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Photo: Advanced Planning, Louisville Metro Government
The conversion of portions of Third Street from one-way to two-way will begin with prep work the week of February 19 and completion targeted for early March (weather permitting). This conversion project also includes repaving of the street.
The project, which is part of the city’s MOVE Louisville plan to convert one-way streets to two-way, is designed to increase safety, mobility and circulation for motorists and pedestrians, while also boosting visibility for businesses and increasing retail activity.
The conversion will be divided into three phases, starting with the portion from Muhammad Ali Boulevard to Liberty Street. That work includes the installation of a temporary traffic signal at Third and Liberty streets. A permanent traffic signal will be installed this summer.
The second and third phases of the work, from Main to Market streets, and from Muhammad Ali Boulevard to Broadway, will occur this summer.
To ensure pedestrian and motorist safety around the Kentucky International Convention Center, Third Street from Market to Liberty will remain one-way. Third Street from River Road to Main Street is already two-way and will remain two-way.
In preparation of this conversion, two public meetings were held at Louisville Slugger Field in fall 2017, and numerous meetings have been held with various stakeholders and property owners along Third Street.
The city will continue to review one-way streets throughout the community for potential conversion to two-way operations. Additional streets planned for conversion will be announced later this year.
For more information on converting downtown and edge neighborhood streets to two-way, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/advanced-planning/two-way-street-con…
Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services announced today that the popular Fifth Third Bank Financial Empowerment Mobile, the eBus, will be visiting Louisville Feb. 20 through Feb. 26 and will be open to the public.
The eBus is a 40-foot retrofitted city bus equipped with onboard computer workstations and internet connectivity. It is staffed by professionals who provide free one-on-one personalized counseling, credit scores, financial coaching, budgeting, job search and other services.
The scheduled stops for the eBus are as follows:
- Tues., Feb. 20, Charmoli Neighborhood Place, 200 Juneau Drive, 40243, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Wed., Feb. 21, Bridges of Hope Neighborhood Place, 1411 Algonquin Parkway, 40210, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Thurs., Feb. 22, NorthWest Neighborhood Place, 4018 West Market Street, 40212, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Fri., Feb. 23, Facilities Management Services, 1500 Lytle Street, 40203, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Mon., Feb. 26, Ujima Neighborhood Place, 3610 Bohne Avenue, 40211, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
“We strongly value our partnership with Fifth Third Bank and their commitment to helping all of our Louisville residents gain opportunity and access to financial services”, stated Erin Waddell who leads several financial empowerment initiatives for the Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services. “We believe all Louisvillians deserve safe and affordable financial services – the eBus is a great way to explore some of those services.”
Once onboard the eBus, visitors will be able to:
- Request a credit report and review it with a professional
- Receive personalized evaluation of finances
- Gain information about fraud awareness and prevention
- Receive internet banking and bill payment demonstrations
- Participate in home ownership seminars and foreclosure prevention sessions
- Conduct online job searches and learn how to create an effective resume
“We are committed to empowering our community through financial education, says Mike Ash, Kentucky Regional President, Fifth Third Bank. “The eBus allows us to serve people where they live and work, and provide the knowledge and tools to help take control of their financial futures.”
For more information about the eBus schedule and features, contact Adam Hall, Community and Economic Development Manager with Fifth Third Bank, at 502-562-5584 or adam.hall@53.com.
Mayor Greg Fischer today announced that former Louisville Metro Council member Tina Ward-Pugh will be joining the Office for Women.
In her new role, Ward-Pugh will build upon existing programs and increase the outreach and advocacy on behalf of women across the city.
“Tina Ward-Pugh has a long and distinguished list of accomplishments in advocacy and leadership in our city. I look forward to the great work Tina will do in advancing the work of the Office for Women,” Mayor Fischer said. “This could not come at a more important juncture for our community.”
Ward-Pugh said: “It will come as no surprise to most everyone that I am thrilled to join the leadership in the Office for Women. My energy and passion for more than two decades has been working to elevate the status of girls and women in our community and world in some way or another. I look forward to building upon the good work that the OFW has been a part of for many years.”
The Office for Women is part of Louisville Metro Resilience and Community Services.
“Tina brings a wealth of contacts and expertise to RCS that will further elevate the work of the Office for Women. Her background and connections to the social work community will serve all of RCS as we work together to address the needs of our community,” said Gena Redmon, director of Louisville Metro Resilience and Community Services
Ward-Pugh represented District 9 on the Metro Council from 2003 until choosing to not seek re-election in 2014. She also served on the City of Louisville Board of Aldermen.
Office for Women was founded in 1991 and works to ensure women have access to the resources and information necessary for self-determination.
It is easy to forget that there are brave service men and women who are still serving their country in some of the most dangerous spots in the world. Our military remain on duty as the first line of America’s defense in the fight against terrorism.
For Councilwoman Madonna Flood (D-24) their service is the reason why the “Doing Our Part from the Heart” Campaign is an important effort to show that our troops should always be remembered and honored.
“They’re still there. It is easy to forget that they stand ready to serve and protectAs long as there is one solider in need of our help, we will work to help them out and make their tour of duty a little easier,” says the Councilwoman. “It is easy to forget their sacrifice and we must always remember they stand ready to protect us and this is one way to let them know we are thinking about them.”
Valentine’s Day is the official kick off of the “Doing Our Part from the Heart” Campaign. Over the next eight weeks, Flood with the help of the community will collect toiletries, snacks and other items to send to our military. Simple items such as hand sanitizer, eye drops, candy and other personal items make a huge impact for troops serving in remote locations around the world.
“Many of our soldiers do not have access to a PX or a base when they are out in the field. They also have to pay for these extra items. We hope our boxes brighten their day,” says Flood.
It was in 2006 when the Councilwoman first called upon the community to help in this endeavor. She had received a simple letter from her son while he served in Iraq. For Christmas that year, he asked for basic personal items like deodorant, sunscreen and razors. He also asked if it was possible to send enough of those items for the other members of his unit.
“It is quite possible that a family somewhere in our country received a similar letter this past Christmas and that is all the more reason why we all need to be reminded that our service men and women are still out there,” said Flood.
Joining Flood as sponsors of the 2018 campaign are the Okolona Business Association, the Okolona Fire Department, Republic Bank, Scheller’s Fitness and Cycling, PARC and Jackson-Hewitt Tax Service and Wesley Manor. The campaign runs through the end of March.
If you cannot donate items and wish to make cash contributions to help cover the cost of shipping, Republic Bank continues its partnership by setting up an account to accept all monetary donations to cover postage for the items going overseas. Every package cost $17.40 to send. Make sure to note on the check “From the Heart” account at these locations:
Outer Loop 4808 Outer Loop, 40219
Shepherdsville 438 Hwy 44, Shepherdsville 40165
Corporate 601 W Market St, 40202
Brownsboro Rd 4921 Brownsboro Rd, 40222
J-Town 3811 Ruckreigel Pkwy, 40299
Dixie 5250 Dixie Hwy, 40216
“Every year, I am amazed at the outpouring of support from our community for this effort. I thank you and more importantly those who dedicate themselves to the service of our country also thank you,” said Flood.
Here is a list of items needed that can be dropped off at a “Doing Our Part” location:
- Chewing Gum/Mints/Lifesavers/other candies that will not melt
- Deodorant
- Lotion
- Foot Powder
- Razors
- Body Wash
- Bandaids
- Q-Tips
- Bug Repellant with DEET
- Eye Drops
- Hand Sanitizer
- Wet Ones
- Kool-aide or Gatorade individual packs
- Peanut Butter
- Individual snacks, chips, nuts, pretzels
- Neosporin
- Sun Block/After Sun lotion
- Nasal Spray
- Tylenol/Pain Relievers
Here are the drop-off locations for the 2018 Doing Our Part from the Heart Campaign;
- Republic Bank “From the Heart Account” at all Republic Banks
- Okolona Fire Department 8501 Preston Highway, Louisville
- Scheller’s Fitness & Cycling
- 8323 Preston Highway, Louisville
- 11520 Shelbyville Road, Louisville
- 1000 Veterans Parkway, Clarksville
- Jackson-Hewitt Tax Preparers
- All Locations in Louisville and Southern Indiana
- Wesley Manor 5012 East Manslick Road Louisville, Ky, 40219
- City Hall 601 West Jefferson, Louisville
For more information about the 2018 “Doing Our Part from the Heart” Campaign, contact Councilwoman Flood’s office at 574-1124. You can visit the Councilwoman’s webpage at http://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-24 or go to “Doing our Part From the Heart” on Facebook.
Photo: Actors Theatre of Louisville
Actors Theatre of Louisville is proud to announce the 2018—2019 Season, beginning in September. Artistic Director Les Waters introduces the lineup, “In the coming season, we examine identity and ask ‘Who are we and how did we get here?’ We are delighted to welcome back Lucas Hnath with his witty and electrifying A Doll’s House, Part 2 and Dominique Morisseau with Pipeline, her incisive and heartfelt look at education and the responsibilities of being a parent. We are proud to produce the Broadway hit The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, both a thrilling ‘whodunnit’ and ‘who am I?.’ In the acclaimed Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin, Mr. Felder examines the life of immigrant and American legend Irving Berlin through song and story. It’s 2018, and together we’ll ask ‘who are you and how did you become who you are now?’”
Managing Director Kevin E. Moore adds, “The strength of this lineup speaks to the dedication and passion Les has for this organization and this community. Since Les announced his departure in October, he’s worked closely with the theatre’s artistic team to program the upcoming season. We are honored to work alongside him through this year’s Humana Festival of New American Plays and will look forward to welcoming him back to Louisville as a guest artist in the future.”
Actors Theatre kicks off the Brown-Forman Series with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, beginning September 18, 2018, directed by Associate Artistic Director Meredith McDonough. The Tony Award-winning play, based on the popular novel by Mark Haddon, is a masterful portrait of fifteen-year-old Christopher, a mathematics prodigy who is autistic. Simon Stephens’ script is as much a mystery as it is an evocative coming-of-age story.
Obie Award-winning playwright and Humana Festival alumnus Lucas Hnath’s work takes the stage in Louisville once again with A Doll’s House, Part 2, which imagines protagonist Nora’s return 15 years after the final, iconic moments of Henrik Ibsen’s seminal masterpiece A Doll’s House. In what The New Yorker called Hnath’s “strongest yet,” Nora and the Helmer family grapple with “the compromises we all make for comfort, and the faith required to make a change” (TheaterMania). Pirronne Yousefzadeh will direct in the intimate Victor Jory Theatre, with performances beginning October 2, 2018.
Dominique Morisseau’s Pipeline thrusts audiences into the classroom in this wrenching portrayal of a mother and son wrestling with the American education system’s “school-to-prison pipeline” for men of color. The New York Times calls Morisseau “a playwright of piercing eloquence,” as Louisville audiences discovered during last year’s production of Skeleton Crew. Pipeline will begin performances beginning January 8, 2019 in the Bingham Theatre.
In the Pamela Brown Auditorium, consummate showman Hershey Felder takes the stage as Irving Berlin. Featuring beloved standards like “God Bless America,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business” and “White Christmas,” Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin melds song and story in a love letter to the man whose work continues to define the great American songbook. The production, directed by Trevor Hay, begins January 29, 2019.
Actors Theatre will celebrate the holidays with Louisville’s favorite traditions: Fifth Third Bank’s Dracula, adapted by William McNulty, September 7—October 31, 2018, and Fifth Third Bank’s A Christmas Carol, adapted by Barbara Field, November 20—December 23, 2018. Last year’s sold-out production of Joe Mantello’s adaptation of David Sedaris’s hilarious The Santaland Diaries is back by popular demand. Associate Artistic Director Meredith McDonough will once again direct the irreverent audience favorite in the Victor Jory Theatre, November 15—December 23, 2018.
The 2018-2019 Season will culminate in the 43rd Humana Festival of New American Plays, March 1—April 7, 2019. The Festival is a world-renowned event, and an opportunity to see groundbreaking, brand-new work by American theatre’s most talented playwrights. The Festival is underwritten by the Humana Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Humana, Inc. The 43rd Humana Festival lineup will be announced in November, 2018.
The 2018-2019 Season is generously supported by Brown-Forman, the official season sponsor, with additional support from Fund for the Arts, the Kentucky Arts Council and Yum! Brands, which supports the student matinee series.
2018-2019 Season Ticket Packages are on sale now, with 6- and 8-Play Brown-Forman Series Season Ticket Packages starting at just $130. Brown-Forman Season Ticket Holders receive a host of benefits including free admission to exciting Actors Theatre events, 30% off additional ticket purchases and discounted parking. Packages are also available for seniors, educators and individuals 35 years of age and under. Single tickets for Fifth Third Bank’s Dracula and A Christmas Carol as well as The Santaland Diaries will go on sale on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, and the entire 2018-2019 Season will go on sale on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. Actors Theatre’s Box Office is located at 316 West Main Street, Louisville, KY, 40202, and can be reached by calling 502.584.1205.
Actors Theatre is committed to making the theatre going experience accessible to everyone and offers open caption and audio-described performances throughout the season. Large print programs and assistive listening devices are also available at every performance. For a full performance schedule and more information about Actors Theatre’s access services, visit ActorsTheatre.org/your-visit/accessibility.
Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Louisville Parks and Recreation will be hosting a public meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13 at the Seneca Park Golf Course clubhouse to discuss improvements to three entrances to Seneca Park.
Those who attend will be able to meet with parks staff and review the plans, which include enhancing the park entrances at Cannons Lane; near the entrance to the golf course at Seneca Park Road; and at Taylorsville Road near Bowman Field.
“Seneca Park is one of our most heavily-used and beloved parks,” said Seve Ghose, Director of Parks and Recreation. “As one of our 18 Olmsted-designed parks, we’re hoping to give it the grand entrance it deserves.”
Ghose said the goal of the meeting is to share concept plans and narrow the choices to the three entrances down to one option at each site before pursuing the construction phase of the project.
Mayor Greg Fischer is taking part in a 10-day trip to India, organized by the international Strong Cities Network (SCN), that will include a visit with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
As part of the trip, funded by the U.S. Embassy in India, Mayor Fischer and Tom Tait, Mayor of Anaheim, Calif., will meet with government, business, media and thought leaders to discuss approaches to making cities safer and communities stronger amid the rise in violent extremist groups around the globe.
Mayor Fischer also will be speaking to members of India’s business community at the Indian Merchant Chamber of Commerce, and industry, interfaith and community leaders at various stops throughout the trip. He’ll also meet with state and city officials, including the mayor of Mumbai Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, and discuss Louisville’s story in interviews with India’s media.
“Visits like this are great opportunities to promote our city,” Mayor Fischer said. “Our focus on compassion is something that resonates worldwide and is so relevant in today’s world. And I always welcome to the chance to tell our city’s story to potential investors and business interests that may be looking to expand in the U.S.”
India’s population is 1.3 billion, and its GDP is about $2.3 trillion.
SCN Manager Rebecca Skellett said the two mayors were chosen for the trip because of their focus on compassion, which has been championed by the Dalai Lama. Anaheim’s City of Kindness initiative parallels Louisville Compassionate City efforts.
“Mayor Fischer and Mayor Tait are both driving forward innovative practices to build social cohesion with city-wide Charters for Compassion and Kindness, which offer tremendous value to residents and businesses alike,” Skellett said. “This is why we’re delighted to be taking these two U.S. Mayors to Delhi, Mumbai and Dharamsala — to share their journeys, inspire Indian cities and policy makers, and learn more about how India’s diverse range of communities live together side by side.”
Mayor Tait said, “As a city, we must always respond to daily needs for public safety and community services. But kindness is our long game. It has the potential for positive change over generations. While cities across the world may face different issues, the impact of kindness is the same. We are honored that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has embraced what we are doing in Anaheim. His words to us sum it up perfectly: ‘Creating cultures of kindness and compassion throughout the world is the key to achieving world peace.’”
Launched by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue at the United Nations in September 2015, SCN “is the first ever global network of mayors, municipal-level policy makers and practitioners united in building social cohesion and community resilience to counter violent extremism in all its forms,” according to its website.
SCN membership is diverse, including large megacities like London and Mumbai, to smaller municipalities such as Kristiansand and Tripoli. What unites SCN members is their desire to share their experiences, learn from others and build community resilience against the divisive ideologies of hate, division and violence in all its forms.
“The network catalyzes, inspires and multiplies community-centric approaches and action to counter violent extremism through peer learning and expert training including city exchanges, annual summits, regional workshops and providing consultancy to cities,” the website said.
Mayor Fischer, who leaves for India Tuesday afternoon, said he’s pleased to share Louisville’s successes in compassion, community building and economic growth, and to learn best practices from others while visiting India.
