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It was a vision that began nearly a decade ago, but with the release of renderings showing a sprawling, interactive campus, the future Shawnee Outdoor Learning Center came one step closer to reality.
“Our parks system really embodies our core city values of health, lifelong learning and compassion,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “Shawnee Park is a great example. We’re excited about our vision for creating a hub for outdoor recreation and learning experiences in west Louisville at will become the Shawnee Outdoor Learning Center.”
The facility would become a regional nature/outdoor learning center providing “cradle to career” access to nature for west Louisville residents at the neighborhood level, combining elements of public use, community event space, as well as environmental education, recreation and stewardship activities.
It will support expansion of Louisville Parks and Recreation’s award-winning Louisville is Engaging Children (ECHO) outdoor program, which provides early childhood nature play through a mobile unit; STEAM-based field trips for partner schools in west Louisville; spring, summer and fall out-of-school time recreational programming for youths; summer youth employment, job-training and mentoring opportunities; and a host site for family-friendly community events, such as the annual Canoemobile excursion at Shawnee Park.
“There is a definitive need for school-age children living in the urban environment to have nature-based experiences,” said Parks and Recreation Director Seve Ghose. “The Shawnee Outdoor Learning Center will not just fill a void. In many ways, it’s creating a home.”
The center is a key component of the West Louisville Outdoor Recreation Initiative master plan, which was completed in 2016. Louisville Parks and Recreation is currently in phase II of that plan, with an engagement and fundraising process to follow, and phase III – construction of the center – to conclude full implementation.
Additional items under the master plan that are in the process of or have been implemented include a new bicycle pump track that is nearly completed, paid for through funding from the Aetna Foundation; construction of a new boat ramp at Shawnee Park (construction to take place in 2019); and the restoration of the lily pond in adjacent Chickasaw Park also to be completed within a few years.
The center will also allow for program staff capacity building. Through Louisville ECHO and the Mayor’s Summerworks Program, parks’ staff is working to identify, train and hire program staff and naturalists living in the area for leadership roles at the center once it opens.
The public will have a chance to weigh in on the plan and learn more at West Louisville Appreciation Day on Saturday, July 28. Parks’ staff will be on hand from 1-5 p.m. to review public comments, and on that day a program including a ribbon cutting on the new bicycle path will be held.
“Reconnecting our community with nature and the Ohio River has been one of my priorities. Because of Parks and Recreation and the staff at Jefferson Memorial Forest, we have been able to support environmental education for our area schoolchildren with the ECHO program, canoe rides in the fall, and have introduced our children and families to all of those fun activities because of JMF’s participation with the Louisville Defender’s annual West Louisville Appreciation Celebration in Shawnee Park,” said 5th District Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton.
“I am excited to see the design for the new Shawnee boat ramp which we hope to break ground on this fall, and the Shawnee Outdoor Learning Center that our residents have had input on and participated with JMF staff on its design for many years.”
Kentucky’s current hepatitis A outbreak is now the biggest outbreak in the United States and the biggest ever recorded in both Kentucky and Louisville. As of July 7, the outbreak had struck 65 Kentucky counties with 1,094 hepatis A cases and 8 deaths. As of July 17, Louisville had 540 cases with 4 of the state’s 8 deaths. While the outbreak continues to grow and spread throughout the state, there is evidence that it may be declining in Louisvil
State and local officials urge everyone in Louisville and in any county in Kentucky that is part of the current hepatitis A outbreak to get immunized. They also remind everyone to practice good hand hygiene, particularly after using the restroom and before eating or preparing food.
New hepatitis cases per day have been trending downward in Louisville since April with 4.1 in April, 3.8 in May, 2.5 in June, and so far, 1.67 in July. “While there is evidence that new cases may be trending downward in Louisville,” said Dr. Sarah Moyer, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, “this no time to get complacent. Anyone can get hepatitis A during this outbreak. It is being spread through person to person contact. The best ways to protect yourself and others are to get vaccinated and wash your hands often with soap and warm water.”
Health officials stressed that the virus in this outbreak is being passed person-to-person. There has been no evidence that it is being spread by food or drink as was the case during the hepatitis A outbreak that struck Louisville in 1988. The outbreak remains centered primarily among those who use illegal drugs and among the homeless; however, about 10% of cases do not fall into either of those group
“It’s been gratifying to see the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness and local public health departments across the state coming together to combat the outbreak,” said Dr. Jeffrey Howard, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health. “Our surveillance and the fact that we’ve hospitalized about 60% of all cases has kept our death rate below that of other states experiencing hepatitis A outbreaks.”
In Louisville, 63% of the people (337 out 536) who were infected with hepatitis A have been hospitalized. Across the state, there have been eight deaths, including four in Louisville. The genetic fingerprint of the hepatitis A virus Louisville and in Kentucky matches outbreaks in San Diego California and Salt Lake City Utah.
“Louisville has done a superb job in rolling vaccine out to the homeless and the drug-using populations,” said Doug Thoroughman of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “They are the gold standard of how to respond to an outbreak of this kind.”
More than 78,000 hepatitis A immunizations have been given locally in response to the current hepatitis A outbreak, more than 16,000 by the Department of Public Health and Wellness alone. Massive immunization and outreach efforts among the homeless in shelters, camps and at health facilities that serve the homeless in the early stages of the outbreak has limited the spread of hepatitis A among that population.
“I can’t overemphasize the importance of protecting yourself and others from hepatitis A by getting vaccinated,” said Dr. Moyer. “This vaccine is very well-tolerated. Most insurance plans cover the cost and there are ways those who are uninsured can get immunized for little to no cost. The outbreak will stop when most people living in Louisville are protected through vaccination.”
On November 21, 2017 the Kentucky Department for Public Health declared an outbreak of acute hepatitis A in multiple counties throughout the state. Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease of the liver caused by a virus. It is usually transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route or consumption of contaminated food or water. Most adults with hepatitis A symptoms may experience fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, or jaundice, that usually resolve within 2 months of infection; most children less than 6 years of age do not have symptoms or have an unrecognized infection. Antibodies produced in response to hepatitis A infection last for life and protect against reinfection. The best way to prevent hepatitis A infection is to get vaccinated.
Additional information and a list of places in Louisville to get vaccinated can be found at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/health-wellness/hepatitis or by calling 211.
Amid recent talks about tariffs and trade wars, eight of the world’s biggest players in the whiskey industry are meeting for what has been dubbed the “W8 Summit” to be hosted right here in Louisville.
The world’s eight leading whiskey associations will gather in Kentucky, the Birthplace of Bourbon, next week in a historic summit to discuss trade issues that threaten the growth of this iconic, international industry.
The “W8 – Spirit of Collaboration Summit” is being hosted and coordinated by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, a non-profit trade group founded in 1880 as the Commonwealth’s voice for Bourbon and distilled spirits issues.
KDA President Eric Gregory said this first-ever gathering of the world’s whiskey associations will serve as an open exchange of ideas, strategy and a shared commitment to preserving free and fair trade. “Now more than ever, our groups need to be communicating directly and, hopefully, speaking with a unified voice.”
“The global whiskey industry has been enjoying an unprecedented level of success to the benefit of our legendary producers, consumers, countries and local communities,” he said. “It’s critical that we maintain this momentum and ensure that world leaders understand the deep economic impact of whiskey and how it will be affected if this unfortunate trade war escalates or continues to extend. The potential for long-term damage is real.”
Participating trade associations from around the glob include:
- Distilled Spirits Council
- Irish Whiskey & Spirits Associations
- Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Producers Makers Association
- Kentucky Distillers’ Association
- Scotch Whisky Association
- Spirits Canada
- spiritsEUROPE
- The President’s Forum
The group will meet July 25 and 26 in Louisville, ending with a press conference and ceremonial planting of a white oak tree outside the Frazier History Museum on Whiskey Row, the site of the upcoming Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center.
Kentucky Bourbon is one of the Commonwealth’s most historic and treasured industries, a booming $8.5 billion economic engine that generates as many as 17,500 jobs with an annual payroll topping $800 million and pours $825 million into tax coffers each year.
In addition, the industry is in the middle of a $1.2 billion building boom, from innovative new tourism centers to expanded production facilities, all to meet the growing global thirst for Kentucky Bourbon.
There are now 39 companies operating 52 distilleries in the Commonwealth making 6.8 million barrels of aging Bourbon – all modern records. Distillers also paid a record $19.2 million last year in barrel taxes that fund critical local programs such as education, public safety and health.
Visit www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com to learn more.
Code Louisville, which provides training to help people quickly enter the technology field, has helped more than 250 people start or advance their careers in technology, Mayor Greg Fischer announced.“It is critical for our economy and our community’s future to have as many people as possible gaining the skills to embrace the technologies of today and tomorrow,” Mayor Fischer said. “So, it’s exciting that a homegrown initiative like Code Louisville has become a national model for developing tech talent – and our goal is to take that to an even higher level.”
There have been 821 graduates of the 12-week training course, ranging in age from 18 to 71. Graduates have landed jobs at more than 150 local companies, with an average starting salary of about $48,000.
The free training has been a game-changer for many participants, including Tina Maddox, who was a stay-at-home mom when she started Code Louisville. Now, she is a Junior DevOps Engineer at Louisville-based El Toro Internet Marketing.
“I wouldn’t have the job I have today without this training, it’s changed my life,” Maddox said. “It was very hard work but I’m proof that it absolutely can be done, even without any type of tech background.”
Maddox is one of 12 Code Louisville graduates hired by El Toro, helping the company keep pace with its recent growth of more than 12,000 percent.
“This program has been great for Louisville and for El Toro,” said Stacy Griggs, president & CEO of El Toro. “As we have scaled from a half dozen employees to over 100 team members in the last four years, it’s been vitally important to have a strong pipeline of software development talent. Code Louisville has been an important factor in increasing the amount of tech talent available in Louisville.”
Other local companies that have hired multiple graduates include Appris, GE Appliances, Humana, Interapt, QSR Automations and Zirmed.
Code Louisville is designed specifically to help people prepare for software development jobs. During the online training provided through Treehouse, participants are supported by volunteer mentors, many of whom are themselves Code Louisville graduates. The program has had more than 130 mentors involved.
“This training is truly changing lives while also providing a quick pipeline of fresh talent that is helping meet the evolving demands of our existing employers and also companies that are eyeing Louisville for relocation or expansion,” said Michael Gritton, executive director of KentuckianaWorks which operates Code Louisville. “The diversity of participants is amazing: people of all ages and backgrounds, with GEDs to Ph.Ds, and from plumber assistants to math teachers and professionals from other countries.”
The program launched with federal funding in 2014, but interest and participation exploded in April 2015 when President Barack Obama visited and cited Code Louisville as a model for the national TechHire initiative, which had just started.
As a testament to the program’s need and popularity, there are currently more than 1,000 people on a waiting list. Admission is prioritized for those in greatest need, including individuals who are unemployed, from lower income families and veterans.
Code Louisville is funded through a Workforce Innovation Fund grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.
The program is based just west of the city’s NuLu neighborhood. More information is available at codelouisville.org.
(PRNewsfoto/Glidewell Dental)
Glidewell Dental, a leading technological innovator in restorative dentistry for over 48 years, has announced the opening of the Glidewell International Technology Center, a new 8,500-square-foot training, education and demonstration center located in Louisville, Kentucky. This world-class center, which houses a cutting-edge, 40-seat classroom auditorium, provides contemporary, continuing education for dental professionals. It is the second companion center to its flagship West Coast facility located in Irvine, California.
With the aim of exploring the complexities of oral rehabilitation and its various treatment modalities, the center’s continuing education program encompasses all the principal methods of challenging, motivating and teaching like-minded clinicians. “The techniques and materials used in dentistry are ever-evolving and as healthcare professionals, it’s our responsibility to cultivate and be well-informed of those continuous improvements,” said Dr. Neil Park, vice president of clinical affairs at Glidewell Dental. “Our core mission at Glidewell has always been to advance the understanding of proven, fundamental methods for treating patients — and the increased demand for technology-focused education has sparked our expansion to the East Coast. Through this new Louisville-based center, dentists in the eastern half of the United States will be able to more conveniently access our quality continuing education programs without having to travel to Southern California.”
The center debuted with a special grand opening reception on July 12 attended by dentists, dental industry members and members of the local community, including Mayor of Louisville Greg Fischer. In a speech, Mayor Fischer recognized the Glidewell International Technology Center as integral to the Louisville community and surrounding areas. “Our city congratulates Glidewell Dental on expanding the reach of their valuable work through lifelong learning facilitated at the Glidewell technology center,” he said. “May the work carried out in this space bring forth brighter smiles shining across the world for years to come.”
The event also featured a speech from Jim Glidewell, CDT, founder and CEO of Glidewell Dental, who articulated the company’s vision for the center and garnered excitement for the upcoming curriculum. Hands-on courses and in-depth lectures will focus on all aspects of modern implant and restorative dentistry, including surgical dental implant placement, prosthetic rehabilitation, dental sleep medicine and more. A special acknowledgment was given to the first of the courses to take place at the center: “The Emergency Implant: Immediate Implant Placement in Extraction Sockets,” taught by Dr. Jack Hahn. A pioneer in the field of implant dentistry, Dr. Hahn, who was present at the reception, has been placing and restoring implants for 48 years. He joins many other hand-picked educators who have carefully crafted curriculum to help doctors become more confident and successful in their practice.
“Faculty and students are brought together by our shared passion for improving lives through oral health,” said Dr. Park. “We are inspired by this opportunity to share what we’ve learned over our nearly five-decade heritage, to bring more affordable, effective and innovative methods of treatment to doctors, to help rebuild smiles and enhance the quality of lives for patients in need. It is our hope that this Louisville education and training center helps doctors in their pursuit of finding practical answers to everyday clinical challenges.”
The Glidewell International Technology Center is located at 3841 Business Park Drive in Louisville, Kentucky. For more information or to register for upcoming courses, please visit glidewellcecenter.com or call 866-791-9539.
Restaurant Founder Claims Blackmail, Extortion, Lack of Context, and Improper Corporate Behavior
Papa John’s founder, John Schnatter, claims in a letter to the pizza chain’s board of directors that his decision to step down from the board amid controversy over using offensive language on a conference call was “a mistake.”
The board of directors Sunday canceled Schnatter’s “founder” position and booted him from the company’s Louisville corporate headquarters. Last week, the restaurateur separated from the University of Louisville board of trustees last week. University President Neeli Bendapudi also announced last Friday that the school will drop the Papa John’s name from its football stadium, calling it simply “Cardinal Stadium” while the company acted to remove Schnatter’s likeness from their logo and advertising materials.
Schnatter said that the board asked him “to step down as chairman without apparently doing any investigation.” Schnatter agreed to the board’s request, although now says in his letter, “today I believe it was a mistake to do so.”
In his letter dated Saturday, Schnatter attempted to provide context for the use of his language during what the company’s former marketing agency called “diversity media training.” The embattled company founder claims that he was, in fact, attempting to distance himself from the use of such racially charged language in response to questions from the agency about whether or not he was racist. In the letter, he states that he “said something on the order of, Colonel Sanders used the word “N,” (I actually used the word,) that I would never use that word and Papa John’s doesn’t use that word.”
Schnatter continued on in the letter, claiming that the ad agency attempted to extort the company for millions more than what they were owed due to the offense taken by some of their employees over the founder’s comments. The Laundry Service, Schnatter claims, threatened to conduct a “smear campaign” unless they were paid $2.5 million – approximately twice what they were supposed to be paid.
The full text of Schnatter’s letter may be seen below:
Dear Fellow Board Member
I am writing because I believe it is important that you hear directly from me the facts and circumstances surrounding the events that were initially reported and mischaracterized in the July 11 Forbes story, “Papa John’s Founder used the ‘N’ word on Conference Call” and ultimately was carried in media across the country.
On May 14, Steve Richie, Mike Nettles, I and others in the company met with executives and staff of The Laundry Service, who shared their creative and strategy, at their offices in New York. As you know, we had been testing with significant success, my returning to the company’s advertising. On May 22, at their strong suggestion, I participated in what The Laundry Service called “diversity media training.” The idea was to prepare me for questions I might get as a result of my reappearance at NHRA on Saturday, May 26 in Chicago. (The Laundry Service, for those of you who don’t know, is an advertising and marketing agency which is part of the Wasserman Media Group.) During and after that meeting, The Laundry Service leadership strongly urged that our company retain Kayne West as my co-spokesman in the television spots and other promotions. I told them that would not work because he uses the “N” word in his lyrics.
During this diversity media training, which covered a wide number of topics, I was asked whether I was racist. I, of course said no — which is a truthful statement as those of you who know me well will attest and of course, if you felt otherwise you would not be sitting on the Papa John Board. I was asked if I was not racist, then why did I say what I did about the NFL situation? I said if you look at what I said, it was in no way racist. (The fact is, we completely mishandled the NFL situation from a public relations standpoint – both the Board of Directors and company leadership.) I then said something on the order of, Colonel Sanders used the word “N,” (I actually used the word,) that I would never use that word and Papa John’s doesn’t use that word. Earlier, I gave an example of a scarring experience I read about in Texas when I was growing up which further cemented my existing abhorrence of racism. The thought of this situation to this day sickens me. Let me be very clear: I never used the “N” word in that meeting as a racial epithet, nor would I ever.
I have talked to a Papa John’s employee who was in that room with me who confirmed my recollection of these events.
The next day, May 23, the company made the decision — not me — to fire the Laundry Service, with their last day being July 2. We owed them approximately $1.3 million. Of course, we said we would pay them what was owed, but they said they wanted $6 million because they claimed some of their people had been offended by what I had said. Moreover, one of their attorneys said they would conduct a smear campaign against the company and me unless we paid them what he was asking for. Unfortunately, the company gave in to this extortion attempt and offered them $2.5 million or roughly $1.2 million more than they were owed.
On July 10, we got a call from the Forbes reporter who wrote the above-referenced story. The reporter gave me 15 minutes to give him our comments and said he then was publishing the story. It published the next day. Please be assured, I am going to get the facts of this situation out, but we want to make sure we do it correctly.
The Board asked me to step down as chairman without apparently doing any investigation. I agreed, though today I believe it was a mistake to do so. I have checked with corporate governance experts who tell me that this was not a proper action by the Board. At the last meeting, a few of you raised the issue of whether I should step down as a director. Once again, those individuals were acting on rumor and innuendo, without any investigation — let alone a third-party investigation of the facts. And once again, the corporate governance experts with whom I consulted said this is not the proper action of either a director or the board.
I am confident that an examination of the facts will bear out what I have written in this letter and show that once again our company has demonstrated that it does not know how to handle a crisis based on misinformation. I will not allow either my good name or the good name of the company I founded and love to be unfairly tainted.
John
Mayor Greg Fischer, North Lime Coffee & Donuts owner Joe Ross and representatives of Edison Center owner Weyland Ventures this morning celebrated the arrival of the North Lime Coffee & Donuts brand in Old Louisville. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the North Lime location, 1228 S. Seventh St., in front of the Edison Center.
The 3,000-square-foot building where North Lime Old Louisville operates had been vacant since 1982 and required a significant investment to make it useful for the donut shop. Louisville-based Weyland Ventures, which owns North Lime’s building as well as the neighboring Edison Center, shored up the structure and installed new plumbing and HVAC systems. North Lime’s owners worked with Lexington designer Ben Salley on further renovations that included installing new electrical systems, a commercial kitchen and additional plumbing to serve the shop’s coffee bar.
The goal was to create a cozy atmosphere that would make the place attractive as a community hangout. “We know we’re in the right spot with this location,” Ross said. “This building and the surrounding Old Louisville neighborhood have the same atmosphere as our first location in Lexington in the Limestone Neighborhood. We feel right at home.”
Mayor Fischer applauded the collaboration and investments by both North Lime’s owners and Weyland Ventures. “Teamwork like this is what enables ventures like North Lime to get a start in a new community,” Fischer said. “It also sets a good example for reuse of a property that has been offline for 36 years. Bringing life back to the Edison Center and to this adjacent building is a very positive turn of events.” The Edison Center, a former Louisville Gas & Electric Co. facility, was renovated by Weyland Ventures into an office complex. About 300 Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government employees were the first tenants in the building when it reopened in early 2016.
North Lime’s grand-opening celebration comes a few months after its doors opened to customers. Already the shop has built a following of loyal customers. “I can’t believe how quickly our business has grown,” said Trish Trimble, general manager of the Louisville location. “We have people come from all over town to try our donuts, and we’ve already made great friends with many Old Louisville residents who have been tremendous supporters.”
North Lime Coffee & Donuts is a welcome arrival in Old Louisville as it and the neighboring Edison Center strive to serve as a center of activity in the neighborhood. “From the beginning, our objective was to have the Edison Center host events and have activities that could be enjoyed by our tenants as well as neighboring residents,” said Mariah Weyland Gratz, CEO of Weyland Ventures. “We already see that happening with the NiteFlix outdoor movie series that’s being held this summer in the Edison Center parking lot. North Lime is among the vendors on site selling their donuts.”
Founded in Lexington, Ky., in 2012, North Lime Coffee & Donuts’ first location opened at 575 N. Limestone St. A second Lexington store operates at 3101 Clays Mill Road. The business was started by Ross, a former mortgage broker, Heidi Hays, an engineer, and Teddy Ray, a pastor. North Lime is known for its specialty, gourmet donuts that run the creative flavor gamut from raspberry lemonade to red, white and blueberry to a vegan chocolate chip pancake donut. Their products, based on secret family recipes, also include classics such as bear claws, cinnamon rolls, and glazed and chocolate-iced donuts.