Louisville families with children of all ages are invited to a free resource fair showcasing summer activities for children, youth, and families on Sat., March 23.  Themed “SOAR” which stands for Summer Opportunities and Resource Fair, the event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DuValle Education Center gym, 3610 Bohne Ave.

This 6th annual SOAR event will feature local summer activities and resources for children and teens (ages early childhood to high school) including a wide variety of summer camps, parks and recreation programs, as well as employment, internship, and volunteer opportunities from a full list of exhibitors.  Drawings for summer program scholarships and door prizes will also take place. 

SOAR is held in March to allow individuals time to plan ahead and register for opportunities while openings are available.

Participating agencies and businesses include:

• Jefferson County Public Schools Early Childhood
• Louisville Parks and Recreation (Summer Camp information)
• Catholic Enrichment Center
• First Virginia Ave. Baptist Church (Summer Explorations)
• Louisville Central Community Center
• Be SMART for Kids
• YouthBuild
• KentuckianaWorks
• Northwest AHEC (Area Health Education Center)
• Louisville Leopard Percussionist
• SummerWorks
• Bridging the Gap Learning Academy
• ECHO
• AMPED
• Food Literacy Project
• Louisville Nature Center
• Magpie 3×3 Clay Studio gallery
• Master Class Enrichment Camp
• Seed to Oaks
• Shawnee Christian Health Care
• University of Louisville Baseball
• Whet Your Pallette
• Young Authors Greenhouse

“Summer is a time to have fun, explore new places and ideas, learn new skills, make new friends and even make a little money”, stated Elisa Freeman-Carr, Administrator of Ujima Neighborhood Place.  “We’re excited to host the SOAR event to connect children and youth, especially those from lower income households, with the many wonderful summer programs, classes, camps, and other opportunities offered in our community.”  

SOAR is also hosted by Bridges of Hope and Cane Run Neighborhood Places, Jefferson County Public Schools and the Villages of Park Duvalle. For questions about the SOAR event, or if you represent an agency which would like to participate, please contact Elisa Freeman-Carr at 313-4635 or Elisa.Freeman-Carr@louisvilleky.gov.  You can also download this flyer to share with others who may be interested.

14-year-old Ophelia Lorenz of Louisville won her first Ford Motor Company Derby Festival Spelling Bee this afternoon. Lorenz correctly spelled “Chihuahua” – A dog of very small breed developed in Mexico, probably from an indigenous breed, having erect pointed ears and a soft ,usually short-haired dog. The competition was held in the Bomhard Theater at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. Allison Whelan of Nelson County, Kentucky, was runner-up in the competition among students from Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

Lorenz represents Jefferson County Catholic Schools and is an 8th grade student at St. Agnes. This was her first time competing in the statewide bee. 57 students from 54 counties in Kentucky and Southern Indiana participated in today’s 26th annual Ford Motor Company Kentucky Derby Festival Spelling Bee, going through 10 rounds and hundreds of words.

“I was very nervous and, honestly, surprised that I made it to the top 5, let alone winning,” said Lorenz. “I’ve been studying the words in the guide to prepare.”

Lorenz believes one of her favorite things to do also helped her get ready for the Bee: “I’ve always loved to read since I was three-years-old, which has opened me up to even more words.”

For today’s win, Lorenz received The Fillies Scholarship Fund, a $10,000 savings bond at maturity from the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation, the Derby Festival’s charitable arm. She also received a Britannica online subscription gift certificate, a copy of Valerie’s Spelling Bee Supplement, as well as Scrabble. Lorenz will also have the opportunity to ride the Winner’s Float in the 64th annual Republic Bank Pegasus Parade on May 2nd.

Allison Whelan received a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond for finishing runner-up in the 26th annual competition. Aathman Bhavaraju of Franklin County, Kentucky, finished third, winning a $3,000 savings bond. Quentin Voigtschild of Lawrence County, Indiana, finished fourth and received a $1,500 savings bond. Briahna Higgins of Logan County, finished fifth, winning a $1,000 savings bond. The prize money is provided by the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation – the Derby Festival’s charitable arm.

The Kentucky Derby Festival Spelling Bee is sponsored by Ford Motor Company, with Contributing Sponsor Texas Roadhouse. Media Sponsors are Kentucky Monthly and 98.9 Radio Now.

The Derby Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. It entertains more than 1.5 million people annually. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.

With warmer weather in sight and spring just around the corner, Louisville Parks and Recreation is encouraging the public to get active and have some fun.  

There are several opportunities for youths and adults to cure their cabin fever during the month of March and into late spring.
 

Adult Co-Ed Kickball

Teams ages 18 and older, minimum of seven teams. Games are on Mondays and Wednesday nights at Seneca Park, 3151 Pee Wee Reese Drive. Registration deadline, April 26, 2019. For more information, click here.

Spring Softball Leagues

Co-ed and men’s teams. Games are Monday-Friday nights at several local parks. Registration deadline, April 26, 2019. For more information, click here.

Senior Softball League

Ages 60 and older play on Tuesday mornings and 65 and olderplay on Thursday mornings at Camp Taylor Park. For registration information please contact Al Benniger at 502/458-7727 or Louisville Parks Athletics Office at 502/574-4515.

Youth Soccer Skills Clinics

Ages 18 and Younger at the Beechmont Community Center. With Louisville City FC. Free, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – no clinic April 13. Starts on March 16 with a kick-off event and ends April 27. For more information, click here.

Pitch, Hit and Run Competition

The annual Pitch, Hit, and Run competition begins March 30 at Petersburg Park.The competition will continue on April 6 at Wyandotte Park.Competitors ages 7-14 are invited to come practice throwing strikes at a designated target, hitting for distance and accuracy, and sprinting from 2nd base to home plate. For more information, call 502/574-4515 or e-mail Brady.Buckley@louisvilleky.gov.

President David James (D-6) will continue listening to the people of his district when he hosts a Community Discussion for the public concerning the current pension, Insurance Tax Rate Ordinance and the Metro Budget Shortfall on Saturday, March 16th.

          “The Metro Council is moving forward in its effort to solve the current pension and budget crisis before us,” says The President. “While our discussion continues, it is important that we keep the public informed of what is going on and at the same time continue to listen to their concerns about the various ideas that have been proposed.”

          The Community Discussion is set for the California Community Center, 1600 West Catherine Street from 10:00am to 12:00pm.

          “I encourage anyone with a question or a concern to come and join us,” said James.

          Also joining the President will be Daniel Frockt, CFO of Metro Louisville, and LMPD 2nd Division Representative Donald Robinson.

         For more information about the Community Discussion, contact President James’ office at 574-1106.

The Kentucky Derby Festival’s Waterfront Jam returns Thursday, April 25, at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville. The concert series includes more than two dozen local and regional bands and 7 national concerts on two stages. Admission to all shows is FREE with a 2019 Pegasus Pin ($6 at retail locations and $7 at the entrance to events). Special VIP Viewing Presented by Mr. Roof is available for select shows for $25, online at KDF.org. Kroger sponsors the Waterfront Jam.

The Waterfront Jam concerts on the Great Stage include:

• Belterra Casino Resort Concert Featuring Chris Lane on Friday, April 26, at 9 p.m. Contributing Sponsor: Budweiser. Media Sponsor: 97.5 WAMZ. American country music singer, songwriter Chris Lane saw his career launch with the release of his 2014 album Girl Problems, which hit number eight on the country chart. Its Gold-certified singles “Fix” and “For Her” led him to the first Country Radio #1 of his career, propelling the set to a Top 10 debut and sending Lane on tour with superstars like Florida Georgia Line, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill.
• Waterfront Jam Saturday Concert on Saturday, April 27, at 9 p.m. Media Sponsor: 99.7 DJX Saturday’s Concert will feature a Pop artist to be announced soon.
• Building 429 with special guest Stars Go Dim at Celebration Sunday Presented by 88.5 WJIE on Sunday, April 28, at 5 p.m. Building 429 is a Grammy nominated Christian rock band who were named New Artist of the Year by the Gospel Music Association in 2005. They are best known for they’re smash singles like No. 1 songs, “Where I Belong” and “Glory Defined”. Stars Go Dim, best known for their hit “You Are Loved,” will open the show.
• Cameo at Waterfront Jam Presented by CareSource on Tuesday, April 30, at 9 p.m. Media Sponsors: B96.5 FM and MAGIC 101.3. Cameo is an American soul-influenced funk group that formed in the early 1970s and were trendsetters through the 1980s. Their biggest hit, “Word Up,” made it to number six on the pop chart in 1986, giving them their biggest bite of the mainstream.
• Kongos with special guest C2 & The Brothers Reed at Waterfront Jam on Wednesday, May 1, at 8 p.m. Media Sponsor: 91.9 WFPK. Kongos formed in 2007 around the talents of siblings Dylan, Daniel, Johnny, and Jesse Kongos. The brothers specialize in alt rock infused with the polyrhythmic cadences of their South African upbringing. Their 2014 hit, “Come With We Now” put them on the map in the US and worldwide. Kentucky natives, C2 & the Brothers Reed will open the show.
• The Struts with special guest Mo Lowda & The Humble at Waterfront Jam on Thursday, May 2, at 8 p.m. Media Sponsor: Alt 105.1. The Struts released their sophomore album YOUNG & DANGEROUS in the fall of 2018. They let loose with the sing-along-ready and riff-heavy sound they’ve brought to stadiums and arenas all around the world. Along with opening for the Foo Fighters, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Guns N’ Roses, the U.K.-bred four-piece was also hand-picked by Mötley Crüe to serve as the supporting act for their last-ever performances. Mo Lowda & The Humble will open the show.
• My Posse in Effect – A Tribute to the Beastie Boys at Waterfront Jam on Friday, May 3, at 9 p.m. My Posse in Effect is the premier Beastie Boys tribute act. Taking you through decades of their unforgettable hits, this seven-piece live band replicates the authentic Beastie Boys experience with three MC’s, a world-class DJ, and visuals from their iconic video collection.

The Waterfront Jam also features the Miller Lite Music Stage, where daily live local and regional music acts will perform. Enjoy a variety of music, including R&B, rock, country, blues and bluegrass from music acts including:

• Juice Box Heroes on Thursday, April 25
• MaryMary on Friday, April 26
• The Goldy Locks Band on Saturday, April 27
• Unlimited Show Band on Sunday, April 28
• Bourbon Straights on Monday, April 29
• Soul Circus on Tuesday, April 30
• J.D. Shelburne on Wednesday, May 1
• The Velcro Pygmies on Thursday, May 2
• Kevin Jaggers on Friday, May 3

Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville opens Thursday, April 25, for a nine-day run ending Derby Eve, Friday, May 3. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, except Sunday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Featuring the new RAM Truck Field (Great Lawn). Admission is a 2019 Pegasus Pin. Kroger is title sponsor of the event. The media sponsor is The Courier-Journal.

Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.

ESPN’s Hannah Storm, current anchor for SportsCenter, will be the featured speaker at the 63rd Annual They’re Off! Luncheon on Friday, April 12. The luncheon, first held in 1957, serves as the time-honored kick-off to each year’s Festival. It’s the second-oldest event on the Festival schedule.

An award-winning journalist, producer, and director, Hannah Storm, is a pioneer in broadcasting, a published author, an advocate for children suffering from debilitating vascular birthmarks, and, most importantly, a mother. In 2018, Storm made broadcasting history when she became the play-by-play voice of Amazon Prime Video’s, Thursday Night Football 2018 season. Storm is part of the first female duo ever to broadcast a professional sports series in the US, and the first-ever female team to provide commentary on NFL Games.

Storm joined ESPN in 2008, where she is currently a host of SportsCenter, the network’s flagship program. Storm has hosted major events including Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, the Super Bowl, the ESPY Awards, the NBA Finals, Muhammad Ali’s funeral and the Rio Olympics. In addition, Storm has served as host/executive producer of ESPN’s primetime interview specials, Face To Face with Hannah Storm, hosted The Sports Reporters and contributed to E:60 and Outside the Lines. She is also an original member of the Board of Advisors for espnW.

Storm founded the Hannah Storm Foundation in 2008, which funds surgeries for children suffering from debilitating vascular birthmarks. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1983, where she received degrees in communications and political science. She has an honorary doctorate in Public Service from the University of Portland. She currently resides in Connecticut with her husband, Dan Hicks, and is the mother of three daughters.

The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. on April 12, in the Grand Ballroom of the Galt House East Hotel – site of the festive event since 1974. This year’s event will also feature the presentation of the Kentucky Blood Center Volunteer of the Year Award and the Fifth Third Bank Silver Horseshoe Award for service to the community. Tickets are $85 each or $680 for a table of eight. To purchase tickets or to get additional information, please call (502) 584-FEST or visit KDF.org.

Storm joins Mike Tirico, Seth Davis, Jay Bilas, Kenny Mayne, Dick Vitale, Terry Bradshaw, Erin Andrews, Bill Walton, Archie Manning, Greg Gumbel, Magic Johnson, Julius Erving, Larry King, Bob Costas, Robin Roberts, Lily Tomlin, James Earl Jones, Phil Simms and Howard Cosell in a long list of luminaries who have entertained They’re Off! Luncheon audiences for the past 60 years.

Contributing sponsors for the event are Fifth Third Bank, The Galt House and Kentucky Blood Center. Official PR Partner: RunSwitch PR. Media Sponsor: Business First.

Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.

Site Selection magazine has ranked Louisville a “Top Metro” for economic development in two regions for number of projects in 2018. Louisville ranked fourth out of 10 metropolitan areas in the South Central region and sixth in the East North Central region, beating out other cities including Nashville, Indianapolis and Austin.

In its ranking, Site Selection cited 60 expansions or relocations in the Greater Louisville region. Louisville-Jefferson County alone announced 52 projects in 2018, amounting to roughly 3,000 new jobs and more than $380 million in investment. Projects include the major $200 million expansion of GE Appliances’ dishwasher and laundry productions, which will add 400 jobs, and the creation of 134 new jobs as part of a $13 million investment by AmerisourceBergen, a global health care company.

“We are excited to once again be recognized by Site Selection magazine,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “Businesses see the value of relocating and growing in Louisville, which offers a high quality of life and competitive cost of doing business.”

For four years in a row, Louisville Forward, the city’s economic and community development organization, was recognized as a Top U.S. Economic Development Group by Site Selection magazine. Site Selection is an Atlanta-based publication that reaches 48,000 executives involved in site selection decisions. The full rankings can be viewed at www.SiteSelection.com.