Realtor and volunteer Hal Wilson remembered

You may already be aware that Hal Wilson, father of neighbor Christie Wilson and founder of the Wilson Group Real Estate Services, passed away on Saturday following a long battle with cancer. Here are excerpts from Hal's obituary, which was published in Sunday's Tennessean:

Hal will be remembered as a man with a great attitude, enthusiasm, and lover of negotiation. He was always after the best deal and enjoyed the game tremendously. He was a consummate people collector, and everyone he met became a friend who admired, respected, and genuinely loved him. He always gave of his time and knowledge freely, rarely asking for anything in return...

He has been on numerous boards, committees and received honors over his career, including, but not limited to: 2007-2010 Chaplain of the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Recipient of the prestigious President's Cup Award in 2006 from GNAR, Recipient of the William Tune Award - Real Estate Educator of the Year 2005 from the Tennessee Association of Realtors, Real Estate Investors of Nashville president in 1992, 1993 and 2000, Toastmasters International, Assistant Area Governor, Tennessee Organization of Professional Speakers President, 1986-1987, Preston Taylor Ministries Board of Directors and Board Chair, 2007, Gilda's Club Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity volunteer. He attended The Gathering Church, as well as Bellevue Community Church.

Hal loved traveling, riding his Harley, woodworking, general piddling on his house and tractor, and hanging out with his wife of 46 years, Martha "Dickie" Frady Wilson, [who] was his high school sweetheart and married shortly after. Hal loved and cherished his wife and best friend, who stood with him and supported him through his amazing career and long fight with cancer. They were the perfect pair.

Hal's family has asked that anyone interested in honoring his legacy support either of the following charities:

Preston Taylor Ministries
P.O. Box 90442
Nashville, TN 37209

Alive Hospice
1718 Patterson Street
Nashville, TN 37203

Girl Scout Troop 479 to hold yard sale Saturday (April 10)

Sylvan Park's Girl Scout Troop 479 will hold a yard sale this Saturday, April 10, from 7 a.m. to noon at 4413 Dakota Avenue.

Proceeds from the sale will cover costs for the troop for its upcoming trip to Savannah, Ga., to visit the birthplace of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Lowe and the original Girl Scouts headquarters. More information is included below from organizers Leslie Kirby and Ann Tappan. If you would like to donate items for the sale, there's still time: Email Leslie at leslieandcraig@comcast.net for more information.

At the end of this school year, our girls, some of whom have been in the troop at Sylvan Park since kindergarten, will be bridging to Juniors, which is the next age level in Girl Scouting.  We will be traveling, along with some of the 4th grade Girl Scouts at Sylvan Park, in June to Savannah, Georgia to visit the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Lowe, the founder of Girl Scouting.  We'll also be visiting the original Girl Scout Headquarters and doing other fun & learning activities in and around Savannah, including the beach and lighthouse at Tybee Island.  Girl Scouting focuses on helping girls be strong and independent, and emphasizes physical, emotional and spiritual growth.  We think this trip will help instill a sense of history and pride in the girls and also help them bond even more deeply as a group, which will be really important as they transition into middle school.

While we're on the subject of yard sales, don't forget that the annual SPNA yard sale is coming up on Saturday, May 15.

SPNA membership meeting Monday (April 12)

SPNA will hold its monthly membership meeting on Monday, April 12, at 7 p.m. in the basement of the Cohn Adult Learning Center at the intersection of 48th and Park Avenues. Emily Ogden with Stand for Children Tennessee will discuss her organization's mission to support students in the Hillsboro High School cluster, which includes Sylvan Park Elementary and West End Middle. Hope to see you there.

Civic Bank to hold neighborhood shred day May 15

Civic Bank & Trust in cooperation with Richards & Richards will be hosting a free neighborhood shred day on Saturday, May 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The destruction bins will be set up in the front parking lot of the bank located at 3325 West End Avenue. (Feel free to shred either before or after you stop by the SPNA Yard Sale, which will begin at 8 a.m.)

This is available to everyone in the area, including small businesses. There is no need to remove staples, paper clips or binder clips, the shredder can handle it all. Please feel free to come by and take advantage of this free opportunity to destroy old confidential documents. For more information, call Civic Bank at (615) 515-8000.