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SubscribeNeighborhood Place joins with community partners to host the Park DuValle Holiday Festival on Dec. 1 featuring visits with Santa and a holiday concert, and a Kwanzaa Reception on Dec. 28 at Ujima Neighborhood Place. Several other valuable services and classes will take place in December including a home energy-saving workshop, a Women’s Empowerment Information Session, TARC Smart Card registration and low internet sign-ups. To learn more about these offerings, please refer to the list below.
Dec. 1, Third Annual Park DuValle Holiday Festival, 1 – 6 p.m.
Celebrate the holiday season in the Park DuValle area with a celebration of drums and snowball fight at 1 p.m. at Southwick Community Center; visits with Santa at 2 p.m. at the Dr. William Weathers Senior Building; and Holiday Bingo, the Christmas cookie factory and face painting at Ujima Neighborhood Place 3610 Bohne Ave. at 3:30 p.m. A holiday reception begins at 5 p.m. and at 6 p.m. a holiday concert and tree lighting will take place at the Villages of DuValle club house at 1804 Russell Lee Dr.
Dec. 4, Car Seat Safety Check at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 9 – 11 a.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. Call Norton Children’s Hospital at 629-7358 to make an appointment. Learn how to install your child’s car seat or booster seat. Find out if it’s time for a change. Car seat-fitting by appointment only.
Dec. 5, WeCare Energy Efficiency Overview at Cane Run Neighborhood Place, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Located at 3410 Lees Lane. Call 1-800-356-5467 for more information. Representatives from the WeCare Program at LG&E will be on hand to talk with interested persons about energy efficiency, energy usage and tips to reduce utility bills.WeCare staff can also help determine if households are eligible for a variety of free services including air duct sealing and insulation, attic and wall insulation, programmable thermostats and much more.
Dec. 5, 11, 13 and 20, A Healthy Journey for Two Educational Baby Shower at multiple locations
A Healthy Journey for Two is an educational baby shower open to any expectant mothers. Contact Mendy Mason at 502-341-5400 to register and for more information. The class will include a range of information and resources, as well as free baby items, gift cards, prizes, and snacks. Hosted by Centerstone and KIDSNow. Fathers are welcome but must be registered.
- Dec. 5 at Cane Run Neighborhood Place, 3410 Lees Lane, 1 – 3 p.m.
- Dec. 11 at South Central Neighborhood Place, 4255 Hazelwood Ave., 1- 3 p.m.
- Dec 13, at First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Rd. 1 – 3 p.m.
- Dec. 20 at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 3610 Bohne Ave., 1 – 3 p.m.
Dec 6, 10 and 17, Sodexo Hiring Opportunities at three locations
Sodexo, a food-service agency, will provide on-the-spot interviews for positions with Jewish Hospital, Our Lady of Peace and University of Louisville Hospital. Bring your resume and be prepared for an interview. This is one of Sodexo’s busiest hiring seasons. Stop by if you are looking for employment that can lead to a full-time or part-time position.
- Dec 6, First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Road (T.J. Middle School in the W.D. Bruce Building – door #24), 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Call 313-4700 for more information.
- Dec 10, South Central Neighborhood Place, 4255 Hazelwood Ave. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Call 313-4089 for more information.
- Dec. 17, Cane Run Neighborhood Place, 3410 Lees Lane, 9am-1pm. Call 313-4089 for more information.
Dec. 6 and 7, TARC Smart Card Registration at Neighborhood Place at two locations
For more information call 585-1234. TARC Mobile Unit will be on site to register individuals for the new smart card. As of Jan. 7, 2019, paper tickets will no longer be used on a TARC bus. Customers can get a jump start in acquiring a smart card that will be required to ride the bus. Customers will be allowed to put a value on new smart cards and seniors will be able to get smart cards with a photo I.D. verifying age.
- Dec. 6 at South Central Neighborhood Place, 4255 Hazelwood Ave., 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Dec. 7 at Cane Run Neighborhood Place, 3410 Lees Lane, 11:30 am. – 1:30 p.m.
Mondays through Thursdays, YMCA’s “Caring and Learning with Me” program at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd., side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Call Keyonna Humphrey at 974-8457 for more information and to register. This free program provides a wonderful learning environment for children ages 3-5 years old and their caregivers focusing on play and exploration. The adult caregiver is required to attend with the child/ren. Younger children ages newborn to two years old are also welcome. Sponsored by the YMCA with support from First Neighborhood Place.
Dec. 10, Bridges of Hope Women’s Empowerment Group Information Session, 5 – 6 p.m.
Located at 1411 Algonquin Parkway. Call 634-6050 for more information. This one-hour information session will give prospective participants a synopsis of an upcoming Women’s Empowerment Group and its format. Learn more about this 10-week program designed to develop the skills and confidence necessary to help uplift, empower, build support, and establish healthy relationships. The topics of focus are relationships, parenting, mental and physical health, employment, education, and self-care.
Dec. 10, 12, 17, Passport Health Care Community Engagement at two locations
Call (502) 212-6677 for more information and to RSVP. Passport Members are invited to join with representatives from Passport Health Care for one-on-one consultations to discuss plan benefits and options. This is a great opportunity as Passport aims to raise awareness and educate the community about the Passport Health Plan mission. Passport members will receive a $10 retail gift card for attending.
- Dec 10 and 17 at First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Rd (door #16) side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Dec. 12 at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 3610 Bohne Ave., 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Dec. 11, Project Warm Energy Management Workshop at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. Call 313-4635 to register. Learn how to make your home warmer and more comfortable this winter. Project Warm’s energy management workshop will show you how to hang clear, interior window covers and more. Receive free supplies after attending the workshop. Supplies are available to all registered participants
Dec. 11, Foster Parent Recruitment Meeting at First Neighborhood Place, 6 – 8 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd., side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Call 595-5437 (KIDS) for more information. Detailed information will be provided on the requirements and process of how to become a foster or adoptive parent. Information such as an explanation of foster care, special needs adoption, and information on foster parent training classes will be provided. Sponsored by Kentucky Foster Care and the Special Needs Adoption Program.
Dec. 12, 17 and 20, Low Cost Internet Registration at three locations
Learn about and receive help signing up for low-cost internet plans in our community for qualifying households. Sponsored by Louisville Metro’s Digital Inclusion team.
- Dec. 12, Cane Run Neighborhood Place, 2- 4 p.m.
- Dec. 17, South Central Neighborhood Place, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Dec. 20 at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 3610 Bohne Ave., 3 – 5 p.m. Call 313-4635 for more info.
Dec. 20, Free Blood Pressure Screenings at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 3 – 5 p.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. Call 313-4635 for more information. Louisville Metro Health and Wellness health educators will provide free blood pressure screenings and health information.
Dec. 28, Kwanzaa Reception at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. Call 313-4635 for more information. In honor of Ujima, the third principle of Kwanzaa meaning collective work and responsibility, community members are invited to gather for networking opportunities and to explore ideas for community collaborations.
Mayor Greg Fischer today named Lisa Osanka as Director of the Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA), a post she’s held on an interim basis since April.
“The Louisville Metro Housing Authority is a national leader in neighborhood revitalization and housing development, and a central part of our efforts to give every citizen the chance to reach their full potential,” Mayor Fischer said. “In Lisa, we have a leader with expertise in housing policy and community engagement, and also an activist’s passion for helping residents.”
LMHA is responsible for over 4,500 public housing units as well as administration of rental assistance to approximately 9,200 families through its voucher programs.
Its mission is to provide quality, affordable housing for those in need, assist residents in their efforts to achieve financial independence, and work with the community to strengthen neighborhood.
Osanka has more than 26 years of experience in housing and community development. Before becoming interim director following the retirement of longtime Director Tim Barry, Osanka was the Director of Leased Housing for LMHA.
“Affordable housing is an issue I feel very strongly about, and I’ve spent a good amount of my life working to ensure that everyone in our community has a secure place to call home,” Osanka said. “I am thrilled at the opportunity to continue serving this community, especially the thousands of families that we at LMHA serve every day.”
A nine-member Board of Commissioners, appointed by the Metro Mayor, serves as the policy making body of the agency. Its funding comes from residents’ rents and annual operating subsidy from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The agency also receives Capital Improvement funds on an annual basis from HUD, and applies for funds from HUD and the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to finance various modernization improvements.
In her role as Director, Osanka will partner with the LMHA staff and Board of Directors to carry out the agency’s goals, including plans for the $30 million HUD Choice Neighborhoods grant that is a driver of the renaissance underway in the Russell neighborhood.
“Lisa brings the experience, expertise and institutional knowledge needed to do this job well, and we’re pleased to see her take the helm,” said Manfred Reid, chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the Louisville Metro Housing Authority since 2000. “She truly cares about the people impacted by this operation, and that’s incredibly important.”
Osanka earned her Juris Doctorate from the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville and her Bachelors of the Arts in History from Valparaiso University.
Before joining LMHA, she held positions at Local Initiatives Support Corporation in Washington, D.C., Louisville Tenants Association, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and Habitat for Humanity International.
By Charlotte Stephens
Before he became a bestselling author, David Sedaris survived by working odd jobs. He picked apples in Oregon. He reinforced the edges of window screens with a stapler (to keep squirrels from invading attics) in Chicago. He cleaned apartments in new York City. And, broke and jobless after first moving to the Big Apple, he got a gig playing an elf at Macy’s “SantaLand,” which would inspire his beloved and hilariously biting personal essay, “Santaland Diaries.”
Sedaris is now a literary celebrity. he’s one of the few writers who can fill Carnegie Hall with his adoring fans and who’s been considered funny enough to appear regularly on The Late Show with David Letterman. During his days as Crumpet the Elf, however, he never thought he’d see his dream of being a published author come true. “I’m wearing a green velvet costume; it doesn’t get any worse than this,” Sedaris-as-Crumpet quips darkly. But his career would profit immensely from this time spent faking holiday cheer and herding frazzled families for their photo with Santa. It was “Santaland Diaries” that introduced Sedaris’s signature deadpan humor to a national audience, catapulting him to fame in the early 1990s.
Since 1977, Sedaris had kept a diary, often carrying a notebook with him to record experiences both bizarre and mundane. (He’s known for his ability to highlight the weirdness of everyday life, zeroing in on personal quirks or strange encounters that are often highly relateable, but that we might never think to document in such comic detail.) As with many of his other early writings, the pithy observations in “Santaland Diaries” originally came from these journal entries. According to Sedaris, “‘Santaland’ was just stuff in my diary. All I did was take things from my diary and arrange them.”
One night, he was reading exceprts from his diary onstage at a small New York club. He later recounted in an NPR interview:
“[Radio host] Ira Glass was in the audience. He introduced himself…Later, he called, asking if I had anything Christmassy for a show that he was doing at the time called…So I recorded the Santa story for that, and he put it on [the daily NPR program] Morning Edition.”
Sedaris could never have predicted the rush of popularity that followed. “My life just changed completely,” he has said, “like someone waved a magic wand.”
The rest is history. Thanks to the wild success of “Santaland Diaries,” Sedaris, in his words, “went from having 50 listeners to 50 million listeners.” Soon after, he landed the book contract that led to his first published collection of essays and short fiction, the critically acclaimed Barrel Fever (in which “Santaland Diaries” also appears). Today, there are more than 10 million copies of Sedaris’s books in print, and his work has been translated into 25 languages. Meanwhile, his recording of “Santaland Diaries” has aired on Morning Edition during the Christmas season every year since 2004, and is one of the show’s most requested features. Not too shabby for a man who’d often joked that he was only qualified for “jobs that needed no skills.”
Tickets are available online here.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) is launching a new satellite office and inviting families to be a part of the process.
The new office will be located at the West Market Street entrance of The Academy @ Shawnee. On Monday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m., the district is hosting a conversation at the location, offering JCPS families and community members the opportunity to learn more about the goals of the office and share their ideas on what services they would like to see there.
“A strong commitment to family engagement has been a priority for me as superintendent,” Dr. Marty Pollio said. “A second satellite office in JCPS is one more important way we can deliver much-needed resources and services to families—and we’re excited to hear directly from them about how we can best provide that support through the opening of this new location.”
The community conversation will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 4018 W. Market Street, West Wing. The new office is expected to open early next year.
In January 2018, Superintendent Pollio cut the ribbon on the district’s first-ever satellite office, which is located inside the California Community Center on West St. Catherine Street. The office is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
The USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships will be held Dec. 11-16, 2018, at Joe Creason Park, the first time the event has been held in Louisville. The national championships will feature nearly 2,000 top professional and amateur riders competing over the course of the week from 45 states.
Forty-two national titles are on the line; male and female national champions will be crowned in the Junior, Senior, Collegiate, U23, Masters and Elite categories. Athletes range in age from 10 to 85 years old.
The event will be held on a cyclocross course at Joe Creason Park that made its debut at the 2017 Derby City Cup and Pan-American Cyclocross Championships. The challenging course includes elevation changes, a flyover, obstacles and off-camber ground that force riders off their bikes.
Cyclocross racing is a hybrid between road cycling and mountain biking that is athletically demanding, and fan and family-friendly. The experience for fans is interactive, with viewing areas within a few feet of the course, and cheering, jeering and crazy costumes that help energize the riders. Competitors race around an off-road circuit on bicycles that look very similar to road bikes, but have been built to take on the demands of rougher off-road racing. Circuits are typically 1.5 to 2 miles long, and feature obstacles that may force riders to dismount their bicycle. Multiple laps showcase these elite riders’ phenomenal skills and amazing speed, invoking the nickname “an hour of pain.”
Beer will be sold by Against the Grain Brewery; food will be provided by Black Rock Grille, POLLO, Moe-Licious BBQ and Blackbeard Expresso food trucks. Wristband admission is $20 per person including tax, which is good for the entire event week. Food and beverage are priced separately. Free vehicle parking will be available at the Louisville Zoo. There will be no warm up zone or tents allowed in the Zoo parking lot. For information on event expo and warm-up tents, please contact Ben Leto at bleto@louisvillesports.org.
Competition begins Tues., Dec. 11 with a full day of non-championship races. The contests to determine national champions – winners of the coveted Stars-and-Stripes jerseys – begin Wed., Dec. 12. Masters and Collegiate championship events for men and women will be held Dec. 12-14.; championship events for Juniors will be held on Saturday. The championships culminate on Sunday with the Junior Men 17-18 and the U23 and elite competitions for men and women.
Among the athletes who will be on hand to defend their titles are Stephen Hyde (Easthampton,Mass./Cannondale presented by CyclocrossWorld), defending U.S. Cyclocross National Champion; Jeremy Powers (Southampton, Mass./Pactimo / Fuji / SRAM), four-time U.S. Cyclocross National Champion ; Curtis White (Delanson, N.Y./Cannondale presented by CyclocrossWorld), no. 1-ranked U.S. male pro cyclocross rider; Ellen Noble (Kennebunkport, Maine/Trek Factory Racing CX), three-time Cyclocross National Champion (U23 and Junior); Katie Clouse (Park City, Utah/Alpha Bicycle – Groove Subaru), 25-time National Champion in Cyclocross, Road and mountain bike; and Katie Compton (Colorado Springs, Colo./KFC Racing), 14-time Cyclocross National Champion.
“Louisville has a long-history of hosting national and international cycling championships – including the 2013 UCA Cyclocross Elite World Championships,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “We encourage everyone to come to Joe Creason Park to enjoy some fantastic cycling competition. Cyclocross is an amazing experience for fans – expect an eclectic mix of lively spectators and high-energy action on the course.”
The national championships are estimated to generate more than $2.6 million in economic impact to the local economy and will result in national media coverage for Louisville. Live streaming will be available Sun., Dec. 16 beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET on USA Cycling’s YouTube channel and on participating cycling media websites.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to host a nationally sanctioned championship with elite athletes, officials and spectators converging on Louisville from across the U.S.,” said Louisville Sports Commission President and CEO Karl F. Schmitt, Jr. “This event provides an excellent opportunity to showcase our community and will generate significant economic impact through inbound sports travel, especially welcome during the winter months.”
Louisville has become a mecca for championship-level cyclocross competitions, having successfully hosted the 2013 UCI Elite World Championships, the 2012 and 2013 UCI Masters World Championships, the annual Derby City Cup at Eva Bandman Park and the 2017 Pan-American Cyclocross Championships.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
President David James (D-6) will officially welcome District 6’s newest business on Thursday, November 29th when Adrienne & Co. opens its newest bakery cafe at 1212 S. 4th Street.
“We believe Adrienne’s will find that Old Louisville is ready to welcome Adrienne’s Bakery to become one of the many great businesses that are helping this area of our city grow,” says the President.
The official grand opening is set for 10:30am. President James, the Mayor’s Office, and company representatives will have a ribbon cutting. Following the ceremony, there will be a mini tour and light refreshments.
This is Adrienne & Co.’s fourth location and the first time it has located In Louisville. The Company’s three other locations are in Southern Indiana.
Mayor Greg Fischer joined AARP Kentucky State President Charlotte Whittaker today to celebrate safety improvements at Ninth Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard made possible by the AARP Livable Communities Initiative, which supports community efforts to increase livability and safety for residents of all ages.
The AARP initiative funds quick-action projects that build momentum for change in communities. AARP awarded Louisville $10,550 toward a $15,550 project that improves the intersection in three ways:
- Upgrading crosswalks for greater visibility and pedestrian safety;
- Adding plaza space and benches in front of an existing public art piece in the median;
- And enhancing public art by adding a plaque to accompany Isaac Duncan III’s “Kae Me: The Lesson from the Black Star,” a piece that was erected in the median in 2003.
These improvements at one intersection is the first in a larger plan to reimagine Ninth Street as a safer, more pedestrian friendly corridor and add to the flow of investment into west Louisville, which totals about $1 billion over the past four years.
“Right now, we find that Ninth Street has unsafe pedestrian conditions, underutilized right of way and speeding cars. Our overall goal is to make Ninth Street safer for pedestrians, and the AARP grant is a great kickstart to the work,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “These improvements are part of about $1 billion in investment committee to west Louisville—including Passport Health Plan campus, Republic Bank Foundation YMCA, Beecher Terrace transformation and The Track On Ali.”
“AARP Kentucky is proud to support this community investment in pedestrian safety and making the neighborhood even more walkable,” said AARP Kentucky State President Charlotte Whittaker. “It’s an exciting example of how the AARP Community Challenge ‘quick action’ grant projects are helping make immediate improvements and jumpstarting long-term progress supporting residents of all ages.”
The grant is complemented by many projects along and adjacent to Ninth Street designed to break down this dividing point in our city:
- Dixie Highway Bus Rapid Transit, which will run on Ninth Street when service begins in 2019;
- Quinn Chapel stabilization starting in 2019;
- The Knot, an inviting public art installation at Ninth & Main, debuting in early 2019;
- Phase I of Beecher Terrace, a senior facility, finishing construction in 2019. Phase II, about 100 townhomes and apartments between 10th, 11th, Jefferson and Liberty streets will start in 2019.
- And the extension of River Road west, which will connect to Waterfront Park Phase IV, starting in 2020;
The city has also applied for a BUILD grant to implement the Reimagine 9th Street corridor plan, which envisions an attractive, vibrant and safe connection between west Louisville and downtown. BUILD is the current iteration of TIGER, the grant that made has made improvements on Dixie Highway possible. The U.S. Department of Transportation will announce BUILD grant recipients by the end of the year.
Ninth Street from River Road to Broadway averages 142 crashes per year, and 255 jaywalkers per day. The city expects pedestrian and bike activity to increase along Ninth with the transformation of Beecher Terrace and the new Bus Rapid Transit line.
To learn more about the Reimagine 9th Street plan, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/advanced-planning/reimagine-9th-street
