Kilowatt Ours documentary screening tomorrow (March 31)

From neighbor Jeff Middlebrooks, who will be on hand to provide a demonstration on energy efficiency:

Learn how you can save money and help your community, with a screening of the award winning film Kilowatt Ours on Tuesday, March 31 at 7 p.m. at the Dalewood United Methodist Church at 2300 Ridgecrest Drive. The filmmaker, Jeff Barrie, will be on hand to lead a discussion on the film, and Tony Viglietti and Susan Jolyn Newton will share information on brand new Nashville Electric Service conservation programs. For more information contact Dan@KilowattOurs.org.

Property tax reassessments to be mailed April 10-24

From the Metro Nashville Property Tax Assessor's Office:

Property tax reassessment documents with updated property values – a piece of the puzzle that establishes annual property taxes – will be mailed to every homeowner between April 10-24.

The Assessor’s Office conducts a reappraisal every four years. The reappraisal is intended to reestablish equity by bringing all appraised values current so that all real property assessments are based on 100% of fair market value. In 2009, the Assessor’s Office will reappraise every taxable real property in Davidson County and estimate its fair market value on January 1, 2009.

For more information, visit the Property Assessor Web site.

Electronic Waste Recycling Day Saturday (March 28)

Metro Public Works will host the first of three “E-Waste Collection Day” events on Saturday, March 28, from 9 a.m. to Noon at the MTA Park & Ride Lot at Coley Davis Road and Highway 70 South in Bellevue. Additional collection events will be held on Saturday, April 4, at the recycling center behind Hillsboro High School and on Saturday, May 23 at Dupont-Hadley Middle School, (1910 Old Hickory Blvd) at the same time of day.

Residents can recycle any of the following electronic devices:

• Small batteries (A, AA, AAA, C, D, 9-volt, button)
• All sizes, types of televisions, VCRs and DVD players
• Cell phones
• Microwave ovens
• Stereos and audio-visual equipment
• Computers, monitors and printers

Only household waste (no business waste) from Davidson County residents will be accepted. Car and boat batteries, paint, tires, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and other hazardous waste will not be accepted at these drop-off events. These and other HHW items can be taken to MPW’s East Convenience Center, located at 943 Dr Richard Adams Drive (off Ellington Parkway and Trinity Lane). East Center is Metro’s designated household hazardous waste disposal site and is open seven days a week.

For maps and driving directions to all Metro recycle drop-off sites, as well as information about MPW’s recycling programs and guidelines, visit www.nashville.gov/recycle, or call (615) 880-1000.

Health Assist Tennessee fundraiser March 28

Health Assist Tennessee is hosting a yard sale, crafts fair and bake sale at 4016 Colorado Avenue on Saturday (March 28) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds from the event will support the organization's "Run for the Uninsured" team that will run in the Country Music Marathon next month.

The "Run for the Uninsured" team is a group of 15 Health Assist Tennessee counselors who provide services to children and adults in the Nashville area who have no health insurance. See the HAT Web site or call (615) 313-9841 for more information.

SPNA opposes expansion of LED signs

After a vote by the membership at the March membership meeting, SPNA President Wendell Goodman sent the following letter to the Metro Council Sign Task Force:

At its last meeting, the membership of the Sylvan Park Neighborhood Association voted unanimously to oppose the current draft ordinance being considered by this committee.

We are opposed to the expansion of LED signs into areas of Nashville beyond which they are currently allowed. We are especially opposed to the expansion of LED signs into residentially zoned neighborhoods under any circumstances.

We believe the current zoning ordinances regarding signs are not being adequately enforced now. Increased enforcement should be the first priority of the Metro Government, not expanding allowable signage in Davidson County.

I hope that you will take our concerns into consideration.

West Nashville Community Plan meeting tonight (March 23)

The Metro Planning Commission is holding an open house tonight (March 23) at 6 p.m. in the Cohn Adult Learning Center library. Neighbors are encouraged to attend.

Here's more information from neighbor Chris Veit:

Since late last year, residents, business owners and other stakeholders have been participating in community meetings to update the Community Plan for West Nashville (Subarea 7).

The West Nashville Community Plan is one of fourteen community plans which guide growth and development in Davidson County. Each of those plans are updated every seven to ten years, and amended as necessary; the Planning Commission approved the current West Nashville plan in 2000, with amendments in 2003, 2005, and 2007. The proposed amendments to the current plan have been focusing on improving our community by setting guidelines for more walkability, smart growth and sustainability, so that we - as well as future generations - can enjoy a better place to live, work and play.

There will be an additional open house meeting for the southern neighborhoods on Monday, March 30 at the Jewish Community Center in Bellevue, if you are unable to attend the meeting tonight.

For information on the meetings and to view the draft plan, visit http://nashville.gov/mpc/subarea/subarea7.htm

Alan LeQuire to speak at Nashville Downtown Library March 21

West Nashville artist Alan LeQuire will present a slideshow and remarks about his artistic development on Saturday, March 21, at 10:30 a.m. This special event is in conjunction with the current exhibit, Cultural Heroes, in the Art Gallery at the Main Library downtown. Light refreshments will be served.

LeQuire is best known for his work Athena Parthenos, the largest indoor statue in the Western world. For more information about this free event, please call the library at (615) 862-5804, ext. 6092.

NCDC to discuss H20 district development March 19

The Nashville Civic Design Center (138 Second Avenue North, Suite 106) will host a discussion of West Nashville's H20 Urban Waterfront Development District on Thursday, March 19, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

The district is a mixed-use development based on the principles of Smart Growth and New Urbanism. The development team is dedicated to creating a "livable community," with an emphasis on low impact development, and environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Located along the Cumberland River near Charlotte Pike and 1-40, the development will consist of retail, office, residential high-end lofts, row houses, condos and single-family houses. For more information about this meeting, which will also feature a discussion about the Gulch downtown, call (615) 248-4280 or send a message to stacy@civicdesigncenter.org.

West Nashville Community Coalition meeting March 30

The West Nashville Community Coalition, which began as a series of forums about crime in the area, will meet on Monday, March 30th, at 6 p.m. at the West Nashville United Methodist Church (4710 Charlotte Avenue).

The group is continuing to discuss safety and crime issues, including safety at elementary schools, progress on community programs for "at risk" youth and ways to build trust in the community among other topics. The event is free and open to the public, and no RSVP is needed. For more information, please call (615) 297-3216.

Sylvan Park's Jeff Middlebrooks on Earth Revolution this week

Local home energy efficiency expert and neighborhood resident Jeff Middlebrooks of E3 Innovate
will be featured on this week's episode of Earth Revolution, a local TV program focused on conservation and other environmentally friendly practices.

Jeff will talk about home energy efficiency and a fantastic federal tax credit for homeowners for efficiency upgrades and installations. For more information on the tax credit, go to www.energystar.gov. The program will be broadcast Tuesday at 7 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m., Saturday 10 p.m. and Sunday 2 p.m. on Comcast Community Access Television Channel 19 throughout Davidson County. Jeff was also featured in The Tennessean in February.

SPNA spring newsletter now available

The latest edition of the SPNA newsletter is now available online. Issues will also be delivered to households throughout the neighborhood during the next several days. The current issue features a new name, the SPNA Neighborhood Journal, and a fresh new look--thanks to co-editor Laura Ellis and designer Chris Veit.

SPNA meeting Monday night (March 9)

Reminder: SPNA will hold its monthly membership meeting Monday night (March 9) at 7 p.m. at the Cohn Adult Learning Center at the intersection of 48th Avenue and Park Avenue. The meeting will be held in the Senior Renaissance Center in the basement of the building.

MHC now accepting Preservation Awards nominations

From the Metropolitan Historical Commission:

The Metropolitan Historical Commission is pleased to announce a call for nominations for the 2009 Preservation Awards. The MHC is now accepting nominations for our 34th awards program. The public is invited to submit any pre-1958 building or structure in Davidson County that has been restored, rehabilitated, or carefully maintained over time.

Categories for nominations include:
Residential (Single-family and Multi-family)
Commercial Buildings
Religious Properties
Engineering and Industrial Structures
Educational and Institutional
Infill (new construction located within a context of historic architecture)

Nominations will be judged on their architectural merit and/or historical interest, soundness of condition, creativity in adaptation for contemporary use, and sensitivity to historic architectural character. Winners receive an awards certificate and plaque to display on the winning properties. All nominated properties will be featured in an awards ceremony on Thursday, May 21, where the winners will be announced.

Nomination forms are available through the Metropolitan Historical Commission website or by calling the Metropolitan Historical Commission at (615) 862-7970. Completed forms are due Friday, April 10. Please contact me if you have any questions about the program. We look forward to seeing nominations from your neighborhood!