Community Health Assessment and Strategic Planning in Shelby County

It's a new year and perhaps you made a resolution to be more active in your community. Here's a great opportunity to bring your voice to the table:

The Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) will be engaging the community in a comprehensive planning process over the next 12-18 months to help identify health issues most important to our county and develop strategies to address these concerns.  Through a process called MAPP, Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships, community members will be invited to participate in various stages of the strategic planning.  Hundreds of communities in the United States have or are currently engaged in this process. 

A longtime Memphis church congregation unveiled its new $1 million renovation project this week.

Members of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church celebrated New Year's 2013 by ringing in the new year and making a commitment to its Memphis neighborhood by renovating its longtime church hall.

The sanctuary and hall have been at North Highland and Sam Cooper in Memphis since the 50's and this renovation project will keep the Greek community and Orthodox Church at that location for years to come.

The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is the site of the popular Memphis Greek Fest every May. Organizers have that festival planned for the weekend of May 11.

There was a celebration in Orange Mound Sunday as the community's Christmas festival has made a comeback this year.

Outside there were Carriage rides and dancing in the streets.

Organizers from Harrison's Funeral Home said the festival gives residents pride in their community.

"It is not just about us being a funeral home it is about serving and serving our people with pride and humility which is one of the mottos of Melrose and Orange Mound and we just try to keep it alive," said community member Adriana Harrison.