Love at First Sight needs your newspapers

Our neighborhood puppy and kitten adoption center, Love at First Sight (4423 Murphy Road), can always used donated newspapers. Please consider stopping by to donate issues once you've finished reading them.

Metro Water Services encourages residents to report stormwater pollution

Metro Water Services requests that citizens report any stormwater violations (i.e., incidences where pollutants or other unauthorized materials are poured into stormwater drains). Please see below for more information:

Under the Federal Clean Water Act, Metro Nashville is charged with enhancing and protecting the quality of Davidson County's waterbodies and streams, and improving stormwater discharges that flow directly from our storm sewers to waterways during rain events.

WE NEED YOUR HELP to identify and report any issues you might witness. Only clean stormwater should be allowed to be washed into our storm sewer systems and/or local streams! [This PDF has] examples of violations...

If you see an illicit discharge or a pollutant that might be washed into a storm sewer or stream during a future rain event, please contact the NPDES Program Office at (615) 880-2420 or (615) 313-PURE.

Thanks for not only helping Metro maintain permit compliance, but also helping to improve the water resources within your community. For more information on Metro’s Stormwater programs, please go to http://www.nashville.gov/stormwater/index.htm.

Assault reported at 50th and Elkins last Saturday

Neighbor Nick Bailey reported the following news about a crime committed this past Saturday evening (July 14):

A police officer informed me that on Saturday night at 9:15 p.m., at 50th and Elkins, a woman was attacked by a man who came up from behind her and threw her to the ground. She fought with him and was able to fend him off. He fled the scene in a white Volvo...

The point of this email is not to alarm you, but make sure we all keep our eyes open, especially for a white Volvo. Report anything suspicious to the police. Thanks.

Nick's last piece of advice is very sound. Please report any suspicious activity to the police at (615) 862-8600 or, in an emergency, by dialing 911.

Artist Ben Campbell to speak at LeQuire Gallery Thursday (July 19)

LeQuire Gallery (4304 Charlotte Avenue) will present a special lecture event with renowned painter, metalsmith expert and entrepreneur Ben Caldwell (above) this Thursday, July 19, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. (The lecture is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.) Here is more information from the gallery:

With a recent return to painting, Ben Caldwell has now come full circle in his career. Having created pristine serving pieces in copper and silver for years, his new work incorporates his classically trained roots as a painter and his love of abstract expressionism resulting in a new series of enameled wall sculptures.

Caldwell doesn't paint his new abstract pieces on canvas, instead he continues his tradition of working with metal by painting on copper. He uses a propane torch to apply the enamel giving him control over color. This is a unique technique since most enamel is fired in a kiln where color is often determined by "happy accidents."

It is Caldwell's early work as a metalsmith that has landed him spots on HGTV, Tennessee Crossroads and in Southern Living magazine, but it is his new work as an abstract artist and his tenacious spirit as a entrepreneur that brings the career full circle.

Please join us as Ben discusses the major influences of his career as well as the strategic lessons learned while building his art into a thriving business.

Buck Dozier to attend July SPNA meeting

Nashville Mayoral candidate Buck Dozier will speak briefly to SPNA members at the organization's membership meeting on Monday Night (July 9) at 7 p.m.

District 24 candidate forum July 10

If you miss Katherine Beasley, Jason Holleman and Irwin Venick on Morningline, you can see them in person from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 10, at West End Church of Christ (3534 West End Avenue). All three candidates will participate in a District 24 candidate forum hosted by several area neighborhood associations, including SPNA. This event is free and open to the public.

District 24 candidates to appear on Morningline July 10

NewsChannel5+ (Comcast channel 50) will host three candidates from District 24, which includes Sylvan Park, live on the air on Tuesday, July 10, from 8 to 9 a.m. Katherine Beasley, Jason Holleman and Irwin Venick will appear on the show to discuss their campaigns and to take calls from viewers. If you have a question for the candidates, call (615) 737-7587 during the program.

SPNA membership meeting Monday

SPNA will hold its monthly membership meeting Monday night (July 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. See you there!

SPNA parade a big hit

Red, white and blue were definitely the fashionable colors of choice at today's SPNA Fourth of July parade. Dozens of neighbors young and not so young gathered at Richland Park this morning to celebrate. Thanks to all the volunteers, especially parade organizers Katie Cour and Laura Ellis, for making the event a great success. More photos are on the way soon.

Senator Henry leads the way at SPNA parade

State Senator Douglas Henry (right) lead a host of neighborhood children and adults around Richland Park this morning during SPNA's annual Fourth of July parade.

SPNA News election correction

The SPNA News incorrectly lists Cohn Adult Learning Center as the voting location for some Sylvan Park residents. The correct voting locations for the neighborhood are the Richland Park Library and McCabe Community Center. My apologies for the error.

Reminder: Early voting begins July 13, but not at either of these locations. Belle Meade City Hall, the Green Hills Library and the Howard School Office Building downtown are three nearby locations. Consult the full list of locations and times for more details.

Thanks to Yvonne Eaves for catching this mistake.

Sen. Douglas Henry to lead SPNA July 4th Parade

State Senator Douglas Henry has agreed to lead this Wednesday's Independence Day parade at Richland Park. Be sure to make the parade part of your July 4th plans. The festivities begin at 9 a.m., the parade will depart at 9:30 and lemonade and cookies will be served afterward. See you there.

Curby day rescheduled this week to Saturday (July 7)

Curby is taking this Wednesday, Independence Day, off. For Sylvan Park residents who live on or north of Idaho Avenue, recycling day will be this Saturday, July 7. Residents south of Idaho Avenue will be able to recycle as usual on the following Wednesday, July 11. If you're still unsure, Metro Public Works can help you confirm the correct recycling day for your address.

MNPD reminders re: fireworks, checkpoints for July 4th

Metro Nashville Police Department officers will be maintaining a sobriety checkpoint at the intersection of Natchez Trace and West End Avenue on July 4th.

MNPD also issued a notice that fireworks are illegal in Davidson County:

The police department reminds Nashvillians that it is illegal to sell at retail, possess and/or use fireworks in Davidson County. A private act passed by the state legislature in 1947 makes fireworks offenses within Davidson County a misdemeanor, and also allows officers to confiscate fireworks. Large-scale fireworks displays held for public entertainment are exempt from the law and require a permit from the Metropolitan Fire Marshal. Officers will take use of fireworks complaints in neighborhoods and congested areas very seriously, especially during the late evening and early morning hours.

Please plan ahead to ensure that you and your family have a safe and enjoyable holiday.