Notes From the Nations

River Music--Sorry I missed the August RUN meeting. I went to a concert downtown and when I bought the ticket I didn't realize it was on RUN night.

Digital Age--You may have noticed I have a proper email address now. I am also working on a MySpace and Facebook page. It's what all the kids are doing. It is all very strange to me so bear with me as I am dragged kicking and screaming into the the 21st century.

Gail Kerr--I hope y'all got a chance to read Gail Kerr's piece August 15 in the Tennessean. It was about the Metro law against discrimination of gays. Our councilman Buddy Baker was featured. Buddy and I have not agreed on every issue but he is right on this one.

Marketplace--I hope y'all have had to chance to visit the new farmer's market in Richland Park. I have been there the last two Saturdays and it seems to be thriving. If you haven't been there yet be sure to go before it gets too cold.

The Price of Freedom--I am sorry to hear about Cynthia's cousin who was wounded in the war.

Movin' the Cop Shop--I think it is a good idea to move the West precinct down to the old Ford dealer, but I do have two thoughts on the subject. First, I thought Metro was broke and are laying off employees. How can we afford to buy the land? But if the property is cheap enough it might be a good deal. Secondly, Richland Creek runs right by there and the Richland Creek people have talked about putting a pocket park in there. They want to extend the Richland Creek Greenway to Charlotte and eventually to West Park. Perhaps the two projects could be combined.

VFW recycles--In case you haven't heard, they have moved the recycling center from Wal-mart to the VFW another mile down the road. It's better than nothing I suppose but it's way out of the 20th district now. I take the recycles from work to the center at TSU, which is out of the way but a lot closer.

Scott's Blog - Beautification

Big News at Beautification

Billy Lynch, director of Metro Public Works sat in on the last beautification meeting. A big topic was losing the recycling center in West Nashville and the one in South Nashville Wal-mart is kicking us out of. Mr. Lynch said he is working on a deal to put it on Metro/State property. He didn't have any details as it is still in the works, but putting it on government land is a better solution than getting jerked around by big companies. Let's wish him well and hope we can get recycling out here soon. I'll keep you posted.

What makes me mad is we had to move to Wal-mart because they were going build a frozen food store in the old location. Well it's been almost two years and still nothing. I know these things take time and the economy has been down, but I don't like people who say they are going to do something then don't follow through.

I Need an Intern

I guess you all have heard about that State Senator from Memphis caught messing around with an intern. That brings to mind our own State Rep. Gary Odom. Now I know he did the honorable thing and married that young girl. Part of me wants to say good for you, I think I'd like to try that. But the more I think about it, it all seems so creepy. Our state legislature is an embarrassment, in a nation with lots of bad State governments. Can't we get some better people to fill these offices? Or is the money machine all that matters?

Scott's Blog

MEDIA MAVENS
It was good to see a couple of our RUN members in the Tennessean recently. Bernadette Ash was quoted at a tax protest rally downtown and has been on the local radio as I understand. Then I saw Norma's photo in the paper in a story about the Phase II construction on I-40. You go, girls! More people should be as politically active as the two of you.

OH CANADA
Well I'm back from my two week vacation to British Columbia. I had a good time but I'm glad I'm back in good ole West Nashville. I'm sick of travelling and won't be going anywhere for a while.

51st RENAISSANCE
Seems to me more small businesses are coming back to 51st Ave and Centennial Blvd. Wayne Greer has opened an arcade by the Stop and Shop and Fast Freddy's is expanding. We should encourage more small business to locate in West Nashville. The next clean-up for 51st is July 11.

R.I.P. MAYTOWN?
So I hear the planning commission voted against Maytown and the motion will be deferred. That's good but I hope we can move on from here. We've been arguing this for 18 months now and everybody has had their say. I hope we can work out some kind of land swap with the fairgrounds or even the old Bruce Hardwood Floor land. And why can't we get the Ferry to Bell's Bend re-opened?

Scott's Blog - Updates

--Recycle Walmart--

In case you havn't heard, the recycling center that was by Strike and Spare has moved two miles west to Walmart. Thanks to Public Works, Buddy Baker, Lee Scott and all that saved the recycling center in West Nashville! Remember there is another recycling center at TSU that may be closer to those of use who live in the Nations.

--Watching the River Flow--

Your tax dollars are at work next to West Park. They have trucked out tons of top soil to build a new storm water holding place next to the water plant. With all the rain we've had today I'm glad we have it so raw sewage doesn't enter Richland Creek.

Scotts Blog: A Few Items

TOO MANY TIRES

Someone has been dumping a lot of tires in West Nashville lately. There is a collection in the alley between Georgia and Indiana by Morrow Road. But most aggressive offense is the 100 or so that was dumped behind the Church on 61st and Centennial. It's a disgrace and something needs to be done about it. But what?

You see it all goes back to the economy. A year ago you could take bad tires to Firestone and they would recycle them for free. Now it cost $2 a tire. So all the local tire shops have to dump them somewhere and where better than a quiet neighborhood.

Tires can be recycled, but right now it is not profitable. Can't we get some federal or state money from the stimulus to help with this problem?

MUSIC VIDEO FILMED IN WEST NASHVILLE

Word on the street is that music producer John Rich, formerly of the group Big and Rich, has filmed a video at one of West Nashville's drinking establishments.

Johnny's bar on Centennial Ave. was rented out for $600 on March 17 so Mr. Rich could produce a video for his upcoming single Down in Detroit (or something like that) that should be on CMT soon. Apparently, it is a song about the recent recession and the wanted the foulest little honky tonk bar they could find. Well I've been to Johnny's (mostly to play guitar on jam night) and they sure picked the right location. I hear they closed part of Centennial and Kris Kristofferson and other stars were there.

I don't know if you're a county music fan, but just a few years ago Big and Rich were singing to the excess of being Big and Rich. Now he sings about the the poor working man in difficult economics times, while he builds a 70 foot high house on Love Circle. Thanks John, but don't come back.

ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE

The 51st Ave clean-up is slated for April 11. That is the same date of the Richland Creek clean-up and we will work together to have the maximum amount of trash to pick up. I am off the Friday before so we should be able to get a lot of trash picked up.

The Nashville Urban Harvest is looking forward to their best year ever. Volunteers are needed at any time.

Scott's Blog - TVA Ash Sludge Spill

I guess y'all have heard about that ash sludge spill from the TVA plant up in East Tennessee. So what does that have to do to us here in West Nashville?

Well…if you are reading this on a computer or with the help of an electric light, it has a lot to do with you. See, the electricity to power that light comes from removing mountaintop to reach the coal that the TVA burns to generate electricity.

Think of it this way…if when you flip a switch or turn something on in your house, a little ash or a puff of blue smoke comes out of the plug, would you live there long? Even with the blessing of electricity? We need to think in a new way. Electricity can be generated on a smaller scale though solar or geothermal power and we would, in a way, be paying as we use it. And we wouldn't have to rely on NES or the TVA. I know that the issue is a lot more complicated, but I think West Nashville is the perfect place to start this new way of thinking.

What do you all think?

- Scott

Scott's Blog - Fire on Morrow Road

Last saturday afternoon there was a house fire just up the street on Morrow Road. The fire department was there quickly and contained the fire to mostly one end of the duplex. You've got to give those firemen credit. That's a tough and dangerous job that I wouldn't want to do. They saved the people inside with only one person sustaining minor injuries.
Now this property is right on the corner of 61st Ave and Morrow Road right across from West Park. It's a very old and tiny duplex that has had many differnt tenants since I've been living down the street. It has been up for sale for a year or more. I suppose it still is and now at a reduced price. I wonder what will happen to that little house. It is all boarded up and scorched on the inside and unfit for human habitation. But there are a lot of homeless poeple around here who have been known to squat in an abandoned building.
What I would like to see is that old duplex torn down and the land left alone. The lot is too small for the condos they are building around here now. Maybe even that land could be donated to the city as sort of an annex to West Park.
The strange thing about all of this is - although the guy who lived there moved out with the help of the Red Cross, he left behind his dog. It's one of those pit bull mixes so popular these days. He is still chained to a tree next to his makeshift dog house (at least it didn't burn) looking as sad and forlorn as the charred furniture lying in the gutter. Someone still brings him food and water and he looks healthy enough, but still it's a pitiful sight. I hate to see an animal suffer. Let's hope we can get that place torn down and the dog can find a happy home.
All from the West Side for now. More later.

- Scott