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BrickUniverse LEGO Fan Convention returns to the Kentucky Exposition Center January 6-7, 2018. The event builds on LEGO’s popularity and ingenuity with awesome attractions centered around everybody’s favorite plastic building blocks.
At past events, thousands of LEGO fans have enjoyed live LEGO builds, galleries of life-sized LEGO models, and a Building Zone with a myriad of LEGO bricks for attendees to build with.
Professional LEGO artist Jonathan Lopes of San Diego, California will showcase over 30 of his select LEGO displays and will be at the convention all weekend. He will also talk to attendees about his life as a professional LEGO artist and how they can become LEGO master builders.
Additionally, Chicago-based LEGO artist Rocco Buttliere will bring over 50 LEGO models of world famous landmarks. Attendees can see the largest skyscraper in the world, Burj Khalifa, the full Westminster Palace in London, and other famous landmarks built from LEGO bricks.
The Fan Zone at BrickUniverse features fan-built LEGO creations by the world’s best LEGO Fan builders, including some from Kentucky. Fan models include LEGO cities, towns, trains, castles, and more.
Other attractions include:
- LEGO Friends Building Area
- Big Brick Building – For those who are 5 and under, build with our thousands of LEGO DUPLO bricks in Big Brick Building.
- LEGO Retail
- BIONICLE Warrior Building – Construct the ultimate warrior in the LEGO BIONICLE play stations
- Star Wars Zone
- The Challenge Zone – Timed brick challenges that will test your building and speed skills. This area is great for families and individuals of all ages.
The opens at 10 AM each day and tickets are available for advance purchase online for $15 per day.
For more information, visit https://www.brickuniverse.com/louisville.
The 55th Annual National Recreation Vehicle Trade Show returns to Louisville Nov. 27-30 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. This industry-only event draws approximately 8,000 industry professionals and is expected to generate $6.9 million in economic impact.
The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) hosts the event, which is the largest concentration of RV manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and campground managers in the world. More than 300 booths will pack 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space with motorhomes, travel trailers, campers, RV parts and accessories.
The four-day show provides attendees the opportunity to:
- Discover new products and innovations
- Attend training sessions
- Engage with key stakeholders and leaders
- Network with colleagues
This year features new awards:
- the RV Industry Awards
- the RV Industry 40 under 40.
Other new additions include a dealer sales boot camp, top tech challenge, and outdoor lifestyle pavilion.
Today, a record 9 million recreation vehicles travel U.S. roads representing a substantial increase in ownership over the past decade. The RV industry has seen seven consecutive years of growth.
RVIA is the national trade association for RV manufacturers and their component parts suppliers that together build more than 98 percent of all recreational vehicles produced in the United States.
The National RV Trade Show is closed to the public. For more information, visit www.rviashow.org.
The Croghan and Clark families and their friends welcome guests from near and far to Locust Grove for a special one-day only celebration of Christmastide, 1816.
On Saturday, December 2, from 12pm to 7pm, Locust Grove will come alive with the sights, sounds, and smells of the season as Locust Grove’s corps of First Person Interpreters bring to life the residents of the historic house, as well as their friends and neighbors.
Visitors will have the opportunity to converse with the Croghans about the news of the day—the recent election of James Monroe as the fifth president, the admission of Indiana to the union as the nineteenth state—and learn about life in the 19th century. Guests can join in the dancing and period games, and will have the opportunity to stop in the hearth kitchen to watch meal preparations for the festive occasion.
“Christmastide is a great opportunity to experience Locust Grove as it was alive with friends and family celebrating the season and being together,” says Program Director Brian Cushing. “The craftspeople we have pulled in to show you how the world around them worked in those days really rounds out the experience!”
The Holiday Crafts Market in the Visitors’ Center will feature vendors selling period wares, including soap, leather goods, textiles, stoneware, wax portraits and more 19th century gifts for a 21st century life. A penman will also be on hand to demonstrate18th and 19th century letter-writing techniques as guests enjoy live music, shop in the museum store, and find gift-quality books for a special holiday edition of Locust Grove’s Used Book Sale. Children will have the opportunity to make period holiday cards and orange and clove pomanders.
Christmastide, 1816 will take place on Saturday, December 2 from 12 pm – 7pm. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children, and free for children 6 and under.
Locust Grove is located at 561 Blankenbaker Lane (between Brownsboro Road and River Road), Louisville, KY 40207. For more information about these events, please contact Hannah Zimmerman, Marketing Coordinator at marketing@locustgrove.org or call 502.897.9845 x108.
Mayor Greg Fischer has named Jeff O’Brien as the new director of Develop Louisville, the city’s real estate and community development arm. O’Brien has been with the city since 2013, first as project manager for Vision Louisville then as Deputy Director of the Office of Advanced Planning. O’Brien was named to the position after Director Deborah Bilitski accepted a position as Deputy Director/Vice President of the Waterfront Development Corporation. Bilitski is succeeding Mike Kimmel, who has served in this role for 28 years and will retire at the end of the year.
Bilitski will remain in her role with Develop Louisville through the end of the year. Jeff O’Brien begins as Director on January 1.
As Deputy Director of the Office of Advanced Planning, O’Brien, who has a background in urban planning, has been integrally involved in the city’s ongoing Comprehensive Plan update, played a leadership role in the production of the MOVE Louisville transportation plan and serves as a Metro representative with the Kentuckiana Regional Planning & Development Agency’s (KIPDA) transportation planning activities.
Dave Marchal will continue in his role as Develop Louisville Deputy Director with an enhanced portfolio of responsibilities around urban design and historic preservation initiatives.
Brightside and its Director Gina O’Brien will now report directly to the Chief of Louisville Forward, Mary Ellen Wiederwohl, instead of the Director of Develop Louisville.
Develop Louisville is a department within Louisville Forward and includes the Office of Sustainability, Office of Advanced Planning, Vacant & Public Property Administration, Office of Housing & Community Development and Planning & Design Services. Louisville Forward serves as the city’s economic and community development arm, housing the departments of Economic Development, Develop Louisville and Codes & Regulations.
For more information on Develop Louisville, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/develop-louisville
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Acting Superintendent Marty Pollio and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer cut the ribbon today on a new JCPS satellite office that will better serve students and families in west Louisville communities.
“Creating an office that would provide equitable access to district services and resources for our families in west Louisville was a top priority for me when I became acting superintendent,” Dr. Pollio said. “By taking our services directly to the community, as this new office will do, we can engage with families and promote family involvement in a much greater way.”
The new office, located inside the California Community Center on West Saint Catherine Street, officially opens on January 4, 2018. The office will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The community center is operated by the city of Louisville, which is allowing JCPS to use the space free of charge.
“This is another example of JCPS bringing services directly to its customers – students and their parents – in the neighborhoods where they live,” said Mayor Fischer. “The city is honored to partner with JCPS by offering space in one of our community centers.”
JCPS will provide services to families at the new office through a variety of departments:
- Diversity, Equity, and Poverty Programs—Staff will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays to connect parents with resources that strengthen educational access and student achievement, which will include out-of-school-time learning opportunities, volunteer recruitment, Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) groups, homeless education, and foster care services. The department will also facilitate meetings with families, community stakeholders, and organizations at the satellite office with the purpose of improving student learning.
- Exceptional Child Education (ECE)—Staff will be available on Thursdays to focus on the individual needs of students who are eligible for special education and related services according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The department will help with assessments that determine special education eligibility. ECE staff will schedule student Admissions and Release Committee (ARC) meetings at the satellite office to review progress and develop a new Individual Education Program (IEP). The ECE Service Delivery staff includes one placement specialist as well as a parent liaison assigned on a rotating schedule.
- Student Assignment—Staff will be at the satellite office each Thursday to assist families with applications for students who are entering kindergarten or who have a change of address. They will also help families who wish to submit a student transfer request or learn more about optional and magnet programs in the district.
- Student Relations—Staff will be available on Tuesdays to meet with students and families on Tuesdays who are recommended for choice and alternative school placement. They will work with the case manager, school staff, parents, and students to make appropriate decisions regarding student placement in choice and alternative behavior support schools.
- Title I—Parents will find information provided by the Title I Office on topics that include getting involved at their child’s school and how to find counselling, tutoring or other related services. Parents will also be able to learn more about the topics presented at the monthly Parent Advisory Council meetings. Title 1 will hold some parent meetings at the site.
“Being able to build a bridge from school to home is integral when talking about the success of our students,” Jefferson County Board of Education (JCBE) Member Diane Porter said. “I appreciate Dr. Pollio and all of the JCPS staff for making this investment of time and resources in west Louisville—our students and their families are worth it.”
Photo: KY Department of Corrections
Kentucky Department of Corrections Interim Commissioner Jim Erwin announced that Stefany Hughes has been named the Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT) state commander. She assumed this new role Nov. 9.
“Hughes will not only bring many years of experience, but a professionalism and dedication that is so necessary to this role,” said Erwin. “Though we do everything we can to prevent these situations, having a well-trained hostage negotiation team is a critical part of our department, and I believe Hughes is more than up to the task of being the new commander.”
Hughes began her career with the Department of Corrections as a classification and treatment officer at Northpoint Training Center (NTC) in 2006. In addition to her regular duties, she served as a Spanish translator for the parole board and was tasked to develop a dog program for the institution. In 2009, after the disturbance at NTC, she worked in Internal Affairs, interviewing staff and writing and tracking all of the disciplinary reports that arose from the incident. That same year, Hughes was asked to join the Hostage Negotiation Team, and graduated from the first FBI basic academy in the spring of 2010.
Hughes was later promoted to unit administrator I and moved to Blackburn Correctional Complex. While there she served as parole board coordinator and developed a new dog program as well. She was promoted to unit administrator II and returned to NTC in 2012, where she has worked in the restrictive housing unit, served as the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) retaliation monitor, and acted as the HNT regional commander for the central region.
The Metro Council’s appointed Triumvirate has reviewed the complaints against Louisville Metro Councilman Dan Johnson and has removed him from office thus creating a vacancy within the 21 District Office of the Metro Council.
“The Council Court Triumvirate has rendered its decision, I want to thank the members and I join them in saying the Louisville Metro Council is sending a strong message that we will not tolerate sexual harassment or a hostile work environment at City Hall,” said Metro Council President David Yates (D-25). “It is now time to move forward. I want to assure the residents of District 21 their issues and concerns will be listened to and the Metro Council will help them as we move through this transition.”
Now that the Triumvirate has made its decision, and in accordance with the requirements of state law, the Metro Council Clerk is required to announce the vacancy and process for persons seeking to be appointed District 21 Council member. The following notice is posted in City Hall (601 W Jefferson Street) and available on the Metro Council Website:
From the Office of the Metro Council Clerk
NOTICE OF VACANCY OF THE 21st DISTRICT METRO COUNCIL
KRS 67C.103(12) states that in the event of a vacancy, “council shall elect a qualified resident of the council district not later than thirty (30) days after the date the vacancy occurs.” KRS 67C.103(6) defines a qualified person as “at least eighteen (18) years old, a qualified voter, and a resident within the territory of the consolidated local government and the district that he or she seeks to represent for at least one (1) year immediately prior to the person’s election.”
The Rules of the Louisville Metro Council sections 10.01, 10.02, 10.08, 10.09, 10.10 & 10.11 set forth the rules and procedures when a vacancy occurs on Metro Council. Pursuant to Rule 10.02, the 21th District Metro Council Seat is declared vacant as of November 17, 2017.
Rule 10.08 states: “Within seven (7) days after a vacancy shall have occurred on the Council, qualified persons interested in being appointed pursuant to Kentucky Revised Statutes to the vacant seat shall submit a resume to the Clerk of the Council.”
All persons interested in filing for the 21st District Metro Council seat, who meet the criteria stated above in KRS 67C.103(5-6), should submit a resume via US Postal Service or email to the Clerk of the Louisville Metro Council no later than close of business day on November 28, 2017 at 5:00PM. The post mark date will be the date stamp for USPS mail. Resumes sent via email will receive confirmation from the Clerk. Please include all contact information on submitted resumes.
Pursuant to Rule 10.09: “The members of the Council shall review any resumes so submitted and shall indicate in writing to the Clerk the name of any applicant who that member wishes to be personally interviewed at a special meeting of the Council, which shall be duly called pursuant to these rules and held not less than seven (7) days nor more than thirty (30) days after the occurrence of the vacancy.”
Metro Council will then assemble during a regular or special meeting of the council to hold a vote “not less than (7) days nor more than thirty (30) days after the occurrence of the vacancy” to “fill the vacancy from among the qualified persons interviewed, or as provided by state statute.” See KRS 67C.103(12), Rules 10.10 & 10.11.
The person chosen by Metro Council to hold the District 21 Metro Council seat will serve until the end of 2018, pursuant to Section 152 of the Kentucky Constitution. The District 21 Metro Council seat will be on the election ballot on Election Day, November 6, 2018, for the registered voters of District 21 to elect a candidate. The prevailing candidate will serve a full, four year term.
H. Stephen Ott
Clerk of the Louisville Metro Council
First Floor, Room 101
601 West Jefferson Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
Stephen.ott@louisvilleky.gov
(502)574-3902