West Gnashvegas Swap Spot

If you are looking for bargains, you might want to check out the West Gnashvegas Swap Spot on the Web. A local blogger going by the name Jeffraham Prestonian has been listing items (mainly electronics) on this site for about five years. As he puts it, it's a chance for you to "trade your dust-collecting, usable junk for mine." Jeffraham is interested in trading for the following items:

"CASH [who isn't?], Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, PC parts and whatnot, Consumer electronics, Certain books, DVDs, CDs, Music gear, Stuff that aides in maintaining a Chinese 150cc scooter [wow], SD/MMC cards, SmartMedia cards and Old bicycles." His advice: "Be bold -- be stupid. Ya never know. :)"

"I will always put what I think is a fair market cash price, minimum, for the items, to help you judge what you'd be willing to swap for them."

Take a look. Who knows, maybe you'll find a bargain on something you need. Or something you didn't know you had to have. :)

NTF ReLeafing Day tomorrow

The Nashville Tree Foundation will plant powerline-approved trees in Sylvan Heights tomorrow morning (Saturday, November 18) from 8:30 to 10 a.m. in celebration of its fifth annual ReLeafing Day.

Volunteers will meet at Park Avenue Enhanced Option School, 3703 Park Avenue, at 8:30am for planting assignments for about 35 powerline-approved trees and 30 other trees and shrubs at the school, by the community garden, and two gateways into the neighborhood. The SHNA Web site has additional information about the project.

If you're interested in helping our next-door neighbors, Call Libby Cheek with the Tree Foundation at (615) 292-5175 or send her an e-mail at nashvilletree@earthlink.net.

Volunteer Tailgate Party

For those of you who cheer for the Vols, First Tennessee will host a tailgate party prior to tomorrow's Tennessee-Vanderbilt football game at its new bank location (3011 West End Avenue).

The event begins at 9:30 a.m. It will feature free food and drinks and a live broadcast of the Kickoff Call-In Show on WLAC-AM. The UT marching band and cheerleading squad will also perform.

Go Dores!! (I just had to throw that in somewhere.)

West Nashville clinic being sued

The Tennessean also reported today that the state of Tennessee is suing the Wisdomite Spiripathology Healing and Music Mission, which is located near Sylvan Park at 1050 44th Avenue North because its president is allegedly practicing medicine without a license and making unsubstantiated claims about curing diseases.

State officials are asking anyone who has sought treatment from him or others who offer unsubstantiated cures to call the Division of Consumer Affairs at (615) 741-4737.

I-40 work completed

The Tennessean reported this morning that the Tennessee Department of Transportation has completed repair work on the Interstate 40 bridge that crosses over Jefferson Street between I-440 and downtown. No further closures are expected.

Challenges of urban living

A fellow West Nashvillian witnessed some unusual activity early this morning at the White Bridge Road and I-40 Waffle House. Luckily for us, he shared details on his blog.

"I never know what to expect when I hear that... especially at 4 AM at Waffle House.

I stopped by where I work (sort of) at 4 AM this morning to pick up a large coffee and grab my paycheck out of the office. I was barely through the door when both waitresses and the cook started in with "You should have been here, you missed it!". Oh boy...

There's a Super 8 motel behind the restaurant that's popular with some of the drug dealers, prostitutes and paycheck-to-paycheck people in this part of West Nashville. Apparently some dude and his lady were back there putting powder up their noses and having a good time when the dude freaked out... The first my friends at Waffle House knew about it was when the "lady" came flying into the restaurant, in her underwear, ran back to the nathroom and hid... Hiding from...?

Hiding from the dude, who came flying through the door shortly after, wearing not a damn thing... ran around the restaurant... ran down the grill line, vaulted over the booths and ran back out the door... He hopped in a car (the lady's?) and drove off but apparently Metro Police caught up with him after a brief chase. Cici told me that the dude offered to share his stash with her if she'd just go back over to their room and get his drugs and his pants. It shook Judy up so bad she was actually up and cleaning things... trying to burn off the adrenaline rush.

I'd have stayed and gotten more details but... about that time news vans from two of the local TV stations showed up and started deploying cameras... I figured it was time to leave."

I needed this chuckle (though it's a sad story at its heart) this morning, but don't forget that living in an urban neighborhood has its challenges. This didn't happen in Sylvan Park, but it wasn't far away, either. As Doug Eckert often reminds attendees at SPNA membership meetings, report suspicious activity or criminal behavior to the police at (615) 862-8600.