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Sunday December 21, 2025
Local Connection
A spectacular day of Bluegrass and Americana music, food and beverages, craft vendors, and youth activities in a scenic environment awaits those who visit Jefferson Memorial Forest’s fourteenth annual Forest Fest on Saturday, May 19.
Forest Fest has been known for providing a great variety of bluegrass music; this year’s event expands on that tradition with five musical acts in the lineup. The music starts at 11:30 a.m. in the forest’s Horine Section, 12408 Holsclaw Hill Road.
The lineup starts off with the Local Honeys, followed by Louisville’s own Hog Operation. Kentucky native band Whiskey Bent Valley Boys play next. NPR acclaimed artist Nora Jane Struthers takes the stage next and 2015 IBMA Momentum Award winning band the Lonely Heart Strings round out the evening.
The event is free, but parking is $10 per carload. Bring a blanket or chair. Food, wine, and beer will be available for purchase along with items from various crafters. Outside alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Well-behaved dogs on a leash are welcome, and their owners are asked to be considerate of other patrons.
The event is made possible through the financial support of presenting sponsors, Metro Councilpersons Vicki Aubrey Welch (District 13) and Cindi Fowler (District 14), in whose districts Jefferson Memorial Forest is located, and David Yates (District 25) as well as assistance from Councilpersons Rick Blackwell (District 12), Marianne Butler (District 15), James Peden (District 23), Madonna Flood (District 24), Jessica Green (District 1), Barbara Shanklin (District 2), Bill Hollander (District 9), Pat Mulvihill (District 10), Glen Stuckel (District 17), Vitalis Lanshima (District 21), Robin Engel (District 22), Barbara Sexton Smith (District 4), Cheri Bryant Hamilton (District 5), Brandon Coan (District 8), and Stuart Benson (District 20). Also sponsoring the event are: Aetna, WFPK Radio Louisville, and 502 Yoga.
A variety of entertainment options for children, including live nature demonstrations and a climbing wall, will take place during the day, beginning at noon and ending at 5 p.m. Workshops by performers will begin at 1 p.m. Artists from across the region will demonstrate their skills as part of a craft fair, and food and beverages from Comfy Cow Ice Cream, Shack in the Back Barbeque, Lil Cheezers food truck, Brooks Hill Winery, Heine Brothers Coffee, Mr. G’s Kettle Corn, and local craft beer will be available for sale.
Forest Fest Band Schedule
- 11:30 a.m. Local Honeys
- 12:45 p.m. Hog Operation
- 2:00 p.m. Whisky Bent Valley Boys
- 3:50 p.m. Nora Jane Struthers
- 5:30 p.m. Lonely Heart Strings
Forest Fest Schedule of Activities
- 10:30 a.m. Booths open to the public; food areas open; Forest Nature booth opens for children
- 11:30 a.m. Music begins; Children’s activities begin (until 5 p.m.)
- 1-1:45 p.m. Band Workshop: Local Honeys Children’s songwriting
- 2-2:45 p.m. Band Workshop: Hog Operation
- 2:45 -3:30 p.m. Band Workshop: Nora Jane Struthers
- 4:30-5 p.m. Band Workshop: Lonely Heart strings
- 7 p.m. Forest Fest concludes
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
His high school baseball teams won six Kentucky State Baseball Championships. During his 39 year as the winningest coach in Kentucky, he posted a state record of 1,144 victories. He was the sixth winningest coach in the nation.
On Thursday night, the Louisville Metro Council approved a resolution for an honorary street signs for Bill Miller the late coach of the Pleasure Ridge Park Panthers to be placed in front of the school where he coached.
“Obviously Coach Miller is legendary based on his wins and state championships but the real measure of his achievements is the extraordinary number of lives that he touched in the process. Coach Miller helped so many students and athletes grow from boys to productive young men and hundreds of them attended the services to show their respect,” said Councilman Rick Blackwell (D-12), the primary sponsor of the Resolution.
Coach Miller was born in Louisville and attended PRP graduating in 1967. He also attended the University of Alabama and played football for legendary Coach Bear Bryant. He also played baseball while with the Crimson Tide
After college, his 39 year baseball career began as a coach when he returned to PRP first as a teacher and then as coach of the freshman and junior-varsity baseball teams. During his career, the Panthers won state championships in 1994, 1995, 1996, 2008, 2013 and 2017.
He was inducted into the Dawahares/Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2017 shortly before his passing.
By unanimous vote, the Metro Council approved the placing of honorary Street signs at the northwest corner of Greenwood Road and Waller Lane, at northwest corner of Greenwood Road and Feyhurst Place and at the entrance to PRP High School at 5901 Greenwood that read “Coach Bill Miller Way”.
“I hope the honorary signs demonstrate our community’s appreciation for Coach Miller’s dedicated service to Pleasure Ridge Park High School,” said Blackwell.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin is encouraging residents of District 2 and the surrounding area to come out and enjoy a free event in Petersburg Park on Saturday, May 12th.
In partnership with Kentucky Shakespeare, the Councilwoman is sponsoring the “Shakespeare in the Parks” production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It is one of the Bard’s most enduring comedies involving love, marriage and magical misadventures. The play is one of Shakespeare’s most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world.
“We have enjoyed bringing these productions to our area for the last few years and this is a free weekend event for everyone,” says Shanklin. “Petersburg Park is a great place for this event, so bring a lawn chair and come join us.”
Shanklin and other Metro Council members are sponsoring this year’s free production tour of Kentucky Shakespeare in various parks throughout Metro Louisville. The tour is now in its fifth year.
Kentucky Shakespeare, a not-for-profit charitable organization, professional theatre company, and the oldest free Shakespeare Festival in the United States has been offering free Shakespeare in Central Park in Old Louisville during the summer.
Their 6-actor, 80-minute production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been touring 25 Kentuckiana locations this spring, bringing free Shakespeare to local neighborhoods until May 19th.
The event begins at 6:30pm. Petersburg Park is located at 5008 East Indian Trail.
For more information about Saturday’s “Shakespeare in the Parks” at Petersburg Park, contact Councilwoman Shanklin’s office at 574-1102.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Free music on a nice spring evening is one way one of Metro Louisville’s oldest neighborhoods relaxes when the 2018 edition of Old Louisville LIVE returns on Friday, May 11th.
“Old Louisville is once again the place to kick off the weekend with live music and fun for everyone,” says President David James (D-6). “It is also another great way to get out and enjoy one of the best places in our city: Old Louisville. So bring family and friends and joins us for a nice relaxing Friday night.”
Highlight this Friday’s Old Louisville LIVE is Brutally Handsome – the Eagles Tribute Band from 8:00pm until 11:00pm. Best of all, admission to the concert is FREE.
“Free concerts in Central Park are one of the great things we do in the community. We hope everyone will come out have fun and enjoy Old Louisville,” says Brent Logsdon, Chairman of the Old Louisville Neighborhood Council.
The 2018 Old Louisville LIVE series has the following entertainment lineup through September:
- Sat. May 19th 7-9 pm JCPS Trio of Bands with Jecorey Arthur
- Fri. Aug 31st 8-11 pm In Lightning
- Fri. Sept 7th 8-11 pm Junior J and Shania Robinson – R& B artists
- Sat. Sept 15th 5-10 pm Hal & Ben’s Bike-In (Ben Sollee and Hal Riedling bring music and a movie to the park)
- Sat. Sept 22nd 7-10 pm Monarchs
- Fri. Sept 28th 7-9 pm John LaBarbera Big Band (Tentative)
All Old Louisville LIVE shows will take place at the C. Douglas Ramey Amphitheater in Central Park, are free, and open to public. Food trucks will be onsite and concessions will of Old Louisville products will be offered for purchase.
Joining President James and the OLNC as sponsors are Louisville Metro Government, The 1300 Association, South Third Street Association, South Fourth Street Association, Garvin Gate Neighborhood Association, Belgravia Association, St. James Court Association, Treyton Oak Towers, Genscape, Paradise Tomato Kitchens and BC Plumbing.
For the latest updates about Old Louisville LIVE, visit Old Louisville Neighborhood Council’s website http://oldlouisville.org/ and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/oldlouisvilleneighborhood.
An employee of the Texas Roadhouse restaurant at 13321 Shelbyville Rd. has been diagnosed with acute hepatitis A.
Customers who ate at this Texas Roadhouse from April 11, 2018 to April 25, 2018 may have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus. While the risk of contracting hepatitis A from eating at this restaurant is low, the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness is issuing this advisory out of an abundance of caution. The hepatitis A outbreak remains centered among the homeless and those who use drugs.
When a food service worker is diagnosed with hepatitis A, he or she is immediately excluded from work and not allowed to return without release from his or her medical provider. Additionally, all employees at the establishment are vaccinated and disinfection and sanitation practices are followed. Texas Roadhouse scored 96-A and 97-A on its last two health inspections.
Symptoms of hepatitis A are fatigue, decreased appetite, stomach pain, nausea, darkened urine, pale stools and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). People can become ill 15 to 50 days after being exposed to the virus. Anyone experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention.
Hepatitis A is usually transmitted by putting something in your mouth such as an object, food or drink, which has been in contact with the feces of an infected person. In November, the Kentucky Department for Public Health declared a statewide hepatitis A outbreak. Since the outbreak began there have been 327 cases diagnosed in Louisville and nearly 27,000 vaccinated.
“While we have had a very small number of food workers diagnosed with hepatitis A in our community, there still has been NO foodborne transmission,” said Dr. Lori Caloia, medical director. “Also, our restaurant industry has really stepped up to the plate to get their workers immunized. About 5,000 local food service employees have been vaccinated against hepatitis A.”
The best ways to prevent hepatitis A infection are to get vaccinated and to practice good handwashing. “Washing your hands thoroughly and often with warm water and soap, especially before preparing meals or eating, after using the bathroom or changing a diaper is a proven way to prevent the spread of diseases,” Dr. Caloia added. “Hand sanitizer is not as effective as hand washing against hepatitis A.”
For more information about hepatitis A visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/health-wellness/hepatitis or call 211.
Council Members David Yates (D-25) and Rick Blackwell (D-12) invite the community to the first-ever Family Movie Night at the Southwest YMCA this coming Friday, May 11th. It’s a free event for the entire family.
“The Southwest YMCA is a wonderful amenity for our community. Councilman Blackwell and I sponsor these great events to ensure every family in our community can have some fun in a safe and comfortable atmosphere,” said Yates. “Family Movie Night is a new event this year. I am sure we will have a great turnout just like our Back to School Bash and Fall Family Festival!”
“Families can enjoy a free night together in a fun and safe environment with this event,” says Blackwell. “The Southwest YMCA does a tremendous job of offering family-friendly events for our community and we are excited to offer something different this year.”
Family Movie Night at the Southwest YMCA will be held from 6:00pm to 9:30pm. Families can enjoy activities from 6 – 8 pm including:
- Hot dogs, ice cream and popcorn
- Inflatables, family games and face painting
- Membership and Healthy Living Information
Bring your blankets and chairs to enjoy the feature film “Zootopia” beginning at 8 pm. This Disney animated film released in 2016 tells the story of a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox working together to uncover a conspiracy. The Southwest YMCA is located at 2800 Fordhaven Road.
For more information, contact Councilman Yates office at 574-1125 or Councilman Blackwell’s Office at 574-1112.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilwoman Marianne Butler is once again encouraging pet owners to take advantage of the next S.P.O.T. Clinic for residents of District 15 set for Saturday, May 12th.
“S.P.O.T. Clinics are an effective way to provide needed veterinarian services at a low cost for pet owners,” says Butler. “If you have not had time during the week to take care of your pet, this clinic is one way to renew a license and update vaccinations.”
Here is a list of services offered at the District 15 Spring S.P.O.T. Clinic:
- 1 year rabies vaccination: $10.00
- 3 year rabies vaccination: $15.00
- DAPP: FREE!
- 1 year altered license: $10.00
- 1 year altered senior license: $5.00
- 1 year unaltered license: $60.00
- 3 year altered license: $27.00
- 3 year senior license: $13.50
- Microchip: $25.00
The S.P.O.T Clinic (which stands for Stop Pet Overpopulation Today) will be located in the front parking lot at the Salvation Army building, 1010 Beecher Street. The hours of operation are from 9:00am until 12:00pm.
For more information about the S.P.O.T. Clinic, contact Councilwoman Butler’s office at 574-1115.
