Fresh Slices is a locally owned business that is among a favorite to Memphians.

I remember the first time I came here to the Overton Park Ave. location a few years back and I fell in love with the food and atmosphere.

There is a wide selection of food to choose from on the menu so everyone will leave satisfied.

This was the first place I had been to that served sweet potato fries and now I always crave them.  Another favorite of mine is the Cajun Shrimp Pizza! Yumm! It comes with spicy Cajun shrimp, diced tomatoes, parmesan cheese, sliced mushrooms and green chives.

The patio is my favorite place to sit, as long as it’s not blazing hot or freezing cold! On some weekends they will have live music on the patio.  A great local musician that I love to hear there is Valerie June.

Another thing I like about Fresh Slices, which is small but makes them unique in a way,  is that they serve a lime with water and tea instead of lemon.

With 3 locations here in Memphis, there is bound to be one close to you.

Cordova location-

Address: 8556 Macon , Cordova, TN, 38018

Phone: 901-756-9774

Midtown location-

Address: 1585 Overton Park, Memphis, 38112
Phone: 901-725-1001

Bartlett location-

Address: 6600 Stage Road Memphis, TN 38134-2867 -

Phone: (901) 388-0270

To check out the menu visit

http://www.marksmenus.com/restaurants/11-Fresh-Slices-Sidewalk-Cafe-and-Deli#32

A couple days ago I decided to visit Mud Island for the first time. I have lived here my whole life and after I visited it, wondered why I hadn’t come sooner.

To enter into Mud Island, you can either take the Monorail under the Skybridge or you can walk over the Skybridge. Either way, you get the most amazing view of the Mississippi River and the city.

After stepping off the Skybridge, you are now on the River Walk.  The River Walk is an exact replica to scale of the Mississippi River and it’s surrounding areas.  Along the walk, you will learn about history and see amazing geographical formations.

The River Walk’s journey ends at what is the replica of the Gulf of Mexico.  Don’t forget to bring your bathing suits, because in this area, you can wade around in and cool off.  They also have paddle boats you can go around the water in, while getting a beautiful skyline view of the city behind.

I really enjoyed Mud Island and the calming feeling you get being  there and surrounded by such a beautiful backdrop.

One of the best things about Mud Island is general admission and access to the skybridge is free all the time, so come out and bring your family and have a good time!

For more info visit-

http://www.mudisland.com/

This fall, Girl Scouts, Tunica RiverPark and over 50 ecological organizations will host an event that you will not want to miss! On Saturday, October 16th, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., our community will ‘Romp on the River’, a free event for the entire family. The Tunica RiverPark is located in Tunica, MS (beside Fitz Casino and Hotel) and is perfect for family outings or a nostalgic sunset walk. Tunica RiverPark allows you to interact up close with the awe-inspiring beauty of the Mississippi River encompassing nature and horse trails, an interactive museum and aquarium, a 48 foot River Overlook, and leisurely riverboat cruises down the mighty Mississippi River.

Romp on the River is an Eco-Festival featuring live music, authentic arts and crafts, innovative ‘green’ events, delicious foods, Tunica Queen Riverboat cruises, hikes along Eco-trails through the MS wetland forests, and an interactive GPS treasure hunt, called geocaching–all on the banks of the Ms River!

For more information, contact Natalie Wilson: 731/676-0186 or natalie.wilson@girlscoutshs.org.

Equine Assisted Learning

In order for people and horses to truly “bond,” people must “pass” such tests in order to work together with horses effectively as a team- otherwise, we don’t get very far with them! In this respect, horses teach us how to “troubleshoot” and help people improve their overall communication skills. If you can “understand” a horse and learn to “read” their thoughts by observing their body language, you’ll probably be better able to “read” people.

Working with horses is very much a “mental” activity. Success with horses does not come from physical strength or overpowering them, rather from understanding them, gaining their trust, observing and learning to “read” their body language. They tell us volumes in the subtlety of a movement, gesture, flick of an ear, lick of the lips. Human willingness to learn this new “language” opens the mind and it feeds the soul. Once learning to “talk” with a horse, the horse gains respect and I believe shows you an unconditional love that warms the heart and heals the soul.

It is not a selfish love, but one that is unconditional, honest, simple, yet an intensely powerful bond that can have a positive life changing effect on a person. It can be the first true glimpse of pure love, trust, respect and teamwork that someone has ever experienced. And all this, can come from the often gentle, persistent, and calming spirit of a 1000+lb horse, that chooses to work with us and submit their wild natural and instinctive roots.

Why horses do this, when they don’t have to….. sometimes still perplexes me? I don’t know many humans that would do so. But my own theory is that I believe horses to be our earthly guardian angels and teachers put here to help us “learn” something about ourselves. They can show us how we should treat ourselves, each other, and every living thing- with respect, dignity, and appreciation! They are mirrors of ourselves and reflect our own nature in how they respond to us. If we’re nervous, they’re nervous. If we’re affectionate, they’re affectionate, if we’re hostile, they’ll react as the big flight animals they are! Horses are after all, horses!

Most horses demand that people “earn” their trust. Not a bad survival trait, considering the number of dishonest folk out there! Once a human has earned the trust of a horse, they’ve earned a life-long, loyal friend. Not to say that horses won’t give refresher’s on this lesson….and test us from time to time. We must earn the right for them to view us as a leader- which they must accept us to be in order for the relationship to be successful. Horses MUST respect and trust us in order for their to be an effective partnership. This is when the true magic comes into play- when both horse and human have bonded, and work as partners and a team. Truly then, magic in the form of unconditional love, respect, enjoyment, and learning opportunities are born. This world would be a better place if more people had the opportunity to experience and learn common-sense, hand’s-on, interactive lessons from some of the most effective teachers on earth- horses!

Interested in learning more about how Equine Assisted Learning sessions available near Memphis, TN can benefit kids experiencing difficulties with traditional learning models, having self-confidence issues, or needing to enhance communication and listening skills? Consider an Equine Assisted Learning session with Ashlee Pigford at Kimberlin Farms & discover how horses can quickly become your child’s best friend, role model, and teacher! (901) 210-5920 or email info@KimberlinFarms.com. Looking for affordable Horseback Riding Lessons for Kids & Adults? Read More About Ashlee’s Program at Kimberlin Farms.

The event, which aims at promoting a greener, healthier, and more livable community with more sustainable lifestyles, will take place on the V&E Greenline (Memphis’ first “rails-to-trails project.”) The celebration is for everyone with fun family activities including a children’s bike parade and games. There will be local vendors and many wonderful events to get out and experience the beauty of the nature that surrounds us on a daily basis. I’m definitely marking my calendar for this event, and if you enjoy nature and saving the environment for future generations, then you should too.

The Commercial Appeal recently highlighted the Wolf River Greenway in the article “More than just a trail:Wolf River Greenway envisioned as bridge to neighborhoods, a ‘force for transformation.’”

The Wolf River Conservancy also has other events coming up including a tributary cleanup on September 18, a free canoe and rafting trip on October 2 and the Greenway 4miler and Family Fun on Walk on Saturday, October 16. For more information, visit wolfriver.org.

“Stanky Creek” is a nickname that the park has picked up due to occasional stinky smells from the creek that runs through it.   Non the less, the smells don’t keep people away. Stanky Creek is home to some of the most popular bike trails around.  Races are held here often and the most popular one is 12 hours of Stank, where people come from all over the United States to join in this race.

This past weekend I attending a race my husband was a part of.  It was fun to watch the bikers speed through the woods to get to the finish line.  Although it was extremely hot, they were troopers and all did a great job.

The park has 3 different trails that go from easiest to most difficult.  The first is the Blue trail which is the shortest and has a few hard turns and small drops. The next is the Yellow trail which is a very tight trail, so if you ride this one, keep your legs and elbows close to the bike to keep from any bruising. The last one is the White trail, the most difficult of them all. This trail definitely tests your endurance and makes you work hard for your air.  Bikers go at your own risk on this one.

So whether your into biking, running, or walking,  these trails are the way to go.  This park is located in Bartlett off Yale Rd. in between Old Brownsville and Billy Maher Rd.

Interested in races here?

Check out there website for more information on when races are held:

http://www.stankycreek.com

So get your tickets for Art with Heart on Thursday, August 26. The 6:30 – 9 p.m. event will be held in the new hospital, located at 50 N. Dunlap St. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Art with Heart is also a great way you can be part of the healing that happens at Le Bonheur. The art collection is available for underwriting, and with costs ranging from $300 to $100,000 it’s an affordable to make a difference. Donations received from the underwriting will allow Le Bonheur to continue to use art as a healing tool.

The collection is truly a community collaboration. More than 200 pieces of art were created by regional school children. Those pieces were selected from 3,100 pieces submitted. The collection features amazing works by local artists including Jeanne Seagle, Lea Holland, Dolph Smith, Leslie Barron, Greely Myatt, Yvonne Bobo and Carol deForest. The collection also includes a giant Blue Dog by George Rodrigue.

Click here to view the embedded video.

There is so much to see. You don’t want to miss this event. Tickets are $60. Order tickets online, make a donation or preview artwork for underwriting go to www.lebonheur.org/art or call (901) 287- 4430.

That’s what we’ll be called if the new charter, recently filed with the Shelby County Election Commission, is passed on November 2.

(Personally, I think we’ll also be called progressive, innovative, and forward thinking.)

You can read the charter, FAQs, and other helpful information at http://rebuildgovernment.org/.

Here’s a quick summary from their Web site:

Local Control of Government

• Metro government gives all Shelby County voters a voice in who leads our local government. A new government will enable voters countywide to determine the direction of our region.
• Elections for the Mayor and Metro Council are nonpartisan. This will ensure the best candidate for the job always wins, taking the power away from political interests and parties and giving it back to the people.
• Local County jurisdictions will not change. Germantown will remain Germantown, Collierville will remain Collierville, and so on. If you currently have a local jurisdiction with a local Mayor, none of that will change with a Metro government.

Education

• The Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools are not merged in this Charter. This is only a consolidation of Shelby County government and Memphis City government.

Reining in Taxes

• The Charter includes a three-year cap on property tax rates. This forces the new government to identify and implement efficiencies such as reducing duplicative management. In the long run, the only way to bring down taxes is to cut spending, and that’s exactly what establishing a Metro government will do.
• There are three tax districts: General services, urban services, and special districts, setting up a fairer way to fund public services.
• The Charter centralizes support services, including security, fleet management, information technology, printing, and property management. This reduces duplication of costs and increases efficiency, saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
• The Charter requires a five-year plan for strategic planning, quality, and budget.
• The Charter mandates a review by an independent Charter Revision Commission every 10 years. This review will help ensure our government is structured wisely and our tax dollars are being used efficiently. Additionally, a new Inspector General position will prevent waste fraud and inefficiency.

Economic Development

• The Charter creates an Economic Development Department with a laser-like focus on job creation.
• Metro Government will allow us to compete with regional peers to attract new business and bring jobs to the area. Metro government will eliminate the red tape and costs that overwhelm businesses when dealing with our two separate governments.

Ethics in Government

• An independent Ethics Commission would be established, as well as iron-clad rules. This new government will have the strongest ethics rules in Tennessee. The new Ethics Commission will oversee all departments and agencies of the Metro Government, as well as the constitutional officers and courts/clerks offices.

Law Enforcement

• The Charter strengthens law enforcement. It establishes an appointed Police Director as chief law enforcement officer and Sheriff as head of corrections, court security, and warrants to centralize functions and make them more efficient.
• Merged firefighting services will create more efficiency and better response time for greater safety.
• 9-1-1- Emergency Communications will be centralized operations to eliminate delay and confusion.

Have you read the charter yet? Any opinions?