Nashville mayor enlists neighbors to clean up community

By HARRIET VAUGHAN • Staff Writer • August 1, 2008 In a rush to beat the rain, Gary French is out cutting his neighbor's grass. His neighbor is a single woman who often needs an extra pair of hands to help out. That's not a problem for French, who's lived on Calvin Avenue in Inglewood for 10 years. In fact, he's known up and down his street for helping his neighbors with odds and ends around their homes and in the yard. "That's the way I was raised. I've always cared and taken interest in my neighbors and my neighborhood," he said. French is the kind of neighbor Mayor Karl Dean wants to duplicate across the county with his latest initiative, Community Matters. He launched the program this week in Inglewood. Community Matters is designed to offer two months of coordinated assistance from the city's Codes and Health departments and the Davidson County sheriff's office. Neighborhoods prone to codes and health violations will be partnered up with the agencies to alleviate excessive citations. Residents and members of the county agencies will be looking for violations such as excessively tall grass, broken windows, illegal businesses and illegally parked vehicles. Metro Beautification will help residents keep litter and large bulk trash items off the streets. The program will begin in target communities in Inglewood and East Nashville and move to neighborhoods around the county. It's a relief That's a relief for residents such as 79-year-old Ann Smart. She and her husband built their East Nashville home 30 years ago. She says she's watched the neighborhood take a turn for the worse. "When we built our house, it was a good neighborhood. It has just gone down so much and it bothers me. Some people just don't take care of their places anymore," Smart said. Dean hopes to change that. As part of Community Matters, the mayor's office will conduct a two-hour training session for neighbors and neighborhood associations, teaching them how to identify codes violations and what to do if they spot one. If a resident does not correct the violation noted by a neighbor, they will be reported to the appropriate agency. The agency will give them a time frame to fix the problem. If the resident refuses, he or she will be summoned to appear before a judge and could be given jail time. "If someone's shutter is falling off, report that. If someone's car is parked illegally with illegal tags, report that," said Scott Wallace, a neighborhood liaison for the mayor's Office of Neighborhoods. "We can't be everywhere and if we can stay on top of that, the neighborhoods will prosper." Program will help Paul Koumanelis, owner of Pizzereal restaurant in East Nashville, is excited about the program. He opened his restaurant four years ago. Clean streets and safer surroundings could mean more business in what was previously a home on North 11th Street. "I think it's cool. Things are already on the upswing and this will really help," he said. Koumanelis says often, people walk up and down the street near his business and litter. At least two homes within one block of his restaurant are in violation of city codes. Brady Banks, director of the mayor's Office of Neighborhoods, says Community Matters is a proactive approach to reclaim neighborhoods gripped by crime and neglect. Banks says the surge in county resources in target areas under the program will not deplete the staff responding to needs in other neighborhoods. A complete report of violations corrected will be published at the end of each 60-day program. The results will also be available online. Contact Harriet Vaughan at 615.259.8048 or hvaughan@tennessean.com.

Metro sidewalks plan draws comments, criticism

By MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • June 10, 2008 A draft revision of Metro Nashville's strategic plan for sidewalks and bikeways has been released by Metro Public Works, which is accepting comments and questions - and getting some criticism - about the plan. The draft is available at the Nashville Public Library and at http://www.civicinc.com/MetroStratPlan/ProposedUpdatesSPSB_5-30-2008.pdf. To comment or ask questions, send an e-mail to info@nashvilleplan.com. Bell Lowe Newton, president of the Woodlawn Area Neighborhood Association, said some parts of the plan make little sense to her and her neighbors. Sidewalks are planned for some side streets where there's little vehicular traffic, but not for the busier roads that lead to them, she said. But city officials and consultants seem to be listening to the neighbors' concerns, Newton said. "We're looking forward to working with Metro," she said. The city completed its original strategic plan in 2003. Mayor Karl Dean called for an update last fall, and five community meetings were held earlier this year. The draft plan says Public Works has built or repaired 124 miles of sidewalks and constructed 94 miles of bikeways since 2003.Jim Snyder, who oversees capital projects for Public Works, said the city plans to start giving more weight to existing sidewalks' physical condition and the possibility of coordinating improvements with other Metro projects, such as schools and parks. Residents who attended the community meetings said they'd like to see more sidewalks near greenways, schools, retail centers, hospitals, parks and community centers, Snyder said. Here are some tips for viewing the plans: 1) Go to www.nashvilleplan.org and click on "View Sidewalks Project Information and Maps" 2) Click on "Funded Projects:Maps & Schedule" (right corner) 3) Click on "Project Search" (right corner) for proposed projects or "Interactive Viewer" to see what is already funded. 4) Once you're in Interactive Viewer:- Go to fourth box on left, "Find"- Click "By Address" 5) Go to bottom of page (scroll) and type in street and cross street 6) Hit the Locate button7) Go to magnifying glass icon

District "29" Cleanup - Terrence Burkett helping out with the Cleanup

Hello District 29 Neighbors:Tomorrow is the Day!

It's that time of year again to get geared up for the Great American Clean-up 2008, hosted by the Alliance of District 29. The attachment has some detailed information about FREE Shredding services, the clothing drive, household furniture & appliances drop-off and much more all on May 24, 2008 from 8am to 1 pm with a food fun and fellowship from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Read on....see you Saturday, May 24, 2008. I would appreciate your help to share this worthwhile community event with other District 29 residents. Gratefully, Vivian Wilhoite Metro Council, District 29 Visit http://www.blogger.com/www.vivian-29.blogspot.com for up-to-date information in and around District 29. Committed to keeping you informed! Phone: (615)589-2003 Email Address: mailto:589-2003/vivianwilhoite@comcast.net . Please take a look at what is planned for this day on the link below. District_29_Clean_Up_2008.pdf

District 29 Great American Clean-up

Get on Your March, Get Ready, Get Set, GO! Saturday, May 24, 2008 is the District 29 Great American Clean-up. The Metro Council recognized by Council Resolution, the period of March 1 to May 31 as the Great American Clean-up with the month of May for when Davidson residents are to get with neighbors, watch groups, associations and various community organizations to clean-up, spruce up and clean out. Many Davidson county groups have started with one of the largest clean-up thus far occurring last Saturday at the Percy Priest Lake.

In the month of May, The Alliance of District 29 will host the District 29 Great American Clean-up on Saturday, May 24, 2008 from 9 am to 1 pm with Food Fun and Fellowship to be held from 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm in the parking lot of the Smith Springs Church of Christ, 2783 Smith Springs Road in Nashville. Neighborhood groups should contact Lawrence Jackson of Metro Beautification @ 862-8418 to get FREE gloves, trash bags, flower seeds, and T-shirts for your clean-up of eye sores in your immediate neighborhood.

Services that will be available at the Smith Springs Church of Christ are between

9:00 a.m and 1:00 p.m

Ø Donate your not-so-used clothing to Goodwill.Ø Shred all of your confidential documents for FREE.

Ø Throw away your large household items until the roll-off bins are full.

Ø Special containers to throw away old paint will also be available.

Ø Donate your old cell phones and chargers to domestic violence shelters. The shelter will give your old cell phone to victims to call for help.

Ø Donate your soda can tabs to help the Ronald McDonald House.

Ø Sign the District 29 Community Pledge to help keep our neighborhoods clean.

Ø Get a FREE T-shirt, gloves, trash bags and flower seeds.

Ø Get with neighbors to clean-up eye sores areas in your immediate neighborhood.

1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Ø Bring a lawn chair for fun, fellowship and FREE food with your neighbors after the clean-up. "This is a great way to begin your spring and summer by cleaning up your community and neighborhood and visit with your neighbors," says Mr. Jackson.

In case of inclement weather, the rain date is Saturday, June 28, 2008 with times remaining the same.

District 29 residents/community organizations are asked to contact Juanita Veasy, Beautification Commissioner of District 29 @ 399-6746 or Lena Brown Prince at 366-3728 for District 29 Great American Clean-up day. Or contact Council member Vivian Wilhoite at http://www.vivian-29.blogspot.com/ or 589-2003 for detailed information.

Operation Dad 2008 Needs You

Dear Neighbors of District "29"


The Madison Church of Christ has started an impressive endeavor to honor the
6,000 or so Fort Campbell Fathers serving in Iraq.

This is worthwhile to give honor to these fathers and is sure to make you feel even more proud on Father's Day.

Please take a moment and show your big heart for our Father Troops.

http://www.madisoncofc.org./operationdad.shtml

Gratefully,
Vivian Wilhoite