Memphis City Council members voted down a K-8 home schooling center in Midtown and a collision repair center in Cordova at their Tuesday, May 21, meeting.

The Natural Learning Center at 2368 Circle Ave. in the Lea’s Wood neighborhood near Overton Park drew opposition from the neighborhood.

2. Shopping Center Group Sees Retail Starting to Rally - Saturday, May 25, 2013

The Shopping Center Group is seeing activity perk up a bit in 2013 following several years of sluggishness in the local retail market due to the recent recession.

“It is definitely a lot better than it was two to three years ago. We are busier than we were then,” said Danny Buring, managing partner of The Shopping Center Group’s Memphis office.

3. Editorial: Convention Center Likely Years Away - Saturday, May 25, 2013

Nashville cut the ribbon this month on Music City Center, its massive new convention center that some Memphis leaders would like to match.

It is very tempting to point out that we have chased other cities in the past with these kind of massive civic projects and not fared well at all.

4. Between Economy and Trouble, Obama Approval Steady - Friday, May 24, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The economy is recovering, the White House is dealing with multiple controversies, and President Barack Obama appears generally unaffected either way.

He's getting no significant uptick in approval from gains in housing, jobs and the stock market. Likewise, he has so far seen no downtick from the recent storms over the terror attack in Benghazi, Libya, the targeting of conservative groups by the IRS and a leak investigation that has swept up the phone records of Associated Press journalists.

5. No Vision, No Gifts - Friday, May 24, 2013

Part one of three-part series on transformational giving. Philanthropy makes front-page news with the announcement of large, transformational gifts. Think Bill Gates. Oprah Winfrey. Warren Buffet. With the news comes the question, “What would it take for us to receive such a gift?” This three-part series seeks to provide insights that can help nonprofits begin a conversation that may itself be transformational.

6. 23 Groans: For the Pun of It - Friday, May 24, 2013

ONCE A PUN A TIME. If it’s held up by this column, I’m about to be robbed of my reputation. Forgive the pun.

Every one of us is occasionally confronted, even assaulted, by puns. Every one of us has at least one friend who lives by them. My golf buddy, Scoop, has one a hole. My late father-in-law, Doc, was a master of the pun – none too painful to be shared, no occasion or group inappropriate for the sharing.

7. Can Grizz Dig Out of Conference Finals Hole? - Friday, May 24, 2013

So the family room is full for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. It’s the third quarter, or maybe early in the fourth, and there’s a moment of quiet.

“Wow, that’s a slow-moving system,” my wife says.

8. Grizzlies Confident Despite Odds Against Them - Friday, May 24, 2013

The Grizzlies have to win four of five to beat the San Antonio Spurs and advance to the NBA Finals. In other words, if reality itself could hold up a towel it would read: “I don’t bluff.”

The Grizzlies dropped the first two games in San Antonio and, historically speaking, a fool would soon part with his money if betting on the Grizzlies to come back and win the series. Because when a team wins the first two games of a seven-game series, it goes on to win that series 93.7 percent of the time. The Grizzlies already have upset these odds once, falling behind the Los Angeles Clippers 0-2 in this year’s opening-round playoff series before rallying to win four straight.

9. Median CEO Pay Rises to $9.7 Million in 2012 - Thursday, May 23, 2013

CEO pay has been going in one direction for the past three years: up.

The head of a typical large public company made $9.7 million in 2012, a 6.5 percent increase from a year earlier that was aided by a rising stock market, according to an analysis by The Associated Press using data from Equilar, an executive pay research firm.

10. Council Turns Down Home Schooling Center - Thursday, May 23, 2013

Memphis City Council members voted down a K-8 home schooling center in Midtown and a collision repair center in Cordova at their Tuesday, May 21, meeting.

The Natural Learning Center at 2368 Circle Ave. in the Lea’s Wood neighborhood near Overton Park drew opposition from the neighborhood.

11. Commencement Address – Part 1 - Thursday, May 23, 2013

(With apologies to Schmick, Wheelan, Rowling, Lamott, Wallace, Sedaris and others, here is the graduation speech I’ve never been asked to give – in two parts.)

Thank you, etc. Three tips for the future: Sunscreen, dental floss and the Neti Pot. I’m convinced these three things enhance one’s quality of life in ways that are just shy of miraculous. Don’t wait till later in life to enjoy them. Additionally ...

12. Consider Retirement Funds Before Job Change - Thursday, May 23, 2013

Ray’s Take Job hopping, especially in the early years, is more common than ever. Careers are more evolutionary now, as the days of lifetime jobs seem long gone. However, a lot of retirement savings can wind up lost if care is not taken when changing jobs.

13. Kroger Announces Changes to Whitehaven Store - Thursday, May 23, 2013

The latest upgrade of a Kroger supermarket in Memphis to be announced by the grocery giant’s Delta Division will be the Whitehaven store at 1212 E. Shelby Drive.

14. Changes Coming to Literacy Mid-South - Thursday, May 23, 2013

Major changes are on the way to Literacy Mid-South, which has been helping adults and young adults learn to read for nearly four decades.

During a breakfast announcement at Bryan Campus Life Center at Rhodes College, Literacy Mid-South leaders announced eight of the most significant developments in the program’s 40-year history.

15. Events - Wednesday, May 22, 2013

The Rotary Club of Memphis East will meet Wednesday, May 22, at noon at The Racquet Club of Memphis, 5111 Sanderlin Ave. Bill West, founder of The West Clinic, will speak. Cost is $17. R.S.V.P. to Lee Hughes at lmhughes@bellsouth.net.

16. The 'Sell in May' Story - Wednesday, May 22, 2013

The “Sell in May, and Go Away” slogan is common vernacular within the investment sphere. However, for some of our readers who might not be as familiar with this phrase, we will use this week’s writings to review.

17. Measuring Innovation With Money - Wednesday, May 22, 2013

But will it make real money? Innovation is such a heady, ill-defined concept. Innovation is one of those words – like strategy or creativity – that means either nothing or something different to anyone who hears it. But when handled correctly, genuine innovations are the lifeblood of any company’s continued health and success.

18. Boosting Email Newsletter Results - Wednesday, May 22, 2013

These days most businesses invest in e-newsletter campaigns, but few realize a return on that significant time investment. Developing a results-driven email newsletter strategy is more of a science than an art, as technological advancements provide a wealth of information about what readers want.

19. Kramer Given Crystal Award by Carwash Association - Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Bruce Kramer, an attorney with Apperson Crump PLC, has been given the Crystal Award by the International Carwash Association for his 20 years of service as the association’s general counsel. The association, which was started in Memphis in 1955, is comprised of 15,000 professional car wash operators, retailers and suppliers in 25 nations.

20. UTHSC Professor Receives $2.9 Million Grant - Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Dr. Kafait Malik, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, has received a $2.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how the nervous system, hormones and immune system interact to regulate cardiovascular and kidney function and the development of high blood pressure.

21. Ford Files Trust Deed for Sycamore View Property - Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Sr. of Memphis has filed a $900,000 loan on the shopping center at 1670 Sycamore View Road in Northeast Memphis that he recently bought.

22. Events - Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Memphis Rotary Club will meet Tuesday, May 21, at noon at the University Club of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. Tim Brown, president of Kroger’s Delta Division, will speak. Cost is $18. R.S.V.P. to Taylor Hughes at taylor@memphisrotary.org.

23. Teaching New Dogs Timeless Tricks - Tuesday, May 21, 2013

You might say that I’m a veteran in the real estate industry. A half a century in the business probably earns me that title. Much has changed since my uncle Russel Wilkinson and partner Robert Snowden founded Wilkinson & Snowden in 1946, the predecessor company to today’s Colliers International office in Memphis. In fact, Russel and Bob were the first to develop industrial real estate of any consequence here. Today there are more than 220 million square feet of industrial space in the Memphis metropolitan market.

24. Cresthaven Medical Building Sells for $2.5 Million - Tuesday, May 21, 2013

1068 Cresthaven Road Memphis, TN 38119

Sale Amount: $2.5 million

Sale Date: May 2, 2013

25. City Council Mulls Ending Auto Inspections - Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Memphis City Council member Lee Harris will propose Tuesday, May 21, exempting Memphis auto owners for two years from required auto emissions inspections.

26. Women’s Health in Tennessee Garners ‘C’ Grade - Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Women’s overall health in Tennessee improved to a grade of C, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement, according to the Tennessee Women’s Health Report Card.

The biannual report card, which is a collaborative effort of the Vanderbilt Institute for Medicine and Public Health, Meharry Medical College, East Tennessee State University, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and the Tennessee Department of Health, provides a comprehensive look at the overall health status of the state’s more than 3 million women over a five-year span.

27. Rich to Headline Benefit for St. Jude Hospital - Monday, May 20, 2013

John Rich will perform alongside Wynonna Judd, Larry the Cable Guy and his Big & Rich partner, Big Kenny at a June 4 concert that will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

28. UTHSC Appoints Dermatology Department Chair - Monday, May 20, 2013

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center said Dr. Kathryn Schwarzenberger will lead the university’s new Department of Dermatology in the College of Medicine.

Before joining UTHSC, Schwarzenberger was a professor in the Division of Dermatology at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. After completing her medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, she completed residencies in both internal medicine and dermatology at Duke University and a fellowship in immunodermatology research at the National Cancer Institute Dermatology Branch.

29. Nike Distribution Center Issued $4.4 Million Permit - Monday, May 20, 2013

The city-county Office of Construction Code Enforcement has issued a $4.4 million mechanical permit for work on Nike Inc.’s North Memphis distribution center at 3100 New Frayser Blvd.

30. Events - Monday, May 20, 2013

Memphis Rotary Club will meet Tuesday, May 21, at noon at the University Club of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. Tim Brown, president of Kroger’s Delta Division, will speak. Cost is $18. R.S.V.P. to Taylor Hughes at taylor@memphisrotary.org.

31. 'We Made a Mistake' - Monday, May 20, 2013

Like a carpenter who utilizes an arsenal of powerful tools with extreme caution – because they hold enough power to accidentally saw off a finger or a hand – PR professionals carefully craft statements and key messages for brands because they too have the potential to “cut off” something valuable to a company – like an entire target audience. The statement “we made a mistake” is one of the most powerful declarations a brand can make, but as with all powerful things, it must be used carefully and with precision.

32. The Myth of Rationality - Monday, May 20, 2013

Do decisive people base their decisions on rational factors or do they often rely on intuition and emotions? According to Jan Halper’s book “Quite Desperation: The Truth About Successful Men,” if the truth were known, most executives rely more on emotional factors when making important decisions.

33. Capital of ’Cue - Monday, May 20, 2013

Before the sizzle on the grill, the first sounds of the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest heard in Tom Lee Park are hammers and nail guns.

34. Baptist Cancer Center Taps New Medical Director - Saturday, May 18, 2013

Baptist Memorial Health Care said it has named Dr. Stephen Edge as the medical director of the Baptist Cancer Center.

35. Thomas & Betts Donates $1 Million - Saturday, May 18, 2013

Thomas & Betts Corp. executives marked one year since the acquisition of the Memphis-based power and electric utility devices company by ABB Group of Zurich Thursday, May 9, with three contributions from both. The contributions, totaling $1 million, went to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and the Memphis Development Foundation.

36. Memphis Tech Firm Develops Museum Kiosks - Saturday, May 18, 2013

When The Woody Guthrie Center opened recently in Tulsa, Okla., it included 12 touch-screen kiosks that were developed by Memphis-based custom software development firm Mind Over Data.

The kiosks that Mind Over Data helped develop allow visitors to browse photos, writings, audio recordings, videos and other digital artifacts.

37. FedEx Plans Center in Southwest Illinois - Saturday, May 18, 2013

FedEx Corp. is building a $23.5 million ground distribution facility in southwestern Illinois that will process 10,000 packages an hour once fully operational.

38. Events - Saturday, May 18, 2013

The Black Business Association of Memphis will meet Thursday, May 23, at 8 a.m. at the Renaissance Business Center, 555 Beale St. Jack Sammons, chairman of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority, will discuss what new developments at the airport mean for small businesses. R.S.V.P. to myron@whatshappeningmyron.com.

39. Under the Microscope - Saturday, May 18, 2013

A little-known federal program widely used in Memphis to provide hospitals and health centers that treat the nation’s most vulnerable patients with hefty discounts on outpatient drugs is under scrutiny from Congress, regulators and the pharmaceutical industry.

40. Events - Friday, May 17, 2013

Germantown Community Theatre will present the musical “Ruthless” May 17 to June 2 at the theater, 3037 Forest Hill-Irene Road. Visit germantowncommunitytheatre.org.

41. Changing the Fiber of Your Nonprofit - Friday, May 17, 2013

A capital campaign – or any other quantum leap in your fundraising – will pull at every fiber of your nonprofit. These are not “business as usual” activities. If you want to grow from one level of donated revenue to another you have to do things differently. It’s no different than a business seeking to enter a new market or release a new product. New, more and different thinking, actions and people are required for new, more and different results.

42. Two Bo’s, One Town - Friday, May 17, 2013

THANK YOU, Z’BO AND C’BO. AND THANK YOU, MICHAEL. Last week, my son reminded me to write a column about the Grizzlies. So I did. This week, a good friend commenting on that column reminded me of why I write them in the first place, and then wrote one for me.

43. Grizz Win With Tony Being Tony - Friday, May 17, 2013

Had things turned out differently, we would know too well Rule 12, Section V, item a, from the NBA rulebook:

“An official may assess a technical foul, without prior warning, at any time. A technical foul (s) may be assessed to any player on the court or anyone seated on the bench for conduct, which in the opinion of the official, is detrimental to the game. The technical foul must be charged to an individual.”

44. Past Due - Friday, May 17, 2013

In the last five years, the 600 computers in the Memphis Public Library & Information Center were used 1.2 million times.

In that same five years, the budget for the library system of 18 locations has been cut 21 percent and there has been a 20 percent reduction in hours over the same five years.

45. Grizz Claw Into Conference Finals - Thursday, May 16, 2013

His team had just overcome a 17-point first-half deficit and beaten Oklahoma City in overtime to win Game 4 and take a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series. So someone asked Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins if he was impressed.

46. More Tips on Selling the Business - Thursday, May 16, 2013

I’d like to offer a counterpoint to a recent Daily News column that I presented a slanted view of the process used by investors to acquire the business of an entrepreneur (April 19, Selling the Business: Games Buyers Play).

47. Stuff to Know About an Atlanta Burger Joint - Thursday, May 16, 2013

ATLANTA – On a weekend trip to this, the city where we honeymooned four decades ago, Susan and I find ourselves in a place touting the “best burgers in Atlanta.” On its menu is the “Fat Elvis,” a half-pound of meat “slathered with a King-sized helpin’ of smooth peanut butter, bacon and fried bananas.” Neither of us opts in for this.

48. Talk About Money Before Taking Vows - Thursday, May 16, 2013

Ray’s Take You’re blissfully in love and happily engaged to your soul mate. The future looks idyllic. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean your fiancé is your ideal financial mate. In fact, a study by professors from The Wharton School and Northwestern University revealed financial opposites tend to be attracted to each other, and those marriages often face significant challenges. With some honest and open discussion in advance, that doesn’t have to happen to you.

49. Medlock Takes Talents From Soccer Field to Courtroom - Thursday, May 16, 2013

After graduating from Germantown High School, Steven Medlock left Memphis for the bluegrass of Western Kentucky University.

50. FedEx Plans Center in Southwest Illinois - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

FedEx Corp. is building a $23.5 million ground distribution facility in southwestern Illinois that will process 10,000 packages an hour once fully operational.

51. Non-Financial Fraud’s Growing Threat - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Conventional fraud is all too familiar, including misappropriation of assets (better known as employee theft) and financial statement fraud (Enron, WorldCom and Stanford Financial Group).

However, a type of fraud climbing out from under-the-radar status is non-financial fraudulent statements – false or misleading information produced by an organization to the public or regulatory body.

52. Forming the Second Wave - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Most businesses start with vigor and willpower. Truly breakthrough businesses launch and fly with such an impassioned sense of mission that it changes the market and the communities where their offices are located.

53. How High Can We Go? - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Total stock market returns combine dividends with a change in earnings and a change in multiples. Right now, the dividend yield on the S&P 500 is 2 percent. The earnings estimate for the S&P 500, for year-end 2014 as projected by Standard and Poor’s, approximates $120, as trailing earnings equal $100 per share.

54. Employ Both Push and Pull Marketing - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The future of push vs. pull marketing is a hot debate. With social media continually on the rise, there’s a trend to disregard push marketing in its entirety. That’s a mistake. Not only is there a place for both, limiting yourself to one over the other will inhibit your ability for profitable growth.

55. Brimhall Named Bartlett Entrepreneur of Year - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Terry Brimhall, founder and president of Brimhall Foods Co. Inc., has been named entrepreneur of the year by the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce.

56. Hospital Billings Vary Widely in Memphis - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Government data released for the first time last week showed that hospitals across the nation bill Medicare widely different amounts for the same procedures.

St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell, N.Y., charged $29,637 for patients who received a respiratory system diagnosis and remained on a ventilator more than 96 hours, while Stanford Hospital in Stanford Hospital, Calif., charged $929,119.

57. Drugstore Corridor - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Walgreen Co. is building a new store on Poplar Avenue in East Memphis amid some of the most important and valuable commercial real estate in the city.

58. FedEx Plans Distribution Center in Southwest Illinois - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

SAUGET, Ill. (AP) – FedEx Corp. is building a $23.5 million ground distribution facility in southwestern Illinois that will process 10,000 packages an hour once fully operational.

59. Owner Files $1.7 Million Loan on Arlington Center - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The new owner of the 13,658-square-foot retail center at 9915 U.S. 64 in Arlington has filed a $1.7 million loan on the property.

HGG Investments LLC filed the deed of trust May 6 through First Citizens National Bank. The financing was in conjunction with HGG Investments obtaining the property in a quitclaim deed from Robert E. Harris, Beverley R. Harris, Becky J. Graybill and Andrew P.P. Golay.

60. A Fond Farewell for Now - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Hard to believe, but almost three years has passed since I wrote the first “Giving Back” column in 2010. Credit goes to James Overstreet, associate publisher of The Daily News, who pulled me aside one day and asked if I had ever thought about sharing my ideas and some of our Lipscomb Pitts Breakfast Club philanthropic efforts with a broader audience. What started as an idea to share helpful tips, quickly evolved into a pipeline for positive stories, a spotlight for local nonprofits, and an avenue to provide easy ways to get more engaged in our community.

61. Oakhaven Warehouse Sells After Foreclosure - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

4120 Air Trans Road, Memphis, TN 38118

Sale Amount: $2.5 million

Sale Date: May 7, 2013

62. City Third Worst in US for Asthma Sufferers - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

A recent study by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America placed Memphis No. 3 on a list of the most challenging places in the U.S. to live in with the chronic disease. In 2012, Memphis ranked No. 1.

63. Baptist Cancer Center Taps New Medical Director - Monday, May 13, 2013

Baptist Memorial Health Care said it has named Dr. Stephen Edge as the medical director of the Baptist Cancer Center.

64. Thomas & Betts Donates $1 Million - Monday, May 13, 2013

Thomas & Betts Corp. executives marked one year since the acquisition of the Memphis-based power and electric utility devices company by ABB Group of Zurich Thursday, May 9, with three contributions from both. The contributions, totaling $1 million, went to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and the Memphis Development Foundation.

65. Memphis Tech Firm Develops Kiosks for Museum - Monday, May 13, 2013

When The Woody Guthrie Center opened recently in Tulsa, Okla., it included 12 touch-screen kiosks that were developed by Memphis-based custom software development firm Mind Over Data.

The kiosks that Mind Over Data helped develop allow visitors to browse photos, writings, audio recordings, videos and other digital artifacts.

66. Events - Monday, May 13, 2013

The Memphis Chapter International Association of Administrative Professionals will meet Monday, May 13, at 6 p.m. at Memphis Marriott East, 5795 Poplar Ave. Melissa Webb, president of the IAAP Desoto chapter, will present “Constructing Your Career – Getting to the Heart.” Cost is $22. R.S.V.P. to sharon.gardner@asentinel..

67. Strategy for Very Familiar Questions - Monday, May 13, 2013

OK, I was trying to be somewhat nice in the title. This article is really about answering those questions that you have heard hundreds or perhaps thousands of times. Questions that make you think, “If I have to answer that question one more time, I might just go crazy!”

68. State Zeros in on Downtown Office Space - Monday, May 13, 2013

The future of the state’s role as a major employer and user of office space Downtown could become much clearer this week.

Proposals are due Thursday, May 16, for 100,000 square feet of office space that will become vacant when the state abandons the Donnelley J. Hill State Office Building Downtown. A recent request for proposals from the agency that handles state real estate appears to put the state’s focus entirely on Downtown.

69. UTHSC College of Nursing Honors Outstanding Grads - Saturday, May 11, 2013

More than 200 alumni, students and friends of the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center gathered on Friday to honor two alums.

Patricia Cunningham, an associate professor and UTHSC faculty member since 1992 received the outstanding alumna award, while Susan Jacob, who recently retired as interim dean of the college after more than nine years at UTHSC and a nursing career that spans more than four decades, received the most supportive alumna award.

70. Council OKs Apartments, Golf Driving Range - Saturday, May 11, 2013

Memphis City Council members approved Tuesday, May 7, a golf driving range on Summer Avenue north of Sycamore View Road, a 240-unit apartment complex on 19.3 acres at Lenow and Dexter roads and a 69-unit apartment complex on the northern side of Shelby Farms Park to the west of Germantown Parkway.

71. Events - Saturday, May 11, 2013

National Hispanic Professional Organization-Memphis will meet Thursday, May 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hilton Memphis, 939 Ridge Lake Blvd. Speakers include Larry Jensen, president and CEO of Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors LLC, and representatives from Washington think tank Excelencia in Education. Cost is free for members and $20 for nonmembers. R.S.V.P. to info@nhpomemphis.us or 466-6476.

72. May 10-16: This week in Memphis history - Saturday, May 11, 2013

2011: The Mississippi River at Memphis crested at 48 feet, the highest level since the all- time record 1937 flooding on the river at Memphis of 48.7 feet. Large crowds of Memphians came to the riverfront the weekend before the crest to snap photos and see for themselves the river at the highest level many had ever seen in their lives. Greenbelt Park on Mud Island, which normally floods during the spring, was closed by the city as the muddy water rose to the paved walkway on the west side of Island Road. The river waters invaded the Riverwalk model on Mud Island as well. And the Memphis in May International Barbecue Cooking Contest was moved from the park to Tiger Lane at the Fairgrounds.

73. Unique Projects Bolster Zellner in Rough Times - Saturday, May 11, 2013

Zellner Construction Services LLC is a third-generation commercial construction company that has built a solid reputation for quality over quantity.

74. Inman Keeps Construction Business Running Strong - Saturday, May 11, 2013

Page Inman had no intention of joining the family construction business, but 20 years and a couple $40 million construction jobs later, he has no regrets.

Cyclical economic changes and the need for competitive diversification are par for the course in an industry that depends on the availability of capital to survive.

75. Construction Lending Still Facing Tepid Improvement - Saturday, May 11, 2013

As the economy starts to rebound, local lenders like Magna Bank, First Tennessee Bank and Renasant Bank are seeing moderate improvement in activity for new commercial and residential construction projects, and competition is intensifying to land deals.

76. Core Focus - Saturday, May 11, 2013

The Great Recession silenced construction crews throughout the Memphis area, and that was especially evident Downtown, where ambitious, skyline-changing projects were put on hold, reconfigured or scrapped altogether.

77. Thomas & Betts - ABB Donate $1 Million - Friday, May 10, 2013

Thomas & Betts Corporation executives marked one year since the acquisition of the Memphis-based power and electric utility devices company by ABB Group of Zurich Thursday, May 9, with three contributions from both totaling $1 million to St. Children’s Research Hospital, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and the Memphis Development Foundation.

78. Events - Friday, May 10, 2013

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art will host Vin-A-Que, part of the 2013 Memphis Wine + Food Series, Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m. at the museum, 1934 Poplar Ave. The event will include snout-to-tail barbecue, other dishes prepared by local chefs, specialty cocktails and wines, and live music. Tickets are $100 at the door. Visit memphiswineandfoodseries.org.

79. Nurturing Social Capital - Friday, May 10, 2013

“Trusting relationships and reflection/rejuvenation are required for building strong networks and collaborations.”

That’s the word from Patricia Brandes, executive director of the Barr Foundation. She didn’t say more funding, more collaboration, lower expenses or greater impact. She focuses on the three R’s – relationships, reflection and rejuvenation.

80. Grizz Buzz - Friday, May 10, 2013

A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. “You need to do next week’s column on the Grizz,” the email from a regular reader opened.

“There is no better or more appropriate time than now when the whole city is watching. You can contest the Simers article in the LA paper about Memphis being a ‘rathole’ where they should be ‘handing out bullet-proof vests instead of growl towels’ and focus on how the team represents the diverse, working class mentality of our city. Also, new ownership, including local minority group with Justin Timberlake, Ashley Manning, etc. Memphians are soaking up the Grizz like a sponge right now. You should join in. Just a thought.”

81. Memphis Means Grizzlies – Got It? - Friday, May 10, 2013

It’s funny the things you take for granted when you’re in the middle of them. Like, well, everything connected to this thrilling Grizzlies playoff run, including the characters and the language that have become part of the city’s core.

82. Police Changes Continue Amid Budget Talks - Friday, May 10, 2013

With the start of the new year, Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong began a reorganization of the department that changed the boundaries of the city’s nine police precincts, evening out the amount of territory and calls each area handles.

83. Industrial, East Memphis Office Sectors Bolster CRE - Friday, May 10, 2013

The local commercial real estate market is a tale of two sectors, with the industrial sector showing signs of improvement while the overall office sector – outside the prized East Memphis submarket – continues to struggle through the first three months of the year, according to recent reports.

84. Danish Manufacturer Roxul Brings Facility to Byhalia - Friday, May 10, 2013

Just a few feet beyond the Tennessee-Mississippi state line past the Fayette County line on U.S. 72 is the turn onto Cayce Road in Byhalia and what is soon to be the first U.S. plant of the Danish company Roxul Inc.

85. Council Approves Apartments, Golf Driving Range - Thursday, May 09, 2013

Memphis City Council members approved Tuesday, May 7, a golf driving range on Summer Avenue north of Sycamore View Road, a 240-unit apartment complex on 19.3 acres at Lenow and Dexter roads and a 69-unit apartment complex on the northern side of Shelby Farms Park to the west of Germantown Parkway.

86. Only Words - Thursday, May 09, 2013

With acknowledgments and apologies to Merriam-Webster. Here are my top 11 words (and phrases) that were admitted to the dictionary in the year 2012:

AHA MOMENT, noun. Point in time when one has a significant insight.

87. Market Myopia: Blame the SWOT - Thursday, May 09, 2013

Why do leaders miss seeing sweeping global trends that are about to broadside them? I put a big part of the blame on the standard SWOT analysis used in strategic planning –Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. It’s time to update this methodology.

88. Wise Investors Know to Avoid Distractions - Thursday, May 09, 2013

Ray’s Take Hopefully you have a financial plan to guide you to your goals, whether they are college for the kids, a vacation home or a secure retirement. However, one of the key indicators as to whether you will be able to achieve those goals is your ability to avoid distractions from your plan.

89. Police Budget Passes Early Council Test - Thursday, May 09, 2013

The Memphis City Council’s budget committee approved the largest budget for any single city division Tuesday, May 7.

But the committee debate before the vote set the stage for what is expected to be more discussion about how much the Memphis Police Department needs to protect and serve.

90. Council Moves on School Funding Standoff - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Memphis City Council members want to try to resolve the Memphis City Schools $57 million court judgment against the city as well as the city’s legal counterclaim that the school system owes it more than twice that by the end of this month.

91. Assumptions That Cost You Sales - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Good sales professionals are subject matter experts on the products and services they sell. This expertise inevitably creates a few blind spots. When you feel like you’ve seen it all – every prospect response, motivation and objection – it’s easy to occasionally jump to the wrong conclusion. Ensure bad assumptions don’t deter your selling efforts by watching out for the following most common.

92. Nike Files $3 Million Permit for Distribution Center - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Nike Inc. has filed a $3 million permit application with the city-county Office of Construction Code Enforcement for work on its North Memphis distribution center at 3100 New Frayser Blvd.

93. Events - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Business Over Coffee International will launch a six-part social media training class titled Weave Your Own Web on Thursday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the group’s headquarters, 5865 Ridgeway Road, suite 300. Classes will continue on the second Thursday of each month. Cost is free for members and first-time guests, and $10 for returning guests. Visit businessovercoffee.biz or call 820-4469.

94. Both Sides Win in ‘Battle of the Brains’ - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

If you have ever engaged someone in a discussion about left- and right-brain thinking they almost always take a side. Sometimes it seems that the two sides are incompatible and unbending in their view of how one should see the world. The right-brain people are typically labeled “creative” and “artistic” with a unique ability to see things intuitively and as a whole. The left-brain people are “analytical” and “detail oriented” utilizing linear process and logic to solve problems.

95. Rhodes Honors Gray for Outstanding Research - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Dr. Patrick Gray, an associate professor in Rhodes College’s department of religious studies, has received the college’s Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Research. Gray’s research centers on biblical studies, specifically the history and literature of early Christianity and the Greco-Roman context.

96. Methodist, Local Churches Unite to Serve Community - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

A unique faith-based partnership between Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and more than 500 of the area’s churches has been lauded nationally by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a model for addressing health care disparities and preventing and managing chronic diseases.

97. Tennessee Named Top Choice for Retirement - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Retirees considering where to spend their golden years might want to consider Tennessee.

That’s according to Bankrate.com, the personal finance website, which this week ranked Tennessee at the top of its list of the 10 best states for retirement. The site’s analysts crunched numbers in several categories, including cost of living, taxes, health care, crime and climate.

98. UTHSC College of Nursing Honors Outstanding Grads - Tuesday, May 07, 2013

More than 200 alumni, students and friends of the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center gathered on Friday to honor two alums.

Patricia Cunningham, an associate professor and UTHSC faculty member since 1992 received the outstanding alumna award, while Susan Jacob, who recently retired as interim dean of the college after more than nine years at UTHSC and a nursing career that spans more than four decades, received the most supportive alumna award.

99. Events - Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Memphis Rotary Club will meet Tuesday, May 7, at noon at the University Club of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. Jeremy Park, director of the Lipscomb Pitts Breakfast Club, will discuss corporate philanthropy and community building. Cost is $18. R.S.V.P. to Taylor Hughes at taylor@memphisrotary.org.

100. Creating Continuity of Operation Plan - Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Part two of a two-part series Emergencies and disasters are unthinkable everyday occurrences. Some big, some small. They impact us as individuals, families, communities and sometimes as a nation.