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The city of Louisville is privileged to host the USA Cyclocross National Championships at Joe Creason Park December 11-15. This international event, coming on the heels of last year’s Derby City Cup, will feature nearly 1,700 top professional and amateur riders competing over the course of the week from 45 states.
The competition will also draw thousands of spectators from the city of Louisville and beyond, and the event area will feature an expo area, food trucks, hospitality tents and other temporary amenities.
Louisville Parks and Recreation and the host organization, the Louisville Sports Commission, are aware of the stress such an event can put on the natural balance of a scenic park such as Creason.
We are taking the following steps to ensure a return to its idyllic state following the competition:
- Turf areas throughout Creason: As soon as weather permits, if an area is heavily compacted, we’ll aerate, plant seed, winterize the soil, and place straw through the impacted areas. It’s the same approach we took following last year’s Derby City Cup, and the park sustained no lasting negative impacts. We expect full recovery of the areas by late spring.
- The Creason managed meadows areas: they’ve been cut for the season as the growing period has ceased for the year. When the course was laid out, we avoided particularly sensitive areas. We will replace impacted areas with native grasses and perennial seeds and use straw on areas that have exposed soil. We will continually monitor the area and treat for invasives (i.e. Johnson Grass) and remove anything that’s not desirable.
- Also in the managed meadows areas: the parks volunteer coordinator and parks supervision overseeing the restoration of the park will be leading a flower bulb planting project in the weeks following the race to add some spring color to the park.
- The woodland areas surrounding the course – we’ve removed invasive species such as Porcelain Berry and Tree Of Heaven, and along the slopes are employing erosion control methods, straw and silt fencing to keep litter and any pollutants away from the waterways
Questions? E-mail parks@louisvilleky.gov.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
For the second year in a row, Councilman David Yates (D-25) is calling upon the community to become part of the spirit of giving. He is collecting NEW coats and jackets to be distributed to children in need throughout our community.
“There are many children in need, that without our help, may not be able to stay warm this winter,” says Yates. “The spirit of giving is throughout our community and I tell anyone who can help us with this cause, now is the time!”
Over the last few months the Councilman has partnered with Shirley’s Way and Khalil’s on Dixie Highway to sponsor coat drives during the Shirley’ Way Queen of Hearts drawing, collecting over 100 New Coats from generous donors throughout our community.
Last year, the effort collected some 300 new coats for children in the Jefferson County School system.
“I encourage all neighbors, neighborhood associations, local businesses, and community organizations to step up and donate,” says Yates.
The Metro Council Coat Drive will culminate during a press conference scheduled Monday, December 17th, at 11:00 AM at City Hall in Council Chambers. During the press conference David would like to recognize all participating businesses and organizations and encourages them to send a representative to speak on their behalf.
South end schools will be present at the press conference collecting coats for students in need specifically identified by school counselors, teachers and staff. All remaining coats will be donated to the Jefferson County Public Schools Clothing Assistance Program to benefit students across the city.
All coats can be dropped off at City Hall, 601 W. Jefferson Street, 40202 or contact Councilman Yates’ office at 574-1125 to request the Councilman’s office pick up your donations.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilwoman Mary C. Woolridge will once again bring holiday cheer to the children of District 3 and their families with the Annual District 3 Holiday Party and Toy Give – A – Way set for Saturday, December 15th.
“In all my years on the Metro Council, this event has been one of my favorites to make sure the children of our area have a wonderful Christmas,” says Woolridge. “Our holiday party is designed to make sure no child is forgotten during this season of giving. The holiday season should be a very special time for all of us, children especially needs to enjoy this season.”
The District 3 Holiday Party and Toy Give-A-Way will take place on Saturday, December 15th at the C. E. Kirby Center, 2308 Algonquin Parkway which is adjacent to Southern Star Baptist Church.
The party gets underway from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 PM.
There will be fun, refreshments and entertainment.
Councilwoman Woolridge will have more than 200 toys to be given away along with candy and other items. The party is for children between the ages of three and thirteen. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
“I hope every deserving child in our area will come and join us as we spread joy and some fun during this holiday season,” says Woolridge.
For more information about the Annual District 3 Holiday Party and Toy Give-A-Way, contact Councilwoman Woolridge’s office at 574-1103.
Kentucky Venues’ guests who are blind or visually impaired will soon have access to an innovative technology that will improve their ability to navigate around large spaces and events.
Kentucky Venues, which operates the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) and the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) recently partnered with the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) on their Nearby Explorer mobile app.
The app, developed by APH, gives people who are blind or visually impaired audio cues about the world around them and communicates information with beacons that will be installed at strategic points throughout both KICC and KEC.
The app offers an unmatched level of independence when moving through unfamiliar buildings, especially large ones like KICC or KEC. It provides the equivalent of electronic signage, so the user knows what rooms, stairs, etc. are in the vicinity.
“As a user of the app who is blind, I appreciate knowing the general layout of the venue,” said Larry Skutchan, Director of Technology Product Research at APH.
“This way, I can walk in the correct direction, find rooms, find stairs, etc. Even if walking with another person, it is super helpful to get information about what is around.”
Installation of the beacons is anticipated to be complete at both properties by January 31, 2019.
“Accessibility and innovation have always been important to our organization,” said David S. Beck, President and CEO of Kentucky Venues.
“We are proud to partner with APH and want to assist all guests so they feel comfortable as they navigate through our facilities.”
The Nearby Explorer app is available for both Apple and Android phones.
Work is beginning today to move the George Dennison Prentice statue from outside the Louisville Free Public Library’s main branch into storage at a city facility on Lexington Road.
Preparation for the move starts today, with the actual move expected on Tuesday.
Mayor Greg Fischer announced plans to move the Prentice statue and one of John Breckenridge Castleman in August, after a review of a report issued on June 30 by the Public Art and Monuments Advisory Committee, which he’d asked to develop a guiding set of principles for evaluating existing and future public art and monuments in the city.
The committee held seven public meetings early this year, gathering hundreds of comments from residents throughout the city before submitting its report to the Mayor.
In announcing the decision on the statues in August, Mayor Fischer suggested they might be moved to Cave Hill Cemetery, where both men are buried. Cave Hill declined to have the Prentice statue moved there; the city is still in discussions about moving the Castleman statue there from its existing Cherokee Triangle site.
“Mr. Prentice used his position as founder and long-time editor of the Louisville Journal to advocate an anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant message that led to the 1855 Bloody Monday riot where at least 22 people were killed,” the Mayor said. “His statue is especially inappropriate outside the library, a place that encourages education, inclusiveness and compassion.”
No decision has been made about how the site will be used after the statue is moved. Sarah Lindgren, Louisville Metro’s Public Art Administrator, said any proposed artwork or monument on public property would go through the city’s process for ensuring that our public art and monuments respect our history but reflect the values of today.
Information about the city’s proposal and review process for artworks in public places can be found online at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/public-art. From this web page one can access the Commission on Public Art guidelines, as well as documentation of the Public Art and Monuments Advisory Committee.
The Louisville Metro Animal Services shelter has reached maximum capacity, so in an effort to reduce the kennel population, all redemption fees are waived for pets currently at the LMAS shelter starting, Friday, December 7th through the end of the month.
“We know that all of the dogs picked up as strays or turned into us have owners,” said Ozzy Gibson, LMAS Shelter Director. “The problem is people aren’t coming in to claim their pets. That’s the overall major contributor to the shelter being at capacity. Last year during the holidays the shelter was full; we want to take a proactive approach this year, in hopes of remaining a No Kill Shelter. We want them home for the Holidays!”
Jefferson county residents are required by a Louisville ordinance to license their dog or cat with LMAS. Unfortunately, many are not aware of the requirement. Pet owners can be fined for failure to purchase or renew a pet license, expired Rabies vaccinations or for a pet that is not spayed/neutered. LMAS will offer owners who come to the shelter to claim their dog a voucher to help with the cost of spay/neuter surgery, while the Blue Grass Boxer Club has made a donation to Friends of Metro Animal Services to cover all licensing for altered animals or ones that will be, saving the pet owner from having to pay the fee.
“We don’t want to be tasked with finding new homes for pets that already have one,” said Gibson. “The majority of dogs in the LMAS Shelter are over 40 lbs. We’d much rather return these dogs to their owners instead of letting them sit for months on end, hoping someone will adopt them. There are simply just not enough homes for all of them.”
Pets can be claimed at the LMAS Shelter located at 3705 Manslick Road, Monday-Friday 12-6pm; and Saturdays 11-2pm. All redemption fees are waived through December.
To view a list of fees associated with the impoundment of a stray pet, click here.
The Louisville Orchestra will present Star Wars: A New Hope In Concert featuring screenings of the complete film with Oscar®-winning composer John Williams’ musical score performed live to the film. The concert will be led by acclaimed conductor Keitaro Harada at the Kentucky Center on Saturday, February 2 at 7:30PM and Sunday, February 3 at 3PM.
Tickets start at $35 and are available by calling 502.584.7777 or visiting LouisvilleOrchestra.org.
Set 30 years after Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: A New Hope, the fourth episode of the saga, starts on the desert planet of Tatooine. A young Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) begins to discover his destiny when, searching for a lost droid, he is saved by reclusive Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness). A civil war rages in the galaxy, and Rebel forces struggle against the evil Galactic Empire, Luke and Obi-Wan enlist the aid of hotshot pilot, Han Solo (Harrison Ford). Joined by the quirky droid duo R2-D2 and C-3PO, the unlikely team sets out to rescue Rebel leader Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and make use of the stolen plans to destroy the Empire’s ultimate weapon.
In a legendary confrontation, the rogue group mounts an attack against the Death Star for a climactic battle with the evil Sith Lord Darth Vader. Since the release of the first Star Wars movie over 40 years ago, the Star Wars saga has had a seismic impact on both cinema and culture, inspiring audiences around the world with its mythic storytelling, captivating characters, groundbreaking special effects and iconic musical scores composed by John Williams. Legendary composer Williams is well known for scoring all eight of the Star Wars saga films to date, beginning with 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope for which he earned an Academy Award® for Best Original Score. His scores for The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, were each nominated for Best Original Score.