Haslam Endorses Rubio In Tennessee Primary

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has endorsed Republican presidential contender Marco Rubio in advance of the Tuesday, March 1, Tennessee primaries.

In a statement released Thursday morning, Feb. 25, by the Rubio campaign, Haslam talked about  the need for a Republican presidential nominee who can win in the November general election.

“To win in November, conservatives need a candidate who inspires Americans from all backgrounds,” Haslam said. “With Marco standing next to Hillary Clinton on a debate stage, the choice between the future and the past will be clear to every American.”

Haslam’s endorsement comes at the start of a crucial week for such endorsements.

U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker said last week that they anticipated appeals by several of the Republican contenders this week seeking their endorsements. Neither had made an endorsement in the primary race at press time.

Rubio is trying to position himself as the consensus party establishment candidate.

The recent history of the Tennessee presidential primary shows a gap between who Republicans select and who is backed by the party establishment. Mitt Romney was the state party establishment’s candidate in the 2012 primary and the eventual presidential nominee. But rival Rick Santorum carried Shelby County and the state in that year’s Republican presidential primary. In 2008 John McCain was the nominee and the choice of the state party’s establishment, but  Mike Huckabee carried Shelby County and the state. 

Meanwhile, other presidential contenders continue to add Tennessee dates to their campaign calendars. Republican candidate Dr. Ben Carson has added a Sunday, Feb. 28, visit to Alpha Omega Veterans Services Inc. in Memphis after his plan to attend services at Highpoint Church in East Memphis were cancelled.

Highpoint's Andy Savage announced the cancellation Thursday afternoon citing the security requirements for Carson who is among the presidential candidates being provided protection by the U.S. Secret Service.

"Unfortunately the security requirements would not allow to provide an excellent Sunday experience for our partners and our guests," Savage said in a video on the church's Facebook page. "Therefore, we must regretably decline the opportunity to hear Dr. Carson's story. I assure you, we looked at a variety of options to make this work. However there was no option that allowed us to have the excellent Sunday experience we all expect every Sunday at Highpoint Church."

GOP rivals John Kasich and Donald Trump have already scheduled campaign stops. Trump holds a rally Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Millington Jetport and Kasich holds a town hall meeting Friday evening, Feb. 26, at the University of Memphis Holiday Inn.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton scheduled a Sunday, Feb. 28, event in Nashville.

– Bill Dries

Noah’s Event Venue Closes On Memphis Location

Noah’s Event Venue is moving forward with its first Tennessee location. 

The national wedding and event venue company closed on a 2.5-acre parcel of land at 3210 Players Club Parkway. In a Feb. 5 warranty deed, Rockwell Memphis LLC sold the land for $1.4 million to Noah’s Event Venue, acting as Four Brothers Plus One, Inc. 

Construction on the 8,700-square-foot facility is expected to begin in April with a February 2017 opening.

– Madeline Faber

Dr. Gregory Fink Joins The Cardiovascular Center

Dr. Gregory Fink has joined The Cardiovascular Center, a Methodist Healthcare-affiliated physician practice specializing in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery.

Fink earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pa. He completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Florida in Tampa and a residency in thoracic surgery at State University of New York in Syracuse.

He’s certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, American Board of Surgery and the National Board of Medical Examiners.

– Andy Meek

Terry Manning Photography Exhibit Coming to Memphis

The Stax Museum of American Soul Music will welcome Stax Records and Ardent Studios legend Terry Manning back to Memphis next month for his new photography exhibit, “Terry Manning: Scientific Evidence of Life on Earth During Two Millennia.”

The exhibit will run March 12 through June 30. Best known in Memphis as a Stax and Ardent producer, songwriter, session musician and recording artist, Manning has also spent his adult life as a photographer. This will be the second-ever exhibition of his photographs on the heels of a successful exhibit in Boston in 2015.

His subjects include legendary political and music figures in various parts of the world, including photographs taken at Stax Records, along with icons such as  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Lenny Kravitz, Chuck Berry, Dusty Springfield, Marvin Gaye and many others.

An opening reception will be held at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, 926 E. McLemore Ave. (the original site of Stax Records) on March 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and will include a listening party for his new instrumental jazz/new age CD, “Planets.” 

Also March 12 will be the release date for Manning’s new photography book – with text co-written by Lenny Kravitz – “Living With Lenny.” The book is a collection of photographs Manning has taken of the rock star/actor over many years. “Living With Lenny,” published by Sandcat Press/NYC, is sponsored by Hard Rock, and after the Stax show release will be available exclusively at Hard Rock “Rock Shops” worldwide. 

Manning will return to the Stax Museum on March 15 for a Q&A with filmmaker and author Robert Gordon, followed by a live concert performance with students and alumni of the Stax Music Academy. On March 16, Manning will give a talk at Memphis’ Rhodes College, and will perform on March 17 at Hard Rock Cafe Memphis. He will also perform on March 18 in “Elvis’ Living Room,” a student-run concert series promoted by Rhodes College’s Mike Curb Institute for Music at Elvis Presley’s former house on Audubon Drive in Memphis.

For more information and event updates, visit www.staxmuseum.com.

– Don Wade 

Diversified Trust Promotes Two Principals

Diversified Trust, a Southeast-based comprehensive wealth management firm with over $5 billion in client assets, has promoted two professionals.

Jo Len Clark has been named a principal, and Jay Davis has been named vice president.                     

Clark has been with Diversified Trust for 15 years and serves as a member of the client service team. Her responsibilities include overseeing client administration and reporting in the Memphis office, and she leads account administration and services firm-wide.  

Davis is primarily responsible for day-to-day accounting and treasury functions. He also oversees preparation of monthly financial statements and other reports in accordance with senior management needs. 

– Andy Meek

Grizz Holding One-Day Sale For Deals on March Games 

The Memphis Grizzlies have announced a one-day-only deal that only comes once every four years – Grizz’s Leap Year Deal – where fans can get select tickets to all March home games for up to 29 percent off regular prices. 

The offer goes live on Monday, Feb. 29, at 10 a.m. and lasts through midnight (while supplies last). Grizz’s Leap Year Deal tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX, visiting Grizzlies.com, at all Ticketmaster locations or the FedExForum Box Office (based on availability). 

The Grizzlies’ home slate for March includes eight home games – all against Western Conference opponents – and includes the final home matchups against the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans. Once March tips off, the Grizzlies 2015-16 regular season will close with only 11 more home games, eight of which are in March.

– Don Wade

Bring It Food Hub Taking Summer Subscriptions

Memphis-based Bring It Food Hub is taking summer subscriptions for its community-supported agriculture program. 

The nonprofit Bring It Food Hub culls together fresh fruits and vegetables from more than a dozen surrounding farms and delivers the boxes to community locations for individual pickup. 

The 2016 summer subscription will run 18 weeks – May 3 through Sept. 2 – with the option of signing up for all three months or just one or two. Boxes contain anywhere between five to 10 different fruits and vegetables and come in two sizes – the Classic, for $20 each, and the Deluxe, for $35 each. 

Last summer saw more than 310 CSA shares per week. Individuals also can donate to the organization’s Pay It Forward program, which delivers fresh produce to food-insecure homes. Every $20 donation delivers one week’s worth of produce.

For more information, visit bringitfoodhub.com.

– Madeline Faber