Where to vote in Sylvan Park

Election day (Thursday, August 5) in Davidson County is quickly approaching. Neighbors in Sylvan Park can vote in one of two locations, either the McCabe Golf Course Clubhouse or Sylvan Park School. Please note that some of this information was incorrectly listed in the most recent issue of the SPNA newsletter. If you aren't sure which location is your polling precinct, the search database at Nashville.gov can help.

Early voting will continue through this Saturday, July 31, at the Belle Meade United Methodist Church and other select locations (but not at either Sylvan Park location listed above). Regardless of what your particular political persuasion may be, the right to vote is an important privilege that should not be taken for granted. Please take time to vote between now and Aug. 5!

SPNA Night Out Against Crime August 3

Sylvan Park’s biggest annual neighborhood event, our Night Out Against Crime, will take place on Tuesday, August 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Richland Park picnic shelter near the intersection of 49th and Charlotte Avenues. This is a wonderful opportunity to say thanks to our local police and fire departments for keeping our neighborhood safe, and it’s a good chance to catch up with neighbors or make new friends. Light refreshments will be served.

The Night Out Against Crime is a national celebration organized to thwart crime by building stronger neighborhoods and fostering partnerships between communities and local police. Our neighborhood depends on a strong partnership with our public safety personnel, and we look forward each year to the opportunity to tell them so.

Please mark your calendars for August 3 and join us for the Night Out Against Crime. See you soon!

43rd Avenue alley abandonment bill withdrawn

At last night's Metro Council meeting, District 20 Council Member Buddy Baker withdrew the proposed alley abandonment bill that has generated strong opposition from neighbors in The Nations neighborhood. SPNA members unanimously opposed plans to rezone nearby properties earlier this spring and have been equally concerned about plans to abandon the alley way. Though the bill can be refiled at a later date, this is an important victory for residents of The Nations neighborhood. More information is available at the 43rd Rezoning website.

Community meeting regarding 43rd Avenue rezoning TODAY (July 17)

District 20 Council Member Buddy Baker will hold a community meeting today (Saturday, July 17) at 4 p.m. to hear from neighbors regarding the proposed alley abandonment near the intersection of 43rd Avenue and Georgia Avenue in The Nations Neighborhood. The meeting will be held at 4300 Georgia Avenue.

SPNA members unanimously opposed plans to rezone the residential property at this address in a vote conducted earlier this spring. The proposed alley abandonment is a equally troubling. Please attend today's meeting if you are able to do so.

SPNA members approve additional charter language

At Monday's membership meeting, SPNA members voted to accept language that will be included in the organization's amended charter document. The language is as follows:

• Officers and board members shall be elected by the membership, as delineated
• in the by-laws of the corporation.
• Expenditures of the corporation shall be approved by the membership as provided for in the by-laws of the corporation.
• Amendments and other changes to the by-laws shall be approved by the membership as provided for in the by-laws of the corporation.
• The board of directors of the corporation shall be called the steering committee.

As many neighbors are aware, SPNA is in the process of updating its charter and by-laws to better reflect the nature of the association and to ensure full compliance with Tennessee state law governing non-profit organizations. The amended charter will be submitted to the Tennessee Secretary of State soon, and the following SPNA members will be listed as organizational incorporators: Bernard Pickey, Nick Bailey and Margaret Holleman. Revisions to SPNA's by-laws are also in the works, and members will have an opportunity to review all proposed changes and to vote on whether to approve them. Thanks to Membership Secretary F. Clark Williams and Recording Secretary Stephanie Swartz for their efforts to make these important updates.

RCWA community meeting tomorrow (July 14)

Richland Creek Watershed Alliance will hold a community meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, July 14) at 6:30 p.m. at the Cohn School library (4805 Park Avenue). The purpose for the meeting will be to discuss plans for relocating a section of the creek. Senator Douglas Henry, Representative Gary Odom and Metro Council members Emily Evans,  Jason Holleman and Buddy Baker will host the meeting.

Please plan to participate in this important conversation about Richland Creek. SPNA members voted unanimously at last night's membership meeting to support RCWA's proposal for rerouting the creek in the least environmentally invasive manner possible.