in the grocery store, she said. It willalso teach young people lessons in runningsmall businesses as they grow and sellvegetables, she said, and will increase theavailability of healthy food in inner-city areaswhere there are few high-quality grocery stores.

The land parcels are among those that thecounty has seized from delinquent taxpayersand theyre located in North Memphis andother neighborhoods.

Many of the groups receiving the lots arechurches. For instance, Mount Zion MissionaryBaptist Church in South Memphis is receivingseveral lots.

The groups are expected to work with theTennessee Farm Bureau Community GardenGrant Program, which provides grants for

such projects.Several other organizations are involved,

including the county agricultural extensionse r vice.

I think weve formed a great partnershiphere that is beneficial to the core cityco mm un i t y, Brooks said.

Daniel Connolly,connolly@commercialappeal .com


33/55


neighborhood regularly tend thegarden. They help with watering andassist with planting the vegetables.

Carlina Richmond, 10, is astudent at St. Patrick CatholicSchool and enjoys helping in the

ga rd e n .I come here every other day. Wepicked up trash and helped to put thesoil down, said Carlina, reminiscingabout the day she first started in thegarden with her cousin and sister.

Before the garden was built, thelot was covered with overgrowngrass, weeds and trash. The area is

now a meeting ground for variousvolunteer groups and curiousresidents passing by.

The garden acts as ademonstration project. It shows itspossible to raise fresh vegetables in

an urban community, s aidS t u b b l e f i el d .

Stiles hopes that morecommunity gardens will sprout upin the area.

Sometimes I pass a vacant lotand I see an example of what itcould be, he said.

Alan Spearman/The Commercial Appeal

Tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, sweat peas and cayenne peppers are beinggrown organically at the Common Ground Community Garden.


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Right off

the bush

Blueberries

ready for

pickin

and eatin

By Chris Van Tuyl /vantuyl@desotoappeal .com

As customers approached their appointed rows Tuesdayat the Nesbit Blueberry Plantation, assistant harvestmanager Tracey Boeye emerged right on cue.

They are like candy today, she said, popping a coupleof the tiny pieces of fruit into her mouth.

Bushes and bushes dominate the 27.6-acre farm, whichis open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The people come and theyre like, Summer doesnt start

Photos by Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal

Abigail Landon, 7, of Southaven wanted to come to the Nesbit BlueberryPlantation to pick gallons of berries which are ripe and ready for harvestingthrough early July.


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BLUEBERRIES GALORE

For information or directions to theNesbit Blueberry Plantation, call (662)449-2983 or visit nesbitblueberry.com.

Another local alternative is theHudspeth Blueberry Farm in Senatobia.Located at 400 Pioneer Village Road,owner Peggy Crockett confirmed Tuesday

that the eight acres on her property areavailable for picking from daylight todark, seven days a week. The cost topick your gallon is $9; pre-picks are $14.Call (662) 562-4182.

until we start picking blueberries, s aidharvest manager Terri Cooper. Just likegoing to the beach, we are on peoplescalendars; we are a big part of lots offamilies summers. Thats really special,and we try to make it a very pleasant

ex p e r i e n c e . Mother Nature cooperated following

M o n d ay s thunderstorms, making itprime weather for Olive Branch residentBetty Ward, whos been pickingblueberries every year since 1984.

I wanted to come while it was cool,she said. It gives me a sense of peace tobe out here.

Ward says shell eat fresh blueberriesevery morning, and also use some of thefruit to bake one of her specialties.

Everybody loves the blueberry poundc a ke , she said.

Regulars like Ward keep ownerGeorge Traicoff, 77, happy andh o p p i n g.

I should know a lot more folks than Ido, he said, but its satisfying the way

they turn out each year.Boeye and Cooper are both daughters

of Traicoff.Boeye and her three children: Maggie,

13; Nick, 11; and Josh, 9, visit from theirsuburb of Cleveland, Ohio to assist eachs u m m e r.

Cooper, whose three boys are allcollege-age, comes up from Madison.

My three have rolled into theirpositions, Boeye said. This is theirfarm. This is their heritage.

E m p l oye e s take pride in providingclean, white buckets to customers, whocan pick gallons for $12 apiece. Pre-picked blueberries are $16.

The customers, theyre so funny,said Cooper. Theyll say, These are the

best ever, but they always say that.Once youve had them right off the bush

like this ... thats why people come back,because you can get them in the store,but theyre not the same.

Blueberry jam and maple syrup is alsofor sale at Nesbit Blueberry Plantation,which is closed on Sundays andM o n d ays .

Chris Van Tuyl: (901) 333-2018

Ashley Watt holds her son Jett whilesampling blueberries right off the bush.A perk of picking your own is being ableto taste test while you gather berries.


36/55


By Melissa Petersen

Special to The Commercial Appeal

Throughout the year, my freezeris home to some meat, bags ofpecans, grits, corn, two ice cubetrays and a whole lot of blueberries.

I didnt grow up learning topreserve the sweetness of summerin jars, but when trying to eat local,yo u re going to miss summer fruitwhen winter rolls around. If youdont can, freezing will help you eatlocal throughout the entireupcoming basketball season.

And blueberries were made for

f re e z i n g.Blueberries are perennials that

grow on bushes high and lowvarieties. Distantly related to thecranberry, the sweet, tart berries arecultivated and available in the wild.

Here in the South, we have our

own special variety the rabbiteye.The folks who grow blueberries hereswear by them. These perfect littlefruits have a burst of flavor, morenutritional value than I can list hereand no waste. No seed, no stem, nopeeling required.

Last year I froze two gallons offresh blueberries. Preserving just

Stock up freezer, enjoy

blueberries all year round

Justin Shaw/The Commercial Appeal files


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R ESO U RC ES

Local blueberries are available fromvendors at area farmers markets. HarrisFarms (7521 Sledge Road, Millington) andPontotoc Ridge Blueberry Farm (240 CarterLane, Pontotoc, Miss.) are two vendors whooffer U-Pick at their farms. For additionalU-Pick farms, go to p i c ky o u r o w n .o r g .

Daily Blueberry Smoothie cup frozen blueberries cup plain, vanilla or Greek yogurt2 tbsp. local honey1 scoop protein powder1 tbsp. flaxseed, wheat germ, or toasted almonds cup milk

Combine all ingredients in blender andpure until smooth.

Blueberry Glaze for Beef2 tbsp. unsalted butter1 shallot, minced2 cups fresh berries2-3 tbsp. granulated sugar1/2 cup port or balsamic vinegar

In a large saucepan, over medium-high

heat, melt butter and saut shallot untilsoft, stirring frequently. Add blueberries,sugar and port (or balsamic vinegar).Bring to a boil and lower heat to medium.Cook until berries are very soft andsyrupy, 30-40 minutes. Cool andrefrigerate until ready to use. Warm toserve on grilled or roasted beef.

Blueberry-Peach Salsa3 peaches, peeled, stoned and chopped1 cup whole blueberries1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice3 tbsp. fresh mint, chopped1 jalapeo, seeded and minced1 small onion or shallot, mincedSalt to taste

Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate forup to two days. Serve with grilled meats.

doesnt get any simpler. Wash. Drywell. Spread in a single layer on abaking sheet. Freeze. Bag and storein the freezer. You get all of theflavor, yet little change in texture.

Several days a week, I reach inthe freezer and grab a handful offrozen berries to make a breakfastsmoothie. In the winter I tossthem into my oatmeal. Once ortwice a year, I make blueberrypancakes. I also like to have themhandy to cook down for a meatglaze or compote.

Aside from eating out of hand,

blueberries work best as a sidekick.Around Memphis, youll findblueberries in cocktails, on salads,with fruit trays, or in desserts.Mother Nature has a great palateand knows how to pair foods. In-season ingredients complementone another nicely. Try steamedpurple-hull peas (also almost inseason) with barely sautedblueberries (just warm, notpopped), cherry tomatoes, onionand some lemon zest (I wish I haddreamed this up, but the credit goesto Tayst Restaurant in Nashville).

Put frozen berries in your iced teaor lemonade. Combine withpeaches in a pie. Use them to top alemon tart. Just throw a handful of

blueberries into anything you make.Local blueberries will continue

through early July.

Melissa Petersen is the editor ofEdible Memphis, a magazine thatcelebrates the abundance of local food,season by season. It is available atvarious locations around town. Contacther at ediblememphis.com.


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THE BIZ PAGE

First Mover for FedExElectric vehicle guru receives Aspen Institute fellowship

By Wayne Risher

risher@commercialappeal .com

With crude oil hovering around$100 a barrel, it doesnt take a mathwhiz to figure out a company with40,000 trucks on the road will liveand die by the efficiency of its fleet.

But determining the best mix ofvehicles, when to deploy hybrid and

electric trucks versus sticking withdiesel burners, thats where Memphis

resident Keshav Sondhi comes in.As chief engineer of global

vehicles at FedEx Express, Sondhiis the No. 1 organizer of a push toelectrify short-haul transit.

His expertise is in demand atevents like Fortune BrainstormingGreen 2010 conference, and Sondhi

Photo courtesy of FedEx

Keshav Sondhi says he fell in love with mathematical modeling after he earneda mechanical engineering degree and interned in an auto manufacturing plant.


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has attracted the attention of prestigiousthink-tank the Aspen Institute.

Sondhi, 39, has been named to a FirstMover Fellow by the institutes Businessand Society program. The 19 fellows, fromcompanies such as Google, Cisco and

Green Mountain Coffee, will gather in lateJuly to network and hone leadership skills.

EMBARQ, the World ResourcesInstitute Center for SustainableTransport, supported Sondhisnomination for the fellowship because ofhis work with public transit officials insmog-plagued Mexico City.

Keshav is one of the experts FedEx

has lent to us on several occasions, s aidEMBARQ spokesman Ethan Arpi. Heknows every type of vehicle technologythere is and what type of vehicle is mosteffective in reducing pollution.

A native of Nepal, Sondhi has lived inMemphis since 2005. He is responsiblefor strategic fleet plans and programmanager for electric vehicles.

Part of his job is to determine when and

where the company should replace atraditional truck with a considerably moreexpensive alternatively powered vehicle.

FedEx Express has 364 hybrid-electricvehicles, including at least three inMemphis, and 19 all-electric vehiclesstationed around the world.

Sondhi said, We have our eye onwhat type of holistic approach we can

take: How can we have a fleet today withan eye on the future? What do we havein inventory today, and looking out afairly significant window of a decade orso, how will we power the millions ofmiles we have to put on our fleet?

Sondhi said he believed the FirstMover fellowship reflected FedExsstatus as a pioneer and early adopter of

hybrid electric and electric vehicles.Im privileged to be part of a great

corporation that provides a lot ofopportunities and does a lot ofmotivational things, he said.

Nancy McGaw, director of First

Movers, said, This remarkable anddiverse group of innovators shares acommitment and ability to deliverbusiness and social value.

Sondhi became enamored withmathematical modeling after he earned amechanical engineering degree andinterned in an auto manufacturing plant.

What I do today is almost like a

dream job, he said. I love vehicles, andI get to add mathematics into it.While electrified vehicles make sense

on relatively short routes with frequentstops, a diesel-powered truck will be themost efficient vehicle for longer routeswell into the future.

We dont like to operate the sametruck on each and every route. We haveinner-city routes, New York City, that are

very different routes from say, Sheridan,Wyo m i n g , Sondhi said.

However, prices of alternative vehiclesare gradually coming down as productionvolume increases. As the cost of dieselincreases, savings add up from loweroperating costs of alternative vehicles.

We can displace a major portion of ourfleet with that if the economics really

wo rk , Sondhi said. The capital premium(on hybrids and electric) is significantlylarger, and thats why were trying to workwith a lot of manufacturers. We aremoving into that segment before anyoneelse. Were working with practically everymanufacturer of electric vehicles in theUnited States.

Wayne Risher: (901) 529-2874


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MY GREEN JOB

Dream job at Shelby Farmsaligns with life values, goals

By Susan Snapp

Special to The Commercial Appeal

Tonya Meeks found her dream job. Asdevelopment manager for Shelby Farms Parksince February, she goes to work each day at herfavorite spot in Memphis.

It is such a jewel in the middle of the city, Meeks said. I cannot even tell you how manyyears Ive wanted to work at Shelby Farms Park.

This job is where my values, professionalaspirations and goals are aligned.

I adore this town,says Tonya Meeks,d ev e l o p m e n t

manager forShelby Farms Park.I embrace itwholly and properlyas my home now.

Mark WeberThe Commercial Appeal


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Meeks is a member of the ShelbyCounty Conservation board and theGreening Greater Memphis board, andserves as adviser to the Green JobsMemphis Planning Initiative.

I try to bring a little of the balanceand equanimity the peace into my

work and other areas of life, she said.A writer who earned a degree in

English from Northwestern Universityin 1995, Meeks, a native Memphian,attended Miss Porters School (a collegepreparatory for girls) in Farmington,Conn., on a full academic scholarship.

While I grew up in South Memphis in apoor-to-working class neighborhood,

mine is no Horatio Alger story, sheexplained. I was basically loved, nurturedand supported by my community andencouraged to do my best.

Following her education atNorthwestern, Meeks moved to Atlantaand received certification at the NationalCenter for Paralegal Training. She hasworked as a senior paralegal for the

international department of Thomas &Betts Corp., traveling throughoutEurope and Asia in that capacity.

She has served as special assistant tothe congressional office of Harold E.Ford Jr., and most recently was Mayor

AC Whartons communicationsspecialist. She was also interim directorof MPACT Memphis for almost a year.

But Meeks is quick to point out thather heart is in the nonprofit world .

I had pretty much plateaued-out as aparalegal, and flaked on going to lawschool. So a career change was imminent.At the time, I was a volunteer who

delivered hot chocolate to patients andfamilies at St. Jude on Tuesday nights.Despite being very sick and sometimes inheartbreaking pain, the kids would justlight up when they saw my cart. I foundmore joy in that than any shoe-shoppingtrip to New York.

What is the most important lessonyou learned during your t r av e l s ?

Learning to say please and thank

yo u in the local language(s) will takeyou a long way.

How unusual is it for a city to have agreen space as large as Shelby Farms?

Several places like Minneapolis andLouisville have great park systems. Butat 4,500 acres, Shelby Farms Park is thelargest urban park in America. Theresno other place like it. Its size alone

allows it to serve as an asset to botheconomic and community development.Why do you think this city has so

much soul?We re not afraid to show ourselves

from the inside out; the truth and funkof all that makes us wholly who we are.We dont try to hide the flaws andimperfections .

Tonya M. Meeks

Job: Development manager, ShelbyFarms ParkFirst job: Dishwasher in the dining hallof my boarding school at a work-study

rate of $4.25 an hour.Favorite girls night out in Memphis:Olives, pasta, bread, chocolate cake andlots of red wine at Bari in Midtown.Afterward, any film starring Idris Elba.Most exciting life event: To s s - u pbetween stepping off the train for thefirst time in Paris, or meeting BarackObama when he was then a freshman

senator from Illinois.


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T R A N S P O RTAT I O N

Greenline effect

Path for

bicyclists,

runners and

walkers is

leading to

businesses

By Toby Sells

sells@commercialappeal .com

They built it. They came. Now they want stuff.Bikers, walkers, runners, strollers and the justplain curious from all over Memphis have foundtheir way to the Shelby Farms Greenline since itopened last year.

And where there are people, there are peoplelooking for goods and services. Many businesseshave already seized the market opportunity to setup shop close to the greenline.

Kyle Kurlick/Special to The Commercial Appeal

Jordan Emerson assembles bikes to get ready for the opening of his newbusiness, Greenline Rentals, a bike rental store on the Shelby Farms Greenli n e.


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Jordan Emerson is working hardto get his bike rental shop open.Greenline Rentals sits under a tent

just 50 yards from its namesakepath, close to the corner of FarmRoad and Mullins Station where

Emerson will rent street, mountainand hybrid bikes.

It suddenly dawned on me they have a boat rental out here, sowhat would it take to get a bike rentalbusiness together? Emerson said.

Basic bikes will rent for $12 fortwo hours with a two-hourminimum, or all day for $24.

The greenline has perked up salesaround the High Point ShoppingCenter. Kelly Jones, the generalmanager of Cheffies restaurant, saidthe path has d e f i n i t el y b ro u g h tmore people through the door.

We have a lot of bikers and a lotof bike racks for them, Jones said.

Pat Brown, the business managerfor Broad Avenues T. Clifton Art

gallery, said business there has seena tremendous uptick since thedistrict painted t e m p o ra r y b i kepath lanes on the street last year.

Bikers will tell us that they neverrealized that we were here until wegot bike lanes, Brown said.

Sarah Newstok, p ro g ra mmanager for Livable Memphis,

called bike paths of all kindseconomic development tools, andones that dont just work forbusinesses about bikes.

Its the people who ride theirbikes going 10 miles an hour thatcan really absorb all thatneighborhoods have to offer,Newstok said.

Federal aid worth $5.5M soughtfor greenline, bike projects

The Shelby Farms Greenline and thenetwork of bicycle lanes in Memphis couldexpand substantially if local transportationofficials get the federal funds they're seeking.

The Memphis Metropolitan PlanningOrganization is applying for $5.5 million ingrants for bike projects under the federalCongestion Mitigation and Air QualityImprovement program for fiscal 2012.

The application will be submitted to theTennessee Department of Transportation. Thefederal program supports transportationprojects that improve air quality or relievetraffic congestion, which aggravates smog.

More than half the request involves $3.3

million for the eastward extension of thegreenline, the paved trail that now extends 6.5miles along the old CSX Railroad from ShelbyFarms Park to Tillman in Binghamton. Theextension would carry the greenline from ShelbyFarms to at least the old train depot in Cordova.

The money would cover 75 percent of thecosts of the project, including purchasing theright-of-way from CSX, as well as engineeringand construction, said Tom Needham, ShelbyCounty public works director.

Needham said the eastward extension ofthe greenline is crucial to making ShelbyFarms Park accessible to Cordova residents.

"The challenge will be getting (the greenline)across Germantown Parkway, " he added.

In addition to the money for the greenline,MPO officials requested $1.4 million in CMAQfunds for 50 miles of bike lanes and facilitieson Memphis streets. The new lanes wouldconnect gaps in the 55-mile network alreadyunder development, said Kyle Wagenschutz,the city's bicycle-pedestrian coordinator.

The MPO request also seeks $814,000 forbike facilities along Tillman and Broad andacross East Parkway to Overton Park.

All the planned lanes would be a majoraddition to the city's bicycle network,Wagenschutz said.

Tom Charlier,charlier@commercialappeal .com


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E N ERGY

Green powerSharp doubles its solar generation at Memphis plant

Dave Darnell/The Commercial Appeal

Louis Smith (left) and Jeromey Miller, both of S&T Control Wiring, check solarpanels that were turned on at Sharps Memphis plant.

By Toby Sells

sells@commercialappeal .com

Sharp Manufacturing Co. ofAmerica switched on a 1,174-panelsolar array June 21 that doubled thecompanys on-campus solar-powerproduction, enough to run 53 homes.

The ground-mounted array is

lined neatly under Sharps largesign at the corner of Raines andMendenhall. But most of the newarray 910 panels is mountedon the facilitys roof.

We re basically practicing whatwe preach as far as the use ofrenewable energy, said T.C. Jones,Sharp Manufacturings vice


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president of human resources. We reproducing the electricity ourselves.

Sharp has been building its solar-power production capacity at theMemphis facility since 2006 and can nowproduce about 460 kilowatts, the carbonequivalent of taking 80 cars off the road.

That production makes Sharp thelargest generator of solar power inShelby County, according to BeckyWilliams, strategic marketingcoordinator for Memphis Light, Gas andWater Division. Sharp sells its solarpower back to the electricity gridthrough a Tennessee Valley Authority

and MLGW program called GreenPower Switch.

Currently, only 19 customers in ShelbyCounty sell energy back to the grid; fourof them are residences. Williams saidshe hopes the program grows and its agreat example of using a product maderight here in Shelby County.

Memphis and Shelby County mayors

A C Wharton and Mark Luttrell flippedthe switch that powered the array duringa public event June 21.

What were building here are notmerely solar panels or solar assembliesbut were building the economy of thef u t u re , Wharton said.

Luttrell said environmentallyconscious, or g re e n , initiatives across

Shelby County are central to thecountys growth.

Progressive communities doprogressive things and thinkp ro g re s s i vel y, Luttrell said, citing recenteconomic development examples. Whenit comes to solar energy, Sharp has beenprogressive in so many ways. You all are,indeed a partner in our community.

Google invests in home solarNEW YORK Google is investing $280

million to help private homeowners put solarpanels on their rooftops. Its Googles latest and largest investment in clean energy.

The money will allow installer SolarCity

to offer solar systems to ho

Documents

Going Green Memphis 7-10-11