C

Lakewood Beautification Group

Lakewood Clean Up Day A Success!     

On Saturday, April 21st, the Lakewood Beautification Group had their first ever 'Spring Clean Up Day', which turned out to be a huge success.  Everybody started out at Victorian Pastimes and grabbed some doughnuts, pastries, bananas, breakfast bars, etc to get their energy going before heading off for a great morning of fun. They came away with 2 truck beds full of garbage along with a flat bed trailer full of trash from an elderly family's home.  If you would like to be a part of the next upcoming Lakewood Clean Up Day or to join the Lakewood Beautification Group, please go the the 'Sign Up Sheet' page and add your name to the list.  We look forward to having you become a part of this great group!

A few of the volunteers getting ready to head out on their mission!

Click Photos For Larger Image

Lakewood Beautification Volunteers

Set Several Goals

Improving Old Hickory Boulevard, New Signs On Agenda

Mayor Jeff Thompson joined with the City of Lakewood’s Beautification Group, neighbors and invited guests at their first Holiday Pot-Luck in December.

Lakewood—A new Lakewood Beautification group “open to anyone that wants to help beautify the city” hopes to work with the city officials in several areas.

April Consulo is a lead organizer of the group.

Among the functions Consulo said the group is interested in are to “improve and complement the visual appearance of Old Hickory Boulevard,” create various family events and assist with the upkeep for residents who may not physically be able.

“We have a lot of younger folks moving in and doing a great job restoring older houses in Lakewood,” Consulo said.  “It’s a great city, and a lot of people don’t know we’re here.

The group wants to work with Lakewood officials and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods.

Commissioner Valerie Blackburn said she would sit in with the task force when she’s available. 

She felt it was important for the group to have representation and involvement from the entire community and “not just the lakefront owners,” referring to those who live on properties near Old Hickory Lake that are generally more expensive. Consulo said the group is open to anyone in the city.

 “I don't have a problem with people wanting to beautify the city,” Blackburn said.  “But we do have codes enforcement.

Consulo said the group would work with City Hall.  She estimated a conservative count of 40-50 people active with the group.

Consulo said the group has talked to the city about new Lakewood welcome signs to replace the ones now up on Old Hickory Boulevard.  She said new signs would be raised through a fundraiser operated by the group.

She said the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods stated that 30,000 people travel through Lakewood daily on Old Hickory Boulevard will be one of the goals of the new Beautification group. 

“Something to give more of a charm in order to attract more small businesses like cafes and little restaurants...an ice creamery,” she said.

Consulo envisions having various subcommittees, perhaps one for Old Hickory Boulevard, another for community events and another for helping people with their homes.

“No dues are planned.  Plans now would be to raise money through fundraisers”, Consulo said.

For details, call 615-847-9256

By Andy Humbles | ahumbles@tennessean.com

Donelson-Hermitage Powered By the Tennessean

Wednesday, January 3, 2007