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The St. James Court Art Show has been ranked No. 1 on Sunshine Artist Magazine’s 2019 list of the 200 Best Fine Art & Design Shows in America.
“We are extremely excited about the honor of being selected number one,” said Howard Rosenberg, executive director of the St. James Court Art Show. “The credit really goes to all the people who work tirelessly throughout the year on the show. We must also give recognition to our family of artists who exhibit their work at our show and make it so very special.”
The annual list ranks the nation’s most profitable art and craft festivals based on subscribers’ reported sales in 2018. The 200 Best list is based entirely on revenue. Artists cast their votes after being asked by Sunset Artist Magazine to list the top 10 most profitable art and/or craft shows they exhibited at in 2018. They also indicated their level of gross sales at each event and noted whether they consider themselves to be fine artists or craftspeople for each one. The results were tabulated using a weighted scale based on four sales levels to ensure that all events can compete against each other fairly.
To see the complete 2019 Best list, click here.
The 63rd annual St. James Court Art Show takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 4 and 5 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 6. Admission is free and the art show is a rain or shine event held in historic Old Louisville, home of the largest preserved districts of Victorian architecture in the United States. In addition to the plethora of local Kentucky artists, hundreds of artists travel to Louisville from all around the world to participate in the show. During this three-day event, guests will discover unique works of art in 17 artistic mediums, from clay to wood, and everything in between. Food and drink from local vendors will also be available for purchase.
For more information about the St. James Court Art Show, visit St.JamesCourtArtShow.com.
The Kentucky Communication Network Authority (KCNA), the agency responsible for overseeing the Commonwealth’s KentuckyWired fiber optic cable network project, finalized a bond sale of $102,090,000 last week.
The City of Williamsburg issued the bonds for the KentuckyWired Infrastructure Company. The Series 2019 municipal bonds were purchased by Morgan Stanley.
The majority of the proceeds—$93 million—will be used to fund the settlement agreement between KCNA and its primary contractor, NG-KIH Design Build LLC. The remainder will be held to fund project needs.
According to KCNA Interim Executive Director Deck Decker, KCNA was able to save millions of dollars through the structure of this deal and favorable market conditions. “KCNA was able to access a market with historically low rates to reap maximum benefit from this deal,” he said.
Construction of the KentuckyWired project is well over halfway complete, with more than 1,700 miles of the planned 3,000 miles of fiber cable placed so far. Construction is complete in the first section from Lexington to Louisville and Cincinnati, known as Ring 1A. Construction of Ring 1B, in Eastern Kentucky, is projected to be finished in early September.
KentuckyWired is a middle mile network, building high-speed fiber optic cable in all 120 counties, connecting government offices, universities, community colleges, state police posts, and state parks.
Along its 3,000-mile path, private companies can connect to the network and lease its fiber. This will enable private internet companies to expand their service farther into more rural areas. KentuckyWired will significantly enhance opportunities for education, healthcare, economic investment and job growth for Kentuckians.
Crews on The New Dixie Highway Project are completing median construction on a critical, busy section of the roadway in the heart of Shively. The section between Herbert Avenue and Crums Lane, which includes Shively City Hall and the on-ramp to I-264, will have all lanes open and in their final configuration on Monday.
The opening of all four lanes in this section will be a significant improvement for drivers. For the past six months, there has been only one southbound lane on this busy section of roadway – which carries an estimated 60,000 vehicles a day. For about a month, there has also only been one northbound lane on that section.
As with the rest of the project, the final surfacing and landscaping is slated for completion during the spring and summer of 2020.
“We appreciate the patience of everyone who drives this section of highway,” said Project Manager John Callihan. “We drive it too, and we know it has been frustrating at times. But the result is a safer, more efficient roadway for all of us.”
Drivers should continue to stay alert to shifting work zones on Dixie Highway. In addition to the opening of lanes between Crums and Herbert, work crews will also be reopening lanes between Greenwood Road and Wells Drive as well as between Meyer Lane and Upper Hunters Trace.
Median work will shift to other locations, causing new lane closures between Gagel Ave. and Kendall Road. The existing lane closure between Blanton Lane and Meyer Lane will remain in place as work continues.
By installing medians, The New Dixie Highway Project is restricting mid-block left turns – and guiding drivers to turn at signalized intersections or designated U-turn points. Installing medians is both the most transformative part of The New Dixie Highway project – but also the most dangerous for workers because they will be working in the middle of the roadway with traffic on both sides. Video about the medians and about the use of U-turns on Dixie Highway are available on YouTube.
Medians are “non-mountable” so passenger vehicles cannot drive over them. Widths will vary with available space – with landscaping at key locations. While it may seem counter-intuitive to drivers, restricting mid-block left-turns creates not only a safer corridor, but a more efficient corridor. Some drivers will have to drive slightly further to reach their destination, but the improved efficiency and reduction in collision-related congestion will mean a better traffic flow for everyone.
The New Dixie Highway Project broke ground in December of 2017, and all the major components will be complete in December 2019.
Louisville Metro Councilman Kevin J. Kramer (District 11) will hold a district meeting on Monday, August 5, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at Jeffersontown Fire Station Two (formerly McMahan Firs Station), 4318 Taylorsville Road.
Councilman Kramer will be joined by representatives from the Louisville Metro Police Department, Jeffersontown Fire Protection District, Louisville Metro Public Works, Louisville Metro Codes & Regulations, Urban Forestry and Brightside.
For more information on this event, please contact the Office of Councilman Kramer at 574-1111 or kevin.kramer@louisvilleky.gov.
The Louisville Zoo’s 33-year-old African elephant, Mikki, gave birth to a male calf at 11:24 p.m. on Friday, August 2, 2019. It is only the second elephant born at the Louisville Zoo in the Zoo’s 50-year history.
During the calf’s birth, Mikki was attended to by the Zoo’s Animal Health Center and elephant keeper staffs as well as Dr. Dennis Schmitt, the leading North American expert in elephant reproductive physiology and veterinary management.
“Mikki did all the work. Her labor progressed nicely and without complications,” said Senior Veterinarian Dr. Zoli Gyimesi. “Mikki gave birth to a strong and vigorous bull calf.” According to Dr. Schmitt, “The delivery was textbook. All the staff, both elephant and veterinary staff knew their roles and performed them perfectly.”
Immediately after the birth, the veterinary team performed a neonatal exam.
The calf measures 98 cm tall, 77 cm long (body, head to tail) and 198 cm from the tip of his trunk to the tip off his tail. Mikki, calf and herd mate – Asian elephant Punch – will be off exhibit while the herd bonds. An announcement of a public debut will be made at a later date.
“It’s an exciting day at the Louisville Zoo,” said Louisville Zoo Director John Walczak. “We are so thrilled for Mikki and this calf. We are grateful to our community for embracing Mikki’s pregnancy and being a part of her journey. Raising a calf is one of the most enriching things an elephant can experience. I am very proud of our staff and the amazing job they did to ensure a smooth and safe pregnancy for Mikki and for the calf during birth.”
Mikki gave birth after nearly a 22-month gestation (651 days). She became pregnant through artificial insemination in October 2017 with the help of Dr. Schmitt. Mikki was carefully monitored and well cared for throughout her pregnancy. Staff worked hard to regulate Mikki’s diet and exercise her daily in order to minimize weight gain and get her fit for the delivery. Ultrasound exams and blood hormone monitoring were performed regularly to track the pregnancy.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) elephant breeding program is administered under the auspices of the Elephant Species Survival Plan (SSP), a cooperative program of all accredited zoos with elephants. The plan promotes the survival of elephant species into the future by providing linkages between zoo animal “ambassadors” and the conservation of their counterparts in the remnant wild.
“Elephant breeding at accredited zoos provides critical support for elephant conservation, said Walczak. “Every day, more and more habitats for wild animals are lost due to a growing human population, habitat destruction and poaching. The African elephant population has declined and we want to do our part to help with conservation efforts both locally and worldwide.”
To help the Zoo and the community celebrate the birth of this important elephant calf, the Zoo’s gracious partners at Churchill Downs (Twin Spires) and Louisville Waterfront Park (Big Four® Bridge) will light their iconic structures green. Beginning Monday, the Louisville Gas and Electric building’s green light will be in honor of the calf. Green will symbolize this calf’s significant birth as part of the world-wide conservation efforts on behalf of this magnificent and vulnerable species.
Following weeks of conversations with Metro Councilmembers and the City of Middletown about potential alternative sites for the Middletown Library, the Library announced today it would reopen the branch in its former location in the East Government Center in September, as soon as materials can be transferred and staff for the location can be hired.
“No viable sites or ones at little to no cost have been identified at this time,” said Library Director Lee Burchfield. “Therefore, we will be reopening the Middletown Library in its former location.”
The Middletown Library closed on June 20 as part of Metro Government’s ongoing budget challenges, driven largely by the increase in the state pension bill and Metro Council’s vote to not increase revenue. At that time, all of the branch employees were re-assigned, and books and materials were distributed to other locations. Shortly after the closing, Metro Council passed a budget amendment that allotted “$412,500 to reopen the library operations at the Middletown Branch,” and stated that “the continuation of the Middletown Branch Library is contingent upon securing a signed partnership agreement with the City of Middletown or another entity providing space at no cost or de minimis cost for the Library by December 31, 2019.”
“Among the sacrifices taxpayers are making given the funding constraints without new revenue sources, I do not believe reopening a library located less than 5 miles from a brand-new regional library is the best use of limited resources that will likely be further reduced in subsequent years,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “Council’s decision to temporarily reopen the Middletown Library is not fiscally responsible and deepens inequities across our community. However, it is part of the budget they approved so it is the executive branch’s responsibility to implement that budget.”
“Council’s decision to fund the temporary reopening of the Middletown Library reverses a portion of the challenging work of balancing a budget under the pressure of our ballooning pension bill from Frankfort,” said Louisville Metro’s Chief Financial Officer Daniel Frockt. He continued, “This budget is a multi-year challenge that, without new revenue, will create a domino effect and will be felt in all areas of our city.”
Reopening the Middletown Library in September is contingent on the hiring of additional personnel and the moving of books and other materials back into the space. The $412,500 allotted by Metro Council’s budget amendment was insufficient to fully fund staffing and operation of the Middletown Library for the entire fiscal year. As a result, the branch will operate at reduced hours—40 hours, five days per week—and at lower staffing levels. The site will offer book services including book drop, book reserve pickups, and a limited browsing collection, in addition to computer access. At the end of the fiscal year, when Metro Government’s lease on the East Government Center facility expires, the Middletown Library will either close again, or have to be relocated if funds are available.
“Libraries are a critical resource in our community,” said the Mayor. “They contribute greatly to our city’s core value of lifelong learning.”
April is National Volunteer Month. The American Red Cross is teaming up with Mayor Greg Fischer to host a special blood drive during the eighth annual Mayor’s Give A Day Week of Service. The community is invited to take part in the inaugural Mayor’s Give A Day Blood Drive, Wednesday, April 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kentucky International Convention Center, 221 S. 4th St. in Louisville.
Volunteer donors are the only source of blood products for those in need of transfusions, and donating blood is a simple way for those who are short on time to make a lifesaving difference.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with the American Red Cross on the inaugural Mayor’s Give A Day Blood Drive on April 17,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “Donating blood is a gift of the heart and a true act of compassion. I encourage our citizens to participate in this drive and throughout the year. You’ll be saving lives.”
The Red Cross is one of many organizations able to provide care and compassion to families in need by mobilizing the power of volunteers and generous donors.
“Community partners play a vital role in maintaining the area blood supply,” said Garry Allison, director of donor recruitment for the River Valley Blood Services Region. “About 80 percent of blood donations made to the Red Cross are through blood drives set up by community organizations, businesses, groups and initiatives such as the Mayor’s Give A Day Week of Service. We appreciate Mayor Fischer’s leadership in encouraging the people of Louisville to give of its time, talent and treasure to foster compassion in helping others.”
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Donors of all blood types are needed at the inaugural Mayor’s Give A Day Blood Drive to help meet patient needs this spring. Those who come to donate will be automatically entered for a chance to win a full-size Iron Throne from HBO’s Game of Thrones. Terms and conditions apply and are available at RedCrossBlood.org/HBOGameofThrones.* Additionally, all presenting donors will receive a commemorative Bleed For The Throne poster, while supplies** last.
How to donate blood
Individuals of all blood types – especially type O – are asked to make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org and entering sponsor code: GiveADay, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.