Stillman College Hosted 23rd Annual BEEP Seminar

May 8, 2014

Guest speakers at Stillman College’s 23rd annual Black Executive Exchange Program (BEEP) Seminar included Terralance DeShon Thurman of Wellsfargo Bank, Kenneth Law and Chantal Smith of the Veterans Administration, Gregelyn C. Robertson and Michelle Bobo of Regions Bank, Eric McCalpine, Matt Feller and Gabby Medina of Cintas Corporation, and Brandon Johnson of AT&T. Stillman representatives included Dr. Linda Bradford, Dr. Carol Williams, Dr. Christopher Jeffries, and Dr. Kingsley Wokukwu.
BEEP’s mission is to expose students to professionals in their fields in order to share learning experiences across generations, cultivate new leaders, familiarize students with the demands and expectations of diverse industries, and inspire achievement through committed involvement and operational excellence. Attendees participated in a variety of informative sessions, including “Digitally Savvy Job Seeking,” “Ethical Behavior in the Workplace,” “Strategies for Successful Internships,” “Dress for Success,” and “Social Media Do’s and Don’ts.”
BEEP Liaison Dr. Carol Williams stated, “This seminar covered everything that students need to know in order to be successful in life and contribute to society. They addressed many critical issues, including job seeking, ethical behavior, internships, and appropriate attire for the workplace.”

One Hot Summer Getaway

Birmingham Times

May 8, 2014

18575

Memphis Tennessee, Home of the Blues!!!
by Cheryl Eldridge

If you have passion for music, soul and fun, come on down – just a short drive down Highway 78 West from Birmingham, Alabama to Memphis, Tennessee.

Felicia Suzanne’s Restaurant

Once I arrived and got settled at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Downtown, I spent a night on the town with Mrs. Marty Marby, West Tennessee Regional Manager at Felicia Suzanne’s Downtown Memphis Restaurant.
Felicia Suzanne specializes in fine dining and with the nicest staff in the world starring Feleicia Suzanne. She is the best chef in Memphis! She is full of energy and makes you feel right at home.
She puts her elegant take on the classic entrees and side dishes from across the region by using food sourced locally whenever possible. Her talent for creating authentic Southern foods with a twist, paired with her friendly and charming personality, has made her one of the region’s most respected chefs.
Felicia Suzanne was the most upscale place that’s topped off with the best that downtown Memphis has to offer. The scenery outside was inviting while watching the horse-driven carriages and the trolleys/streetcars.
Marty and I ate deviled eggs that were stuffed with house smoked wild salmon and topped with domestic caviar. Ms. Felicia will definitely fill you up at reasonable prices. I would also recommend the following: the Gulf Oysters of Love (Crispy Lousiana Oysters, creamy grits and New Orleans BBQ Sauce), BLFGT Salad (Benton Bacon, fried green tomatoes, baby greens and Tennessee cheddar spread), Shrimp and Grits(Wild Gulf Shrimp, andouille sausage with Creole sauce, crispy grit cake, just to name a few. There is also the sweet potato casserole (to die for) that’s whipped sweet potatoes with a pecan topping.
If you are in the downtown area and I’m only a journalist, not a food critic, I would definitely recommend dropping by and treating your palate to some of Memphis’ best.
Now on the history side of Felicia Suzanne’s, according to her website, Felicia’s culinary career kicked off in her hometown of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Felicia knew she wanted to be a chef at a young age, and she began to make her dream come true by taking the classic curbside lemonade stand to a new level by making cheesecakes for family, friends and neighbors when she was only 12 years old. The top quality of her cheesecakes began to earn a reputation around the community, and she began experimenting with new recipes and styles of cooking.
Selling cheesecakes was only the start of a career that includes being the chef of her own restaurant, which is now in its 11th year. Her tenacity is what launched her career and continues to drive her success. Though she had numerous job offers after completing culinary training at Johnson and Wales University in Charleston, S.C., Felicia wanted to learn from the leader in her field. She began making daily phone calls to Emeril Lagasse in hopes of securing an internship. After 30 days of phone calls, she finally secured a position. Felicia’s commitment soon earned her a position as Lagasse’s assistant, co-author of his cookbooks and producer of his “Good Morning America” segments.
While building her experience with Lagasse, Felicia resolved to open her own restaurant. Felicia Suzanne’s Restaurant was opened in the beautiful Lowenstein Building in downtown Memphis in 2002. Felicia considers the Southern dishes she creates to be puritan representations of the region’s culture and signature foods. She draws inspiration from the places of her past: the cheesecakes she made and sold as a child growing up in Jonesboro, Charleston’s fresh seafood, the Gulf Coast at New Orleans, the towns along the drive down Interstate 55, Alabama’s back roads and the barbeque style of Memphis.
Since the opening, she has taken being a local chef to a new level. She is an expert in cooking with the locally-sourced food of the South. Though many assert a devotion to locally-sourced food, Felicia makes it a top priority to shop at producers within 90 miles of Memphis, and she meets new farmers on her weekly farmer’s market trips. The tomatoes she uses in her Bloody Marys are from Tennessee, additional produce is from Mississippi and the ingredients used in her ice cream desserts are sent directly to her door from Oleo Acres Farm in Tennessee. This expertise in local food has led to the creation of her product line, called Flo’s. She cans each product seasonally, and makes enough tomato jam, pepper jelly, chow-chow and pickles to keep her customers happy the entire year.
Felicia is also an ambassador for the Memphis and Tennessee culinary community. She’s a local leader who is always willing to sell Memphis by selling everyone. She has participated in the Memphis BBQ/Winemaker Dinner in Santa Barbara, Calif., and “Memphis Goes Hog Wild in Oregon” in Portland, Ore.
In 2014, Felicia continues to find ways to improve her restaurant and dishes with the same tenacity that has brought her success. Her patio is undergoing renovations through construction of a new bar and updated outdoor seating. Using local partners, she’s creating a new cocktail menu and expanding the Flo’s product line. Felicia has a passion for finding new partnerships and being an ambassador for Memphis’ culinary community. She especially enjoys learning about the traditions and history of the Southern Foodways Alliance and attending SFA events. These experiences will continue to fuel inspiration for her Southern menu, products and projects.
Thanks to Felicia, Marty and I were stuffed . Thanks Marty for a night on the town. I definitely slept well that night.
Stax Museum
My second day was even better for my sisters LaTanya and Charmaine arrived from Chicago, Illinois. Pure elation and adrenaline started pumping because we had a ball.
Once everyone got settled we travelled to the Stax Museum via concierge/shuttle thanks to the staff at Crowne Plaza Memphis Downtown Hotel. We really enjoyed our favorite driver, Dee who treated us like queens and thank him for his expertise in ensuring our arrival and destinations. He was always right on time and friendly.
The Stax Museum was a sight to see and it is known as the Museum of American Soul Music. If you are familiar with the great Pioneering soul artists such as Aretha Franklin, Ike and Tina Turner, Al Green, Little Milton, they and others are highlighted among the labyrinthine exhibition space in the museum. BB King, Rufus Thomas, Otis Redding, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson, The Barkays, Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Eddie Floyd and other artists who set the standards for good finger-snapping, hand-clapping, toe-tapping soul music: you must visit the Stax Museum.
After a 20 minute video on the history of the Love of Soul in Memphis, you will definitely enjoy Stax. Stax was the place where everyone came regardless of race and religion.
Soul, believe it or not, started in the church, so after watching the video you will get a nice view of the authentic 100-year old Mississippi Delta church that exemplifies the importance and position that gospel has within the origins of soul music – Hoopers Chapel AME Church’s actual church pews and pulpit, surrounded by videos and music that were sung in the church.
The Stax Museum opened in May 2003 and is a replica of the original recording studio that was the site of many history-making recordings. The museum, which also includes the Stax Music Academy, was the brainchild of a group that wanted to ensure that the legacy of the studio and the surrounding area of Memphis, dubbed “Soulsville,” was kept alive. The Stax Museum is a 17,000 square feet facility that contains a number of videos, interactive exhibits, films, artifacts, photographs, instruments, costumes, and other items cataloging the studios importance in soul music. The museum even replicates the sloping floor of Studio A from the original Stax Records, which had a sloping floor because the original studio was in the old Capitol Theater Building. Studio A is legendary for being the site of many famous original recordings that have gone down in soul music history.
Once you enter the doors of the Stax Museum, you will find that the Stax Museum not only features the music and history of the artists that recorded on the label, it also highlights soul music and the music’s roots in gospel and blues. The museum also focuses on other soul music institutions such as Motown Records, Atlantic Records, Muscle Shoals, and Hi Records. The Stax Museum gives you the full experience of this musical heritage.
Other soul music artifacts include Isaac Hayes’ Peacock-blue Cadillac El Dorado with the legendary gold trim, refrigerator, and television; Tina Turner’s gold sequined dress, Ike Turner’s silver suit; Otis Redding’s brown suede jacket, Booker T. Jones’ organ, and Albert King’s purple Flying V guitar. Other exhibits that should not be missed are the Hall of Records that contains displays with more than 800 45 records and 300 albums and the Soul Train dance floor.
There is a disco ball spinning over a dancefloor with epic songs playing from re-runs of soul train’s Dance Line. You know you want to – plus, you can’t really help yourself, move your feet to the beat! I had a ball and went down my own soul train line!!!!
By the way, before you leave, there is a really nice gift shop with some great items and even includes a clearance table with reasonable prices.
This place is doing great things to preserve the history of soul music in the U.S., but also educating the future of soul music here too, with the academy next door. After I left, I asked myself, what happened to good old soul music. I will definitely be back!

National Civil Rights Museum

If you go to Memphis and don’t visit the National Civil Rights Museum, you will miss a big part of history.
The National Civil Rights Museum begins with the Lorraine Hotel where the great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.
While visiting the newly renovated Museum, which was built in 1925, originally named the Windsor Hotel and later the Marquette until its purchase in 1945 by African-American businessman Walter Bailey. Mr. Bailey renamed the hotel for his wife Loree and the sweet song made by Nat King Cole Titled “Sweet Lorraine.
During segregation it was an upscale accommodation that catered to a black clientele. He added a second floor, a swimming pool, and then drive up access for more rooms on the south side of the complex converting the name from Lorraine Hotel to Lorraine Motel. Its guests included musicians going to Stax Records including Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, Aretha Franklin, Ethel Waters, Otis Redding, The Staple Singers and Wilson Pickett.
The original 7,000 lb. bronze signature statue, Movement to Overcome, has been returned to the museum, prominently positioned in the new lobby in front of the new grand staircase. Sculptor Michael Pavlovsky was commissioned to create the statue for the museum’s opening in 1991 and it has been synonymous with the struggle since the beginning. The second floor is opened up to reveal the lobby below, and flooded with light from the skylight ceiling above. The retail shop has moved to the second floor and is visible from the lobby.
Throughout the new exhibitions, visitors will learn about more individuals; ordinary people who accomplished extraordinary things. Visitors may see themselves in this history. Following are some of the new exhibitions:
A Culture of Resistance: Slavery in America 1619 – 1861
Rise of Jim Crow and I, Too, Am America: Combating Jim Crow 1896−1954
Separate Is Not Equal: Brown v. Board of Education 1954
The Year They Walked: Montgomery Bus Boycott 1955–1956
Standing Up by Sitting Down: Student Sit-ins 1960
Strategies for Change
We Are Prepared to Die: Freedom Rides 1961
For Jobs and Freedom: The March on Washington
Is This America? Mississippi Summer Project 1964
A Triumph for Democracy: The Voting Rights Act of 1965
How Long? Not Long: Selma Voting Rights Campaign 1965
I Am A Man: Memphis Sanitation Strike 1968
What Do We Want? Black Power
Say It Loud: Black Pride, 1966−1975
World in Transition
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to complete the tour due to sentimental emotions, but I recommend schools, politicians,churches and other organizations to visit.

Beale Street
If you are ready to get down and enjoy love, blues and good food, head on down to Beale Street.
Most tourists visit Beale Street for its entertainment district for it’s known at the Heart of Memphis Music and Entertainment. At night, all of the restaurants, bars and shops and other places are lit to perfection.
Beale originally was home to traders and merchants that used the convenient location to move goods along the Mississippi River. By the 1860s, many traveling musicians began performing on Beale and over the next few decades, Beale began to flourish. The Orpheum Theatre, “The South’s Finest Theatre” was added in 1890 and in 1899 Robert Church (the first black millionaire in the south who purchased the land around Beale) created Church Park at the corner of 4th and Beale. Church wanted to give musicians a place to gather. At that point, Beale slowly began transforming into a recreational and social center, where folks could unite and listen to music.
In the early 1900s a young man by the name of W. C. Handy made his mark on the city by creating hit songs like “Blues on Beale Street” and “Mr. Crump” (for a local mayoral candidate). Handy’s influence ran deep and from the 1920s to the 1940s, other blues and jazz legends like Albert King, Louis Armstrong, Memphis Minnie, Muddy Waters, and B.B. King (B.B. stands for Blues Boy) all performed on Beale. Their influence created a style known as Memphis Blues.
In 1966, Beale Street was declared a National Historic Landmark and in 1977, Beale Street was officially declared the Home of the Blues by an act of Congress.
Today, all you need to do is take a stroll down Beale Street’s neon row and you’ll hear music spilling out of clubs and restaurants like Rum Boogie Café, B.B. King’s, Silky O’Sullivan’s or the Hard Rock Café. Beale Street is serious about its music, and jam sessions at many of these clubs tend to go deep into the night. For a good time, grab a drink, soak up the sounds and throw a few bucks in the tip jar for the Beale Street Flippers.
The downtown Memphis music scene isn’t just about the blues. The New Daisy Theatre located at the north end of Beale Street is home to visiting national alternative acts like The Raconteurs, The Strokes and Cat Power. The New Daisy is the perfect size venue – big enough to bring well-known artists, but intimate enough to feel like a club.
Every May, the Beale Street Music Festival brings major music acts like Wilco, John Mellencamp, Snoop Dogg and John Legend to Tom Lee Park at the end of Beale Street on the Mississippi River. The festival launches a month of festivities citywide known as Memphis in May.
One place that I would not recommend, even though everyone states that it’s great, was “Jerry Lee Lewis Cafe and Honky Tonk” whose theme is ” Where There’s Always A whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin On.”
Jerry Lee Lewis built his name in Memphis and now he showcases Delta musicians where you can enjoy Southern favorites with live music. My sisters and I were invited in by an intoxicated man who sat us at a dirty table implying that there was a cover charge to see the band. He personally didn’t know what we had in our pockets. Therefore, we moved to the bar and placed our orders. The people were friendly, but the food was definitely not up to par. Everything that we had was burnt.We ordered chicken tenders and fries, catfish fillets, cole slaw and fries, and grilled chicken sandwich and fries served with water. If we were intoxicated, it would have been different, unfortunately we weren’t and were very displeased. The food was distasteful.! However, the waitress took my burnt grilled chicken sandwich back and brought me a new piece of bread on the same dish. In s nutshell, I won’t be back, should have gone with my first mind to get Barbecue.

Rock N Soul Museum

Rock N Soul Museum puts you in the mind of Stax, but more of the rock and roll type of atmosphere.
When you arrive there is another short video and then on to headsets which are worn and visitors can punch in the number on the display and get the history or music that you are engulfed in at the time.
These are places where you can find clothing and information on Elvis, Johnny Cash, Rock n Roll Trio, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Barclays and Al Green to name a few. It was the birth of rook n roll. During that time music brought people together. It was an integrated company that was like family and the spirit of Blackness was as safe as a beautiful flower.
This rock and roll museum offers not only a cohesive tour of early Memphis music, but gives an insight into where this regional style may be heading. “The Beat Goes On” Gallery exemplifies the endurance and success of performers throughout recent decades and pays tribute to the stars of today and tomorrow, including Justin Timberlake, Three 6 Mafia, North Mississippi Allstars, Amy LaVere, and others. Other galleries in the museum pay respect to talent from times past. For music enthusiasts and history buffs alike, these Memphis attractions are both enlightening and educational. The street and club performers on Beale Street and in downtown Memphis also offer further insight into the city’s musical roots and future.
Labels like STAX, HI and Satellite recruited musical artists from the Black community, and some of its stars literally walked in off the streets. Memphis music was a product of collaboration – and sometimes tension – between Black and white musicians. Soul music embodied African-American cultural identity and aspirations in the volatile 1960s and became an important voice of expressing Black pride, and demanding political change. Just as white teenagers expressed themselves through their speech, dress, and rock ‘n’ roll, soul was a part of a larger identity for African-Americans. Soul music changed from popular entertainment to a vehicle for political expression and community activism.
In Memphis, as in many cities throughout the nation, the 1950s and ’60s were years of turbulent change. Ideas and music, once revolutionary, are now foundations of institutions. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a nation through a civil rights revolution, the music that erupted from the streets and studios of Memphis led a cultural, social and civil rights revolution of its own. The Memphis sound interacted with and reflected the city’s dynamics, and made an indelible imprint upon world culture.

Other places that I would recommend are Graceland, B.B. King Blues Club, South of Beale, The Rendezvous, The Arcade, Miss Polly’s Soul City Cafe, Eighty3 Food and Drink, Memphis Zoo, Pink Palace Museum, Central BBQ, Autmoatic Slims,Rizzo’s Dinner and the Classic Soul “Saturday Night Live” Nightclub in South Memphis which we were treated by the best, Mr. Duck Goose.
My four day journey in the City of Soul was planned by such a gracious and hard-working lady, Ms. Tiffany Langston. My itinerary was set for a Queen or King. She had everything timed from the beginning to end of my stay.
In a nutshell, I enjoyed my four day trip and would recommend Memphis, Tennessee to all ages.

Wenzig Named to National Football Foundation Honor Society

Birmingham Times

May 8, 2014

IRVING, Texas – Alabama State University senior kicker Bobby Wenzig was named a member of the 2014 National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society.
The NFF had a record of 832 players from 267 different teams named to the Society which started in 2007. To become a member each player must have maintained a cumulative 3.2 grade point average (gpa) over the course of their collegiate football career.
The NFF Hampshire Honor Society expands the number of scholar-athletes the NFF can recognize each year. The Society encourages academic performance by the student-athletes who play football at more than 700 colleges and universities with football programs.
The Society has honored 4,927 student-athletes since its 2007 inception and the program has grown every year in members, including this year’s record honorees.
The Society was provided from an endowment from Jon F. Hanson, the chairman and founder of The Hampshire Companies to launch the Society and he currently serves the organization as chairman emeritus. Each player awarded with membership in the Society will receive a certificate commemorating their achievement.
Over the course of his career, Wenzig arguably has become one of the most decorated football players in the history of ASU football. He was named to several All-America teams as well as being a three-time All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) performer based on his performances as both a kicker and punter.
His membership into the NFF Hampshire Honor Society is just the latest in a long line of academic honors the San Diego native has received for his performance in the classroom.

People, Places and Things

Birmingham Times

May 8, 2014

By Gwen DeRu

It’s Spring!
….What are you doing this weekend?

There has been so much going on this Spring….HONDA Indy Race, Birmingham Fashion Week and Talladega Superspeedway NEW changes! If you missed it then you missed IT! BUT, you don’t want to miss the rest of what is going on…around town. This is Mother’s Day Weekend! Mothers should enjoy it…everyday.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

FIRST… CONGRATULATIONS ROD SCOTT for being named LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR by the Alabama House Democratic Caucus.  “I feel honored to have received such recognition by the amazing people I work with in the Alabama Legislature,” said Scott. “It is truly an honor to serve the people in my district, and I am grateful to my fellow House Democrats for honoring me with this award.” The House Democratic Caucus is a legislative organization made up of the
Democratic members of the Alabama House of Representatives and responsible for electing the Democratic leaders in the state House of Representatives, and develops and communicates the Party’s legislative policies.
Each year, the Caucus leadership recognizes members who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to the principles and values of the Caucus. The “Legislator of the Year” award is one of the highest honors a member of the Caucus can receive.
“Representative Scott has made a tremendous impact on his district and all of Alabama. He works tirelessly, and is dedicated to making life in Alabama better for everyone. From the fight to protect our public schools to job creation and economic development, Rod has done an outstanding job and we are proud to recognize him for what he has accomplished,” said House Minority Leader Craig Ford (D-Gadsden).
Representative Scott was elected in 2006. He received his B.A. Degree in Economics from Yale University, and his M.B.A. from Dartmouth College.  He is a Professor at Miles College and has three children; Sara-Valena Morgan Scott, Jordan Elizabeth Scott, Bradlea-roi Shelton Scott.
THEN….
HEALTH CARE IN BIRMINGHAM – Is it true what they are saying… Jefferson County has reached a deal with four of Birmingham’s largest health care providers to serve patients of Cooper Green Mercy Health Services?  Is it true?  Cooper Green patients were receiving care from those facilities already.  But it appears that there are some sources that say that contracts have now been agreed upon.  (Look for more, right here, soon.)
NOW…
Here are some things that are family friendly and that you might want to enjoy with your mother.

THE LION KING, JR. – The Center Point High School will present the Disney Lion King Jr, May 8 at 7 p.m., May 9 and 10 at 2 p.m. in the auditorium. The school is located at 1000 Eagle Drive, Birmingham, AL 35215. This production is only one of a dozen or so that will be presented in the United States and was hand selected by Disney as a pilot project to determine the intricate production needs that schools will require in order to launch the script for nationwide accessibility. Under the direction of Ms. LaShanna R. Tripp, students have engaged in intense performing arts workshops and rehearsals to prepare for this highly anticipated performance. Follow the story of Simba (Donovan Stewart), who must learn the true meaning of being King of Pride Rock following the murder of his beloved father, Mufasa (Shemar Smith). Through the guidance of the wise Rafiki (Ashlee Pickard) and support from his childhood friend Nala (Jordyn Jones of Pleasant Grove MS), and the heartwarming and hilarious duo Timon (Tira Davis) and Pumbaa (Ashlee Tremble), Simba returns to Pride Rock to face his scheming Uncle Scar (Byron Bradley) to reclaim his rightful place as king and enable his pride’s survival. This is a fun-filled family event. For more contact CPHSTHEATRETIX@GMAIL.COM.

YVETTE COOKE PERFORMS AT THE SEVEN LOUNGE – Got plans for Mother’s Day weekend? Former lead singer of Rose Royce will perform for Mother’s Day weekend on May 9 and May 10, 8 p.m. at the Seven Lounge, 7070 Aaron Aronov Drive, Fairfield, 35064.  Come out and see the fabulous Yvette “Cookie” Cooke, former lead singer of Rose Royce as she performs hits from the group Rose Royce,  most known for their soundtrack to the movie Car Wash! There will be two shows, Friday and Saturday. Bring mom or just make it a night out in the ambient, intimate atmosphere of Seven Lounge! There will be free appetizers and wine while it lasts each night! Call 205 788-5084 for ticket info! This show will sell out!  Take your mother.
CELEBRATE WITH MOM – As a thank you to all the hard work moms do for their kids every year, Vulcan Park and Museum is offering $1 Off in Celebration of Mother’s Day, 1- 6 p.m..  After Mother’s Day brunch, stop by Vulcan to spend a memorable afternoon with the woman who watches over you and the Big Guy who watches over Birmingham, Museum, 1-6 p.m. and Tower 1 – 10 p.m.  For more go to www.visitvulcan.com
THEN….SPECIAL PERFORMANCE OF SMITH, 7 p.m. at the Vulcan Park performed on Vulcan’s City Overlook, Smith tells the story of the Roman god of the forge from a Birmingham Point of view.  The performance features an athletic, acrobatic interpretation of Vulcan and dancers representing the three elements that built Birmingham.  Vulcan and his team conspire to create all sorts of interesting inventions.  Eventually they form a new city in the distance. Smith features backdrops created by visual artist Paul Wilm and an original score by Philip Ratiff.

FOR LAUGHTER… At the StarDome Comedy Club…..MAY 9-10 and 16-17 JAMES GREGORY, May 10 – STEVE HOFSTETTER, May 24th – RONNIE JORDAN, May 24-25 – EDDIE GRIFFIN, May 27- June1 – JEN KOBER, June 5-8 – TOMMY DAVIDSON, June 13-15 – Russell Peters, June 20-21 – CRAIG SHOEMAKER, June 27-29 – DAMON WAYANS. Tell Bruce that Gwen sent you!!

TODAY… DAVID A. ARNOLD at the StarDome Comedy Club. David has performed at the Montreal Comedy Festival, on Comedy Central’s Laffapalooza with Jamie Foxx and Cedric the Entertainer, The Tom Joyner Show, Baisden After Dark, Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, BET’s Comicview, The Monique Late Night Talk show, HBO’s Entourage and Def Comedy Jam. Based out of Los Angeles, Arnold can be seen working out his stand up at clubs like, the Laugh Factory, the Comedy Union, the Comedy Store, the Improv and the Ice House. David A. Arnold loves the stage and refuses to quit until he is recognized as one of the industry’s best!

FRIDAY…..JAMES GREGORY at the StarDome Comedy. The Funniest Man in America returns! For over twenty years, the unforgettable caricature of veteran comic James Gregory has stood grinning: his blue shirt untucked, his arms outstretched, a carefree welcome PPT James Gregory to a down-home, hilarious storytelling experience. The trademark caricature is the essence of James Gregory´s comedy: whimsical reflections on life from the front porch. Call (205) 444-0008 for more. Tell them Gwen sent you!

SATURDAY…
ENJOY THE DAY …with the mothers in your life!!

SUNDAY….
**MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATION AT THE NEW TIDE AND TIGER, 8 p.m. (in front of the Legion Field on Graymont Avenue.) Call (205) 503-3880 for more.
**HOT MIC SUNDAYS – Each and every Sunday is Open Mic and Karaoke, 8 p.m. – midnight at Venue 35…Free before 9 p.m. at 2724 35th Avenue North.  There will be rappers, comedians and poets.
ENJOY THE WEEKEND!!
COMING SOON…….
MAY 16 – MATT MARSHAK, Contemporary Jazz Guitarist at the Watermark Place, 7 p.m.  Call (205) 425-1137 for more.
MAY 17 – COOK-OUT FOR LADIES OF DISTINCTION, Noon at the New Tide and Tiger (in front of the Legion Field on Graymont Avenue.) There will plenty of BBQ.  Call (205) 503-3880 for more.
MAY 17 – THE BLACK CADILLACS at Hangout Beach Fest, 12:30 p.m. on the RedBull Stage.  Check it out.
MAY 17 – Are you interested in helping?  The Ensley Merchants Association and REV Birmingham are looking for volunteers to aid in a clean-up day in Historic Downtown Ensley. The clean-up will start at 8:30 a.m. and end at noon.  Call (205) 595-0562 or email bgunn@revbirmingham.org  with your name, phone number, email, and availability.
MAY 30 – JAZZNET 5:30 – 9:30 p.m., at the Harbert Center.  Join professionals as they combine great people with great music and two floors of live jazz with AMPLIFIED NOIZ on the Main stage and CADILLAC JAZZ on Stage 2.  Call  (205) 873-4572 for more.  It is hosted by Jeh Jeh of Fox 6.

NOW…. a BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT FOR MAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL CELEBRATING!! THIS MEANS YOU….TAMIA BRYANT-DERU AND LEBOISE DERU! WE MISSED KENDRA FINLEY, KAIDEN FINLEY AND LEKENARA COOLEY ….HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL YOU BIRTHDAY BALLERS…MANY, MANY MORE HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!! ENJOY!!
Well, that’s it. Tell you more ‘next’ time.
(People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send comments to my emails: thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com or gwenderu@yahoo.com)

2014 Toyota Avalon

Birmingham Times

May 8, 2014

by Cheryl Eldridge

The Avalon might be the best sedan in Toyota’s lineup. I have always been partial when it comes to Avalon and found it to be a sporty luxury sedan for enthusiasts.
To drive an Avalon is to love one. I am an avid fan, and did admire last week’s tester, the 2014 Toyota Avalon LTD.
The Toyota Avalon makes you feel as if you are on top of the world. Your first thought when driving the 2014 Toyota Avalon Hybrid might be one of mild surprise, as the big sedan feels more responsive and surefooted than previous Toyota Avalons and is easy to drive.
The hybrid model’s 268-horsepower rating was nice for a big car like this, but for the most part, acceleration is perfectly adequate. The Avalon Hybrid is also exceptionally quiet, equaling the hushed demeanor of a large luxury sedan while cruising at highway speeds.
Technically speaking, the 2014 Toyota Avalon Hybrid is a five-passenger sedan offered in XLE Premium, XLE Touring and Limited trim levels.
The XLE Premium comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, heated mirrors, a sunroof, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, full power accessories, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, leather upholstery, an eight-way power driver seat with power lumbar support, a four-way power front passenger seat and heated front seats. Electronic features include keyless ignition/entry, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a rearview camera, a 6.1-inch touchscreen display and an eight-speaker audio system with a CD player, an auxiliary audio jack and a USB/iPod interface.
The XLE Touring adds foglights, driver seat and side mirror memory functions, a navigation system and Toyota’s Entune smartphone app integration system.
My tester, the Limited, includes the above and adds xenon headlights, auto-dimming side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, upgraded leather upholstery, a 10-way power driver seat, an eight-way power passenger seat, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, a rear power sunshade, hard-drive based navigation, a 7-inch touchscreen display and an 11-speaker JBL premium sound system.
Some of the upper trims’ features are available as options for the lower trims, while the Limited also offers the available Technology package which includes adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlight control and a forward collision warning system.
The 2014 Toyota Avalon Hybrid is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor that’s fed by a trunk-mounted battery pack. Combined, the two power units are good for 200 hp. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) delivers power to the front wheels.
According to EPA estimates, the Avalon Hybrid returns 40 mpg combined (40 city/39 highway). In Edmunds performance testing, an Avalon Hybrid Limited accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds. This is about a second slower than the regular Avalon or most other conventional large sedans, but average for a hybrid sedan. Gas mileage in the city 21 mpg and 31 mpg on the highway.
Standard safety features include traction and stability control, antilock disc brakes, front- and rear-seat side airbags, side-curtain airbags and front knee-airbags. The Limited comes with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts (optional on the Touring). Also standard on the Limited is Toyota’s Safety Connect service, which includes roadside assistance, stolen-vehicle location and automatic collision-notification. The Limited’s optional Technology package includes a frontal pre-collision warning system.
In government crash tests, the Avalon Hybrid received five out of five stars for overall crash protection, with four stars for frontal-impact protection and five stars for side-impact protection. In testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the otherwise similar non-hybrid Avalon scored a “Good” rating – the highest possible – in the moderate-overlap frontal-offset, side-impact and roof-strength crash tests. The Avalon’s seat/head restraint design was also rated “Good” for whiplash protection in rear impacts.
The Avalon Hybrid’s interior is spacious and elegant, with high-quality materials throughout. The front seats are very comfortable and highly adjustable, with plenty of side bolstering and lumbar support for both the driver and the front passenger. As you’d expect for this class of car, the Avalon’s rear seats are quite roomy.
The Touring and Limited come standard with Entune, a suite of smartphone-connected services and apps that includes features like the Bing search engine, Pandora streaming radio, real-time traffic and sports and stock information. Getting started with Entune is a hassle, since you have to install an app on your phone, register for an account, and you always need an active data connection to use it. In addition, the car has to be parked to access many of Entune’s apps (many of which you probably already have installed on your smartphone). Finally, the touchscreen interface has straightforward menus, but it’s sometimes unresponsive to user touch.
Storage compartments provide ample room for drinks and personal effects. The lower section of the center console provides a convenient “eBin” with power cords passing through a sliding panel for two cell phones and auxiliary and USB connections. A large center armrest provides more storage space and additional connectivity and charging for cell phones. The trunk offers 14 cubic feet of space, which is less than the regular Avalon but still more than what’s available from the typical midsize hybrid sedan.
My tester by the way was $42,785 loaded.

Until next week, drive safe, and buckle up and please don’t text and drive.

ASU Tennis Players Named All-Tournament

Birmingham Times

May 8, 2014

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Fresh off their 2014 Runners Up finish at the Southwestern Athletic Conference Men’s Tennis Championship, Adam Coyne and Ronald Mataba have been named to the SWAC Men’s Tennis All-Tournament team.
Both players were part of the exciting season and tournament runs the Hornets had this season as the program made its first appearance in the SWAC Championship game.
Coyne fought through sickness and body cramps on his way to earning the honor. It was his win at four singles in the championship match that had ASU only trailing 3-2 with two matches left.
Mataba won a grueling three-set match in the Hornets’ semifinal win over Prairie View and was in his second consecutive three set match in the championship when the match was halted.

From the Sidelines

Birmingham Times

May 8, 2014

New pacemaker technology allows patients to receive MRI scans

Birmingham Times

May 8, 2014

By Jessica Jones
There’s good news for those who have pacemakers and have experienced a stroke or are at risk for one: the FDA has approved the Medtronic SureScan Pacing Systems, the first and only pacemakers that will allow patients to have an MRI scan anywhere in the body, including the brain and chest. This news comes as the nation observes National Stroke Awareness Month in May.
Typically, patients who have artificial pacemakers are unable to receive MRI scans, which can be beneficial to patients who are suspected of having a stroke. The new technology allows patients to receive MRI scans without interfering with the patient’s pacemaker, said Dr. Raashid Ashraf of Cardiovascular Associates in Birmingham.
“Pacemakers have been around for over 100 years,” Dr. Ashraf said. “And among the implantable pacemakers, they all do the same thing until recently where the technology has gotten to a point where one has offered an edge over another because of the utilization. We have MRI machines that are increasingly used for the diagnosis of stroke, heart disease, and a large number of patients, up to 2,000 patients in the U.S. alone, were denied this modern technology.”
Stroke patients are usually diagnosed through the combination of a clinical examination and either an MRI or a PET scan, an imaging test that uses radiation. With the MRI being less harmful and able to produce better imagery than a PET scan, yet unavailable to pacemaker patients, the answer to the limited options was to create a pacemaker that could withstand the magnetic field of the MRI, Dr. Ashraf said.
Making MRI technology available to patients who have artificial pacemakers is crucial in the event that the patient has a stroke, Dr. Ashraf said, as early detection is the key for a positive outcome.
“A stroke is just like a heart attack, time is critical for the early diagnosis and treatment of heart attacks,” he said. “The same thing applies to strokes. A blood vessel is clogged in the brain and it causes a brain attack, so to say, and the earlier you diagnosis it, the earlier you get that artery open and start the blood thinner treatment, the more brain tissue can be saved, and we know if you diagnose the stroke early and provide proper treatment early on you can have a better clinical outcome. There is less damage to the brain tissue and people come out with less handicaps and less instability so you have to be able to stop the process of evolution of the stroke as soon as you possibly can for the patients to have a better outcome.”
Having a pacemaker doesn’t put a patient at more of a risk for having a stroke, but age certainly can.
“The majority of the patients who require pacemakers are older than 65 and the majority of patients who have strokes are also over age 65,” Dr. Ashraf said. “So it’s a problem that happens in elderly folks and these conditions tend to coexist in that group…that’s why it’s important that a pacemaker should not interfere with the patient’s ability to receive certain diagnostic testing like an MRI.”
When a doctor decides that a patient should receive an artificial pacemaker it’s important to consider future need for an MRI including, but not limited to heart related issues.
Patients and physicians should consider the patient’s past health and evaluate the other health issues that might require the use of an MRI scan such as Alzheimer’s, previous MRIs, back or neck problems dementia, or cancer, Dr. Ashraf said.
“We know that for the lifetime of the pacemaker patients are 50-75 percent more likely to require an MRI in their lifetime,” he said. “So…we need to make patients aware and the public aware that there is a technology that is available for the early diagnosis and detection of stroke and we have to make sure that if someone is in a position to have a choice to have a pacemaker that they should pick the one that should not interfere with the future treatment of stroke or the future requirements for an MRI or a non-heart-related problem.”

Channel blocker treats asthma in the lab

Birmingham Times

May 8, 2014

HOUSTON – Found underwater, a sea anemone might be confused for vegetation as its tentacle-like extremities sway in the current. However, it is actually waiting for its prey to swim within reach. The slightest touch triggers it into action, grabbing its prey and injecting it with a dose of venom. That deadly venom is now injecting life into research on allergic asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways.
It started when Dr. Christine Beeton, assistant professor of molecular physiology and biophysics at Baylor College of Medicine, used that venom to isolate a peptide that she developed into a synthetic analog when she was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Irvine.
Today, in a recent edition of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Beeton has shown that the synthetic analog, known as ShK-186, can inhibit the function of allergen-specific T lymphocytes from patients with asthma and in a rat model. T lymphocytes (a form of effector memory T Cells, or TEM) are known to play a role in lung inflammation that characterizes allergic asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways.
“We showed that ShK-186 treatment decreases inflammation and airway reactivity in a rat model of ovalbumin-induced asthma (allergic asthma),” said Beeton, who is also academic director of the Cytometry and Cell Sorting Shared Facility for the Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center at Baylor. “Our study was conducted in a rat model, however, it is one of the first to show that Shk-186 has the potential to be beneficial as a treatment for certain types asthma.”
ShK-186 works as a selective Kv1.3 channel blocker, which is a potassium channel that regulates and maintains certain effector memory T cells. TEM are responsible for the tissue damage that characterizes many autoimmune diseases and are shown to have high numbers of Kv1.3 channels. They are dependent on Kv1.3 channels to function.
“Because of this, Kv1.3 channels are attractive targets for many autoimmune diseases. We studied its effect on allergic asthma because, while not autoimmune, it is a chronic inflammatory disease,” Beeton said. “We showed that by blocking Kv1.3, we limited the function of TEM from patients with asthma and inhibited the T cells activity in a rat model, reducing inflammation and airway constriction.”
The patent for ShK-186 is currently licensed to Kineta, Inc., a Seattle based biotechnology company focused on immune modulating drugs for critical disease areas. ShK-186 is currently undergoing phase 1c clinical trial for treatment for psoriatic arthritis. Preclinical studies have also shown Shk-186 may have activity across a variety of autoimmune diseases.
There are still more studies necessary before ShK-186 can be used for the purpose of asthma treatment, but the potential is promising, Beeton said.
Others who took part in the study include Shyny Koshy, Redwan Huq, Mark R. Tanner, Mustafa A. Atik, Paul C. Porter, Fatima S. Khan, Nicola A. Hanania, David B. Corry, all with Baylor; and Michael W. Pennington, Peptides International, Louisville, Ky.
This work was supported by: the National Institutes of Health grant AI084981; the American Lung Association fellowship RT-197120-N; the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Med into Grad Initiative; and T32 award GM088129 from the National Institutes of Health. The Cytometry & Cell Sorting Core at Baylor is supported in part by the National Institutes of Health (RR024574, AI036211, CA125123) and the expert assistance of Joel M. Sederstrom.

Volleyball Announces Summer Camps

Birmingham Times

May 8, 2014

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama State University Head Volleyball Coach Penny Lucas-White has announced the upcoming dates for the 2014 Play Like Winners Volleyball Camps.
The individual skills camp will be held June 16-18. The price will be $250 for each residential camper who will be staying on campus while the price for commuter campers will be $200.
The Lady Hornets will also host a Team Camp which will run June 18-20. The cost per player as a residential camper will be $250 and the price per commuter camper will be $200.
It is the third season Lucas-White has hosted the camps and she will have several members of the ASU 2013 SWAC Champions Lady Hornets volleyball team assist her during the camps.
“Our camps have gotten bigger and better each summer,” Lucas-White said. “We have had the opportunity to go around the state and region to host other camps and that has made our camp become even more popular.”
“Teaching young volleyball players and watching them reach their potential is something I and my staff love to do. We are expecting our camp to grow even more this year and we know it will be a growing and learning experience for everyone that attends.”
Campers can register for the camp on line at bamastatesports.com. Just go to the volleyball home page and click on PLW Volleyball Camp. For more information contact Assistant Coach Val Armstrong at 334-318-4040.

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