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Credit: Louisville Metro Police

Mayor Greg Fischer and Police Chief Steve Conrad are inviting the public to join in on the annual National Night Out events being held in the police divisions around Metro Louisville on Tuesday night.

This year’s theme for the event is IncLOUsive City – promoting safe neighborhoods through inclusiveness. Events will include opportunities to interact with officers, refreshments, games and public safety information.

“Making this city safer is a joint effort between police officers and the neighborhoods they patrol,” Chief Conrad said. “National Night Out is our chance each year to come together to celebrate our efforts and continuing building the relationships that make us a better city.”

From 2013 to 2017, Louisville Metro has been selected as a national award winner for its outstanding participation in the annual National Night Out events held throughout our city. The National Association of Town Watch evaluates entries based on attendance, corporate sponsorships, crime prevention collaborations between police and community members, and ongoing outreach efforts.

It is an honor for LMPD to be recognized, but the Mayor and Chief stressed that could not have been done it without every citizen who takes a stance on crime prevention in their community.

“I hope people will join me Tuesday night in stopping by one or more of our National Night Out events,” said Mayor Fischer. “This city shows over and over again how working together for safer neighborhoods pays off, so let’s use Tuesday to recommit ourselves to those efforts.”

Events will be located throughout Metro Louisville:

  • 1st Division: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Baxter Park, Baxter Community Center, 1125 Cedar Court
  • 2nd Division: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Cash Saver Market, 3044 Wilson Avenue
  • 3rd Division: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Home Depot, 6840 Dixie Highway
  • 4th Division: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wyandotte Park, 1104 Beecher Street
  • 5th Division: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Peterson-Dumesnil House, 301 S. Peterson Avenue
  • 6th & 7th Divisions: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Target Okolona, 7311 Jefferson Boulevard
  • 8th Division: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Target Middletown, 12975 Shelbyville Road

To learn about setting up a Neighborhood Watch program in your area, visit: https://www.louisville-police.org/454/Neighborhood-Watch

Photo: Louisville Metro Council

In the days before YouTube, Netflix and Pay per View, there was one special place in Louisville’s South End to take the family out for a movie and you didn’t have to get out of the car.

On Tuesday, July 31st Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13), the Kentucky Historical Society and representatives of the Iroquois Neighborhood Association will dedicate the Commonwealth’s newest Historical Marker at the Kenwood Drive In.

“Sixty nine years ago, the Kenwood Drive In held its Grand Opening and for those of us who grew up in South Louisville and the surrounding area, the Kenwood was the place to go for a fun time with friends and family,” says Welch. “So many people have great memories of the movies shown here and the fun it was to just get in the car, place a speaker on your window, grab some popcorn and watch movies under the stars. From my own family, four generations have enjoyed movies at the Kenwood Drive In.”

The official dedication ceremony will begin at 12:00 noon.

When the Kenwood opened on July 31st, 1949, “El Paso” starring John Payne, Sterling Hayden and Gail Russell was the featured movie of the night.

The Kenwood Drive In Ceremony will be held at 7001 Southside Drive at the entry to the old location which is now Kenwood Business Park.

Afternoon Lecture Series
Sandy Staebell: Faces and Places in Kentucky Quilts
Wednesday, August 1, 1:15 pm

Quilts and other textiles frequently use faces and places that are tied to memory and provide a sense of identity, family, or place. In some, these images were based on real-life individuals such as President George Washington and Kentuckians Henry Clay, George Rogers Clark, and Robert Penn Warren, while in others they were inspired by fictional characters such as Don Quixote or children, real or imagined. Examples of “places” found in textiles include state quilts, governmental buildings, churches, and honeymoon cottages.

Sandy Staebell is the Registrar and Collections Curator at the Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University. This program was funded in part by the Kentucky Humanities Council, Inc. and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Locust Grove Afternoon Lecture Series is held the first Wednesday of each month. Dessert and coffee are served at 1:00 pm with the lecture immediately following at 1:15 pm. Admission is $6, $4 for Locust Grove members. Reservations are not required.

 

The Summer Used Book Sale
Friday, August 17, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday, August 18 and Sunday, August 19, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm

The region’s best book sale! 25,000+ used, antiquarian, and new books in all categories will be offered for sale. All categories-history, biography, mysteries, reference, science fiction, travel, cookbooks, children’s, Kentucky, romance, crafts, gardening, and much, much, more! Prices begin at $1 for paperbacks, and $2 for most hardcover books, with a large selection of illustrated books, rare books, and sets, priced individually. A special selection of remainders will be on sale, selected by the former Hawley-Cooke remainders buyer. All books are sorted by category and are in good condition. Because of the volume of donations, books may be added to the display during the sale. Special discounts on Sunday.

Members’ Preview: Thursday, August 16, 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Locust Grove members get the first look at the Summer Used Book Sale.  Memberships can be purchased at the door at the preview, or in advance online at our membership page or by calling Locust Grove at 502-897-9845.

 

Summer Thursday Concert Series with Kentucky Opera 
Locust Grove and Opera: A Musical Timeline
Thursday, August 30, 6:30 pm

Enjoy your opera favorites as explored through the history of Locust Grove. Settler William Croghan was calling Louisville home by 1784. That same year, Mozart became a Freemason in Austria, personally adapting ideals that not only influenced the American Founding Fathers, but would later embed themselves in his acclaimed opera, The Magic Flute. When The Magic Flute premiered a few years later in 1792, Italian opera legend Gioacchino Rossini was born in Italy, and back in Kentucky, William and Lucy Clark Croghan were building their home, Locust Grove. The Croghan family sold the land to riverboat captain James Paul in 1878, when productions of Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S Pinafore premiered in the states, inspiring great interest in light opera throughout the country. When the site was purchased by Jefferson County and the Commonwealth of Kentucky and subsequently restored and opened to the public in 1964, Kentucky Opera was producing Bizet’s Carmen, Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte and Verdi’s Rigoletto.

Admission: $16/$14 for members. Doors open at 6:00 pm; performance begins at 6:30 pm. Bring your own blankets and chairs. Against the Grain Brewery and Sweet ‘N Savory Food Truck will sell concessions.

Guests can create a customized Kentucky State Fair experience next month by downloading a new software program for mobile devices. The app is designed to connect users to all the unique events and attractions that make the Kentucky State Fair unforgettable.

The 2018 Kentucky State Fair mobile app is now available free on both Google Play and the App Store.

Highlighted features include: 

  • Attractions: check out which entertainers are on stage and what animals are in the stalls 
  • Trending: see what’s popular at the Fair 
  • Schedule: create daily schedules of must-see music and entertainment 
  • News & FAQ: get weather, parking and breaking news updates 
  • Maps: find locations of exhibitors, attractions and food

Advance tickets and parking for the Kentucky State Fair are available and can be purchased online via the app through 10 p.m. Aug. 15, as well as at participating Kroger locations.

Ticket prices are:

  • General (Ages 6+); Children under 5 are free with adult
    • In advance: $7
    • Online During Fair: $8
    • At The Gate: $10
  • Parking
    • In advance: $5
    • Online During Fair: $8
    • At The Gate: $10

The 2018 Kentucky State Fair is Aug. 16-26 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. For more information, visit www.kystatefair.org or find the Fair on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or its blog.

The two leaders who most recently guided the Kentucky State Fair Board agree its future is in good hands with new President and CEO David Beck.

Beck officially began his new role at Kentucky Venues on July 1.

Secretary of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, Don Parkinson, and Chairman of the Kentucky State Fair Board, Dr. Mark Lynn, who recently served separate terms as interim CEO at Kentucky Venues, predict David Beck will be the most consequential leader in the organization’s history.

“David successfully led a large organization, involved in major state and national legislative regulatory issues, affecting agriculture and rural Kentucky,” said Secretary Parkinson. “He brings a wealth of business expertise to the sixth largest convention operation in the nation.”

Kentucky Venues operates the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC), the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) and produces the Kentucky State Fair, National Farm Machinery Show and North American International Livestock Exposition.

“The blend of leadership capability, knowledge of Kentucky and ability to unite diverse industries set David apart in his role as CEO,” said Dr. Lynn.

Beck sees tremendous opportunities at Kentucky Venues. Beck will preside over grand reopening of KICC on August 6. The downtown Louisville convention center has been closed for 24 months to allow $207 million worth of building renovations to be completed.

Beck says the 540 acre complex at the Kentucky Exposition Center is an ideal location for additional private development such as hotels and entertainment venues.

“KEC sits at the corner of Interstates 65 and 264. That is some of the most valuable property in Kentucky. We are asking private companies to give us ideas on how we can collaborate with them to enhance that area for our citizens and guests to our state. I’m excited about developing something special there.”

Beck said other priorities in his new job include bringing together the urban and rural communities and forming strategic partnerships across the state.

“I want Kentucky Venues to serve as an example of how government entities can operate effectively and efficiently,” said Beck.

Additionally, Beck is reimagining facility use at both properties. Beck plans to increase revenue through new business events and agriculture shows.

“I not only want to preserve the rich tradition of our properties but also enhance it for future Kentuckians and guests,” said Beck.

After 41 years with Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB), Beck brings to Kentucky Venues experience in agribusiness, government affairs, and executive management. Prior to his retirement at KFB, he served as the company’s Executive Vice President. A five-member search committee was appointed in January by Kentucky State Fair Board Chairman Dr. Mark Lynn to review applications for the president/CEO position that had been vacant since September 2017.

Visit www.kyvenues.com for more information about spaces and events at Kentucky Venues.

Due to the recent fire at The Kentucky Center, Dan & Phil World Tour 2018: Interactive Introverts, previously scheduled for Whitney Hall, has been moved to Iroquois Amphitheater. The event will still be held on August 2nd at 8 pm.

Ticket holders were carefully reassigned into comparable reserved seating at Iroquois Amphitheater. The Kentucky Center box office is sending new tickets to those patrons per their original delivery method. Anyone who purchased tickets in-person will receive their new tickets by mail.

The Kentucky Center remains the OFFICIAL ticket service for this event and open seats for the event at Iroquois Amphitheater are now on sale. Tickets are available online and by phone (584-7777).

A fundraiser for Breslin Park, hosted by the Louisville Parks Foundation and Home Skateshop, will take place at Headliners Music Hall on Thursday, July 26 at 7 p.m. Proceeds from the event will go towards improvements to the park, including a new skateboarding element and shade structure.

The all-ages show will feature Miracle Drug, The Hot Wires, Adventure, Comforter and Legs Akimbo with DJ’s Sam Sneed and Matt Anthony and Sean Cannon as emcee. Custom artwork, tee shirts and stickers designed by local pop artist, Matthew McDole, will be available for purchase. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at headlinerslouisville.com, Headliners Box Office, Home Skateshop, Guest Room Records, or at the door the night of the show.  All tickets bought in person, will come with a free Matthew McDole Breslin sticker.

Funding for the project is the result of a partnership between the Louisville Parks Foundation, a non-profit that supports Louisville Parks and Recreation, Home Skateshop, Councilman Bill Hollander and individual donors.

Anyone interested in donating to the Breslin skate spot should visit lpfky.org.

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