Tuesday January 27, 2026
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Photo: Division of Community Forestry
To celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Day, the Louisville Metro Office of Sustainability, will give away 1,000 trees on Saturday, April 21 from 12-2 p.m. at the Hope Community Garden in south Louisville (1400 Bicknell Drive).
“In our growing city, we are always looking for ways to improve our community’s health and our environment,” Erin Thompson, Louisville Metro’s Urban Forester, said. “One of the best ways to do this is by planting a tree. We encourage all residents to join us in celebrating Earth Day and Arbor Day by planting a tree.”
At this giveaway event, any Jefferson County resident may take up to three trees on a first come, first served basis. A driver’s license or utility bill must be provided for proof of residence. All trees should be planted on private property.
All trees that will be given away are native to Kentucky and will be provided to residents in three gallon containers. Species available on Saturday include Allegheny Serviceberry, Redbud, Black Oak, Eastern Red Cedar, Pawpaw, American Hornbeam, Sugar Maple, River Birch, Tulip Poplar and Red Oak.
For more information, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/division-community-forestry
Photo: Secretary of State website
Ahead of next month’s Primary Election, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes announced a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security to train county election officials across Kentucky on cybersecurity and threats to elections. The trainings are some of the first of their kind in the nation. The announcement came Thursday after a meeting of Kentucky’s Election Integrity Task Force, which Grimes created in 2012.
DHS officials trained Kentucky county clerks on Thursday on cybersecurity and best practices. Grimes announced that over the summer, DHS officials and other partners will conduct statewide cybersecurity briefings and trainings for Kentucky’s 15,000 precinct election officials and media.
The trainings are one piece in a host of security measures Grimes announced Kentucky has in place to protect the integrity of elections.
“Secretaries of State are now on the front lines of national security and protecting America’s democracy,” said Grimes. “Security and integrity has been at the forefront of my approach to elections as Kentucky’s chief elections official. I count our partnerships with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal and state law enforcement agencies as critical to that work. We work every day to monitor and fortify our defenses against any actor – foreign or domestic – that seeks to undermine our democratic process. Today’s trainings are crucial to protecting, defending and increasing confidence in our elections.”
Grimes initiated a partnership with DHS during the 2016 presidential election, shortly before the agency designated America’s elections as critical infrastructure. DHS provides cybersecurity tools and protections of Kentucky’s infrastructure.
“The Department of Homeland Security values our partnership with Secretary of State Grimes as we work together with Kentucky and other states to improve the security of the election process,” said Matt Masterson, senior cybersecurity advisor at DHS. “We appreciate the commitment and dedication that election officials across the state have demonstrated to ensuring secure and resilient elections for Kentucky voters. We look forward to our continued partnership with Secretary Grimes and state and local officials across the nation as we work to maintain the integrity of America’s election infrastructure system.”
Kentucky election officials, led by Grimes, are taking additional steps to protect election integrity.
Following Grimes’ recommendation, the State Board of Elections moved to require all future election equipment purchased in Kentucky to provide a voter-verified paper trail. Kentucky’s Election Integrity Task Force unanimously endorsed the recommendation, which echoes guidance from the Senate Intel Committee’s election security report released last month. Funding recently appropriated by Congress will assist Kentucky in transitioning to a fully paper-backed voting system.
The State Board of Elections is also working with an industry-leading cybersecurity firm, CyberScout, to strengthen the security of Kentucky’s election processes. The Board recently unveiled a new poll worker recruitment tool to assist county clerks in administering our elections with confidence.
“Make no mistake, foreign adversaries seek to do harm by creating doubt that democracy works. I am here today to say that it does, and we are protecting it,” Grimes said.
Details regarding future briefings and trainings with DHS will be forthcoming.
Solid Waste Management Services Enforcement has located and impounded its 2nd vehicle of 2018 after an alert citizen caught illegal dumping going on in the 2100 Block of Pirtle Street.
“I want to thank the people of area for their efforts to keep Pirtle Street from becoming a dumping ground and SWMS for their fast work with citizens to make illegal dumping a costly venture,” says Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4), who represents the area.
SWMS Enforcement was contacted by a citizen that confronted and photographed an individual dumping out of a pickup truck in the 2100 Block of Pirtle St. According to SWMS, the individual that dumped the material ignored the citizen and continued to dump.
Based on the images and the witness statement, SWMS Enforcement issued a citation and impounded the vehicle. The citation totaled $750, and the owner will have to pay approximately $250 for impound and storage fees.
For many years, the Metro Council has focused attention and resources to stop illegal dumping throughout Metro Louisville.
“The Council’s message has always been a simple one: if you decide to illegal dump in where in the city, you will pay,” says Sexton Smith.
The work of more than 130 Foster Grandparents who help mentor children will be honored at a special luncheon on Friday, April 20. Themed “Volunteers…the Heart of the Foster Grandparent Program”, the event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Olmsted, 3701 Frankfort Ave.
Participants in the Louisville Metro Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) are individuals 55 years or older who tutor and assist children with special or exceptional learning needs in essential skills such as reading, writing and math, while offering the basic guidance of a mentor, advocate and friend. Currently, more than 130 Foster “Grannies” and “Grandpas” share their compassion and caring at over 28 sites including Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), Boys & Girls Clubs and several faith-based community centers and after school programs.
Now in its 53rd year nationwide, the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) was initiated in 1965 under the Economic Opportunity Act and is federally sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Locally, FGP has been operating in our community for 46 years and is part of Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS). By the end of the 2016-2017 fiscal year, FGP volunteers served 500 children and youth and logged nearly 132,000 hours of services.
At this year’s celebration, Foster Grandparents and their guests will be joined by volunteer station representatives, Senior Corps Advisory Council members, RCS staff and other guests. One special feature will be the presentation of milestone achievement awards to individuals serving 5,10,15,20 and 25 years as a Foster Grandparent. And the “Volunteer Parade of Hats” is back by popular hand.
“Our Foster Grannies and Grandpas are wonderful individuals who not only contribute to children’s learning but also bring warmth and caring to the classroom”, stated Gena Redmon Harris, director of the Office of Resilience and Community Services. “The FGP volunteers make a positive difference and lasting impact in the lives of hundreds of Louisville youth each year.”
Foster Grandparent volunteers provide a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 40 hours of service per week and income eligibility may qualify for a minimal tax-free, hourly stipend, meal and transportation reimbursement as well as free supplemental accident and liability insurance while serving. For more information on how you can become a Louisville Metro Foster Grandparent, please call (502) 574-7307 or visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/resilience-and-community-services/foster-grandparent-program-fgp
As part of Mayor Greg Fischer’s Give-A-Day week of volunteer service across the city of Louisville, the mayor himself was honored today with the unveiling of a mural at Nelson Hornbeck Park in Fairdale.
The mural is a birthday present from his sister Lynn, who provided the materials for the project through a gift to the Louisville Parks Foundation. Art students from Fairdale High School and Fairdale Community School designed and painted the mural.
“This is a fabulous partnership between the Louisville Parks Foundation, Fairdale High School art department, Fairdale Community School, and Council District 13,” said Vicki Welch, who represents the Fairdale area for the Louisville Metro Council.
“I truly appreciate Lucretia Moore, District 13 resident and Ramsey Middle School art teacher, who has stepped up to lead this project. Also, Mr. Gibbs Rounsavall, art teacher, and Kathy Blevins, Director of Fairdale Community School, were instrumental in getting this project coordinated. As a birthday gift to Mayor Fischer, his sister Lynn Fischer is also a valuable partner. A huge appreciation to all!”
“I was in search of something special for Greg’s big birthday in January,” Lynn Fischer said. “I then learned the Fairdale High School art class was working on a mural for the Nelson Hornbeck pool house, and the Louisville Parks Foundation needed the paint to bring their design to life. The more I thought about the pool house mural, it seemed a perfect gift to acknowledge Greg’s love for Louisville and commitment to our City values of health and life-long learning for all of our citizens. The ability to have the students and teachers paint the mural during Give A Day week was, no pun intended, icing on the cake!”
“We were very excited to partner on this project. Coordinating community resources and people to improve our parks and facilities is what we do,” said Louisville Parks Foundation CEO, Brooke Pardue. “We hope more people reach out to us for potential future projects.”
The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) recently selected Dana Kelly, an educator at Central High School, as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction. A role model to pupils, Dana was nominated by a student for outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence in the profession.
Each year student members of NSHSS are invited to nominate the educator who has made the most significant contribution to their academic career for the Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction award. This honor recognizes exemplary educators whose passion and devotion inspire their students to grow and develop as scholars, leaders and citizens.
“Dedicated educators who exhibit a commitment to excellence deserve our highest praise and appreciation,” said NSHSS President James W. Lewis. “Through our Educators of Distinction program and the grants we provide to support professional development and enrich classroom instruction, we hope to acknowledge and encourage the vital work of the teachers, counselors and administrators who are shaping the intellect and character of our young scholars.”
The National Society of High School Scholars seeks to advance the goals and aspirations of high-achieving students through unique learning experiences, scholarships, internships, international study and peer networks. Learn more here.
District 8 Metro Councilman Brandon Coan, Develop Louisville’s Office of Advanced Planning and Public Works will hold a public meeting on April 19 at 6 p.m. at Highlands Community Ministries (1228 E. Breckinridge Street) to present draft recommendations for the Bardstown Road/Baxter Avenue Corridor Safety Study.
This public meeting will serve as a follow up to the meeting in November 2017. It is an opportunity for residents and businesses to review and provide feedback on the draft recommendations to improve safety and mobility along the corridor. A final report is anticipated in summer 2018.
The study was conducted with the purpose of analyzing existing safety and mobility issues on Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue between Broadway and Interstate 264. The goal of the study is to identify solutions for improving safety and mobility for all users with an emphasis on pedestrians and bicyclists. Local firm Qk4 has been the consultant for this study.
“Improving the safety, quality and character of Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue is one of my top priorities. This corridor plan is a special opportunity to transform the Highlands,” said Coan.
Various forms of community engagement have been used to get feedback and to develop the draft recommendations including a booth at last fall’s Bardstown Road CycLOUvia, a public meeting in November 2017 and a public opinion survey.
The study includes conceptual recommendations that will be available for public comment. No funding has been appropriated to implement the recommendations yet; however, the study will be used to inform future public investments along the corridor.
For more information on the study including the results of the public opinion survey and corridor breakdown of crash data, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/advanced-planning/bardstown-roadbaxt…
