Armed robbery reported on Nevada

A neighbor has reported that a resident on the 4900 block of Nevada Avenue was robbed at gunpoint on Christmas Eve. His truck was stolen around 6 p.m. The Metro Nashville Police Department was alerted about this crime. The culprits have been alleged to be three African-American men, but no further details have been revealed.

Always report criminal or suspicious activity to the police using (615) 862-8600 for non-emergency incidents or 911 in emergency situations.

Preston Taylor Homes Christmas Tree pickup

Young people served by Preston Taylor Ministries are participating in a Christmas Tree pickup program to raise money for an upcoming ski trip. Pickup will take place on Dec. 28, Jan. 3 or Jan. 7 for $10 or a donation to support the organization.

With help from adult volunteers, children from PTM will remove and recycle your Christmas tree. Please call (615) 354-3566 or email ktfrohock@gmail.com to sign up or to request more information. Thanks to neighbor Alice Walker for passing this information along.

West Nashville crime forum Wednesday (Dec. 17)

West Nashville United Methodist Church will host a third community meeting on "Coping With Crime in West Nashville" on Wednesday, Dec. 17) at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend this free gathering.

Representatives from Neighborhoods Resource Center will be on hand on Nov. 19th to facilitate discussion regarding further community organizing efforts towards dealing with the issue of crime in West Nashville. This meeting is the latest in a series intended to develop plans for working together as a community to deal with crime in our neighborhoods. The meeting will last from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Please call West Nashville UMC at (615) 297-3216 if you would like more information or visit the website www.westnashvilleumc.org. Business owners, residents, church members and concerned citizens in the West Nashville area are encouraged to attend.

Trash thefts reported on Nevada alleyway

A neighbor has reported that someone is going through trash and even taking trash on the 5200 block of Nevada Avenue. This activity has been reported to the police.

I spoke with several of my alley neighbors yesterday. Someone has been going thru their trash too. One of my neighbors said she saw someone dumping trash in my can and two others several weeks ago. 3 of my neighbors have moved their cans into their fenced in yard out of the alley. I will do the same when I get a new can. I am thinking that is why they took my can because mine was the only one out at the time. I don't understand it. It is not a big deal but it is annoying. I am not sure if someone is trying to steal identities or what is going on.

You may remember that similar activity was reported in the same part of the neighborhood in November. It requires a little more effort, but it may be wise to keep your trash can out of sight or out of reach except for trash pickup day each week. While most contents of trash cans are not valuable, anything that might reveal your identity and your financial information is. Be sure to shred any documents that contain personal information before you discard them.

Latest RCWA Creekvoice now available

The latest issue of Creekvoice, the Richland Creek Watershed Alliance newsletter, is now available. This edition includes the latest RCWA news, including reports on October's watershed cleanup and efforts to mark storm drains to reduce improper waste disposal.

December SPNA meeting Monday (Dec. 15)

SPNA will hold its December membership meeting on Monday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. in the basement of the Cohn Adult Learning Center (4805 Park Avenue). SPNA members voted to move the meeting to avoid a conflict with the West Nashville Community Plan meeting this past Monday.

SPNA holiday party Sunday (Dec. 14 )

The Sylvan Park Neighborhood Association will hold a holiday caroling party on Sunday, December 14. We'll be caroling and gathering for a potluck chili dinner afterward. This is an annual tradition and is always a lot of fun.

Caroling:
We will meet at 4 p.m. at the home of Jason and Margaret Holleman (4209 Park Avenue). Singing talent is optional! This is really about sharing the spirit of the season with our neighbors. If you know of someone who would appreciate being caroled to, let us know as soon as possible!

Potluck:
After caroling (around 5 p.m.), we will meet at the Hollemans' house for a potluck dinner. We will need 4 to 5 people to bring a pot of their favorite homemade chili. We will also need beverages (water, soda, beer, etc), side dishes, chips, etc. Please email spna@sylvanpark.org to let us know what dish you would like to bring.

We know everyone is busy this time of year, so feel free just to carol, just to join us for supper, or come for both!

West Nashville Community Plan Workshop tonight (Dec. 8 )

SPNA will meet next Monday, Dec. 15, instead of tonight. Instead please join your neighbors for the latest West Nashville Community Plan meeting (details below).

Planners, neighbors, and property owners will discuss a draft update to the plan tonight (Monday, Dec. 8) at 6 p.m. at St. Ann Catholic Community (5101 Charlotte Avenue). This is part of a scheduled update to the plan, which guides land use and zoning decisions in Sylvan Park, West Meade, Hillwood, Cockrill Bend, and several other West Nashville neighborhoods.

Community input from a visioning session held in early November is being included in the draft concept plan. That meeting is part of a scheduled update to the West Nashville Community Plan, which was last updated in 2000. The Plan influences the Metro Planning Commission’s recommendations to the Metro Council on property zoning and other development-related decisions within the West Nashville community. More information is available on the West Nashville page of the MPC Web site.

Curby day Wednesday (Dec. 10)

For Sylvan Park residents who live south of Idaho Avenue, this Wednesday, December 10, is recycling day. If you're still unsure, Metro Public Works can help you confirm the correct recycling day for your address.

Sylvan Park's Kathy Chiavola to perform during Belmont's Christmas Camerata concert Sunday (Dec. 8)

From neighbor and musician Kathy Chiavola:

I want to invite you to the Christmas Camerata concert this Monday, Dec 8th at 7:30pm at the Belmont Mansion. I'll be playing the second half with Tammy Rogers, fiddle; and students Bret Moore, mandolin and Graham Sherrill, old-time banjo. See program below.

There's no admission charge, open to the public and a great way to get into the spirit of the season. We don't use amplification as the room has great acoustics. There's always a big turnout and I hope you'll be able to join us.

MNPD sobriety checkpoint planned for West End Avenue this weekend (Dec. 5-7)

From the Metro Nashville Police Department:

Metro police officers, including those working extra duty through a grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, will be conducting sobriety checkpoints on Friday and Saturday nights of this week between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. in the areas of Murfreesboro Pike near Dell Parkway, West End Avenue, 28th Avenue North, Gallatin Pike near Alta Loma Road, and 8th Avenue South near Division Street.

Officers paid through a Governor’s Highway Safety Office grant charged 32 persons with DUI last weekend in the police department’s continuing DUI initiative using extra duty officers. These officers target impaired drivers Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. in areas with a propensity for fatal crashes, crime, and DUI arrests.

Additionally, the DUI Unit charged 22 persons last week for driving under the influence. Enhanced visibility on Nashville’s roadways and zero tolerance for impaired drivers are the cornerstones of the police department’s DUI initiative. So far this year, extra duty officers working under the grant have arrested 1,741 suspected drunk drivers, a 10 % increase over this time last year. The DUI Unit has arrested 1,707 suspected drunk drivers, an 18 % increase over this time last year.

Curby day tomorrow (Dec. 3)

For Sylvan Park residents who live on or north of Idaho Avenue, this Wednesday, Dec. 3, is recycling day. Residents south of Idaho Avenue can recycle the following Wednesday, Dec. 10. If you're still unsure, Metro Public Works can help you confirm the correct recycling day for your address.