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Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Five Louisville Parks and Recreation community centers are hosting camps during the upcoming winter break for kids up to age 15.
“We’re thrilled to be able to provide programming for families who are looking for a safe, fun option to keep minds and bodies engaged during the school break,” said Seve Ghose, Director of Parks and Recreation.
Sun Valley Community Center’s camp is already full. Please contact the camp of your choice for more information.
BEECHMONT COMMUNITY CENTER
Wed, Thu, Fri, December 20, 21, & 22, 7:30-6 p.m.
Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, December 26, 27, 28, & 29, 7:30-6 p.m.
While school is out let us entertain your youth in a safe and monitored recreation program. Youth will take part in recreation programs ranging from crafts, sports activities, field trips and more. Dinner is provided. Youth will need to bring their lunch and snacks. Ages 5-12.
FEE: $100/7 days
Phone number: 502/361-5484
CYRIL ALLGEIER COMMUNITY CENTER
Tue-Fri, December 26-29, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
This program provides a safe and fun experience for youth while participating in out-of-school activities. Camp will include craft projects, field trips, and organized gym games. Ages 6-14.
FEE: $50
Phone number: 502/456-3261
DOUGLASS COMMUNITY CENTER
Tue-Fri, December 26-29, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
You’ll enjoy fun and games, and arts and crafts. Ages 6-12.
FEE: $80
Phone number: 502/456-8120
SOUTH LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY CENTER
December 20-22 & December 26-29, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Winter break camp. Space is limited. Ages 8-15.
FEE: $50/week
Phone number: 502/574-3206
SUN VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTER (SOLD OUT)
December 20-22 & 27-29, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Winter break camp. Ages 6-12.
FEE: $40 per child/ one week, $60 per child/both weeks
Phone number: 502/937-8802
photo credit: Jamesmac96
The Louisville Arena Authority and the KFC YUM! Center announced the successful refunding of its outstanding debt. Scott C. Cox, the Arena Authority Chairman, stated that “we are pleased with the restructuring of the LAA’s debt. The new structure will allow the KFC YUM! Center to continue to operate as a world class facility for all Kentuckians.”
The weighted average interest rate for the 2017 issue is 4.544%. The weighted average interest rate for the 2008 issue was 6.455%. This almost two percent reduction in the weighted interest rate will result in tremendous savings for Kentucky taxpayers.
The bonds were sold to institutional investors across the United States and to individuals in Kentucky.
Chairman Cox emphasized his appreciation for the partnership that achieved the KFC YUM! Center’s new investment grade rating. Governor Matt Bevin, Senate President Robert Stivers, former Speaker Jeff Hoover and current Speaker David Osborne, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, the Louisville Metro Council and its President David Yates, and President Greg Postel of the University of Louisville and Mr. J. David Grissom, Chairman of the Board of U of L’s Board of Trustees all deserve great credit for their help in restructuring and improving the KFC YUM! Center’s finances.
Mayor Greg Fischer said, “Congratulations go to the KFC YUM! Center team for a successful bond sale, which will result in savings of many millions of dollars for our community. This positive step is the result of the City, Commonwealth and the University of Louisville working together for the benefit of citizens and the local economy.”
Hilliard Lyons served as the financial advisor to the Arena for the refinancing and Bank of America Merrill Lynch led a twelve member underwriting team that brought the issue to market this week in New York.
The KFC YUM! Center is managed by AEG Facilities.
The Metro Council will interview sixteen applicants to fill the vacant District 21 Council seat. President David Yates (D-25) has called a special Committee of the Whole meeting today, December 11th, at 4:00pm to interview the applicants.
Vitalis Lanshima has been reinstated as an applicant after a miscommunication occurred in trying to clarify a question about his application. The Jefferson County Attorney’s Office has given the all clear for his application.
The JCOA has also approved the addition of John Witt to the list of applicants. Mr. Witt had mailed in his application with a postmark prior to last Tuesday’s deadline.
Here are the fourteen applicants with links to their resumes:
- Nicole George
- Erich Shumake
- Nikki Boyd
- Chase Gardner
- Mick Parsons
- Vitalis Lanshima
- Rhett Sample
- Yani Vozos
- Bret Shultz
- Amanda Hay
- Michael Jupin
- Patrick Smith
- Glenda Granholm
- John Witt
Following the Special Meeting of the Committee of the Whole, the Metro Council will vote on District 21’s replacement at its December 14th regular meeting.
Under state law, The Metro Council is required to select a qualified person to fill the position within 30 days of the seat being vacated. The deadline for Metro Council action is December 17, 2017.
Photo: Louisville Metro Hall
Louisville Metro Government announced that it plans to hire a consultant through a competitive Request For Proposal process to review the city’s current and future facility needs, including the future use of LMPD headquarters, the Fiscal Court Building, and potential new construction through a public-private partnership on the parking lot south of Market Street between Sixth and Seventh streets.
The scope of the study will include the possibility of new construction, renovation, sale or facility purchase, as well as financing options.
The Metro Council approved $100,000 for the study in the 2017-18 fiscal year budget. Louisville Metro Government leaders will appear before the Council Budget Committee to update the committee and solicit feedback on development of the RFP.
The study will include:
- An evaluation of Metro Government’s current and future facility needs, including office space for countywide elected officials and including, but not limited to, the needs of the criminal justice system.
- Consideration of a potential public-private partnership to construct a new office or mixed-use building on the lot behind City Hall on Market Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets, including the current LMPD headquarters at Seventh and Jefferson streets.
- An assessment of the potential for new, modern LMPD headquarters;
- An assessment of the Fiscal Court building, located on Sixth Street behind Metro Hall.
- An evaluation of private market demands for new office or mixed-use construction and recommendations for potential financial structures for a public-private partnership
The RFP will be released no later than January 2018, with plans to select a consultant and receive preliminary findings by mid-year.
The administration is aware of the potential negative impact of pension reform on the city budget, but the need to plan for space needs is ongoing, as is seeking revenue enhancing measures such as public-private partnerships.
Credit: Louisville Metro Police
Chief Steve Conrad appeared before the Louisville Metro Council Public Safety Committee last week to update the work his officers are doing to combat crime in Louisville.
Though there are still a few more weeks in 2017, the Chief said his team is encouraged by decreases in most crime reporting categories for the year, which indicate that department strategies are having an impact.
Chief Conrad highlighted data that all police departments provide the FBI for the Uniform Crime Report, which shows decreases in most crime categories in Louisville through October, the most recent month available.
“The numbers I am reporting today speak to a strategy that is working,” the Chief said. “I share these numbers as an indicator of progress, as well as recognition that there is still a lot of work to be done.”
Through October, overall violent crime was down 2.25 percent; compared to being up 9.8 percent at this time last year. Property crime was down 5.37 percent, compared with it being up more than 6.4 percent last year. And total crime was down nearly 5 percent, when it was up 6.9 percent through October 2016.
Despite that progress, the Chief acknowledged “we continue to have a disturbing number of homicides,” which “is a serious issue and continues to be a concern for me and all the men and women of LMPD, as it is for the larger community.”
To date, there have been 101 homicides in Louisville Metro. While that is down 8 percent from the 110 at this time last year, the Chief said, even one life lost is too many, and there is still much work to do – and much work being done.
He outlined several crime-fighting strategies that are having an impact:
- A reorganization of the Narcotics Unit has resulted in felony arrests up more than 46 percent; search warrants up 216 percent; the amount of heroin seized up 99 percent; and the number of firearms seized up 192 percent.
- The LMIntel task force, which is a joint effort of LMPD and several federal partners, has made dozens of felony arrests, seized several firearms and recently announced a 40-count federal indictment aimed at members of a violent gang.
- The 9th Mobile Division continues to target high crime areas and specific people involved in violent crime. To date, the division is responsible for 849 felony charges and has seized 604 guns in 2017. Of the guns seized by 9th Mobile officers, 51 percent were taken from convicted felons.
- The Real Time Crime Center’s impact is growing as it provides valuable intelligence to investigations throughout the metro area.
- ShotSpotter, technology used to detect gunfire in certain areas, is helping to get officers to scenes quicker, often before a 911 call can be made.
In his comments about those efforts and others, Chief Conrad praised the hardworking men and women of LMPD, saying they “are working very, very hard to make Louisville a safer city.”
“I am extremely proud of this department and the efforts we’ve seen this year,” he said, adding that his team is committed to continuing to work with other Metro agencies, Metro Council and community partners to further reduce crime.
A group of students at Olmsted Academy South will turn poems they’ve written into music with the help of My Morning Jacket’s Jim James and the Louisville Orchestra’s Teddy Abrams. The students will showcase their work on Friday, December 8, at 1 p.m. at the school, 5650 Southern Parkway.
Last March, Young Authors Greenhouse, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating young authors and publishing their works, began working with sixth-grade students at Olmsted Academy South to help them publish worthy pieces. In November, the students were invited to read their written works on stage during a concert featuring nationally acclaimed author Dave Eggers and musician Jim James. The students were so impressive that James and Abrams have been working with the girls this week to turn their writing into music.
Olmsted Academy South opened in 2008 and is the only all-girls public middle school in Kentucky.
James, a Louisville native, is a vocalist, guitarist, producer, and primary songwriter of the rock band My Morning Jacket. Abrams is a conductor, pianist, clarinetist, and composer and is currently the music director of the Louisville Orchestra.
Credit: Louisville Metro Police
It’s a Christmas tradition that brings smiles to the children of Portland and 1st Division service area every year. On Saturday, December 9th the 1st Division Police Auxiliary will host children and their families at their 42nd Annual Christmas Party.
“This is a special time of year for children in our area and every year the 1st Division Police Auxiliary works to make sure the children of this area have a special Christmas,” says Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5). “I am proud to be a sponsor of this event and I thank the Auxiliary for its dedication to the children of our area.”
The event is set for the Molly Leonard Community Center at 640 North 27th Street from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
Hamilton is joined by Council members Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4) and David James (D-6) as sponsors of the event.
“This is a wonderful community event where volunteers, auxiliary members, and LMPD Officers work to help families in our area,” says Sexton Smith.
“Every child should have a wonderful Christmas and every year the children of West Louisville are treated to a great spirit of giving in our community,” says James.
The 42nd Annual Christmas Party is for children aged ten and under. Last year the 1st Division Police Auxiliary was able to help over 300 children have a special holiday season. Every Child will have a chance to visit Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus and will receive a toy, fruit, candy, toboggan and gloves.
For more information about the event, call 502-574-7167.
