v10n49 - Shades of Gray: The JFP Interview with JPS Superintendent Dr. Cedrick Gray

Mississippi Craft Show • August 25 & 26

Mississippi Trade Mart • State Fairgrounds • High Street, Jackson, MS

August 15 - 21, 2012

This show is 100% Mississippi handmade. With a mix of veteran and first time exhibitors. Madison Ark will be on site during the show managing an adoption drive with dogs and cats in need of a forever home. Many of the artists will be conducting demonstrations of their crafts in their booths during the show. We will also have door prizes.

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Saturday, August 25th, 2012 9am - 7pm

General Admission - $5 donation Children Under 12 Free

Sunday, August 26th, 2012 11am - 4pm

For more information visit www.mscraftshow.com

Benefits Madison Ark www.madisonark.org

August 15 - 21, 2012

jacksonian

VOL.

1 0 N O . 49

contents JACOB FULLER

DARNELL JACKSON

6 Funds Going Where?

Mayor Harvey Johnson’s proposed budget prioritizes water and sewers, but not raises for city employees.

TATE K. NATIONS

Cover photograph of Dr. Cedrick Gray

by Trip Burns

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THIS ISSUE:

Coffee and Chatter

place in the field of cosmetology. In November 2010, she found that niche by competing in a hair battle on stage. Epps did not make the finals in that first competition, but her determination and persistence led to a first place win in her second competition the following year.

Since 2010, Epps has participated in seven competitions, placing first at four different shows.

“It’s my God-given talent to be on stage in competition,” Epps says.

Earlier this month, she competed at the Bonner’s Brothers International Hair Show held annually in Atlanta, Ga.—the location of Chris Rock’s documentary, “Good Hair.” While Epps didn’t bring home a first, she was one of the two finalists in the Milky Way Platform Hair Competition and placed in the top five in the Bonner’s Brother’s Grab Bag Competition.

In September, Epps will be back competing on the platform at the first Mississippi Hair Battle Royal at the Transformations Center in Grenada.

Overall, though, she says she wants to focus on being an excellent businesswoman and mother to her three daughters—Ebony, 23, Elexis, 19, and Emary, 17—as well as her 12-year-old son, Eddie.

“I want to set an example for my children that they can be proud of,” Epps says.

—Darnell Jackson

27 The Hits with a Twist Close out the season with Pryor and the Tombstones at last C Spire Summer Music Series event.

COURTESY JESSE HOUSTON

These days, Sheka Epps enjoys her successes. But the businesswoman and prize-winning platform hair stylist had to overcome some life-altering obstacles to get here. A 2006 house fire left Epps and her family—she’s a mother of four—homeless. Earlier that week Epps received notice that the shop she was working in at the time was in its last week of operation.

She and her kids had no choice but to stay with friends and in motels for more a year. “I was scared,” she says. “I had hit bottom.”

To most, this would seem to be the worst week of Epps’ life. Yet, in the days between receiving notice of her workplace closing and losing her home, she met a friend of a friend who helped her open her own shop the next year.

Epps, 38, now owns and operates the barber and beauty salon Secrets of a Glamorous You located in the Jackson Enterprise Building at 931 Highway 80 W. In addition to running her salon, Epps, a Jackson native, competes in hairbattle competitions throughout Mississippi and the South. This past April, she placed first at the International Hair and Bridal Expo, hosted annually in the capital city.

Epps has been styling hair since high school; she graduated from Lanier High School in 1993. But she had to find her

32 Pizza Like No Other Parlor Market teams up with Sal & Mookie’s to create PM Pizza.

You won’t believe how good it is.

jacksonfreepress.com

sheka epps

Koinonia Coffee House is the place to catch up on who is doing what in city politics.

LEE THREADGILL

4 ............... Editor’s Note 4 ....................... Sorensen 6 ............................... Talk 10 ..................... Business 12...................... Editorial 13 .................... Opinion 13.................... Mike Day 14 ............... Cover Story 20 ................. Diversions 22 ........................... Film 24 ....................... 8 Days 25 ................ JFP Events 27 ......................... Music 28 .......... Music Listings 29 ........................ Sports 30 ................... Astrology 31 .............. Life & Style 32 .......................... Food 35 ................. Body/Soul 37 ...... Running Month 38 ..... Girl About Town

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editor’snote

R.L. Nave Reporter R.L. Nave grew up in St. Louis, graduated from Mizzou (the University of Missouri), and lived a bunch of other places before coming to Jackson. Call him at 601-362-6121 ext. 12 or email rlnave@jacksonfreepress. com. He wrote the cover story.

Trip Burns Staff photographer Trip Burns is a graduate of the University of Mississippi where he studied English and sociology. He took the cover photo and coordinated other photos for this issue.

Sara Sacks Editorial intern Sara Sacks studies English and communications at Millsaps College. She runs for the Millsaps cross-country and track and field teams. She wrote about running.

Adria Walker Editorial intern Adria Walker is a 10th grader at Murrah High School and an aspiring writer. You can find her reading novels or debating the greatest film saga ever, “Star Wars.” She wrote a music story.

Kelly Bryan Smith Kelly Bryan Smith is a busy mom, writer, brain tumor survivor and nursing student living with her son in Fondren. She enjoys cooking, swimming, reading and collecting pastel blue eggs from her backyard chickens. She wrote the Parenting column.

Timothy Quinn Dr. Timothy Quinn is a family physician practicing in Ridgeland and holds an M.D. from Meharry Medical College in Nashville. He integrates lifestyle modification and education into his medical care. He wrote a Body/Soul piece.

Jasmin S. Searcy Jasmin S. Searcy holds a bachelor’s in psychology, a master’s in clinical and community counseling from the Johns Hopkins University and is pursuing her doctorate in clinical psychology. She wrote a Body/ Soul piece.

August 15 - 21, 2012

Stephanie Bowering

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Account executive Stephanie Bowering is from Mendenhall.

She is the mommy to Jameson, the cutest 2-and-a-half-yearold-boy, and Duke, a 4-year-old boxer. She loves good food, red wine and music, and wants to travel the world.

by Donna Ladd, Editor-in-Chief

A More Intolerant Nation

T

his week, a local dentist showed up on Facebook agitated that we had dared publish a story about guns in a publichealth context. When I clicked on his name and read his public page, I felt like I had crashed a dinner party unobserved where people let loose their true feelings about anyone not like them—whether liberals, Muslims, homosexuals, or, apparently, non-“whiteys.”

The dentist calls Obama supporters “Obamunist” and “definitely evil.” A woman then answered: “I am not surprised by anything these demons do and in these last days they are becoming more bold and arrogant, toward the light. It tires our souls like in the days of Lot, when he cried out to God for all the wickedness surrounding him was exhausting him spiritually. This is Warfare!!!”

Being against voter ID laws, the dentist posited, is a way for Obamunists to get more “illegals” to vote, with disastrous effects: “think payback whitey.” His doctor friend loved the race dig: “Yep. (The dentist) is on it.”

No matter, liberals are dying off anyway.

“After all is said and done, liberals can’t win.

Secular humanists kill their children or don’t have any,” the dentist wrote, assuming of course that all “liberals” are secular. He quotes Phillip Longman who wrote a book in 2006 called “The Liberal Baby Bust” who makes the laughable argument that liberals will become extinct over time because they are having fewer babies even as children are being “disproportionately being born to people of faith.” (Note, again, that his liberals don’t believe in God.) The dentist: “That is why liberals would love for you to fill their barracks (also known as public schools) with your children. Don’t do it. Have as many children as you can train up well, and you will be doing more for the cause of truth and justice than you can possibly imagine. In the end, this battle is not one of words, ideas, guns, or power. It is one of children. Blessed are those parents whose quiver is full of them.” (Forgetting, of course, that many children defy their parents’ political beliefs, and if Longman were correct, Mississippi today would have many more young racists.)

In response, his friends posted: “Amen well said. Gays are adopting though not in numbers to support their sick cause.” Next post: “May go buy another gun this weekend.”

Then: “Me 2. And another 50000 rounds.”

Then: “Ruger LC9.” (LC9 stands for “Lightweight Compact 9 millimeter.)

The dentist declared that a “homosexual is defined by a sexual behavior” and, thus, it’s a choice they don’t have to make. “[T]he rabid gay crowd thought they were going to shut CFA down, but instead their fascist demands that Chick-fil-A’s Presidente Dan Cathy repent of his free speech actually catapulted the fast food chain into record profits. Cha-ching!”

Like many of Dan Cathy’s defenders, these folks slipped down two illogical slopes, especially when they argued that, of course, same-sex marriage (and seemingly any legal efforts to protect the rights of American gays

and lesbians) was ludicrous because the behavior is a sin. “This would basically mean the destruction of any foundation for laws against anything,” the dentist opined.

The problem with this argument—that our laws should be based on the dentist’s interpretation of the Bible—is that it is precisely opposite of the religious-freedom foundation our nation was built on. The U.S. exists, in no small part, because (often-Christian) denominations across the pond tried to use their governments to demand that people worship, believe or act in the way the church in power wanted. Our brilliant First Amendment couples the guarantee of free exercise of religion with its anti-establishment clause precisely because the founders knew that folks like the dentist or Mr. Cathy would come along and try to force everyone to believe the way they do. It takes one clause to enforce the other.

Which brings me to their second logical lapse: that, somehow, it is a violation of Dan Cathy’s “free speech” rights for other Americans to protest his attempts to convince public officials to use the government to restrict the rights of Americans they disagree with.

The First Amendment also restricts the government from taking actions to squelch free speech—it has nothing to do with one American responding to another’s exercise of free speech, which isn’t “fascist” by definition. Speech flows two directions. That is, Mr. Cathy gets to argue that the U.S. should restrict gay marriage, and others get to respond loudly (including with boycotts, which the left and right have long used). Nearly everything said in the Chick-Fil-A dustup was an exercise of “free speech”—except for dumb politicians who made noise about running Chick-Fil-A out of their cities, which crossed the line.

When I read the dentist’s page, I was already thinking about the idea of “tolerance,” which is personal and, thus, not about the First Amendment (which, remember, is about what the government can and cannot do). I’ve heard a lot of folks yell about Cathy detractors not being “tolerant” of his religious views.

We should pause and think about this carefully. Mr. Cathy is not just holding a personal and religious view; he is trying to use the government to push his views on others; we should tolerate his views; but forcing it on others requires a response. This reminds me of state officials who used the government to keep blacks from voting or interracial couples from marrying not many years ago. Would we seriously look backward and applaud how “tolerant” so many of our citizens were toward outrageous and even violent discrimination?

Of course not. We mustn’t water down what “tolerance” actually means: being accepting of others’ views as long as they do not violate another’s rights. Mr. Cathy is pushing intolerance—because he wants the government to enforce his beliefs, striking at the very core of what makes our nation great. Do we shrug and reduce that effort to just being an exercise of his free-speech rights, or do we talk back to his efforts to form an intolerant nation and tell him to mind his own business when it comes to the rights of his fellow Americans?

Put another way, I wholeheartedly defend Mr. Cathy’s, or the dentist or the doctor’s, right to speak out against gays, Muslims and liberals, but that sure doesn’t mean I will stay quiet when they try to turn the government into their personal belief police. Voltaire said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Just don’t trample other people’s rights in the process.

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news, culture & irreverence

Thursday, Aug. 9 Jackson Police search for a man who robbed the BancorpSouth on N. State St. wearing a surgical cap around 10 a.m. ...

The Justice Department releases a 450word statement, which says it will not charge Goldman Sachs with any crimes for its involvement in the financial crisis.

Friday, Aug. 10 Former Ridgeland High School track star Bianca Knight helps the U.S. women’s team break the world record in the 4x100-meter relay to win a gold medal in London. ... U.S. and Spanish men’s basketball teams win their semi-final games, setting up a rematch of the 2008 Olympic finals in Beijing.

Saturday, Aug. 11 Former Led Zeppelin front man Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters headline the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival in Clarksdale. ... Presumptive Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney appoints Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as his vice-presidential running mate.

Sunday, Aug. 12 The Mississippi Braves score 11 runs in three innings to top the Birmingham Barons 11-4. ... Officials in northwestern Iran turn attention away from the search for survivors and to the approximately 16,000 people left homeless after a pair of earthquakes destroyed 20 villages Saturday.

August 15 - 21, 2012

Monday, Aug. 13 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention release figures that show Mississippi is still No.1 in the nation in obesity rates. ... A Vatican judge orders Pope Benedict XVI’s butler Paolo Gabriele and Vatican employee Claudio Sciarpelletti to stand trial for grand theft.

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Tuesday, Aug. 14 Moody’s Investors Service, a major credit rating agency, announces it has downgraded Mississippi Power Co.’s rating. ... Reports come out that the Middle States Commission on Higher Education warned Penn State last week that the school’s accreditation is in jeopardy because of the Jerry Sandusky sex scandal.

Get news updates at jfpdaily.com.

More Water, Sewer, But No Raises

by Jacob D. Fuller

M

ajor increases in water and sewer spending and no raises for city employees were on the docket when Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. unveiled his budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year at City Hall Aug. 8.

The mayor proposed an operating budget of $277.3 million for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. That’s $10.3 million more than the current year’s budget, or a 3.9 percent increase.

The total proposed budget, which includes the operating budget, capital budget and residual funds, is $352.5 million, an 11.1-percent increase from the current year.

The biggest increase is in the capital budget, which Johnson proposed to increase by 49.4 percent, to $75.1 million from this year’s $50.2 million. The majority of that money, he said, will go towards improvements in the city’s water and sewer systems.

Jackson City Council President Tony Yarber told the Jackson Free Press Aug. 10 that he was happy to see more money going to a maintenance plan for water and sewage.

He said that is something he has been talking to the mayor about since he joined the City Council in 2009.

Yarber said the mayor even made a joke nodding to the Ward 6 Councilman’s involvement after announcing the plan at City Hall. “I was more than excited,� Yarber said.

The mayor also announced what the

JACOB FULLER

Wednesday, Aug. 8 Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. unveils his 2012-2013 fiscal year budget plan at City Hall. ... National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials announce July was the hottest month in U.S. history.

On average, a high school graduate in Mississippi earns $6,316 more each year than a high school dropout does.

Roughly 16,100 students in Mississippi did not graduate from high school in 2011; the lost lifetime earnings for that class of dropouts alone total $1.6 billion, according to the Alliance for Excellent Education.

Primus Wheeler has big plans for Jackson’s Medical Corridor. p8

Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. announced a major increase in water and sewage maintenance as part of his budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year.

budget won’t include: raises for city employees. Although the city was able to budget raises last year, even while other cities across the South and cities similar in size to Jackson were unable to provide them, Yarber said the money just isn’t there to offer raises next year.

Ward 1 Councilman Quentin Whitwell told the JFP he would like to see changes to the city’s payroll in the opposite direction. “I feel like the payroll is the most bloated part of the budget,� Whitwell said. “We know the mantra: (Johnson) wants to say he didn’t fire anybody, and he didn’t raise taxes.� The council will only have so much input, Whit-

well said, but he would like to see the mayor cut payroll expenditures where he can. That’s something Whitwell said he will enjoy looking into.

Yarber would like to see the city’s spending streamlined. He said the city needs to look at employees and contractors and make sure it is getting the best bang for its buck.

The mayor allocated $1.163 million to street resurfacing next year. On top of that, though, Johnson said he would like the city to request a $10 million bond issue to apply to BUDGET, see page 7

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Old Capitol Green Panhandling fines About every other Jackson Street Singing your own music Sexual assault City Election Commission Staying outside more than 5 minutes Faith in the prison system Rain everywhere else Chick-Fil-A Microwave dinners Taco Bell Paywall news Capital City Classic

talk

news, culture & irreverence

BUDGET, from page 6

A

Federal Bureau of Investigations poration of America owns. Prison and improbe into the cause of a May riot migrant-rights advocates doubted claims at a privately run prison in Nat- of gang involvement from the beginning, chez refutes reports that a gang saying that reports of abuse from inmates fight sparked the melee. were common.

Casey Markovitz, The FBI’s affidavit an agent with the FBI’s bolsters those claims.

Jackson field office, subThe report states that mitted an affidavit that leaders of the Paisas is part of a federal govwanted to submit a list ernment criminal comof grievances to Warden plaint against an inmate Vance Laughlin and inwho participated in a structed its members to riot in which correctiondisobey the staff. al officer Catlin CarithAlthough Paisas ers was beaten and killed A federal probe into a Natchez have a leadership strucand several other staff prison riot discovered inmates ture and represent the members and inmates were unhappy with conditions majority of inmates in were also injured. the prison, the group is Markovitz’s affidavit states that not gang-affiliated. Paisas had recently seMexican inmates at the Adams County lected new leaders to better communicate Correctional Center, which houses im- complaints to prison officials, according migrants who re-entered the U.S. after be- to the affidavit. ing deported, were upset about what they “The Paisas were further instructed believed was disrespectful treatment, inad- by their new leaders to destroy the prison equate health care and poor-quality food. if staff made any attempts to break up the Early reports, most notably from riot. … In addition to destroying the prisAdams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield, on, Paisas planned to assault the correction indicated that a fight between Mexican officers,” the affidavit states. gangs started the melee at the prison, Comment at www.jfp.ms. Email R.L. which Nashville-based Corrections Cor- Nave at rlnave@jacksonfreepress.com.

jacksonfreepress.com

to see more money go into the city’s Parks and Recreation Department than what the mayor proposed. Yarber wants to see funding for three main aspects of the department.

First, he wants to see more aesthetically pleasing parks. He said that requires more than just lawn care; it requires implementing things like artwork and artistic landscaping to the parks. Second, Yarber wants to see the city retrofit parks with modern equipment, specifically equipment that focuses on health and wellness, such as exercise equipment.

Lastly, Yarber wants to see the Parks and Recreation Department team up with Jackson Public Schools to implement better afterschool programs for the city’s youth. The city needs to massage its relationship with JPS, he said, and after school programs in parks could do just that.

Whitwell also wants to see more money go toward parks.

“I think (Yarber) and I are on the same page on that one,” Whitwell said.

Chris Mims, the city’s director of communications, said the city expects to bring in $1.1 million in sales tax above what it projected for the current fiscal year.

At his budget announcement, Johnson indicated that the increased revenue, as well as a 1.8 percent population growth since 2010, will help fund the city’s budget increases.

Comment at www.jfp.ms. Email Jacob Fuller at jacob@jacksonfreepress.com.

COURTESY ADAMS COUNTY CORRECTION CENTER

resurfacing. He believes the city can pay for it with the portion of property taxes that already go to street repair.

“I believe we can pay for it over time with our dedicated street resurfacing millage,” Johnson said at his budget announcement.

“We could pave many more streets, and these bond funds could leverage millions of more federal and state grant projects for roads and bridges. Although not an ideal means of funding street resurfacing, our streets are in such bad condition that a significant amount of money is needed now to address the problem, and a bond issue would provide that level of funding.”

Yarber is conflicted over the bond proposal. While many streets in the city need repaving, the city needs to deal with the water and sewage issues below the streets first, he said. The street problem isn’t just 10 or even 15 years old, he indicated. It is a long-term problem, and it needs longterm solutions.

Whitwell said he was surprised to hear Johnson say he was looking into a bond issue for street repaving. The Ward 1 Councilman hadn’t made a decision about it, yet, though.

“I thought he said after last term that he didn’t believe in bonding streets,” Whitwell said. “I’m going to have to hear more details before I say if it’s a good idea.”

Both Whitwell and Yarber said they want

FBI: ANGRY INMATES SPARKED PRISON RIOT by R.L. Nave

7 JCV7210-14 Event Week August 13 JFPress 9.5x6.167.indd 1

8/13/12 5:14 PM

developmenttalk

by Jacob D. Fuller

Health-Care Corridor Plan Coming JACOB D. FULLER

T

he Jackson Medical Mall and its partners are almost ready to present a completed strategic plan for the Jackson Health-Care Corridor to the public.

Jackson Medical Mall Executive Director Primus Wheeler told audience members at a Jackson 2000 luncheon Aug. 8 that the plan, developed by Jackson-based AJA Management, puts Jackson ahead of Flowood in the move to build a health-care corridor that could span from the Jackson-Evers International Airport to the Jackson Municipal Airport at Hawkins Field.

AJA set out to research three main points for the study, Wheeler told the Jackson Free Press. The first was to define the boundaries of the health-care corridor. The original plan ran along Woodrow Wilson Avenue, from Interstate 55 in the east to Interstate 220 in the west.

Last spring, the state Legislature passed the Mississippi Health Care Industry Zone Act, giving the Mississippi Development Authority the ability to dedicate “healthcare zones.” Inside those zones, certain businesses, including clinics, medical-supply manufacturers and retailers and telecommunication companies, will be eligible for tax breaks and incentives.

Wheeler said Gov. Phil Bryant asked why the corridor should only be located between the interstates. Instead, the governor proposed that the corridor stretch from Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport to the Jackson Municipal Airport at Hawkins Field. That area would include a long stretch through Flowood.

The Jackson Medical Mall, along with its partners at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, have not studied the possibilities of extending the corridor to Flowood, only the area between Interstates 55 and 220.

While other groups will likely begin working on a plan for the corridor in Flowood, Wheeler and his colleagues are focusing on the area around what will be the corridor’s centerpiece: UMMC.

Primus Wheeler, executive director of the Jackson Medical Mall, and his partners will present a strategic plan for the health-care corridor Sept. 19 at the Medical Mall.

Secondly, AJA set out to see what assets and businesses in the area need to be enhanced and improved for the corridor. Duane O’Neill, Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership president and CEO, said the entire area needs to be a visually pleasing and pleasant place to visit for the corridor to reach its goal of becoming a destination for people from across the southeastern United States in need of health care.

“Aesthetics is a top priority,” O’Neill told the JFP Aug. 13.

Lastly, the plan is supposed to describe the surrounding infrastructure and what improvements the city should make for the health-care corridor to become a reality.

Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. assigned Sean Perkins, his chief of staff, to the strategic-planning committee for the corridor. Wheeler said the city cannot commit to any overall infrastructure plans, but has agreed to help when it can on a project-by-project basis.

Wheeler said the increased size of the corridor, and expanding it beyond Jackson, made it more important for the steering committee to get a strategic plan in place. That plan will help bring prospective companies to Jackson,

instead of going to Rankin county, which has shown an ability to draw businesses, including retail and manufacturing, away from Jackson in recent years.

UMMC’s influence and public funding, along with the two-year head start in planning that its leaders and the Jackson Medical Mall have on anyone making plans for a corridor in Flowood give Jackson a major advantage in any competition that may arise between the cities.

The committee—made up of representatives of the Jackson Medical Mall, University of Mississippi Medical Center, local neighborhood associations and several other Jackson organizations—will present its plan at a meeting of community partners at the Jackson Medical Mall Sept. 19 at 3:30 p.m. Lindsay Buford, the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership vice president of health-care initiatives, told the JFP that the committee will give updates on its plan and its funding efforts, say which organizations need to be involved and lay out the next steps toward completing the corridor.

The meeting will last about one hour, she said, and is open to anyone with a vested interest in the corridor.

Inside the MDA-dedicated health-care zone, businesses will be eligible for an accelerated state income-tax depreciation deduction, which will allow them to recover the cost of the depreciated value of property such as buildings, machinery, vehicles and other equipment, as well as intangible property such as copyrights and computer software.

The accelerated rate will allow a deduction equivalent to a 10-year depreciation instead of the regular one-year rate.

The health-care zone companies can also apply for certain sales-tax exemptions and a local property-tax exemption, which excludes taxes used for public school-district purposes and taxes on vehicles used on state highways.

A qualified private company with a minimum capital investment of $100 million can qualify to pay a fee of no less than one-third of its property-tax levy in lieu of paying those ad valorem taxes. The funds will be divided between the municipality, county and school district.

Businesses will receive any awarded tax incentives for a period not to exceed 10 years.

To qualify, eligible businesses must create a minimum of 25 full-time jobs. If they fail to do so, they can lose their tax exemptions after a period of five years.

Once MDA creates a health-care zone, county boards of supervisors or municipality governments can grant the tax exemptions.

Comment at www.jfp.ms. Email Jacob D. Fuller at jacob@jacksonfreepress.com.

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August 15 -21, 2012

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by R.L. Nave

The ‘Dirty’ South worked commercially in the United States before, is at the core of the beleaguered project’s ongoing financial woes.

Though abundant, soft lignite has very low energy value and burns dirtiest of other

The NRDC report bore some positive trends, however. Nationally, in 2010, total air pollutants decreased by 19 percent from the previous year. Mercury emissions also dropped 4 percent from 2009 due in part to a utilities’ backing away from using coal and moving toward cleaner-burning natural gas as well as tighter EPA-imposed standards.

Under further planned restrictions, the NRDC estimates mercury levels will plummet another 70 percent from 34 tons to 7 tons by 2015. Sulfur dioxide will be reduced from 5.1 million to 1.9 million tons.

As a result, the numbers of premature deaths, asthma attacks, hospital visits, heart Mississippi’s power plants make it one of the nation’s dirtiest attacks, bronchitis cases— states for air pollution. and health-care costs—would plummet, the NRDC said.

Mississippi is home to coals. At the heart of arguments against Kem- four commercial coal-fired plants. Southper is that the potential health risks of a lignite ern’s Victor J. Daniel Jr. Electric Generatcoal plant far outweigh the benefits. ing Plant in Jackson County and Jack WatEnvironmentalists got more ammunition son Electric Generating Plant in Harrison recently in the form of a report that concluded County have a combined generating capacthat Mississippi has some of the nation’s dirti- ity of 1,750 megawatts. est air because of our power plants. In the NaGDF SUEZ, the U.S. subsidiary of a tional Defense Resource Council’s study of global energy firm headquartered in France, the 2010 air-pollution releases from coal fired operates the 514-megawatt Reds Hills Genelectricity plants, Mississippi ranked 17th out eration Facility in Choctaw County. of the bottom 20 most-polluted states.

The cooperative-owned South MissisKentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania sippi Electric Power Association runs the 400topped the NRDC’s “Toxic 20� list, half of megawatt R.D. Morrow Sr. Generating Plant which is made up of southern states. in Lamar County.

Last year, the second year for the study, Mississippi Gasification still has plans for Mississippi did not make the list, but from a $2 billion syngas plant in Moss Point; the 2009 to 2010, the state’s industrial toxins dou- U.S. Department of Energy is considering the bled to 4 million pounds. company’s environmental impact assessment.

The report concludes that coal- and oil- Earlier this year, Denver-based Rentech Inc. fired power plants contribute 44 percent of all shelved a coal-to-gas project in Natchez. air pollutants reported to the Environmental Comment at www.jfp.ms. Contact R.L. Protection Agency’s Toxics Release Inventory Nave at rlnave@jacksonfreepress.com.

COURTESY NATIONAL ENERGY RESEARCH SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING CENTER

A

nother wrinkle for Mississippi Power Co.’s Kemper County power plant came last week as the company announced it had terminated a contract with a joint venture of KBR and W.G. Yates & Sons Construction, which was working on part of the $2.8 billion project.

MPC’s original estimate for the cost of the plant was $2.4 billion, but it convinced state utility regulators to increase the spending limit to $2.88 billion. The project is now more than more than $400 million over its budget and $800 million more than planned.

Kenny Bush, a spokesman for Philadelphia, Miss.-based Yates, took issue with an Associated Press article that also ran on the Jackson Free Press’ website. The story stated Mississippi Power had fired Yates, but Bush said the article implied Yates was the cause for the overruns, which he denies. “The owners are not really switching contractors so much as they’re realigning work,�

Bush told the Jackson Free Press, referring to Mississippi Power and its parent, Atlantabased Southern Co. Bush said Yates still holds three work contracts at the facility, under construction since 2010 and stressed that his company, which has performed $32 million in work on the plant, is not responsible for Mississippi Power’s cost overruns. Performance Contractors Inc., headquartered in Baton Rogue, La., will be the new construction company on the project while Houston-based KBR will continue to provide support for engineering and startup. “It doesn’t make any sense,� said Mississippi Sierra Club Executive Director Louie Miller about removing KBR, which, along with Southern Co., co-owns technology that will convert lignite coal into gas at Kemper.

The Sierra Club is in the thick of a legal dispute with Mississippi Power that the environmental organization hopes will upend the entire project. Miller believes burning low-quality lignite coal an integrated gasification combined cycle generator, which hasn’t

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Revealing Heaven On Earth 8:30 a.m.

A Service of Word and Table 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School for all ages 11:00 a.m.

Worship Service Live Streaming at www.gallowayumc.org Televised on WAPT Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church Ages 4-Kindegarten Nursery Available Ages 6 weeks-3 years

305 North Congress Street Jackson, MS 601-353-9691 English 601-362-3464 Spanish www.gallowayumc.org

jacksonfreepress.com

energytalk

9

businesstalk

by Piko Ewoodzie

TATE K. NATIONS

Fellowship, Koinonia Style

Koinonia owner Lee Harper says the Friday Forums at her west Jackson coffeehouse came about organically based on conversations and connections.

O

n the day Lee Harper graduated from Mississippi Valley State University in 1978, the U.S. Department of the Treasury offered her a job. It was a good paying job—”Nobody made that kind of money back then,” she says.

But she turned them down, and instead, began a career with nonprofit organizations.

Two things influenced her decision. One was her upbringing. “Growing up,” Harper recalls, “we had a real sense of community. If one suffered in a community, all suffered and if one achieved, all achieved.”

The other was her faith. “In order for the gospel to be real,” she explains, “it’s got to be real in a place like Mississippi. If you could prove that gospel, you’ve got to prove it in Mississippi.”

Three decades into her nonprofit career, she realized that nonprofit organizations weren’t really making long-lasting social changes because, for the most part, there was little to no economic capital in the impoverished communities. “(Realizing that) was like a light bulb went off,” she says.

So, tapping into the business side of her mind (her undergraduate degree is in office and business administration), Harper, her husband, Larry, and Alexis Spencer-Byers, her former business partner, decided to open

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Koinonia Coffee House in west Jackson. They opened the doors June 6, 2008.

The word “koinonia” has Greek origins, and, in the Christian faith, it means to commune by intimate participation. It appears in the New Testament numerous times (often translated to mean fellowship, sharing, participation or contribution) to signify the joining of Jesus to the community of believers.

Etymologists argue that, out of a strictly religious context, the word also carries with it an inner goodness and an outer goodness: an inner goodness for deep intimate sharing, as in a koinonia between a married couple or a group of childhood friends; and an outer goodness for actions toward a virtuous outcome, a higher purpose for the good of those involved.

Step into Koinonia Coffee House on Friday mornings, and you will see just that. It started with Jackson businessman and former dean of Jackson State University’s School of Business, Dr. Bill Cooley. After his first few visits to the place to buy a sandwich or a coffee, he started to bring along two or three other people to have breakfast each Friday morning.

“They would have these great conversations,” Harper remembers fondly, “and I would be trying to pretend that I was working, wiping down a table or something, so I could hear the conversation. A lot of the times I wanted to get in on the conversation but I was like, ‘No, I can’t get in on the conversation because I’m working here.’”

Week after week, the number of attendants increased. The gathering was great for business, but, more importantly, it served an important goal that Harper had outlined in her original business plan: to hold a forum that would “bring in community leaders to hear and speak to the concerns, ideals and questions of community members.”

The Friday Forums grew organically out of out of those conversations. Two years ago, the Jackson Chamber of Commerce took on sponsoring the events but has recently pulled its support due to Jonathan Lee, the facilitator, running for mayor. Today, the format is a formal talk that usually lasts 20 minutes, and

then Lee opens the floor for questions and comments. What happens later is what makes the forum fit the name that the coffeehouse bears. Immediately after the presentation and discussion, the people in attendance naturally break up into little clusters. Some continue the conversation on the topic of the day, others exchange business cards and pull out their smart phones to set appointments.

In the semi-private rooms in the back corners of the coffee house, impromptu meetings start. Collaborations begin. And in these fleeting instances, amidst the laughter, the hugs and the camaraderie, one can see, if the scene is observed close enough, the intense and intimate communing, the inner goodness of the koinonia spirit.

These intimate connections have been the starting points for various other things— the outer goodness of the koinonia spirit. The Penguin, The West Jackson Alliance and The Sleep Inn Hotel were all, loosely speaking, enterprises that were conceived, planned or promoted by people who are regulars at Koinonia and the Friday Forums and were helped along by the connections forged there.

Opening and keeping the coffee shop has been a tremendous undertaking. Because her business is located on the west side of Gallatin Street, Harper doesn’t get the kind of traffic that a business of its caliber—with a great product, impeccable service and beautiful décor—deserves.

In December, Jackson native Nate Coleman partnered with Harper to bring in a new line of breakfast and lunch items to the menu.

That helped, and the forum is bringing in people, but often those things are not enough.

Harper has considered closing down a couple of times, but hasn’t because, as she says, she has a “double bottom line.” If she just depended on her monetary bottom line, it would have closed a long time ago. The koinonia at the Friday Forum is the other bottom line, and it is what keeps the place open.

Koinonia Coffee House (136 Adams St., Suite C, 601-960-3008) is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Jackson Free Press and the Center for Violence Prevention thanks all sponsors, auction donors, food vendors, local media, volunteers and other friends who helped the 8th Annual JFP Chick Ball raise about $12,000 to fund a new rape crisis center!

Did we miss anyone?

Email us at chickball@jacksonfreepress.com or post at jfpchickball.com

jacksonfreepress.com

Erica Crunkilton, Jane at Hal and Mals, Monique Davis, Liz Hayes, Hal and Mals, TJ Harvey, Broadmeadow United Methodist Church, Lumpkins BBQ, Darnell Jackson, Pam Johnson, Darryl at Hal and Mals, Liz Lancaster, Stephanie Bowering, Brent McCaleb, Lisa Rodenis, Ariss King, Jacob Fuller, Antario Moore, Darius Williams, Matt Heindl, Lea Gunter, Victoria Sherwood, Christianne Jackson, Shawanda Jacome, Elise Turner, Angel Rodenis, Demetrice Sherman, Kristen Thigpen, Briana Robinson, Sara Sacks, Karen Jones, Jessica Gordon, Whitney Menogan, R.L. Nave, LaTonya Miller, Kimberly Griffin, Sweyn, Cindy, Sandy, everyone from the Center of Violence Prevention!, Ronni Mott, Andrea Thomas, Todd Stauffer, Donna Ladd, Kimberly Griffin, Kristin Breneman, Allie Jordan, Chris Smith, Eric Bennett, Victoria Jacobs, Laurie Bertram Roberts, Aaron Cooper, Fratesi’s Country Fisherman, Hickory Pit, Beagle Bagel, Pizza Shack, Aladdin, Congress Street Grill, Jaco Tacos, Anjou, Fatsumo, Sugar Magnolia Bakery, Penquin , Nola Gibson, Caroline Debeukelar, Friends and Company, Palm Beach Tan, Fondren Nails, Royce Boler, Genevieve Legacy, Glo, Tracie Wade, Glamour Salon, Fat Cat Ceramics - Pepper, Nola Gibson, Katie Katzenmeyer, Kismar Computer Services, Lingofest Language Center, Susanne and Brian Atkins - Firehouse Subs, Koinonia, Red Square , Elaine Peterson - Feathermore, Pepper Lyn’s Gifts and More, Massage Envy, William Winter Institute, Jacob Fuller, Village Beads, Shoe Bar, Royal Bleau Boutique, Circa, Brent’s Drugs, Fondren Guitars, Janice Cameron, Sneaky Beans, Yogn Frut, Two Sisters, Pink Bombshell, Kira Cummings, Kasey McKay - Bug and Bell, Victoria Walker-Social Agenda, Kim Dismuke - Social Agenda, Lauren Burns-Social Agenda, Howard Jones, Tony Parkinson, Mitchell Davis, Phylliis - On Location TV, Theresa Hebler, Latasha Willis, Pure Barre, Paul Buford, Deveon Sudduth/Deveon Sudduth Photography, Savannah Perry- Quirky Finch, Mi Cherie Treasures, Marika Cackett, Dana and Jonathan Larkin - IMC Inc., Roz Roy - Heavenly Designs by Roz, Joanna Puddister - Good Samaritan Center, Jeff Monk, Wanda Monk, Adrin Gordon - Gordon’s Urban Wear, P.R. Henson - PHenson Studio, Emma Wynters - MS Madness Music Management, William Wallace Salon, Katie Farrar, Mangia Bene, Joe T’s Wine and Spirits, Ashton Corley - Libby Story, Adelia Bush, Kate McNeely - Social Agenda, Fondren Cellars, Chane - Swell O Phonic, Karen - Fair Trade Green, Trish - Custom Optical, Demond Hunt - Southern Styles LLC, Michele Campbell, The Hair Boutique Salon, Butterfly Yoga - Scotta Brady, Laurilyn Fortner, Noel Didla, David Murray - Flowood Flea Market, Josh Hailey Studio, Shannon Valentine, Lisette’s Photography & Gallery, Pam Johnson, Nagrom Accessories - Jeanette McGrew, The Jackson Zoo, Nandy’s Candy, Another Broken Egg, Arco Avenue, Attitude Not Included Boutique, S.Mack Tee’s and Buttferfly Faces Artistry, Hemline Ridgeland, Material Girls, Laura Tedder, Artful Hours Painting Lounge, Cakes by Iris, Photography by Christina, Kincades Fine Clothing, Tranquility, 4 Paws Grooming Salon, James Anderson of Scarvin’ Artist, Silly Billy’s, William Jerry Stroud, Kristen McCoy, Sara J. Mathis and Roxanne Rodgers of Luxe Salon, B-Shop, Thimblepress - Kristen Ley, Capital City Beverages, Chaucey Wade, Gaylen Regan, Magnolia Roller Vixens, Sledge’s Wrecker Services, Jackson Posture Center, Grabuone Outfitters, Briarwood Wine, Mississippi Museum of Art, The Bulldog, Laurie Bertram Roberts - Maikuru Doula Services, Corkscrew Wine, Trip Burns, Salsa MS, Tambra Cherie, Emma Wynters, Opposite Day, Pam Confer and Jazz Beautiful, John Malone, Inmotion Consulting and Coaching - Deirdre Danahar, Johnathan & Davetta Lee, Natalie Maynor, Natalie Long, Dorothy Triplett, Larue Owen, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Kimberly Hilliard, Diana Jackson, Planned Parenthood, Dorsey Carson, Mid-South Graduate Chapter of Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship - Yolanda Walker, Adelia Bush, Russell and Nancy Morrison, Noel Didla, Karla and Nathan Elmore, June Hardwick, The Second Floor, Wade Overstreet, James Anderson, Rosemary Maxey, John McGowan, Melody Moody and Valley Gorden, Laurel Isbister and Lazy Jane, Time to Move, Absolute Fitness - Terry Cooper, Mitchell Early - BRAVO!, Jesse Houston - Parlor Market, Israel Martinez - Lingofest, Terry & Meredith Sullivan - liveRIGHTnow, Nick Wallace - King Edward Hotel, Sujan Ghimire - Salsa Mississippi, Dee Denton, Sara Criss, Andrea White, Capital City Beverages, Beverly & Gregory Smith, Jackie Tatum, Ava Davis and Mohammad Albataineh - Petra Cafe

11

jfp op/ed

opining, grousing & pontificating

EDITORIAL

Believe In All Our Kids

O

ver the last week, we heard from two people upset that editorial cartoonist Mike Day wrote “Tigers” on the cap of a teen in last week’s cartoon.

Why? Because the kid was wearing saggy pants, and they didn’t think that sent the right image about the Jackson State University Tigers.

Of course, Mike wasn’t referring to JSU; many teams and schools—from Detroit baseball to University of Memphis to Jim Hill High School—use Tigers as their mascot. And as Mike told us in an email: “If I had meant JSU, I would have put JSU on the cap.” No doubt; Mike is a professional and, thus, precise.

We regret if anyone took the cartoon as a slight to Jackson State; it wasn’t referring to a JSU student, but a young teen (note his height) being yelled at by Hinds County Supervisor Kenneth Stokes over, well, showing his ass.

The point of the cartoon was that it’s Stokes and others who are showing their who-know-whats over an offense that most young people (and many older) commit from time to time: unfortunate fashion choices. To Stokes and too many other adults, though, saggy pants seem to symbolize everything that’s wrong with young people (where have we heard that before?). Kids wearing them look like “thugs,” they’ll tell us, and what if they hide a weapon in a floppy pocket? So, what if they go to a prep school and hide a gun or knife in their backpack?

The point is that bashing kids over fashion is missing the point—and trying to get the government to enforce clothing bans is a waste of resources and a violation of those children’s rights. Not to mention, many smart young people indulge in fashion older folks don’t like from time to time and then go on to be very successful in life, while never getting in trouble along the way.

Perhaps this is why it didn’t occur to us that anyone would take the nondescript “Tigers” cap as an insult; to us, the saggy pants themselves are not cause to stereotype and insult a kid—or a university. That was the whole point of the cartoon and the editorial next to it. The perception itself stinks.

What we’d rather hear is Mr. Stokes and other adults speaking out against horrendous treatment of young people, especially children of color, such as the U.S. Justice Department has discovered in Meridian. (See our story at jfp.ms.)

Kids are being jailed under zero-tolerance practices for offenses no worse than many of us committed in school: like saying something disrespectful or even getting into a fight on the playground. The cradle-to-prison pipeline is very real, and is built upon false perceptions about certain kids, what they wear, where they live and the color of their skin.

This pre-criminalization of young people before they do something wrong is not acceptable and is setting many kids back before they ever get a chance to prove themselves. We call on every adult to get as outraged over these harmful stereotypes as they do when they see a teenager wearing a pair of saggy pants.

Oh, and go JSU Tigers! We’re on your team.

KEN STIGGERS

Don’t Take It Personal

M

August 15 -21, 2012

iss Doodle Mae: “The Jojo’s Discount Dollar Store staff felt kind of blue over the past two weeks. So, Jojo scheduled a brief emergency team-building meeting to help revive his staff’s spirit. Little Sister Lady, the new part-time cashier, expressed her concern about the first African American gymnast to win a gold medal in the Olympics.”

Little Sister Lady: “I’m singing the blues because a television network implied that Gabby Douglas is a monkey, and black folk complain about her hair being ugly. Black folks have been compared to monkeys one time too many. And it seems like this monkey business has spread worldwide. I apologize for my rant, Jojo. If Forrest Gump doesn’t like to be called stupid, then I refuse to being called ugly and a monkey. I don’t know how the rest of the staff feels about these issues; but I’m sensitive and have to be. Also, I’m very proud of Gabby and her great achievement in the summer Olympics.”

Miss Doodle Mae: “Jojo chimed in with his straight-to-the-point view.”

Jojo: “Despite what other people do or say, I encourage you all to be strong and confident—like Gabby Douglas—during these trying times.

Also, read, study and understand why the ‘blues’ are so at home in America: It’s because mean spirited and self-hating folks created the atmosphere.”

Miss Doodle Mae: “Then, the staff members smiled and calmly left the meeting to prepare for the ‘Don’t Take It Personal Blues Sale’ at Jojo’s 12 Discount Dollar Store.”

KAMIKAZE

Be Smarter, Jackson

T

he political gamesmanship has begun.

It’s nearly seven months until our next municipal elections and, already, folks are jockeying for position. You can always tell when that special time is upon us.

People begin choosing sides. New Facebook pages pop up. Church congregations get just a tad thicker.

Even more telling are the incumbents who suddenly begin reminding you of their achievements while paying great attention to projects that have sat idle for three-anda-half years. You’ll see them at COPS meetings, neighborhood forums and wherever else they can name up until the spring.

But that’s par for the course, right? Voters have gotten used to the song and dance—it’s an intoxicating number that all but hypnotizes a lot of folks into apathy. That complacency causes them not to get involved in the political process. Worse yet, it causes some folks not to vote at all. The premise is a familiar one.

“My vote won’t count” or “Why vote? Nothing changes anyway.”

Fact is, if we aren’t careful, in 2013 we’ll give those folks more reason to sit at home.

Starting now, please make sure you vet all your candidates. I’d dare say that August isn’t quite the time to set firm allegiances. Instead, ask questions, attend forums or other events and talk to your neighbors. Most importantly, if they’re sitting officials, check their records.

Ask yourself, “Has the incumbent made any noticeable accomplishments?” If they’re chal-

lengers, check their platforms. Then ask yourself, “Does the challenger have a better plan?” I’m not talking about idealistic plans that everyone knows aren’t doable, but tangible goals. Don’t be pimped or pandered to. Beware of candidates who play on race, sensationalize crime or tell you exactly what you want to hear to get your vote.

Remember: We’ve learned from past administrations that putting time frames on promises can backfire. Crime can’t be squashed in 30 days. You can’t just declare that you’re going to raise city-worker pay. And you can’t tout successes and ignore the failures.

This time, Jackson, be smarter. The direction our city takes depends largely on the 2013 city elections—not entirely, but largely.

We can either go forward or backward. The choices will be yours, and those choices are much too important for us to vote on someone because they are popular, comfortable, safe, old (or young), black or white. They’re much too important for you to overlook someone because they have “white support” or a “short resume.”

Ultimately, what I’m asking is that you take these mayoral and city council elections seriously—because they are. Take your time.

Please. Who we put in office does indeed matter. Voting matters.

Remember: Bad politicians are elected when good people don’t go to the polls.

And that’s the truth ... sho-nuff.

Email letters to letters@jacksonfreepress.com, fax to 601-510-9019 or mail to P.O. Box 5067, Jackson, MS 39296. Include daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

Or write a 300-600-word “Your Turn” and send it by email, fax or mail above with a daytime phone number. All submissions are subject to fact checks.

JOE ATKINS

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O

XFORDâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;We were sitting around a picnic table at Stanleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Campgrounds outside of Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., drinking beer and George Dickel, playing poker and telling tales when Richard walked over from a neighboring trailer.

It was decades ago, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never forget that night. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m glad I wrote the details down in a journal.

He was dressed well, although his shirttail hung out. A Lucky Strike dangled from his lips, and an unruly lock of hair nearly covered his right eye. He asked me about my guitar, even then a fairly beat-up Yamaha acoustic, which was leaning against a tree. We took turns playing a couple tunes, but then I stepped back and let him take over.

Music filled that summer night for the next couple of hours. I think Richard knew every song Jimmie Rogers and Hank Williams ever sang. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not going to believe this, but when he got to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m So Lonesome I Could Cryâ&#x20AC;? and the part about the whippoorwill that â&#x20AC;&#x153;sounds too blue to flyâ&#x20AC;? I swear I heard a whippoorwill cry out from the woods surrounding us.

Richard was 32, from Danville, Va., and on the run from the law for writing bad checks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hell, I just want to be free like everybody else,â&#x20AC;? he told us. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Up there youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not. Here you are.â&#x20AC;?

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been thinking about Richard ever since I read Charlie Louvinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new autobiography â&#x20AC;&#x153;Satan Is Real: The Ballad of the Louvin Brothersâ&#x20AC;? (Itbooks/HarperCollins, 2012, $22.99).

Completed two months before the Grand Ole Opry legend died, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a book that takes you to the dark side, to the same world of those Louvin Brothers songs of the 1950s, songs of jealousy and murder, star-crossed lovers, loneliness and regret.

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an example, a few lyrics from their classic, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Knoxville Girl.â&#x20AC;? As an unfaithful young woman begs for mercy from her jealous lover: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I only beat her more.

Until the ground around me, Within her blood did flow.â&#x20AC;?

Heavy stuff! So are the tales Charlie Louvin weaves, particularly about his alcoholic older brother Ira, the duoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mandolin player who ironically died in 1965 as the result of an automobile collision with a drunken driver. At one point, Ira was drinking â&#x20AC;&#x153;a fifth of whiskey a day, with beer on top of it,â&#x20AC;? Charlie wrote. In one incident, Iraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third wife, Faye, shot him six times after he tried to strangle her with a telephone cord. He survived and a few days later, while still on a stretcher, visited the funeral home where the bodies of country stars Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw

"+ +& %,)/

Hawkins lay. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d just died in a plane crash.

Long before Jimi Hendrix set fire to his guitar on stage, Ira would smash his mandolin into splinters in front of shocked audiences. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t an act. He was usually drunk and couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tolerate an instrument if it got out of tune. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He felt betrayed,â&#x20AC;? Charlie wrote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was as if he thought they were doing it to him on purpose.â&#x20AC;?

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d think Charlie and Iraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s encounter with Hank Williams at the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport would have been enough to discourage too much boozing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We stepped off the curb, and I saw a man lying by the sidewalk, dead drunk, puke running about five feet from his head down to the gutter,â&#x20AC;? Charlie wrote.

The man was Hank Williams. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was tragic to see. A man with the ability, talent and future like the one he had, to see him waste it on the bottle.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Satan Is Realâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201D;the title comes from one of the Louvin Brothersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; gospel albumsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is more than a story of debauchery, however. The brothers grew up on a hardscrabble cotton farm in Depression-era Alabama, sons of a stern father who beat them â&#x20AC;&#x153;black and blueâ&#x20AC;? for the slightest infraction and a music-loving mother who taught them old English ballads like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mary of the Wild Moor.â&#x20AC;? Those ballads led to the boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; music career, but they were hardly overnight successes. Their acceptance into the Opry came after many years of singing and many failed auditions.

Even before Ira died, Charlie had staked out his solo career. He became a staple at the Opry, and I got to see him perform back in the early 1990s. In his book, he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a whole lot of good things to say about the post-Roy Acuff Opry. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The longer youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been at the Opry, the worse they treat you.â&#x20AC;?

As for todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Country music ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t country music now,â&#x20AC;? he wrote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The so-called country artists now get it as close to pop and rock as they can and still call it country.â&#x20AC;?

Likely he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t talking about Jamie Johnson, Steve Earle, Alison Krauss. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still out there, just harder to find.

Who knows? Maybe Richard changed his name and became the toast of Nashville. Not likely, but it would make a great country song, wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it?

A veteran journalist who teaches at the University of Mississippi, Joe Atkins is author of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Covering for the Bosses: Labor and the Southern Pressâ&#x20AC;? and winner of the Mississippi Association for Justiceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2011 Consumer Advocate Award. His blog is laborsouth.blogspot.com. He can be reached at jbatkins@olemiss.edu.

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jacksonfreepress.com

EDITORIAL

Editor-in-Chief Donna Ladd Publisher Todd Stauffer

The Dark Side

3

13

Shades of Gray: The JFP Interview with JPS Superintendent Dr. Cedrick Gray

by R.L. Nave

TRIP BURNS

T

August 15- 21, 2012

he atmosphere at the Jackson State University e-Center on Aug. 2 was more like a wedding reception than a welcoming for a public school superintendent. Pretty young hostesses and dark-suited ushers with boutonnières pinned to their lapels greeted guests. Chairs were draped in white satin and tied with black bows, and a jazz band played softly until a JROTC color guard escorted the guest of honor, incoming Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Cedrick Gray, and his family to their table at the front of the room.

Gray, 41, says he was a little embarrassed by all the pomp and circumstance. “I really am I not that kind of person. But at the same time, out of respect for the community, you have to make yourself available,” he told the Jackson Free Press.

If the event had the feeling of a nuptials ceremony, it could be that JPS, which had three superintendents in a 12-monthspan, was desperate to find a mate. In January 2011, the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees declined to renew the contract of then-Superintendent Dr. Lonnie Edwards who had a tumultuous tenure at the helm of the city’s school system. Dr. Jayne Sargent, who served as Jackson schools’ chief from 1997 to 2002, took over as interim superintendent last July.

After a nationwide search, the board hired Gray in May 2012. Since he started in July, people have gone out of their way to impress Gray even though he has ruffled feathers early on. After security guards asked fans and players to leave a fundraiser scrimmage between Lanier High School basketball greats, Gray caught heat for his decision to put the kibosh on the event. Gray has said that he regrets the way everything went down. Still, local political and civic leaders have been anxious to host Gray. The Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr. even flew in to introduce Gray to the 4,000-strong JPS workforce at this year’s convocation.

Born in Milwaukee, Gray spent his childhood in Memphis. He studied at the University of Memphis, where he received bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and completed his doctorate at Union University in Jackson, Tenn. He’s been a teacher and a principal at two Memphis-area middle schools, first at Craigmont Middle School and at Lester PreK-8 School.

Before joining JPS, Gray headed the Fayette County Schools system, which has about 3,700 students (JPS has nearly 10 times that number, approximately 30,000). In July, the Tennessee Department of Education named Gray’s former district exemplary for making significant improvements in stu14 dent performance.

Dr. Cedrick Gray, 41, had a bold re-entry plan that involved analyzing Jackson Public Schools’ strengths and weaknesses and reaching out out to key stakeholders.

Gray’s wife, Karen, is a Jackson native and Callaway High School graduate. They have a daughter, Peyton, and live in north Jackson.

Recently, Gray spoke with the Jackson Free Press about his expectations—for teachers, students, administrators and, most importantly, himself.

You’re a minister, but in the few times I’ve seen you, you came across as a rather unassuming softspoken guy, but you preached at the convocation.

Were you just saving up?

Well, what’s in you comes out—especially at moments like those. And for me, the most important thing is for people to know who I am. Some of what I’ve discovered being the new

Cedrick Gray, Superintendent of Jackson Public Schools Born: Milwaukee, Wis. Raised: Memphis, Tenn.

Age: 41 Family: Karen (wife); Peyton (daughter) Favorite Pro Sports Teams: Tennessee Titans and Memphis Grizzlies Job History: Teacher, Middle School Principal and Superintendent of Fayette County (Tenn.)

Schools

R.L. NAVE

Entry Plan Highlights

D

TRIP BURNS

r. Cedrick Gray’s entry plan focuses on engaging the following three groups: • The Jackson Public School’s Board of Trustees and the superintendent’s staff; • Community and religious leaders, members of the state Legislature, the mayor, City Council, county supervisors, parents and scholars from the university community; • Principals, teachers and students.

The Five Goals

kid on the block—and this is not my first time being the new kid on the block—is the people who are the most critical and judgmental are the one who really don’t know you. When they get to know you, a lot of that is curbed.

What kinds of questions have staff asked you about yourself or your plans?

They’re most interested in knowing my background. A lot of them were encouraged by the fact that I’ve been everything from a substitute teacher to a teacher to an assistant principal and a principal and then, of course, district-level administration. And beyond that, where I taught and where I was a school principal. You can relate better to someone who’s walked in your shoes. Beyond that, they’d like to know the direction we’d like to go. Our entry document outlines that pretty well. I think everyone is encouraged by the new mantra, the new vision: “Building Stronger Schools Together.” That seems to resonate a lot with our JPS family members.

Your entry plan (see sidebar, this page) is quite ambitious. Have all the evaluations taken place, and what have you learned?

The majority of them have. There are formal and informal structures to evaluate, and I’ve learned a lot about the strengths and challenges that exist within our system. We have a lot of wonderfully dedicated teachers and administrators—and that’s the strength.

The challenge is the consistency in leadership, which is what we’re hoping to provide.

In performing those evaluations, did anything jump out at you as a bigger challenge or strength than you anticipated coming in?

I did a lot of homework before coming in, so I didn’t find any huge surprises. We will be taking a closer look at is how we engage our parents as a stakeholder. That directly connects to student achievement. I think we’ve

done a good job of doing outreach to parents, though I think we need to reach a little deeper, a little higher to get them engaged. For me, it’s a difference between parent involvement and parent engagement. Engagement says the parent is actively participating in academic achievement and development for the children, which means visit your child’s school within in the first 30 days.

Secondly, create a quiet space at home for your child to study for at least an hour. Another part of it is to make sure your child is at school and ready to learn every day.

The last part of it surrounds itself around staying connected to school by reviewing report cards and work that comes home—or if work’s not coming home. As a principal, I love to see my parents. I just didn’t want to see them after we had already had some sort of negative interaction—a suspension or a tardy notice. I think you should engage before that happens.

You’ve said several times something to the effect of you don’t want people to put the burden on you to be “Mr. Fix It.” Are you just trying to keep expectations low?

It’s about my background, context for my experience as an educator. I picked up this label in Memphis as a turnaround specialist because I was able to go to a couple of schools and do some turnaround. Because, when you’re talking about those things, you’re talking about a massive effort that has more than one part to it. It’s like a small puzzle, but it has so many different pieces that one person can’t do all of that. I think if we depend on one person to do it all, then we sell ourselves short, because what we’re doing is not empowering ourselves to be part of the solution. I think that when you join together as a team, then you own the prosperity that comes as a result of it as opposed to

more Cedrick Gray, page 16

2. Develop and support a unified governance team that results in consistency of purpose, stability and teamwork by building a trusting and collaborative relationship with the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees.

• Engage in one-on-one meetings with board members to ascertain strengths in governance create communication protocol and broaden perspective.

• Hold board retreat to discuss roles and responsibilities, expectations and agenda setting.

• Review process, structure and timeline of current strategic plan and budget for the district.

3. Establish a positive climate throughout the learning community that is focused on high expectations for student achievement and continuous improvement.

• Establish productive, positive relationships with teacher organizations, student organizations and key district leadership.

• Create Student Board of Trustees consisting of one high-school senior from each of the seven high schools to meet once per nine-week period.

• Schedule meetings with principals and school leadership teams and establish regular meetings with these groups.

Gray joined JPS in July, taking the reins from Superintendent Dr. Jayne Sargent.

• Hold three Parent Impact! Symposiums throughout the school year to obtain parent feedback.

• Schedule a visit to each school to build relationships with school faculty and staff.

4. Increase organizational effectiveness and operational accountability to ensure consistent support to schools • Review job descriptions, standards of practice and expectations of executive staff. Identify and hire critical new executive staff members.

• Review current central-office organizational structure for efficiencies and focus on student achievement.

• Conduct one-on-one interviews with department and division heads, reviewing all vital documents, organizational charts, employee handbooks, procedural manuals, department specific strategic plans and student achievement data by school.

• Conduct retreat with executive staff to review pertinent district data, strategic plan, achievement data and position vacancies throughout district.

• Conduct an organizational audit using expert practitioner to review alignment, coherence and efficiency to the current organizational structure.

5. Establish a positive, learning-focused district culture centered on student achievement, development and growth.

• Schedule group sessions to secure feedback regarding future hopes and plans from external entities.

• Conduct communication audit to determine effectiveness of programs, protocols with news media and comprehensive communication plan.

• Visit area churches and schedule meeting with key parent groups.

• Schedule meetings with student groups for initial listening and learning sessions.

• Meet with leaders of local media outlets, editorial boards, and education reporters to establish a framework for collaboration that is open and transparent.

jacksonfreepress.com

Local ministers prayed for Gray at a back-to-school rally at Mt. Helm Baptist Church. From left to right, the ministers are:The Rev. Gus McCoy, Pastor Roderick Richardson, Pastor Maxine Gray, Dr. Gray, Elder Lionel J.Traylor, Minister James Roach, Mt. Helm Pastor C.J. Rhodes and The Rev. Jeff Stafford.

1. Focus on academic achievement and academic growth through the alignment of resources and organizational efforts to ensure students are college and career ready.

• Analyze student achievement data from each school to evaluate current school performance.

• Identify underperforming schools, determine root cause, perform SWOT analysis and collaboratively determine effective resolution.

• Analyze budget to determine appropriate levels of financial support for building teacher capacity through professional development.

• Create a balanced assessment program that regularly monitors and evaluates the performance of students.

• Review current “zone structure” or feederpattern performance results with principal coaches and determine proactive actions for support and improvements.

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Dr. Cedrick Gray, from page 15 TRIP BURNS

Gray believes his experience turning around schools in the Memphis, which has demographics similar to Jackson, will help him lead JPS.

giving credit or placing blame on one person.

It’s no different from—it’s football season; I’m a big football fan...

August 15- 21, 2012

Who’s your team?

Tennessee Titans. So, it’s like a good football team. If the superintendent is the coach, the coach doesn’t play. He’s the one member of the team that doesn’t play—he doesn’t throw, he doesn’t catch, kick or run.

The responsibility of the coach is to provide the players with a playbook, show the players the end zone and the sidelines and say, “Let’s play.” The coach also determines the tone of how you play so if you get down, the coach can rally you up. If you’re winning, the coach says, “Let’s not get too high, because this is not the Super Bowl, and we still have 15 games to play.”

16

facebook.com/rainbowcoop

twitter.com/rainbowcoop

Some head coaches don’t call plays.

Do you like to be hands-on or do you leave the play-calling to your coordinators?

I’m hands-on during training camp.

We call everybody in for training camp, then we have the conversations about what we expect the game to look like, what kinds of plays will work here or there, and then on game day, then you should have had all your preparation.

So I’m really hands-on because I’m still a principal at heart. At the same time, if you have an offensive and defensive coor-

dinator, you have to trust them to make the right calls at the right time.

In that sense, how much flexibility do you give principals and the people in the buildings to meet the broad goals that you set?

This is my philosophy: We’ve hired the principal to be the principal. I’m relying on the principals to know their school cultures and their neighborhoods, and I’m relying on them to make the best decision for their buildings and also be very cognizant to policy and applicable state laws as it relates to running schools. When I was a principal, I appreciated being left alone to do my job. So that’s my philosophy. I’m the superintendent; I’m here to support and provide some guidance and some direction as the system shifts, and each principal is given that latitude to be creative and do what they think is best for kids in their buildings.

How will you measure whether those principals are being effective?

I’m working now on a couple of fronts: One, we’ll do school walk-through. That’s the formative sort of evaluation How often do you plan to be in the buildings?

I will definitely be in every high school and definitely touch every feeder pattern.

Knowing this role (of superintendent), it’s dif-

TRIP BURNS

Gray compares his role to that of a head coach. Now that the school year has begun, he plans to leave much of the play calling to his staff.

If you had to identify a pet project, one thing that you really want to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty on the nuts and blots of, what would it be?

Actually, I have three that jump out.

First is early-childhood education and, without going into a great amount of detail, we really need to help prepare all the 4-year-olds in this city for kindergarten. The second is K through 12 literacy. It’s important that every child knows how to read and is reading at grade level. And the last part is my love. I was a middle-school principal, so I really want to embrace the work we’re doing for kids age 10 to 15. That’s where my heart is in terms of physical, social and emotional development.

Why is it important to focus on this age group?

There is no secret that we start to lose children at age 10. The misnomer is that dropouts happen in high school. Well, they don’t.

Dropouts happen as early as third grade. It’s a pretty clear indicator that if a child isn’t enjoying school by age 10, they start to lose their focus from it. So that’s where I think we can put a great deal of emphasis and build some successes for our children and their successes at school.

And I’ve seen it for myself. I have been the principal of two middle schools, one of which had 100 students in it. I saw every extreme.

I saw a child who came to school with little or nothing whose pressures are survival in the

neighborhood, and I saw the other extreme: a child who comes to school who’s uppermiddle class who, for all intents and purposes, would want for nothing, except whose mom and dad expected all As all the time, which is heavy pressure for a child. So I think we win and lose children in that age range.

How much do you buy into the idea of the school-to-prison pipeline that we hear so much about these days?

Our role as educators is to intervene in the lives of children in positive and special ways and to give them more options than exist in their realities. I guess what I mean is I think about little Cedrick who has to walk along the sidewalk and passes a crack house and a house that’s boarded up. I’m thinking about my last middle school, Lester Binghamton, where we had dilapidated buildings in places that a child shouldn’t have to see on their way to school.

We have to provide those children with more options, because if we don’t educate them well and support them well, I’m afraid they may become another statistic, which is what’s troubling to me.

The idea of you as a role model for black males—is that a mantle you feel comfortable carrying?

Comfortable or not, I keep thinking about Charles Barkley when he said he wasn’t a role model. Later he said you just can’t help it. People who see you may want to emulate you. I don’t consider myself necessarily a role model. I just consider myself someone who works hard and tries to set a good example and live the life that I think would make my parents proud of me. Admittedly, I have received phone calls that say, “My son looks up to you, and we appreciate what you do,” and that’s

more Cedrick Gray, page 18

jacksonfreepress.com

ficult to know how much we’ll be in buildings but we’re working to get into buildings every week. As a matter of fact, we’ll be holding our executive cabinet meeting at school buildings and away from (the central) office at least once a month. That is a challenge, in itself, and it pulls at me because like I said: I’m a principal at heart, and I love to be among the kids. It just gives you some sort of energy. So I’m making staff hold me accountable for that.

17

Dr. Cedrick Gray, from page 17 TRIP BURNS

encouraging. But there’s also a lot of pressure on that because I’m human—flesh and blood. I need coffee to wake up in the morning just like everybody else. But if someone sees what I do and who I am as something they want to emulate then I’ll accept that.

evoked a second look at some things and how we do them.

The White House has been giving states flexibility with some of the provisions of NCLB. Do you feel you have enough flexibility to accomplish what needs to be done at JPS? I think the time has come for us to start thinking about schools in a different light. We are preparing students for jobs that have not been invented, yet, so we have to prepare students differently. And I believe we will have the flexibility.

August 15- 21, 2012

You recommended a book for your staff to read, “Fighting for Urban Schools,” by Don McAdams (Teachers College Press, 2000, $21.95), which is about accountability but also has high praise for Rod Paige, George W. Bush’s education secretary and one The forces that control our of the architects of No Child Legislature are determined to Left Behind. Should we read introduce charter schools to anything into that?

Mississippi. Can you envision Our school board will be studya world where Jackson Public ing that, and that won’t be for staff.

Schools and charters co-exist?

Gray believes his experience turning around schools in the Memphis, which has demographics similar The book our principals will be readMy emphasis is on creating a to Jackson, will help him lead JPS. ing is “Schools that Change” (Corwin quality educational environment for Press, 2007, $41.95) by Lew Smith. all our children. That’s our reality This is a volume that I used as I manow. When that reality changes, then triculated through school leadership. It talks a cerned, I wanted to look at school governance Fayette County when I was there, we used (the we’ll have more conversation about charter little about the three Cs of school—capacity, from several different ways, so it’s not necessar- film) “Waiting for Superman” as our launch- schools and what that looks. Right now, conversation and context—and how we make ily the philosophy of Rod Paige and No Child ing pad at a school-board retreat. That didn’t my focus is how to build stronger schools decisions in our buildings is based on that.

Left Behind that we’ll be studying, but we’ll be necessarily say we were in favor of one thing or as they exist and how we work together to As far as Don McAdams’ book is con- studying several perspectives. For example: In the other, but it evoked some conversation and do that.

18

At the convocation, Rev. Jesse Jackson told staffers to not be ashamed or run away from the fact that this is a black district, and it’s a district where there’s poverty but he also cautioned against teaching down to our kids. Given the challenges JPS kids face, how do you keep expectations high?

How much time will you give yourself?

We want to be better a year from now than we are now. Now there are different ways of measuring that and some things—like academic achievement, graduate rate, dropout rates—take a little more time. But I’m really talking about morale, culture and climate, responsiveness to our parents and how central office responds to our schools. So if that starts to change and becomes a little better than it was, that’s how I evaluate myself.

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Enrollment: 30,600 Teachers: 2,208 Total employees: 4,500 Budget: $199 million Students in poverty: 82 percent District accreditation status: Probation Total Schools: 61 Elementary Schools: 39 Middle Schools: 12 High Schools: 8 Special Schools: 2 SOURCE: MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, 2010-2011

You mentioned your reputation as a turnaround specialists.

Turnaround guys typically come in, do a job—fix it or they don’t— and they move on.

Jackson feels like home, and I’d like to be here for as long as Jackson will have

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me, and along the way, we work to make it better than when we arrived, and that’s the extent of it. You’re right: You can’t predict the future. Jackson is a wonderful place to live and raise a family.

Comment at www.jfp.ms. Email R.L. Nave at rlnave@jacksonfreepress.com

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I didn’t know this, but I know it now: When I was growing up, we were poor. I didn’t know it because everybody was in the same situation. That didn’t change the expectations of my parents and my grandparents to do better and be better.

Children aren’t born with a failure mentality. They feel like they can rule the world.

You can tell because they aren’t afraid of anything. They jump right off the side of the pool into the deep end. I think inherently all teachers come into the profession with a desire to save the world and the expectation is for that to continue.

I like movies, and I find messages in them. One of them is “The Wiz.” There’s a scene where Dorothy flips the fire alarm and melts the Wicked Witch, and the servants who’ve been working under the Wicked Witch emerge from this costume they were in, and start to rejoice. So the analogy it paints is: If we’ve been under some form of oppression, at some point we can return to the way we were.

So if we have not been meeting high expectations, it’s time for us to get back to that.

How do you want people to evaluate you, and how do you evaluate yourself?

If things are better than they were, then I think we’re making progress. Better could mean 1 percent, or better could mean 5 percent. Better could mean I didn’t want to come to work, and now I do. Better could mean a child who missed 20 days of school last year who only misses 15 days this year— something that’s just a little better.

It doesn’t mean there won’t be very difficult decisions to make or mistakes along the way. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be flawless. It does mean that were going to work to make it a little better. And if it’s better, then I think it means we’ve done something.

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FILM p 22 | 8 Days p 24 |MUSIC p 27 | SPORTS p 29 COURTESY SHARI GOINS

Seven Minutes, Two Days

by Sara Sacks

August 15 - 21, 2012

T

20

he 48 Hour Film Project is no walk in the park. On the weekend of Aug. 17-19 when filmmakers gather in the capital city to participate in this exhaustive competition, they will have no idea what’s ahead for them.

On the night of Aug. 17, representatives from each team will meet at the kickoff assembly at Sneaky Beans.

Once there, each team will draw a genre out of a hat. Then, Shari Goins, producer for the competition in Jackson, will announce the one line of dialogue, one prop and one character name that must be in every film. At that point, the team representatives will call the screenwriters to give them the necessary elements, and the screenwriters will begin to write the films. Each film must be between four and seven minutes long when completed.

Filmmakers will enjoy no pre-production planning time for their films. Film crews make will make them up on the spot and finish within 48 hours. Sleep within those two days will be a rare luxury as film crews and editors often work around the clock. Finished or not, filmmakers must turn in the film at the drop-off deadline: Sunday, Aug. 19. Any late submissions will be screened, but will be ineligible for the prize.

“I will have a stopwatch counting down, and there will be people running to turn it in on time,” Goins says with confidence.

Goins is a Friendswood, Texas, native. She says she got interested in film her junior year of high school “and never looked back.” She received a degree in moving image arts from the College of Santa Fe (now Santa Fe University of Art and Design), and specializes in film editing. She moved to Vicksburg in late 2011 when her husband, who works with the Army Corps of Engineers, accepted a job there.

Struck by the lack of film events in her new state, Goins took action.

“I decided there must be some filmmakers somewhere, so I emailed 48 Hour Film Festival and said I wanted to do the competition, and they said that would bring (filmmakers) out of the woodwork,” she says Native Jackson filmmaker Jordan Sudduth looks forward to the challenge. “It’s going to be exciting. I went ahead and signed up the first day,” the 27-year-old said.

He realizes the obstacles in store for him and his crew. “It’s going to be grueling,” he says. “You have no time to sleep.

I mean not one bit. But as soon as you finish, you can just go into hibernation.”

While many other states have the 48 Hour Film Proj-

Producer Shari Goins says filmmakers will be running to turn in their films by the deadline.

ects in several different cities, this will be Mississippi’s first time to host the event. Introduction of the project shows growth for the state’s nascent film industry. Incentives to film in the state are some of the best in the country, offering a 25 percent rebate for base investments in Mississippi, and up to a 30 percent rebate on payroll.

Winning the competition would be nice for Suddeth, but the young filmmaker says it isn’t a priority. “It’s not about winning the competition,” he says. “It’s about spurring and generating interest in filmmaking in Jackson and in the entire state.”

Goins agrees. She hopes to inspire more Mississippians

to be interested in film as an art form and a potential career path. “People just think that film is just entertainment, the boob tube, whatever. But it can be so much more than that,” she says. “I don’t think there are many more forms of communication that can communicate so much so quickly. A facial expression can speak volumes that is so much more difficult to communicate via words.”

Completed 48 Hour Film Project shorts will screen at Millsaps College Academic Complex (1701 N. State St.) Aug. 25 starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $9 and are available online at jackson48hfp.bpt.me or at the door.

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DIVERSIONS|film

Laugh ‘Til You Cry

EAT FREE WITH

RUSH

COURTESY WARNER BROS.

by Anita Modak-Truran

transforms from a “crapped-out hobbit” (as he is referred to by his daddy) to a viable congressional candidate.

While Marty ascends in the polls, Cam’s incumbency disintegrates into sex tapes, holy wars Mild-mannered Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis, center) and acts of hysteria. undergoes a transformation to make him a viable congressional The film, candidate in “The Campaign.” directed by Jay Roach (“Austin Powers: Interhe Campaign” squares off Will national Man of Mystery,” “Meet the Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis as Parents”), is split-your-guts funny. The opposing candidates running for raunchy over-the-top humor matches its a U.S. congressional seat from subject: mud-slinging and unsavory camthe Tar Heel State of North Carolina. Ferrell paigns that have become de rigueur in the plays the four-term incumbent, Cam Brady, current climate of national elections. a political schlock whose empty words appeal But when you strip away the gags and to constituents. “America, Jesus and freedom,” grins, the movie is a poster child for camCam says, not quite understanding what, if paign reform. When people first saw Stanley anything, the slogan means.

Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove or: How I learned Cam’s fifth term is in the bag, until he to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb,” leaves a pornographic message for his mis- circa 1964, they laughed at the absurdity of tress on the wrong answering machine. That’s Peter Sellers’ Dr. Strangelove. They called it when billionaires Glen Motch (John Lith- a comedy, but when the laughter died off, gow) and his brother Wade (Dan Aykroyd) the realization hit that a nuclear war caused seize the opportunity to put up their own by a mistake was not so far-fetched. candidate. (Not so subtle, is it? Whiny babies In the same vein as “Dr. Strangelove,” David and Charles Koch have taken offense “The Campaign,” written by Chris Henchy at being satirized as self-interested billionaires and Shawn Harwell, provides a reality check. pouring millions of dollars into political cam- We belch out big laughs for Ferrell and Galipaigns. It sounds like the truth. Isn’t that a fianakis, who have perfected the intonation defense or something?) of empty words, but what this movie says is Pickings are slim in the 14th district, and “wake up and smell the campaign abuse.” the Motch brothers settle on Marty Huggins You may have missed this, but in (Galifianakis), a mild-mannered, Twinkie- 2010, the United States Supreme Court in popping, pug-loving, pudgy family man. He Citizens United v. Federal Election Comspeaks with a slight lisp and loves his job as mission held that laws prohibiting corpothe local director of tourism. Marty’s an odd rate and union political expenditures viochoice, but he holds the right pedigree: an old lated the First Amendment. Some believe family name and money. His daddy (Brian this case allows corporations and unions Cox), a curmudgeon from the Jesse Helms “to give unlimited amounts to third party days, pays his Asian housekeeper (Karen groups, such as Super PACs, to make inMaruyuma) an extra $50 bucks a day if she dependent expenditures in federal races,” speaks to callers in a voice like Miss Prissy wrote Fred Wertheimer in February He is from “Gone With The Wind.” the founder and president of Democracy “It reminds him of the good old days,” 21, a nonpartisan public policy organizashe says. “Yessum. It shore does.” tion, in “Citizen United and Contributions Wanting to make his father proud, to Super PACs: A Little History is in OrMarty agrees to the Motches’ proposal. Marty der,” posted on huffingtonpost.com. “Suputs on his “big boy Spanx” and finds his in- per PACs are playing a major role in the ner fighting dog. “This dog has a ton of dog in 2012 presidential primaries and will conhim,” Marty says. tinue to be a major factor throughout the The Motch brothers send in Tim Wat- 2012 presidential and congressional races.” tley (handsome Dylan McDermott), a GeIn fact, the winning candidate in “The stapo-like campaign manager, to teach Marty Campaign” (who will not be named) refers the ropes. “Life as you know it is over,” Wat- to the Citizen United opinion during a contley states. Wattley swaps out the “commie- gressional hearing, which appears after a few loving” Chinese pugs with American dogs ending credits have rolled. that rate high among voters. He replaces So what is the price of democracy and Marty’s home furnishings with leather, deer free elections? “The Campaign” does not heads and a painting of a bald eagle over the hedge. When you stop laughing, you might fireplace. Under Wattley’s tutelage, Marty start crying.

REWARDS “T

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August 15 - 21, 2012

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22

Soak up some sun (and BonusPLAY!) this summer!

Every Sunday in August, a share of $6,250 in BonusPLAY! is yours for the taking. Top prize is $1,000!

Registration starts at 3pm at the RUSH Rewards Club.

Winners must be present at 8pm to claim their prize.

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Just Arrived!

WEDNESDAY 8/15

Midway Blue

THURSDAY 8/16

Dead Irish Blues FRIDAY 8/17

Dirt y Laundry Band SATURDAY 8/18

Denton Hatcher MONDAY 8/20

Karaoke w/ Matt TUESDAY 8/21

Open Mic hosted by A Guy Named George

Includes Drink & Choices of Fresh Vegetables

All for only

$7.98

Monday: Hamburger Steak Tuesday: Grilled Tilapia or Fried Chicken Wednesday: Roast Beef

Thursday : Chicken Diane or Grilled Pork Chop Friday : Meatloaf or

Chicken & Dumplings

(Next door to McDades Market Extra) Mon. - Sat., 10 am - 9 pm • Maywood Mart Shopping Center 1220 E. Northside Dr. • 601-366-5676 • www.mcdadeswineandspirits.com

Always Drink Responsibly

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398 Hwy. 51 • Ridgeland, MS (601) 853-3299 • www.villagebeads.com

23

BEST BETS Aug. 15 - 22, 2012

by Latasha Willis events@jacksonfreepress.com Fax: 601-510-9019 Daily updates at jfpevents.com

WEDNESDAY 8/15 Jay Fletcher’s “Faces of Science” multimedia exhibit at Gallery 1 (One University Place, 1100 John R. Lynch St., Suite 4) hangs through Aug. 25. Free; call 601-960-9250. … History buff Vernon Chadwick speaks during History Is Lunch at noon at the William F. Winter Archives and History Building (200 North St.). Free; call 601-576-6998. …

Author Carolyn Brown signs “A Daring Life: A Biography of Eudora Welty” at Lemuria Books (4465 Interstate 55 North, Suite 202) at 5 p.m. $20 book; call 601-366-7619. … Swap and spin records during Vine-yl Night from 5-8 p.m. at North Midtown Arts Center. … Bill and Temperance perform at Underground 119. … Jesse “Guitar” Smith is at Burgers & Blues. … The Sofa Kings play at Kathryn’s at 7 p.m.

FRIDAY 8/17

The play “Lend Me A Tenor” is at 7:30 p.m. at Actor’s Playhouse (121 Paul Truitt Lane, Pearl); runs through Aug. 19. $15, $10 seniors and students; call 601-664-0930. … Mississippi Sickle Cell Foundation’s Celebrity Roast Fundraiser honoring U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson is at the Country Club of Jackson (345 St. Andrews Drive) at 6 p.m. $80; call 601-366-5874. … Lizz Strowd performs at Soulshine, Lakeland at 8 p.m. … Luckenbach plays at Olga’s at 7:30 p.m. … George McConnell and the Nonchalants are at Martin’s. … Denton Hatcher is at Ole Tavern. … The Colonels play at Club Magoo’s.

Enjoy French wine samples during A Taste of France at 4 p.m. at Bravo! Italian Restaurant and Bar (4500 Interstate 55 N.). RSVP. $40; call 601-982-8111. … Contestants perform at the Pre-Mississippi’s Got Talent Music Awards Party is at 8:30 p.m. at Mediterranean Fish and Grill. For ages 21 and up. $7; call 601-291-6493.

SATURDAY 8/18

MONDAY 8/20

PRNEWSFOTO/BET NETWORKS, JEFF DALY/PICTUREGROUP

The JSU Tiger Fund Tailgate Party is from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Jackson State University (1400 John R. Lynch St.) on the football practice field. Tents and grills welcome. The JSU football team’s scrimmage is at 2 p.m. Free; call 601-979-2420 or 601-946-0147. … The Fall Hunting Classic featuring the Grab U One Outfitters is from 2-6 p.m. at Bass Pro Shops (100 Bass Pro Drive, Pearl). Free; find Grab U One Outfitters on Facebook. … Soul Wired Cafe’s Build Souls Kitchen Music Festival is at 3 p.m. Performers include the Smooth Funk Band, Cheryl “Miss Songbird,” Big Ox and Ava Bella. $5, $25$50 sponsor (includes display or vendor table); call 601-8636378. … The Detectives Mystery Dinner Theatre presents the play “Marvelous Murder” at 6 p.m. at Georgia Blue (111 Colony Crossing, Madison). RSVP. $45 plus tax and tip; call 601-937-1752. … The Gaither Homecoming Tour featuring the Gaither Vocal Band, Bill Gaither and others is at 6 p.m. at Thalia Mara Hall. Reserved seating. $27.50-$72.50; call 601-353-0603 or 800-745-3000. … The Blue Bengal SWAC Kick-off Party is at 8 p.m. at VFW Post 9832 (4610 Sunray Drive). Refreshments for sale; wear blue and white. $5; call 769-243-3996. … Rapper T.I. performs at 9 p.m. at The Spot (6107 Ridgewood Road). DJ Finesse spins hits. Admission prices vary; call 601-502-6864 or 769-798-4439 for VIP information. … The Audionauts, Repercussion and more perform during Shock To The System at 9 p.m. at Club Friction at the Joint. For ages 18 and up. $10-$15; call 601-927-5540. …

The Nameless Open-mic is at 9 p.m. at Suite 106. $5 admission, $3 to perform; call 601-720-4640.

SUNDAY 8/19

Parlor Market chef Jesse Houston hosts PM Pizza from 4:30-10 p.m. at Sal and Mookie’s (565 Taylor St.). Free admission plus cost of food and T-shirts; call 601-368-1919. … Jackson State, Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State alumni welcome the new football season during JAM 2012 at 5 p.m. at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.) at center court. Wear school colors. Free; email b-bengal@ hotmail.com. … Mississippi Improv Alliance hosts Open Space at 7 p.m. at The Commons. Free; call 601-497-7454.

TUESDAY 8/21

Author Peter Heller signs “The Dog Stars” at Lemuria Books (4465 Interstate 55 North, Suite 202). Reading at 5:30 p.m. $24.95 book; call 601-366-7619. … Local poet Soul hosts Erotic Open-mic at 8 p.m. at Soul Wired Cafe. …

Hunter Gibson is at Fitzgerald’s.

WEDNESDAY 8/22

Blues legend B.B. King performs at the B.B. King Homecoming Festival at 1 p.m. at the B.B. King Museum (400 Second St., Indianola). After-party at Club Ebony (Highway 49 and Highway 82; $25-$60). $10 in advance, $15 at the gate; call 662-887-9539.

More at jfpevents.com and jfp.ms/musicvenues.

Rapper T.I. performs at The Spot Aug. 18 at 9 p.m.

The Gaither Vocal Band performs at Thalia Mara Hall Aug. 18 at 6 p.m.

August 15 - 21, 2012

24

The Premier Bridal Show: Weddings and Celebrations is from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Jackson Marriott (200 E. Amite St.). $1 from each ticket sale benefits the Animal Rescue Fund. $12 in advance, $15 at the door; call 601-957-1050. … Ridgeland Rendezvous with artists Catron Williams and Cliff Speaks is from 5-7:30 p.m. at Southern Breeze Gallery (1000 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 5005, Ridgeland). Free; call 601-6074147. … The simulcast “RiffTrax Live: ‘Manos’ The Hands of Fate” is at 7 p.m. at Tinseltown (411 Riverwind Drive, Pearl). $11.50, $10.50 seniors and students, $9.50 children; call 601-936-5856. … Pryor and the Tombstones perform at the C Spire Summer Music Series Concert at 6 p.m. at The Cedars (4145 Old Canton Road). Free; call 601-981-9606.

COCOAFISH/FLICKR

THURSDAY 8/16

jfpevents Premier Bridal Show: Weddings and Celebrations Aug. 16, 5-7:30 p.m., at Jackson Marriott (200 E. Amite St.). The event includes door prizes, samples and consultations with wedding professionals. No strollers allowed. $1 from each ticket sale benefits the Animal Rescue Fund. $12 in advance, $15 at the door; call 601-957-1050.

COURTESY KNOPF

JFP-SPONSORED EVENTS

COMMUNITY

Starting a Nonprofit: The Complete Guide to Getting Your 501(c)(3) Aug. 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at Mississippi Center for Nonprofits (201 W. Capitol St.). $179, $89 members; call 601-968-0061.

Ridgeland Rendezvous Aug. 16, 5-7:30 p.m., at Southern Breeze Gallery (1000 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 5005, Ridgeland). Meet local artists Catron Williams and Cliff Speaks, and enjoy a wine tasting. Free; call 601-607-4147.

Precinct 3 COPS Meeting Aug. 16, 6 p.m., at Jackson Police Department, Precinct 3 (3925 W. Northside Drive). These monthly forums are designed to help resolve community issues. Free; call 601-960-0003.

JSU Tiger Fund Tailgate Party Aug. 18, 8 a.m.5 p.m., at Jackson State University (1400 John R. Lynch St.), on the football practice field. Tents and grills welcome. The football teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scrimmage is at 2 p.m. Football tickets and season posters available.

Free; call 601-979-2420 or 601-946-0147.

Miss Calendar Girl Cotillion Brunch Aug. 18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at Anderson United Methodist Church (6205 Hanging Moss Road). The Rho Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority hosts the program in the Education Annex. Girls in grades 9-12 to learn about the fundraising project that helps fund the sororityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community projects. Free; call 601-668-4011. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Love Worth Fighting Forâ&#x20AC;? Marriage Event Aug. 18, noon, at Crossgates Baptist Church (8 Crosswoods Road, Brandon). Learn ways to strengthen and improve your marriage. $22.50 in advance, $25 day of event; call 601-825-2562.

Fall Hunting Classic Aug. 18, 2-6 p.m., at Bass Pro Shops (100 Bass Pro Drive, Pearl). Representatives from Grab U One Outfitters (from the YouTube show â&#x20AC;&#x153;Snake Hunt Mississippi Styleâ&#x20AC;?) sell merchandise, host a meet-and-greet session, sign autographs and take photos with fans. Free; call 601-933-3700, find Grab U One Outfitters on Facebook.

Blue Bengal SWAC Kick-off Party Aug. 18, 8 p.m.-1 a.m., at VFW Post 9832 (4610 Sunray Drive). The party is a fundraiser for Jackson State Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s athletic department. Refreshments for sale. Wear blue and white. $5; call 769-243-3996.

A Taste of France Aug. 19, 4 p.m., at Bravo! Italian Restaurant and Bar (4500 Interstate 55 N.). Enjoy a sampling of six French wines. RSVP. $40; call 601-982-8111.

Youth Solutions Grand Opening Aug. 20, 10 a.m., at Flowood Chamber of Commerce (115 Laurel Park Cove, Suite 108, Flowood). Youth Solutions is a nonprofit organization that helps atrisk youth. Free; call 601-829-0323.

PM Pizza Aug. 20, 4:30-10 p.m., at Sal and Mookieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (565 Taylor St.). Parlor Market chef Jesse Houston hosts the event featuring signature pizzas, desserts and music. Free admission plus cost of food and T-shirts; call 601-368-1919.

JAM 2012 Aug. 20, 5 p.m., at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.), at center court. Local alumni for Jackson State University,

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MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM of ART ONGOING EXHIBITIONS The

Mississippi Story

William

Christenberryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Southern Wall

Pre-Columbian

Ceramics

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University kick off the football season. Wear school colors. Free; email b-bengal@hotmail.com.

QuickBooks 2010 Training Class Aug. 22, 9 a.m.4 p.m., at Holmes Community College, Ridgeland (412 W. Ridgeland Ave., Ridgeland). Registration required. $50; call 601-856-5400.

Computer Class, Aug. 22, 9:30 a.m., at Flowood Library (103 Winners Circle, Flowood), in the reference department. Learn to use Microsoft Word.

Free; call 601-919-1911.

STAGE AND SCREEN Jackson 48 Hour Film Project Events at Sneaky Beans (2914 N. State St.). Visit 48hourfilm.com for more information. â&#x20AC;˘ Acting Auditions Aug. 15, 8 p.m., Actors may audition to be in one of the Jackson 48 Hour Film Project films. Free.

More EVENTS, see page 26

To

Paint and Pray: The Art and Life of William R. Hollingsworth, Jr. September 22, 2012 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; January 13, 2013

Artists

by Artists

September 22, 2012 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; January 13, 2013 Old

Masters to Monet: Three Centuries of French Painting from the Wadsworth Atheneum March 23 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; September 8, 2013

For a complete list of exhibitions and for more information visit

WWW.MSMUSEUMART.ORG 380 South Lamar Street Jackson, Mississippi 601-960-1515 Theora Hamblett (1893-1977), Walking, Meditating in the Woods, 1963. oil on canvas. Collection of Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson. Gift of First National Bank. 1966.018

jacksonfreepress.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;History Is Lunchâ&#x20AC;? Aug. 15, noon, at William F. Winter Archives and History Building (200 North St.). History buff Vernon Chadwick talks about Natchez and General Douglas MacArthur. Free; call 601-576-6998.

25

jfpevents from page 25 BE THE CHANGE Rebirth’s ’Rite It or Raise It Reception Aug. 16, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at The Penguin Restaurant and Bar (1100 John R. Lynch St., Suite 6A). Proceeds from the fundraiser goes toward Rebirth Alliance’s Healthcare Survey Project. The purpose of the project is to gather data from residents about cancer and other chronic illnesses. Donations can be paid in installments; call for details. $100 suggested donation; call 601-966-7252.

Mississippi Sickle Cell Foundation’s Celebrity Roast Fundraiser Aug. 17, 6 p.m., at Country Club of Jackson (345 St. Andrews Drive). This year’s honoree is U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson. The event includes a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction. Sponsorships available. $80; call 601-366-5874.

• Jackson 48 Hour Film Project Competition Aug. 17-19, 6 p.m. Filmmakers compete by creating films with pre-selected content in 48 hours.

The films are screened Aug. 25. The winner goes to the international competition and receives prizes such as $5,000 and software. $125 registration.

Pre-Mississippi’s Got Talent Music Awards Party Aug. 19, 8:30 p.m., at Mediterranean Fish and Grill (6550 Old Canton Road). Contestants perform in anticipation of the upcoming awards show. Additional performers welcome; bring an instrumental CD. For ages 21 and up. $7; call 601-291-6493.

“Lend Me A Tenor” Aug. 17-18, 7:30 p.m., and Aug. 19, 2 p.m., at Actor’s Playhouse (121 Paul Truitt Lane, Pearl). The play is about a production company’s scramble to replace their lead tenor. $15, $10 seniors and students; call 601-664-0930.

New Zion Male Choir Concert Aug. 19, 2:30 p.m., at New Zion M.B. Church (233 Cottonwood Drive). The choir celebrates their 34th anniversary.

Free; call 601-355-1646 or 601-982-4930.

“Marvelous Murder” Dinner Theater Aug. 18, 6 p.m., at Georgia Blue (111 Colony Crossing, Madison). The Detectives Mystery Dinner Theatre presents the play about a murder at a super hero’s birthday party. RSVP. $45; call 601-937-1752.

Nameless Open-mic Aug. 18, 9 p.m., at Suite 106 (106 Wilmington St.). Poets, singers, actors and comedians are welcome. $5 admission, $3 to perform; call 601-720-4640.

“RiffTrax Live: ‘Manos’ The Hands of Fate” Aug. 16, 7 p.m., at Tinseltown (411 Riverwind Drive, Pearl). Enjoy the simulcast of wise-cracking commentary from Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett of RiffTrax.com. $11.50, $10.50 seniors and students, $9.50 children; call 601-936-5856.

“West Side Story,” through Aug. 26, at Vicksburg Theatre Guild/Parkside Playhouse (101 Iowa Blvd., Vicksburg). Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. $12, $10 seniors, $7 students, $5 children 12 and under; call 601-636-0471.

MUSIC Events at Yellow Scarf (741 Harris St., Suite E).

Doors open at 7 p.m. BYOB. Call 347-754-0668; yellowscarf-jackson.com.

• Alphonso Sanders Aug. 17, 8 p.m. $20 in advance online, $25 at the door.

• Tiger Rogers Aug. 18, 8 p.m. $15 in advance online, $20 at the door.

Mississippi Boychoir Auditions through Sept. 11.

For boys in grades 1-12. Call 601-665-7374.

C Spire Summer Music Series Concert Aug. 16, 6 p.m., at The Cedars Historic Home (4145 Old Canton Road). Pryor and the Tombstones perform.

Beverages sold. Enjoy fried dill pickles in honor of Delta Honky Tonk Night. Free; call 601-981-9606.

August 15 - 21, 2012

Gaither Homecoming Tour Aug. 18, 6 p.m., at Thalia Mara Hall (255 E. Pascagoula St.). Performers include the Gaither Vocal Band, Bill Gaither, David Phelps and Michael English. Reserved seating. $27.50-$72.50; call 800-745-3000.

26

T.I.: The Return of the King Aug. 18, 9 p.m., at The Spot (6107 Ridgewood Road). Hip-hop artist T.I. performs. Also enjoy music from DJ Finesse.

Admission prices vary; call 601-502-6864 or 769-798-4439 for VIP information.

Shock To The System Aug. 18, 9 p.m.-4 a.m., at Club Friction at the Joint (206 W. Capitol St.).

Performers include the Audionauts, Repercussion, RhythmFiend and Lil’ Cris. For ages 18 and up. $10-$15; call 601-927-5540.

B.B. King Homecoming Festival Aug. 22, 1 p.m., at B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center (400 Second St., Indianola). Blues legend B.B. King, Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry, Grady Champion and more perform. After-party at Club Ebony (Highway 49 and Highway 82; $25-$60). $10 in advance, $15 at the gate; call 662-887-9539.

LITERARY AND SIGNINGS Book Signings at Lemuria Books (4465 Interstate 55 North, Suite 202). Readings at 5:30 p.m. Call 601-366-7619.

• Aug. 15, 5 p.m., Carolyn Brown signs “A Daring Life: A Biography of Eudora Welty.” $20 book.

• Aug. 21, 5 p.m., Peter Heller signs “The Dog Stars.” $24.95 book.

CREATIVE CLASSES Discover Series - Adults-only Craft Class Aug. 16, 6 p.m., at Mississippi Craft Center (950 Rice Road, Ridgeland). Choose from jewelry, leather or wire sculpture. $25; call 601-856-7546.

Shut Up and Write! Classes at JFP Classroom (2727 Old Canton Road, Suite 224). Sign up for one of JFP Editor-in-Chief Donna Ladd’s popular nonfiction and creative writing classes. Fall classes forming now. Six-week sessions held every other Saturday. $150 ($75 deposit required); call 601-362-6121, ext. 16; get on mailing list at class@jacksonfreepress.com.

EXHIBITS AND OPENINGS Events at Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.). Free; call 601-960-1515.

• Look and Learn with Hoot Aug. 17, 10 a.m.

The program for ages 4-5 features a hands-on art activity and story time. Please dress for mess.

• Pieces and Strings: Mississippi Cultural Crossroads Quilt Exhibition through Aug. 26, in the public corridor.

Open Space Aug. 20, 7 p.m., at The Commons at Eudora Welty’s Birthplace (719 N. Congress St.).

The Mississippi Improv Alliance hosts the event.

Local creatives are welcome to express themselves through their art forms. Free; call 601-497-7454.

Check jfpevents.com for updates and more listings.

To add an event, email all details (phone number, start and end date, time, street address, cost, URL, etc.) to events@jacksonfreepress.com or fax to 601510-9019. The deadline is noon the Thursday prior to the week of publication. Or add the event online yourself; check out jfpevents.com for instructions.

DIVERSIONS|music

Honky Tonk Night LEE THREADGILL

by Adria Walker

J

ust when you thought things couldn’t get any hotter this summer, Pryor and the Tombstones will heat up the stage as the featured performers at the C Spire Summer Music Series at The Cedars Aug. 16.

Held the third Thursday of each summer month through

August, each concert in the series has a different theme.

August’s theme is “Delta Honky Tonk Night.”

Lead singer Pryor Buford Graeber and keyboardist Lee Buford Threadgill are sisters from Glendora, Miss.

Rounding out the ground are Jacksonian Lynn Pearson on bass, Greenwood native Vic Blaylock on lead guitar and Monroe, La., native Blair Bingham on rhythm guitar. They started the group in 2000 and cover artists ranging from Pink Floyd to Marvin Gaye as well as blues and country music.

Graeber and Threadgill have been singing since they were young. Their mother, Gwin Buford, was a professional opera singer, and Graeber remembers her sister mouthing the words to the Italian songs until their mom invited her to sing along. During one of the next concerts, Graeber and all three of her sisters performed with

their mom.

“I would love to open for Miranda Lambert and her husband, Blake,” Graeber says. If she could perform anywhere in the world, it would be the Country Music Awards. Keeping with the country music theme, Threadgill, a Vanderbilt graduate, wants to open for country music star Alan Jackson.

The band members like to reminisce about the music business’s ups and downs. Once, Pryor and the Tombstones were scheduled to perform from 8 p.m. until midnight at Hal and Mal’s Red Room. Until about 10 p.m., the place was packed. Then the band decided to take a break. When they resumed, the audience had thinned out. “People our age go to sleep at 10,” Bingham says.

“From that concert on, we played from 6 until 10.”

Pryor and the Tombstones played at Jubilee!JAM in 2003, and they were honored just to see their name on the same poster as Bob Dylan. These days, Underground 119 is more their scene. They also perform at various charity events such as A Taste of Mississippi.

“We like to be the volunteer band,” Graeber says.

“When it’s down to the wire, and a venue is looking for a band, we volunteer to perform.”

The last C Spire Summer Music Series concert featuring Pryor and the Tombstones at The Cedars (4145 Old Canton Road) is Aug. 16. The free performance is 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

by Garrad Lee

enough to understand who he shares a name with, we’ll listen to the classics. When he is a little older, we’ll cover the weird stuff. For now, we will listen to this 30-minute-plus, chilled-out jazz workout that touches on many aspects of Davis’ career.

COURTESY GARRAD LEE

O

n July 24 at 2:57 p.m., my brother, Jesse, and his wife, Natalie, welcomed their first child, Miles Jackson Lee, into the world at 8 pounds, 1 ounce and 20.25 inches. Most impressively, Miles emerged with a full head of spiky, dark hair that inspired betting pools on when his beard would grow in. I was surprised not to see a Don Johnson 5 o’clock shadow by his second day.

Over the past few years, Catherine and I have watched more and more of our friends and family have children. In fact, we are part of a committee of godparents to our best friends’ twins. Since we don’t have kids, our role is to be the godparents who don’t know any better. That means Eazy-E T-shirts for Christmas and Jordans for birthdays.

It’s a whole new trip, though, to know that my brother has a child and that, genetically speaking, I could have some influence on him—hopefully not too much. But what I can offer up is some tunes, as you probably could have guessed. So, here is a list of songs for me to enjoy with Miles.

Wu Tang Clan - “C.R.E.A.M.” from “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).”

When I held Miles for the first time, the first thing we discussed was the members of the Wu-Tang Clan. If you are going to be a Lee, there’s certain things you need to know, and WuTang is one of them. In “C.R.E.A.M.” (Cash Rules Everything Around Me), Inspectah Deck and Raekwon offer up cautionary tales of life in the streets, especially starting that life out at too young an age.

In one of my favorite all-time Wu lines, Deck says, “Life as a shorty shouldn’t be so rough.” Miles, that is some of the best advice you will hear. Live your life, and remember that being young is the best. No need to rush things.

Arrested Development - “Children Play With Earth” from “3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...” Speaking of being a kid, 1990s alternative hip-hop darlings Arrested Development offer their own advice: “Children/Play in the fields/ Play in the grass/Climb Mr. Tree/Get to know each branch/Give it a name/For the branches resemble the many decisions you will have to make in life.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Miles Davis - “He Loved Him Madly” from “Get Up With It.” When Miles is old

My nephew, Miles Jackson, emerged with a full head of spiky, dark hair. I began telling him about tunes immediately.

De La Soul - “The Magic Number” from “3 Feet High and Rising.” This classic De La song is centered on a sample of the Schoolhouse Rock! math song “Three Is a Magic Number.” This song is for the new family of three: “But odd as it may be /Without my 1 and 2 where would

there be/My 3.” With the arrival of Miles, Jesse and Natalie went from a two-person unit to a three-person team. And that’s the magic number.

Widespread Panic with Dottie Peoples and the People’s Choice Choir - “Tall Boy>Testify” from June 22, 2002. In a life of traveling together to see music, this is probably one of mine and Jesse’s favorite moments. At the first Bonnaroo Music Festival way back when, it was enough that the boys played “Tallboy,” Jesse’s favorite Panic song. They took it up a notch by bringing gospel legend Dottie Peoples and her choir on stage to accompany Panic on the song, most notably on the refrain: “We’re gonna summon the Holy Ghost from the battlefield/And in the morning this old world won’t be the same.” Then they all transitioned into People’s “Testify.”

It is interesting to think about how we’re going to tell our kids, or if we even should, about following around hippie bands and going to weekend-long campout festivals. But either way, Miles, I hope you will have a life full of moments of happiness like this that your pops and I shared on so many occasions.

We’ll explain it to you when you turn 35.

jacksonfreepress.com

The Key of G Music For Miles and Me

27

livemusic AUG. 15 - WEDNESDAY

Weekly Lunch Specials

$

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR ALL SHOWS 10PM UNLESS NOTED

WEDNESDAY

08/15

LIVE KARAOKE

LADIES

NIGHT

GUYS PAY $5, LADIES ENTER & DRINK FREE CATHEAD VODKA 9-10PM FRIDAY

08/17

George McConnell and the Nonchalants

9.99

Open for dinner Sat. 4-10pm Thursday

August 16

LADIES NIGHT w/ DJ Stache LADIES DRINK FREE Friday

August 17

Denton Hatcher

SATURDAY

08/18

Space Capone

Saturday

August 18

My Name Is

John Michael Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Forget To Stop By Our

MID DAY CAFE Serving Lunch 11-2!

Monday

August 20

2-for-1 Drafts Tuesday

August 21

2-for-1 Beer Specials Highlife, Highlife Lite, PBR, Schlitz, Fatty Natty

Coming Soon

August 15 - 21, 2012

Unknown 28

Hinson September 22, 2012

214 S. STATE ST. â&#x20AC;¢ 601.354.9712

DOWNTOWN JACKSON

WWW.MARTINSLOUNGE.NET

Open Mic w/ Jason Turner

Wednesday

August 22

KARAOKE w/ DJ STACHE

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FREE WiFi Open Mon-Sat, Restaurant open Mon-Fri 11 am-10 pm & Sat 4-10 pm

601-960-2700

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DIVERSIONS|jfp sports

One for the Ladies

W

ith the closing ceremonies of the London Olympic games, finally the twitter complaints about tape delays and spoilers can end. Hopefully, by the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, the problems that upset people during these games will be ironed out.

There is one thing that I believe we should talk about before closing the book on the London games. It seems fitting that the Olympics fell in the same year as the 40th anniversary of Title IX, because American women showed out in London.

In nearly every sport, the U.S. women out-performed their male counterparts. The United States led the world with 104 medals, and U.S. women won 57 of them.

If the U.S. ladies were their own country, they would have finished in fifth place for total medals. Their 28 gold medals would have ranked them better than every country but three—U.S., China and Great Britain).

The U.S. set eight world or Olympic records in London; American women set seven of those records.

Want more proof of the ladies’ dominance in London?

The United States has won more medals in boxing than any other nation. This year, for the first time, the U.S. men failed to win a medal in the sport (with the exception of the boycotted 1980 Moscow Olym-

Bryan’s Rant pics). London was the first time women’s boxing was on the agenda, and U.S. women won two medals. Claressa Shields won gold in the women’s middleweight division and Marlen Esparza won a bronze medal in the women’s flyweight division.

The U.S. men made more Olympic history of the bad kind. In the 400-meter dash, the U.S. had won at least one medal in every Olympics since 1920 and won the gold in the last seven Olympics. An American man had made the finals in the 400 in every Olympic Games (except for the 1980 Moscow games). No American man made the finals in the 400 in London. The U.S. women picked up the slack again as Sanya Richards-Ross won gold, and DeeDee Trotter won bronze in the women’s 400.

I haven’t figured out who should get the mixed-doubles bronze medal: the men, the women or equally for both genders.

No matter how you split that particular bronze medal, the fact remains that the U.S. would have not finished in the medal standings without the ladies doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

Forty years later, it only seems fitting that the rest of the world see how far Title IX has taken American women with their stellar performances at the London Olympics.

Congratulations to the United States women for your efforts in London.

THIS WEEK WEDNESDAY 8/15 Baby Jan & all that Chazz (Dining Room)

THURSDAY 8/16 Brian Jones (Dining Room)

FRIDAY 8/17 Restaurant Closed @ 8:30pm Private Function

SATURDAY 8/18 Hagen Curl (Dining Room)

MONDAY 8/20 MS Blues Society’s Blue Mondays

Now offering a full dinner menu.

Now accepting reservations.

Wednesday, August 15th

BILL & TEMPERANCE

(Bluegrass) 7-10, No Cover

Thursday, August 16th

BARRY LEACH

(Blues) 7-10, No Cover

Friday, August 17th

BILL IUSO

(Funk) 9-1, $5 Cover before 8:30 $10 Cover after 8:30

Saturday, August 18th

LIAM CATCHINGS & THE JOLLY ROCKET

TUESDAY 8/21 PUB QUIZ w/ Erin & friends (Dining Room)

Coming Soon THU 8.23: Barry Leech (Dining Room) SAT 8.25: The Geeslin (Dining Room)

Congratulations to all the Olympians from (or with ties Xxxxto) Mississippi. You were all classy, no matter if you won or lost, earned a medal or didn’t.

THURSDAY, AUG 16 NFL (7-10 p.m. Fox): Cincinnati Bengals quarterback and wide receiver sensations Andy Dalton and AJ Green head south to face Matt Ryan and Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons.

FRIDAY, AUG 17 NFL (7-10 p.m. Fox “My 35”): Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints finally get a preseason game at home when they play the rebuilding Jacksonville Jaguars. … NFL (7-10 p.m. Fox) Detroit Lions face the Baltimore Ravens in a battle between two of last year’s playoff teams.

SATURDAY, AUG 18 NFL (6 p.m.-midnight NFL Network): It’s a double-header on the NFL Network. The defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants face the New York Jets, then the Dallas Cowboys on the San Diego Chargers’ home turf.

SUNDAY, AUG 19 NFL (7-10 p.m. NBC): Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck—the first overall pick of this year’s draft—gets to show off his skills in prime time on the

road against the defensively tough Pittsburgh Steelers.

MONDAY, AUG 20 NFL (7-1 0p.m. ESPN): Tom Brady and the New England Patriots host Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.

TUESDAY, AUG 21 Basketball (9-11 p.m. ESPN 2): Fresh from winning Olympic gold, Maya Moore leads the Minnesota Lynx against fellow gold-medal teammate Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm.

WEDNESDAY, AUG 22 Baseball (7-9 p.m. ESPN): The Little League World Series continues on ESPN as the field dwindles down until the international and U.S. championships Aug. 25.

The ESPN series “30 for 30” returns with a new documentary. The night before Halloween, catch “Ghost of Ole Miss.” You can watch the first two seasons streaming on Netflix; they’re well worth it.

Follow Bryan Flynn at jfpsports.com, @jfpsports and at facebook.com/jfpsports.

MONDAY - FRIDAY

Blue Plate Lunch with corn bread and tea or coffee

$8

25

As well as the usual favorites!

Seafood Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice, Burgers, Fried Pickles, Onion Rings and Homemade Soups made daily.

Fridays: Catfish Plates are $9.75

(Rock & Roll) 9-1, $5 Cover before 8:30 $10 Cover after 8:30

Tuesday,August 21th

JESSE ROBINSON

(Blues) 6-10, $5 Cover

HAPPY HOUR ALL NIGHT! -Tuesdays Only-

Wednesday, August 22th

JOEY PLUNKETT

(Acoustic) 7-10, No Cover

Thursday, August 23th

BOOKER WALKER

$4.00 Happy Hour Well Drinks!

Friday, August 24th

visit HalandMals.com for a full menu and concert schedule

(Blues) 9-1, $5 Cover before 8:30 $10 Cover after 8:30

601.948.0888

Saturday, August 25th

200 S. Commerce St. Downtown Jackson, Mississippi

(Jazz) 7-10, No Cover

ZAC HARMON

JAREKUS SINGLETON (Blues) 9-1, $5 Cover before 8:30 $10 Cover after 8:30

119 S. President Street 601.352.2322 www.Underground119.com

jacksonfreepress.com

FRI 8.31: Akami Graham

by Bryan Flynn

29

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LIFE&STYLE

DOMESTICITY, CREATIVITY, & DIY

FOOD p 32 | BODY & SOUL p 35 | RUNNING MONTH p 37 | GIRL ABOUT TOWN p 38

Back in the Swing of School

by Kelly Bryan Smith

P

Have a Happier Morning • Pack lunch bags and backpacks the night before.

Calm the morning madness a bit by having healthy lunches packed and in the refrigerator, and backpacks loaded up by the front door with milk money, permission slips, summer reading books or whatever else may need to go to school that day. If your kids are old enough, start delegating some of this responsibility to them before bedtime each evening.

• Allow extra time to get ready. Kids generally don’t do rushing well. My general rule is that I need to wake

-ORE "OOKS TO "EAT THE "ACK TO 3CHOOL "LUES “I Love You All Day Long” by Francesca Rusackas (HarperCollins, 2004, $6.99) “When I Miss You” by Cornelia Maude Spelman (Albert Whitman and Company, 2004, $6.99) “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn (Tanglewood Press, 2007, $12.95)

(ANDLE (OMEWORK (ASSLES The latest brain research describes the importance of physically switching gears before starting a new task.

When your child gets home from school, encourage healthy snacking and outdoor play before asking your child to sit down and focus on schoolwork again. Boys in particular are not wired for long stretches of focused sitting time and may need extra time to unwind after the school day is over.

Neuroscientists confirm that multitasking actually diminishes productivity and brainpower. Help your child do their best by turning off the TV, turning down the radio or otherwise eliminating the environmental distractions.

Some kids benefit from working in the same space each day. Others do better with a change of scenery.

Create a homework station or a moveable homework caddy with the supplies your child needs at their fingertips to do their homework with ease. Extra paper, pens and pencils, and good lighting are the most basic essentials. Depending on your child’s grade in school, supplemental items such as a dictionary, drawing pencils, a compass or a clarinet may also be useful.

If your child is old enough and relatively self-sufficient, gradually encourage homework independence and wait for your child to ask for help if they need it.

Otherwise, you can be in the next room folding laundry, reading a book, washing dishes, or putting together a puzzle with a younger child.

• Make time for playtime. If I allow a 10- to 20-minute chunk of time in the morning to play cars and trucks with Mama before we do anything else, then my son is much more likely to be cheerful and cooperative when it is time to head out the door.

• Ask for help. My son loves to help Mama. If I ask him to help me take out the trash or somehow include him in the chores, it makes him feel useful, and it puts him in a better, more cooperative mood.

• Cuddle up with a good book. We own a few favorite stories about going to school, and reading those can go a long way on a grumpy school morning. “Pirates Go to School” (Orchard Books, 2011, $6.99) and “Llama Llama Misses Mama” (Viking Juvenile, 2009, $17.99) are two of our current favorites.

• Spend time outside. Even just a few minutes of outside time to meander slowly to the car, to take out a bag of trash, to breathe in the summer air or to look at a flower blooming next to the fence can brighten the darkest of moods.

jacksonfreepress.com

KELLY BRYAN SMITH

up about two hours before we need to leave the house, and I wake my son about an hour and a half before go time. This way, I have time to take a quick shower, have a few moments of quiet, check my email, and accomplish one or two quick things around the house. Then I have lots of time for cuddles and even a little playtime.

• Gradually increase sensory stimulation. Instead of waking my son up all at once and risking a massive meltdown, I open the door to let light in, turn off his white noise machine a few minutes later and gradually make more noise in my morning preparations until I start singing him awake or he wakes up on his own.

• Offer healthy breakfast choices. Most days my son wants raisin toast with scrambled eggs or multi-grain cereal The author’s son, Simon, was prepared for his first day of preschool last year. with orange juice and fruit. If I offer just a few simple choicristine marble composition books with still-stiff es, then he is more likely to eat a healthy and filling spines. The fragrance of freshly sharpened pencils. meal that will last him until snack time or lunch time Embarrassingly white new school shoes. It is hard to at school. believe that time is here again.

• Sing silly songs. One of my most successful tension difFor many parents in the metro, your kids headed fusers at the moment is making up silly words to the tunes of back to school last week. After the slower pace of summer familiar songs. My son is likely to get the giggles when I sing vacation, you might still find it hard to get back into the such classic tunes as “Row, Row, Row Your Pumpkin,” and school routine. What can you do to make it easier? those giggles can help distract from struggles over using the If you haven’t already started, slowly ease into an ear- potty, eating breakfast or getting dressed. lier bedtime and an earlier wake-up time for your kids. • Offer two clothing choices. My son is not a morning Host an at-home fashion show to try on last year’s school person, so I always wait until he has some food in his belly clothes and shoes, and make a list of the items that need before even broaching the clothing issue. Sometimes it helps to be replaced. And, of course, squeeze in a few more if I offer him a choice between two different favorite T-shirts summer hurrahs before the weather turns chilly. to wear that day.

31

LIFE&STYLE|dining

Pop-up Pizza COURTESY JESSE HOUSTON

by Kathleen M. Mitchell

For one night only, Parlor Market chef Jesse Houston is taking over Sal & Mookie’s for PM Pizza, Monday, Aug. 20.

I

t seems like Jesse Houston won’t be satisfied until he’s put his spin on every cuisine in town. In addition to running the popular downtown eatery Parlor Market as its Chef de Cuisine, Houston regularly surprises local foodies with one-night-only popup restaurant events.

The latest iteration is PM Pizza, a collaboration with pizza joint Sal & Mookie’s Aug. 20. “I would always bug Jeff (Good) and Dan (Blumenthal, owner and executive chef ) about letting me come hang out for a night and make pizzas somewhere, just for fun,” Houston says. “So one day I went to Sal & Mookie’s and I just couldn’t take it anymore. I was

like, ‘You’ve got to let me come make pizzas.’ At first … I wasn’t really thinking it was going to be a big deal. But then they were like, ‘Well, why don’t we turn it into PM Pizza?’”

“It was really Jesse’s brainchild,” Blumenthal says. “I knew that if he was really ever going to get serious about doing the pop-up idea with pizzas, he wasn’t going to be able to do it at his restaurant—he didn’t have the room. So he basically said, ‘Why don’t we do PM Pizza and do it at your place. … I’m not selfish, I just want to have fun. We can do it, and you can take all the proceeds.’ So I thought, ‘Wow, this could be interesting.’ I’ve been to probably two of their PM events, and they are very successful—crazy, but successful.”

For Houston, the event is really a return to a style of cuisine he is already familiar with. When he first began his culinary career, he made pizzas at three of his first jobs: ASTI in Austin, Texas, and Stephen Pyles and Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck, both in Dallas, Texas.

“At the time, I was like, ‘Man, I just can’t get a job without a pizza gig,’ you know?” he says. “It was frustrating. But as time went on, and I hadn’t made pizzas in forever, I really started to miss it because they’re a lot of fun to make.”

When it came to crafting the menu, Houston and Karl Gorline, sous chef at Sal & Mookie’s sister restaurant BRAVO!, put their heads together to come up with

One-Skillet Wonder

August 15 - 21, 2012

MARK PELLEGRINI

by Alonzo Lewis

32

the most interesting pizza combinations they could, and then Blumenthal took over to tweak the menu. The pizzas will be the 14-inch size, the same as the Sal & Mookies small pie. Blumenthal says he is most looking forward to the Charcuterie Pie. “It’s basically seven or eight charcuterie-type meats on a pizza. As Jesse says, it’s an entire charcuterie board on a pizza,” Blumenthal says.

As for Houston, he’s most looking forward to a Korean-inspired pizza and a couple of quirky pies. “The pork-belly pizza with kimchi—think that’s going to be really good,” he says. “And then there’s Karl’s Mona Lisa pizza sandwich, which is kind of like a pizza with another pizza on top of it, so you can eat it like a sandwich. And we’re doing one called Pizza the Hut, which will be like a Pizza-theHut-shaped calzone and will kind of look like the guy from ‘Spaceballs.’”

PM Pizza will continue the tradition of one $1,000 extravagant menu item.

This time, it is a pizza served on a silver platter, with a bottle of Champagne. The pizza toppings are lobster, caviar and black truffles, and garnishments of edible flowers and gold leaf.

“We’ve only sold one (of the $1,000 burgers),”Houston says. “It was at the first PM Burger, and the couple that bought it wish to remain anonymous. And they thought about buying one the second time around, but I think better sense got a hold

I

Pop-Up Jackson This is the eighth PM event, following: PM Burger PM Taco PM Steak PM Soul PM BBQ Birthday Bash PM Tiki PM Burger 2

PARMESAN CHICKEN Prep time start to finish: 30 minutes

absolutely love cheese. I can eat cheese on rice, grits, oatmeal, grilled-cheese sandwiches, eggs—I could go on and on like Bubba in “Forrest Gump.” I also love one-skillet meals. They are convenient and less of a hassle to clean up afterward.

This creation is a combination of my love for cheese and my dislike of cleaning up after I have consumed such a fabulous meal. In this recipe, you can use a combination of vegetables—corn, English peas, broccoli, Mexican corn—or any vegetable that will cook in a short period of time.

of them. But we definitely plan on selling the $1,000 pizza. I think it’s really going to happen. Maybe even multiples this time around. Jeff Good is a good salesman.”

Collaboration—and lifting up the whole community by working together—is something the chefs and their respective organizations feel strongly about.

Previous PM events have involved local restaurants Peaches on Farish Street and Brent’s Drugs on Duling Avenue. PM Pizza not only incorporates the creativity of the teams at Parlor Market and Sal & Mookie’s, but also local artist Justin Schultz, who designed the graphics, and Studio Chane’s T-shirts.

“I really like to collaborate with people,” Houston says. “I have a lot of fun with other chefs, too, doing a lot of other events.”

PM Pizza is Monday, Aug. 20, at Sal & Mookie’s New York Pizza and Ice Cream Joint (565 Taylor St., 601-368-1919) from 4:30

3/4 cup plain flour 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated 1 egg 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 cups spicy tomato pasta sauce 1 cup (4 ounces) four-season cheese blend, shredded 1 small can English peas, or any combination of vegetables of your choice. Mixed vegetables would do well.

In a shallow pan, mix flour, Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese. In a separate container, beat the egg. Coat chicken with the flour mixture (make sure that the chicken is completely dry), then dip into egg and coat again with the flour. Bump the chicken to remove

any excess flour.

In a 12-inch nonstick or cast-iron skillet (spray the cast iron skillet with a light, nonstick cooking spray), heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken; cook four to six minutes, turning once, until golden brown.

Cover and cook eight to 10 minutes longer, turning once, until juice of the chicken is clear when you cut into the thickest part’s center.

Remove the chicken from skillet to plate. Add pasta sauce and vegetables to skillet. Place chicken on top of sauce. Sprinkle with the four-season cheese blend.

Cover and cook two to three minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted. The chicken will be moist and juicy because of the breading. Serve with spaghetti, broccoli and a tossed salad.

%*/&+BDLTPO Paid listyour yourrestaurant.r restaurant.r Paid advertising advertising section. section. Call Call 601-362-6121 601-362-6121 x11 x1 totolist

AMERICAN/SOUTHERN CUISINE

Another Broken Egg (1000 Highland Colony #1009 in Renaissance, 601.790.9170) Open Daily 7am-2pm for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Egg, benedict and omelet dishes, pancakes, waffles, specialties, burgers, salads and sandwiches. Mimosas, coffees and more!

Two Sisters Kitchen (707 N. Congress St. 601-353-1180) Frequent Best of Jackson winner for fried chicken offers a buffet of your choice of veggies, a salad bar, iced tea & one of four homemade desserts. Lunch only.

Mon-Friday, Sun. Koinonia (136 Adams St. 601-960-3008) You won’t want to mix the large yellow house just off Metro Parkway. Koinonia’s expanded lunch menu includes pizza, sandwiches and soups.

Parker House (104 S. East Madison Dr. Ridgeland 601-856-0043) Charming English-style cottage nestled in the Jackson Street Historic District offering a savory haven for home-style eaters with a menu of aged steaks and simple Southern comfort food.

Now accepting the JSU Supercard.

NEW MENU Happy Hour

In Town & in the USA

Wed - Fri 4 - 6pm

-Best of Jackson 2003-2011-

-Food & Wine Magazine-

707 N Congress St., Jackson | 601-353-1180 Mon thru Fri: 11am-2pm • Sun: 11am - 3pm

601-961-7001

318 South State Street | Jackson, MS | www.jacostacos.com

5A44 FX 5X

BAKERY

BARBEQUE

Hickory Pit Barbeque (1491 Canton Mart Rd. 601-956-7079) The “Best Butts in Town” features BBQ chicken, beef and pork sandwiches along with burgers and po’boys.

Haute Pig (1856 Main Street, 601-853-8538) A “very high class pig stand,” Haute Pig offers Madison diners BBQ plates, sandwiches, po-boys, salads, and their famous Hershey bar pie.

PIZZA

The Pizza Shack (925 E. Fortification 601-352-2001) The 2009-2012 winner of Best Pizza offers the perfect pizza-and-a-beer joint. New locations in Belhaven and a second spot in Colonial Mart on Old Canton Rd. in Northeast Jackson.

Sal & Mookie’s (565 Taylor St. 601-368-1919) Pizzas of all kinds plus pasta, eggplant parmesan and the fried ravioli. Best Kid’s Menu & Best Ice Cream in the 2011 Best of Jackson. Plus, Pi(e) Lounge in front offers great drinks and a fun atmosphere for catching up with friends.

ITALIAN

BRAVO! (4500 Interstate 55 N., Jackson, 601-982-8111) Wood-fired pizzas, vegetarian fare, plus creative pastas, beef, and seafood specials.

Award-winning wine list, Jackson’s see-and-be-seen casual/upscale dining.

Cerami’s (5417 Lakeland Drive, Flowood, 601-919-28298) Southern-style Italian cuisine features their signature Shrimp Cerami (white wine sauce, capers artichokes) along with veal, tilapia, crawfish, chicken and pasta dishes.

STEAK, SEAFOOD & FINE DINING

Eslava’s Grille (2481 Lakeland Drive, 601-932-4070) Danny Eslava’s namesake feature Latin-influenced dishes like ceviche in addition to pastas, steaks, salads and other signature seafood dishes.

Rocky’s (1046 Warrington Road, Vicksburg 601-634-0100) Enjoy choice steaks, fresh seafood, great salads, hearty sandwiches and much more in the “polished casual” dining room. Open 24/7 in the Riverwalk Casino.

Spicy Chipotle Turkey Burger

Drop In For Our

with applewood smoked bacon, chipotle mayo & smoked gouda cheese on a cheddar jalapeño bun.

Early Bird Special M-Th from 5-7

2481 Lakeland Dr Flowood, MS 39232

601-932-4070 tel 601-933-1077 fax

4654 McWillie Dr., Jackson|Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 10AM-9PM Friday & Saturday 10AM-10PM, Sunday CLOSED

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Best of Jackson 2008 - 2011 Dinner: Tues. -Sat. | 5pm-9pm

601-919-2829 5417 Lakeland Drive ~ Flowood, MS 39232

Where Raul Knows Everyone’s Name Raul Sierra Manager Since 1996

MEDITERRANEAN/GREEK/INDIAN

Aladdin Mediterranean Grill (730 Lakeland Drive 601-366-6033) Delicious authentic dishes including lamb dishes, hummus, falafel, kababs, shwarma and much more. Consistent award winner, great for takeout or for long evenings with friends.

-Best Barbecue in Jackson- 2003 • 2006 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 1491 Canton Mart Rd. • Jackson • 601.956.7079

jacksonfreepress.com

Broad Street Bakery (4465 Interstate 55 N. 601-362-2900) Hot breakfast,coffee espresso drinks, fresh breads and pastries, gourmet deli sandwiches, quiches, soups, pizzas and dessert.

For Heaven’s Cakes (4950 Old Canton Road 601-991-2253) Cakes and cupcakes for all occasions including weddings, parties, catered events.

33

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SOUTH OF THE BORDER

South of Walmart in Madison

ALL STADIUM SEATING Listings for Fri. August 17- Thurs. August 23 2012 Expendables 2 Sparkle

R

PG13

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Dog Days PG

3-D ParaNorman PG

Beasts Of The Southern Wild PG13

ParaNorman (non 3-D)

PG

3-D Step Up: Revolution PG13

The Odd Life Of Timothy Green PG

The Dark Knight Rises PG13

The Campaign

Ice Age Continental Drift(non 3-D) PG

R

The Bourne Legacy PG13 Hope Springs

PG13

Total Recall PG13

Opens Wednesday 8/22 Hit And Run

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GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE DAILY BARGAINS UNTIL 6PM Online Tickets, Birthday Parties, Group & Corporate Events @ www.malco.com

Movieline: 355-9311

Wednesday - August 15 NEW KARAOKE SHOW 9:00pm - 2:00 am

Thursday - August 16 Open Mic w/ Eric Robinson 7-11 Ladies Night

Friday & Saturday August 17 & 18

New Blue Plate Special

$8.99

1 Meat, 3 Veggies, Bread and Drink

live music august 15 - 21

wed | august 15 Jesse “Guitar“ Smith 5:30-9:30p thu | august 16 Richard Lee Davis 5:30-9:30p fri | august 17 Bluesinator 6:30-10:30p sat | august 18 Dirt Road Jam Band 6:30-10:30p sun | august 19 Starving Artist 4:00 - 8:00p mon | august 20 Karaoke tue | august 21 Jesse “Guitar” Smith 5:30-9:30p 1060 E County Line Rd. in Ridgeland Open Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm Fri-Sat 11am-Midnight | 601-899-0038

The Colonels Friday, August 17 &

Saturday, August 18

August 15 - 21, 2012

Trade Mark

34

Sunday - August 19 9 Ball Tournament 7pm

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Paid advertising section.

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Babalu (622 Duling Ave., 601-366-5757) Fresh guacamole at the table, fish tacos, empanada, smoked pork sholders, Mexican street corn—Jackson’s “Best Mexican” specialties mix & “Best of Jackson 2012” magaritas.

Jaco’s Tacos (318 South State Street) Tacos, burritos and quesadillas. Tex-Mex at its finest and freshest. Tacos come with a side of butter-based mantequilla sauce for dipping. Enjoy the the patio and full bar service.

COFFEE HOUSES

Cups Espresso Café (Multiple Locations, www.cupsespressocafe.com) Jackson’s local group of coffeehouses offer high-end Arabica beans, a wide variety of espresso drinks. Wi-fi.

BARS, PUBS & BURGERS

Burgers and Blues (1060 E. County Line Road, Ridgeland 601-899-0038) Best Burger of 2012! Check out their signature approach to burgers, chicken, wraps, seasoned fries and so much more. Plus live music and entertainment!

Hal and Mal’s (200 S. Commerce St. 601-948-0888) Pub favorites meet Gulf Coast and Cajun specialties like red beans and rice, the Oyster Platter or each day’s blackboard special. Best of Jackson winner for Live Music Venue.

Cherokee Inn (960 Briarfield Rd. 601-362-6388) Jackson’s “Best Hole in the Wall,” has a great jukebox, great bar and a great burger.

Plate lunches, cheesy fries and more, including a full bar and friendly favorites.

Cool Al’s (4654 McWillie, 601-713-3020) A Best of Jackson fixture, Cool Al’s signature stacked, messy, decadent, creative burgers defy adjectives. And don’t forget the fries!

Fenian’s Pub (901 E. Fortification St. 601-948-0055) Classic Irish pub featuring a menu of traditional food, pub sandwiches and beers such as Guinness and Harp on tap. Multiple Best of Jackson awards.

Last Call (3716 I-55 N. Frontage Road 601-713-2700) Burgers, sandwiches and po-boys, plus sports-bar appetizers and specialities. Payper-view sporting events, live bands.

Martin’s Restaurant and Lounge (214 South State Street 601-354-9712) Lunch specials, pub appetizers (jalapeno poppers, cheezsticks, fried pickles) or order from the full menu of po-boys and entrees. Full bar, massive beer selection and live music most nights.

Ole Tavern on George Street (416 George St. 601-960-2700) Pub food with a southern flair: beer-battered onion rings, chicken & sausage gumbo, salads, sandwiches and weekly lunch specials. Plus, happy hour 4-7pm Monday through Friday.

Underground 119 (119 South President St. 601-352-2322) Pan-seared crabcakes, shrimp and grits, chili-rubbed filet mignon, vegetarian sliders. Add a full bar and mix in great music. Opens 4 p.m.-until, Wed-Sat. Wing Stop (952 North State Street, 601-969-6400) Saucing and tossing in a choice of nine flavors, Wing Stop wings are made with care and served up piping hot. Every order is made fresh to order; check out the fresh cut seasoned fries!

ASIAN

- Thursday Night: Ladies Night with DJ Reign -Karaoke with Matt (Wed - Fri) 824 S. State St. Jackson, MS www.clubmagoos.com • 601.487.8710

Pan Asia (720 Harbor Pines Dr, Ridgeland 601-956-2958) Beautiful ambiance in this popular Ridgeland eatery accompanies signature asian fusion dishes and build-your-own stir-frys using fresh ingredients and great sauces.

Fusion Japanese and Thai Cuisine (1002 Treetop Blvd, Flowood 601-6647588) Specializing in fresh Japanese and Thai cuisine, Fusion has an extensive menu featuring everything from curries to fresh sushi.

VEGETARIAN

High Noon Café (2807 Old Canton Road in Rainbow Plaza 601-366-1513) Fresh, gourmet, tasty and healthy defines the lunch options at Jackson’s own strict vegetarian (and very-vegan-friendly) restaurant adjacent to Rainbow Whole Foods.

LIFE&STYLE|body/soul

Making Good Decisions

by Dr. Timothy Quinn

I

was out running for exercise on a recent Sunday around 7 a.m. It was a little warmâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;this is summer in Mississippi, after allâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but I was fine.

A lady pulled over in her car to inform me that I was crazy for running in such hot weather. I kindly thanked her for this valuable information and told her to have a great day. The womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appearance left no doubt in my mind that she would benefit from an exercise program. As she drove off, I noticed her license plate: â&#x20AC;&#x153;NUMB1RN.â&#x20AC;? It confirmed my suspicions.

As a nurse, she knows that exercise would be good for her, but apparently, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t what she decided to do.

I inform my patients of the importance of eating healthy and exercising, but few patients take my advice on the first visit. The most common excuse is that they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have time.

We subconsciously prioritize things using multiple variables and often have many components to the process. We are emotional creatures. In many instances, we â&#x20AC;&#x153;thinkâ&#x20AC;? with our heart or feelings instead of our brains, and we fail to apply rational decision-making to the challenges of life. We go back to bad relationships, eat unhealthy foods and stay out late when we know we should be resting.

For most adults, luckily, decision-making become clearer as we mature. We finally realize that the bad relationship is not going to get better and leave, for example. We understand that

staying out late makes us less productive at work. Through experience, most of us learn to make better decisions. The exception may be our own health: Most Americans never learn the importance of living healthier until it is too late.

Mississippi is making strides to become healthier.

For example, during the last session, the state Legislature passed a law to allow local authorities to financially support farmers markets, and numerous organizations have programs to make healthy changes to school lunch options.

Individual Mississippians are trying to make changes in our culture as well. Educators are stressing the importance of making healthy choices with youth.

Most restaurants now provide healthy menu selections.

Every weekend, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find walks, 5Ks, marathons, bike events and numerous healthy sporting events where just about anyone can participate. Numerous TV and magazine ads turn our subconscious minds toward living healthier.

We are making strong attempts toward becoming a more health-conscious society, but to become truly healthier, we have to make better decisions based on our awareness and follow through with actions.

Decisions are a combination of multiple factors, including learned information, past experiences and emotions. By

reading this article, we hope readers will become more cognitive of the decision-making process. You can limit the impact of factors, such as emotions, that cause you to make decisions not in your best interests.

Laura and the Fly Trap

by Jasmin S. Searcy

WIKI COMMONS/ DOWNTOWNGIRL

and physical health. Our emotions and the way we feel can greatly impact our decisions for good or bad.

Psychological studies have shown that your mind and your body are strongly linked.

If your mental health decreases. then your physical health can deteriorate as well.

Decision-making is a cognitive process, and the outcome involves choosing between many alternatives, according to the American Psychological Association. We often have different approaches to the process, varying between thinking and feeling.

In a recent interaction with Laura, a new member of our Quinn Healthcare Walking Program, she indicated that although she has known about the program for two years, it took a while before she made the decision to join. She told me about suffering a recent bout of depression. Laura began to come out of it after witnessing her 45-year-old first cousinâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;she is the same ageâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;struggle with health complications, including a heart attack. Laura said that she never took her health seriously before this incident. She was young and felt fine, and she thought it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t important. She really knew it was, though.

When her first cousin was hospitalized, Laura felt as if her world had â&#x20AC;&#x153;caved in.â&#x20AC;? She admitted that she struggled with emotional problems such as depression and anger for almost a year, and she made irrational decisions about her health based on those negative emotions. In turn, she developed negative mental patterns that reinforced the negative

emotions. She would tell herself things like, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why bother with my health? Everyone will die one day.â&#x20AC;?

As we talked and walked, she recalled a time when she read about the various ways to catch insects. One device stood out in her mind above all others: it trapped flies.

The design of this specific tool was fairly simple. Essentially, it was composed of an enclosure designed to allow the flies to enter but not exit.

Laura said that it was exactly how she felt over her cousinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health issues: trapped.

Shortly after, she learned that her cousin would be OK, and said she became happy and felt like she could enjoy life again. She â&#x20AC;&#x153;was freedâ&#x20AC;? from the trap, she said. She smiled and said that joining the walking program was one of the best decisions that

she had made in a long time.

She thought it was impossible to stop feeling the way that she did, but she overcame the negativity. Her description of the flytrap has important messages for all of us.

Dr. Daniel Goleman, author of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Emotional Intelligenceâ&#x20AC;? (Bantam, 1995, $17.99), says we must first become aware of and appreciate how our emotions (in Lauraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s case, anger and depression) can greatly influence our decision-making ability. Negative emotions limit our perception of available options and solutions, sometimes to the point that we see no way out.

Understanding that we have the power to change negative thoughts and feelings into positive, rational, motivating thoughts is the gateway to success, and is one of the best ways to live a healthier life.

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hocolate or strawberry? Quit my job or stay? Life or death?

One thing that everyone can agree on is that we all have made our fair share of regrettable decisions based on our emotions. Show me one person who hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, and I will show you 10 people who have undeniably made a ton.

Our minds are powerful toolsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;so powerful that they can greatly affect our mental

35

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, A Mutual Insurance Company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® Registered Marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an Association of Independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

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DIVERSIONS|jfp sports

Find Your Running Niche

D

istance running is a growing sport in Jackson. Running with a partner or in groups will increase your motivation. You’ll have others to help keep you accountable, and it just makes running a lot more fun and lighthearted.

Though our capital city is catching on a little slower than places like Portland, Ore., the metro area has more runners than you might think. It’s finding them that’s the tough part. Thankfully, you don’t have to do all the searching yourself. Three organizations around the Jackson area host events for runners of all levels. At these events, you can increase your training if you’re looking to become competitive (or more competitive), or just hang out and enjoy a few miles in the company of others.

Fleet Feet Sports (500 U.S. Highway 51, 601-899-9696, fleetfeetjackson.com) offers a number of training programs for runners. The eight-kilometer races with group training are Thursdays at 6 p.m.

This “No Boundaries” training program is a 10-week series and costs $100. Fleet Feet holds its first interest meeting for the 8K training program on Aug. 23, and the second Aug. 28 at their location. The kickoff for the program is Aug. 30.

If you’re interested in running full or half marathons, those meetups are Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m. The 22-week full and half marathon training program costs $155. It kicked off the weekend of Aug. 10; however, the good folks at Fleet Feet said that they always expect late registrations, and they encourage people to register even if they miss the first few events.

Besides its for-fee training programs, Fleet Feet has a few free options to get to know other runners around the area. The store holds a once-a-month Poker Run, (which combines poker, a 3-mile run/walk and prizes), Pub Run (a 2-to-4-mile fun run/walk that ends with complimentary drinks at Soulshine Pizza) and Kids Run (a 1/2-to-1-mile fun run for kids). Call or check the website for more info.

StinkyFeet Athletics (155 E. Ridgeway St., 601-992-1439, stinkyfeetathletics. com) offers a number of free options for runners in the Fondren and Flowood areas.

On Mondays, the store hosts an 8:15 a.m. women’s run from the store off Lakeland Drive, and a 6 p.m. run for both male and female runners in Fondren that starts in the Duling School parking lot on Duling

COURTESY RUNNERS CLUB

by Sara Sacks

Running with a group makes sense to keep you on target.

Avenue (behind Babalu Tacos and Tapas).

Stinky Feet also hosts a men’s morning run on Tuesdays at 5:45 a.m. from the shop and another all-women’s run on Thursday morning at 9 a.m.

LiveRightNow Running Group.

Last September, personal trainer Terry Sullivan started preparing with just a small group of friends for a race in Tennessee.

When people along Old Canton Road in Fondren (where he and the group trained) started to take notice, they also started to ask about joining the group. Now, eight months later, more than 200 people run with Sullivan’s group. LiveRightNow hosts hill runs on Old Canton Road Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Fridays at 6 p.m. On Mondays, the group hosts a morning run at 6 a.m. Other runs vary from week to week.

LiveRightNow is devoted to creating a social network of like-minded individuals who focus on wellness, and Sullivan encourages runners of all levels to join the group. For more information, email him at terry@liverightnowonline.com or visit the website liverightnowonline.com.

Are you a member of a running group we don’t know about? Add the information to the comments for this story online at www.jfp.ms, or send all the details to events@jacksonfreepress.com, and we’ll add it for you.

Runner Sara Sacks is not qualified to offer health advice; please consult with your physician before making health changes.

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by Julie Skipper

CHRYSTAL SMITH

Oiled Up and Shirtless

2 k c Ba hool!

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Watching bodybuilders is well worth the $20 price of admission.

â&#x20AC;˘ 25% of kids have a vision problem that affects learning. â&#x20AC;˘ 80% of everything children learn in the first 12 years comes through their eyes.

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ike many Americans, for the past two weeks, I have tuned in to watch the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top athletes compete in the Olympics. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an amazing display of national pride, power and grace and, at least on my couch, analysis such as, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The female swimmers seem to have the best nail art.â&#x20AC;?

This year, I felt particularly primed to appreciate some good muscles. Just before the Olympics started, I attended the 2012 National Physique Committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mississippi Bodybuilding, Figure, Bikini and Physique Championships (npcmsbodybuilding.com). This competition was the statewide qualifier for a national competition, featured menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s divisions and was, quite simply, nothing short of amazing. I consider the $20 cost of admission a bargain for the entertainment, particularly because the proceeds benefitted the Mississippi School for the Deaf.

It all started with a poster at the Courthouse Gym advertising the competition.

I hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even noticed it, but the Fellow pointed and eagerly informed me that we were going. Convinced that the heavy-ironpumping dudes at the gym are quite enough for me to handle and that I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to see a whole competition of bodybuilders, oiled up and shirtless, I brushed it off and forgot about it. Little did I know â&#x20AC;Ś Not until the week of the competition did I learn enough about bodybuilding and fitness competitions to increase my excitement level exponentially. Informed that some competitions include a couples categoryâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in which a man and woman wear a matching bikini and briefs and flex in a synchronized choreographed routineâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;I immediately turned to YouTube to research it. I crossed my fingers that Mississippi had couples eager to participate in this category.

The competition takes place all day on a Saturday; the program we attended

at Thalia Mara Hall that night is a showcase and awards presentation for the winners. Some categories are fitness categories rather than what comes to mind when you think of traditional bodybuilding Ă la Arnold Schwarzenegger. These people just look really, really in shape. They made me want to swear off carbs forever, and start doing about 1,000 crunches a day.

Then there are the bodybuilders, who compete in categories delineated by weight class. Going in (my research into couples competition notwithstanding), I had no idea how big a role a musical soundtracks play in the world of bodybuilding. As it turns out, each competitor comes out to a song and flexes and poses to the music. The music selections ranged from funk, soul, hip-hop, and even gospel in the light and middleweight categories to heavy on the MĂśtley CrĂźe in the heavyweight classes.

Some competitors incorporated dance movesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;one even did flipsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rather surreal when a huge, muscled, tanned, greased-up man comes out, and you say: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wait a minute.

Is he wearing a purple velvet bikini?â&#x20AC;? (Yes. Yes, he was.) Then, as if thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not enough, a mash-up of Michael Jackson and Funkadelic cames on, and he started walking around the stage flexing and getting his groove on. Who needs Magic Mike when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got that? And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mississippi born and bred? To top it off, the winners from each category came back onstage for the judges to determine overall winners and engaged in a pose-off, which is like freestyle flexingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and amazing.

In addition to the competition itself, the special entertainment was special indeed. Guest poser, International Federation of Body Building professional Timothy Gaillard, came out and posedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;I kid you notâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to a song from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dreamgirls.â&#x20AC;?

And later, Acrobazia, a male acrobatic duo from Canada, performed a strengthand-balancing routine similar to what you might see at a Cirque du Soleil performance but without the theatricality. By the end of their routine, the entire audience was on its feet, while my date contemplated their future back pain.

Although this competition lacked any entrants in the couples category, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m hopeful that the regional competition next year delivers a few. Because, like Arnold said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be back.â&#x20AC;? (To watch, just to be clear.

You will not catch me in a bikini onstage.)

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m pretty sure the older lady I overheard as we left will be back, too. She enthusiastically exclaimed to everyone and no one in particular: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bring back those glutes! I want to see more of those!â&#x20AC;?

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CLASSIFIEDS, PAGE 9

The Empty Hamper

DUI? Minimize Your Damage.

Know Your Rights.

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