Saturday: Drop off small hazardous waste items

Information from Metro Public Works press release, via email from Charlotte Park Neighborhood Association:

SATURDAY IS HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY
Metro residents can recycle items at Bellevue, Green Hills and Old Hickory drop-offs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - This weekend is the time to dispose of any household batteries, old cell phones, fluorescent light bulbs and unwanted over-the-counter and prescription medications you've been wanting to get rid of.

"Hazardous Waste Education & Collection Day" events are planned between 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. this Saturday at three Metro Public Works (MPW) recycle drop-off sites. The effort is intended to educate residents about how to properly dispose of household hazardous waste items, and make it as convenient as possible for them to do so.

Volunteers will be accepting the following items:

. Small batteries (A, AA, AAA, C, D, 9-volt, button)

. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs) & Fluorescent tubes

. Cell phones

. Mercury Thermometers can be exchanged for a digital thermometer

. Over the counter & prescription medications

(Only household waste - no business waste - from Davidson County residents will be accepted. Car batteries, paint, tires and other hazardous waste will NOT be accepted at the drop-offs.)

The three sites hosting Saturday's events are: the MTA Park & Ride Lot at Coley Davis Road and Highway 70 South in Bellevue; Hillsboro High School in Green Hills (entrance is on Hillmont Drive behind the school); and Dupont-Hadley Middle School, 1901 Old Hickory Blvd, Old Hickory.

Metro police officers will be at each site to ensure the safe and secure disposal of medications, and volunteers will also provide information about how and where to dispose of all types of household hazardous waste.

MPW's East Convenience Center, located at 943 Dr Richard Adams Drive (off Ellington Parkway and Trinity Lane), is Metro's designated household hazardous waste disposal site and is open seven days a week.

Maps and driving directions to all Metro recycle drop-off sites, as well as more information about Metro's Household Hazardous Waste disposal program and guidelines, is available at www.nashville.gov/recycle.

May 31: Clean up Richland Creek

Saturday Cleanup event details provided via email from Kip Campbell (links added by editor):

Richland Creek Cleanup, May 31, 10 a.m. Volunteers are needed to clean up the area at the intersection of Richland Creek and Charlotte Avenue (near 5409 Charlotte Pike). The cleanup is being organized by the Richland Creek Watershed Alliance through Metro Nashville's Adopt A Stream program. Cleanup will be between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. We need your help to un-trash this area! Volunteers last year removed 1.3 tons of waste. The area is steep, at a busy intersection, and has other safety hazards to be considered. Pre-registration is encouraged. To register by email, send to rcwa@comcast.net. Participants under age 18 will need supervision and waivers required from all participants. To learn more, go to www.richlandcreekwatershedalliance.org.

Click here to view a flier for the event.

Saturday: NormFest Folk Festival

Music, barbecue and camping, oh my! Details and poster image provided by neighbor Mary Sack. Thanks, Mary! (Also see location on map, event on calendar.)

NORMFEST a/k/a The 2nd Annual West Nashville Folk Festival will feature 10+ hours of live music, smokin' BBQ, camping and more on Sat., May 24., at Norm's River Road House in West Nashville.

Since mid-2006, Norm Stannard of Norm's River Road House continues to establish itself as one of Nashville's most delightful, truly underground local establishments with quality, national live music bookings & slow-cooked BBQ. Located in deep West Nashville - on your way to Cumberland Heights Rehab Center - the little listening room is burrowed in to a hillside on the banks of the Cumberland River and features an outdoor festival stage with camping and fishing areas available.

NORMFEST was launched on Memorial Day Weekend 2007 with music from noon to midnight, featuring performance from Justin Townes Earle, Irene Kelley, David Olney & Sergio Webb and others.

The festival will feature: John Scott Sherrill & The Flat River Band; David Olney & Sergio Webb with Jack Irwin; Tommy Womack Band; Davis Raines & Mark Robinson; Jeff & Vida; The Limitations; Jon Byrd & Used Auto Parts; Warren Wilken & others

Norm's River Road House
7695 River Road Pike
Nashville, TN
http://www.myspace.com/normsriverroadhouse
615-356-6314
All Day Access Wristband: $20
ALL DAY MUSIC/CAMPING - MANY BANDS/ARTISTS!!
OUTDOOR STAGE! Rain or Shine
MUSIC STARTS @ 1 p.m. through 11 p.m.

Updated: Police helicopter searching West Nashville

UPDATE May 14: Don Aaron, Metro Police spokesperson, said in an email, "Aviation reports that the helicopter was assisting in the search for a missing suicidal person. The individual was located."

Original post follows ...

For at least a half hour, a Metro Police helicopter has been flying overhead, shining a spotlight onto parts of West Nashville. An operator who answered an 11 p.m. call to Metro's non-emergency phone number 615-862-8600 said, "They're looking for somebody." He said residents should stay inside and lock their doors.

When asked about the nature of the search, the operator said he could not provide additional details.

Neighborhood Association meeting tonight, not Thursday

The Charlotte Park Neighborhood Association meeting this month will be tonight, May 13, at 7 p.m. at the Metro Police West Precinct Roll Call Building, according to Janice Lampley, association treasurer. The association is not meeting on Thursday, as it typically does, because of another group meeting at that time.

Meeting dates and times can be viewed here.

Bulk item, appliance collection Monday 6 a.m.

Fliers placed on Charlotte Park mailboxes Saturday informed neighbors about "Bulk Item Cleanup," scheduled for Monday morning.

The collection of bulk items and major appliances is sponsored by Metro Beautification and Metro Public Works in conjunction with the neighborhood association, according to the flier, which said:

District 20 Neighborhood Cleanup
Monday, May 12, 2008

Boundaries include: American Road/Charlotte Avenue to Richland Creek (From Briley Parkway to Cumberland River)

All items must be placed at the curb of the street by 6 a.m. on Monday. Please do not place items near mailboxes or underneath trees or phone/electrical lines.

Bulk items that WILL be picked up include: Old furniture, mattresses/box springs, sofas/couches, televisions, lawn furniture, lawn mowers, bicycles, baby furniture, exercise equipment, toilets, refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, air conditioners, ranges, washers, dryers, and automobile parts, including fenders, hoods, metal bumpers, motor frames, transmissions, starters, alternators, radiators, rear ends, drive shafts, and brake rotors.

Bulk items that WILL NOT be picked up include: Dirt and sand, rocks and concrete, lumber, landscaping timbers/crossties, tree limbs, batteries and motor oil, tires, paint or empty paint cans, commercial or household chemicals, household hazardous materials, chicken and fencing wire, storage sheds (wooden, tin or vinyl), roofing, carpets and carpet pads, and no remodeling, building or construction debris of any kind.

For further information, call Metro Beautification & Environment Commission 862-8418

Image from Metro Beautification website.

May 12: Final meeting on Charlotte Ave. design plan

Community members are invited to a May 12 meeting during which Metro Planners will discuss a Charlotte Avenue/Richland Park Detailed Corridor Design Plan (DCDP). The plan focuses on possible growth and development along Charlotte Pike between 42nd Avenue North and Richland Creek. (See area on a map.)


The Draft Plan Presentation Meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, May 12, at St. Ann Catholic Community, 5101 Charlotte Pike. It will be the last in a series of scheduled community meetings for a Design Plan process aimed at creating "a plan for future growth and development outlining appropriate land use and urban design that complements and enhances the character of the corridor," according to a Metro meeting schedule and map document.

The blog Charlotte Avenue is Shaping Up has been covering this Charlotte Avenue revitalization effort since February. A recent post about the upcoming meeting said:

... The community will have the opportunity to offer feedback on the draft plan. This is your chance to come and see what the future holds for Charlotte Avenue. All are encouraged to attend. Please get the word out!

According to information on Metro's "West Nashville Community Plan" website, a draft Charlotte Pike plan will be presented at the meeting. The Charlotte Avenue/Richland Park DCDP is a part of the West Nashville Community Plan that was adopted in 2000 by the Metro Planning Commission.

Image from Metro's Draft Corridor Design Plan.

16-year-old home burglar arrested on River Rouge Drive

May 6 press release from Metro Police, via email from Charlotte Park Neighborhood Association:

A 16-year-old burglar is in Juvenile Detention this afternoon after an alert citizen saw a strange car at her neighbor’s River Rouge Drive home and quickly called police.

West Precinct Sergeant Mike Swoner was in the area at 10:30 a.m. addressing traffic issues when he heard the call go out and immediately responded. He found the car with the trunk open backed up to the back door of the home. As Swoner approached the car with gun drawn, the 16-year-old came out of the residence carrying a 32-inch flat screen television. Swoner asked the teenager what he was doing. He replied, “Stealing.”

Swoner took the teenager into custody after having him gently put the television on the ground. He subsequently learned that the suspect is in state custody and was living in a Portland, Tennessee, foster home.

West Precinct detectives believe the 16-year-old is also responsible for a home burglary on Annex Avenue earlier in the day. South Precinct detectives are investigating his likely involvement in as many as six home burglaries earlier in the week.

“This teenage criminal is in custody now because an alert citizen saw a strange car in her neighborhood, called police, and kept and eye on it until Sergeant Swoner arrived,” Chief Ronal Serpas said. “The partnership between the citizen and Sergeant Swoner was simply outstanding.”

Thus far, the teen is charged with aggravated burglary, marijuana possession, and felony theft as a result of today’s arrest. His prior charges include domestic assault, assault, resisting police, evading arrest, and disorderly conduct.

Meeting tonight about H2O development

Residents of Charlotte Park and Beacon Square tonight will have the opportunity to meet with the developer of H2O Urban Waterfront Development. The Charlotte Park Neighborhood Association said in an email that neighbors with questions about the development are invited to attend.

The meeting will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at St. John United Methodist Church, 6300 Charlotte Pike at the corner of Westboro Drive.

H2O is planned for property at 6950 Charlotte Pike, adjacent to Cabot Drive, Interstate 40 and the Cumberland River (see on map). According to the H2O website (with sound), the planned development will include lofts, row homes, condominiums, single-family houses, office space and a 150-room boutique hotel. The website also describes plans for clothing stores, "urban restaurants," an "urban grocery store," a river taxi, open-air markets, a park and green spaces.

But the plan needs more work before it moves ahead, according to Wallace and Janice Lampley of the Charlotte Park Neighborhood Association.

"You can do the math and see that there is no way that this area and the roads could handle this type of dense development," the Lampleys wrote in an email to Metro officials.

Image of H2O infrastructure plan from H2O website