Tuesday October 21, 2025
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Louisville Metro residents not mulching autumn leaves into their lawns or using curbside collection will have the option to dispose of them at one of three drop-off sites beginning November 5.
Metro Public Works is offering a free leaf drop-off service November 5 through November 30. Drop-off will not be available on November 28 and 29 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Only loose leaves will be accepted. Containers used to bring leaves to the drop-off sites must be disposed of off-site by residents.
Leaf drop off sites:
- Public Works Yard
- 10500 Lower River Road (enter from Bethany Lane)
- Tuesday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Public Works East District Operations Center
- 595 Hubbards Lane
- Tuesday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Public Works Waste Reduction Center
- 636 Meriwether Avenue
- Tuesday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
It is an idea that began in 1969, when Father Ben O’Connor challenged his parish at Saint William Church, a Roman Catholic congregation located at 13th and Oak Street, to find a new direction to help the neighborhood.
The idea grew into a successful nonprofit with the goal of helping people find an affordable place to live.
Today, New Directions Housing Corporation officially cut the ribbon on a new headquarters in the California neighborhood to continue serving those in need of housing in Metro Louisville.
“Finding affordable housing for everyone is a top priority for the Louisville Metro Council,” said Councilwoman Keisha Dorsey (D-3) who was on hand for the ceremony. “New Directions is a dedicated partner in finding that affordable first home or helping people stay in their current homes. It is a great day for everyone.”
New Directions supports neighborhoods, families and individuals. New Directions Housing Corporation serves Jefferson County, Kentucky, and Floyd and Clark counties in Southern Indiana. Its nonprofit community development strategies provide much-needed housing development, and today over 1,000 families live in the nonprofit’s rental housing.
“The Louisville Metro Council has long advocated the need for affordable housing. In 2008, we created the Affordable Housing Trust Fund as a way to ensure that local government partners with nonprofits and the private sector to find affordable housing programs for those who need it,” said President David James (D-6) , who was also on hand for the ribbon cutting.
Over the month of October, New Directions will be moving its operations to 1617 Maple Street in the California Neighborhood. The Headquarters is generally in the same area as the new YMCA which will soon open at 18th and Broadway.
To learn more about the history of New Directions and the programs that it offers to the community go to the group’s website at https://www.ndhc.org/
Louisville Metro is looking for someone to donate the large Christmas tree that will stand in Jefferson Square Park through the holidays.
“This tree will be the centerpiece of Light Up Louisville and the city’s month-long celebration of the holidays,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “We’ve been blessed with good luck in finding the perfect Christmas tree every year. If you believe you have one that fits the bill, please give us a call.”
The tree should be a spruce or fir, about 40 feet tall, healthy and well-shaped. The city will cut and transport the tree to its prominent spot across from Metro Hall at Sixth and Jefferson streets. Anyone interested in donating a tree should call Metro 311 or Louisville Parks and Recreation at (502) 574-7275. The tree donor will attend the Light Up Louisville sponsor reception as a featured guest of the city as well as the Light Up celebration.
Light Up Louisville is held annually on the day after Thanksgiving. This year, the event, in its 39th year, will be held on Friday, Nov. 29.
The tree will be moved with the support of LG&E, Bob Ray Company and Louisville Parks and Recreation.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
On Thursday, President David James (D-6) will honor a man who for more than 40 years has taken care of those in need in his community by officially dedicating honorary street signs to Apostle Raymond J. Keith Jr. at a corner near his church in West Louisville.
“We are fortunate that Apostle Raymond J. Keith Jr. got the call to come to Louisville back in 1976,” says President James. “Once he arrived, he began his dedicated work of feeding and clothing those in need and helping others find a home or a job or a purpose in life to serve others.”
On Thursday, October 24th President James will join family, friends and members of his church to unveil an honorary street signs at 1:00pm at the corner of 18th and Prentice Streets near the Refuge in Kentucky Church.
Apostle Raymond J. Keith Jr. has been an ordained minister for Refuge in Kentucky since October 23, 1976. His vision and work include establishing transition homes for the homeless, bible college, trade schools, and services for children.
Many in the community know under his leadership, Refuge in Kentucky is known as “the church in the heart of the city, with the people of the city in its heart.”
President James is sponsoring a Resolution that calls for two honorary signs to be placed on the southwest corner of 17th and Prentice Streets, and on the southeast corner of 18th and Prentice Streets and be designated as “Apostle Raymond J. Keith Jr. Way.”
The Resolution is set to be approved by the Louisville Metro Council at its meeting on October 24th.
For more information about the Apostle Raymond J. Keith Jr Honorary Sign Unveiling, contact President James office at 574-1106.
Louisville Metro Animal Services (LMAS) is reminding residents that a new Louisville ordinance that took effect Tuesday requires the name of any person convicted of animal abuse in Jefferson County to be placed on an Animal Abuse Registry.
Metro Council District 8 Representative Brandon Coan sponsored the ordinance, which was approved by the full Council in April.
“Animal abuse registries are growing across the country as an important law enforcement tool to not only prevent animal cruelty, but also identify individuals who may pose a domestic violence or other serious threat to the public at large,” said Coan.
LMAS will notify convicted offenders of the requirement to self-register and pay an annual registration fee of $100. Offenders will remain on the registry for a period of two years. Pet stores, shelters and animal organizations that offer pet adoptions and sales are required to check the registry before allowing a person to adopt or purchase a pet.
“In the early months and years of the registry, a primary focus will be to minimize the burden on small businesses and nonprofits in terms of compliance,” said Coan. “We intend to work closely with stakeholders until the system works well for everyone.”
Kentucky consistently ranks among the worst states for animal rights, though Louisville’s animal ordinance goes beyond state statutes. The creation of an animal abuse registry is designed as another tool to keep animals from those who would abuse them.
Under the ordinance, LMAS will maintain the Animal Abuse Registry, updating it at least once every 30 days. Anyone convicted of animal abuse outside of Jefferson County must register within 10 days of establishing residency. Failure to register or comply with the registry could result in a maximum 60 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. To view the Animal Abuse Registry and read the ordinance, visit www.louisvilleky.gov/animalservices.
Mayor Greg Fischer today joined Metro Animal Services and Friends of Metro Animal Services (FOMAS) for a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open a state-of-the-art animal shelter at 3516 Newburg Road, which replaces the outdated facility on Manslick Road.
“Our community deserves a modern, full-service animal shelter that provides the best care possible for animals and the most efficient service possible for residents,” Mayor Fischer said. “Our Metro Animal Services has been doing an outstanding job in recent years, finding homes for a record number of animals and reaching ‘no kill for time or space’ status for the first time in its history. This shelter is the perfect place for the LMAS team to provide their top-notch, compassionate service.”
The 33,000-square-foot facility puts all animal-related services on one campus where residents can adopt a pet, purchase or renew a pet license or take a stray pet.
“Animals Services has operated from two locations for a decade, complicating how our agency operates and confusing the public that uses our services,” said Ozzy Gibson, LMAS Shelter Director. “Not only is our campus now conveniently accessible to all Jefferson County residents, it saves us money that we can use to find more ways to help our shelter pets.”
The new facility can house up to 235 animals and features all climate-controlled kennels with isolation rooms to prevent the spread of illness. A modern veterinary wing meets industry standards and includes the shelter’s first X-ray and ultrasound machines, allowing LMAS to quickly evaluate sick and injured pets. There are four operating tables as well as separate rooms for pets being prepped and recovering from surgery.
The nearly $11.6 million dollar facility also includes a fully furnished clinic, which will operate independently from the shelter, offering pet owners low-cost spay and neuter services, vaccinations and microchipping. “Our community has few options for people who cannot afford the average cost of spaying or neutering their pet. An independently run, low-cost clinic encourages responsible pet ownership, decreases our stray pet population and prevents shelter overcrowding,” said Gibson.
Specialty areas that were missing from the old facility give shelter pets a greater chance of being adopted. A behavioral room allows staff to train or correct undesirable behaviors while a photo room will ensure pets look their best in photos for potential adopters. There’s also a dedicated enrichment room where volunteers and groups can make treats for shelter pets.
“A huge part of the success of Metro Animal Services is their employees and supporters. Friends of Metro Animal Services is honored to have helped make a modern shelter a reality, not just shelter pets, but also the staff and volunteers,” said FOMAS Executive Director Susanna Westerfield. “They have struggled for decades to properly care for animals in a rundown, outdated facility. These every day heroes deserve nothing but the best to continue providing quality care to shelter pets.”
A large laundry room with commercial washing machines and dryers replace the old shelter’s appliances intended for home use. Separate food prep areas equipped with commercial dishwashers make feeding time and cleanup more efficient.
Benefits of the new shelter go beyond the building to include more enrichment opportunities for shelter pets. The campus features six fenced-in play yards compared to just one at the old facility. There’s also a half-mile walking track where volunteers can walk a dog on their lunch break.
“Many of us have long awaited this day. This state-of-the-art facility is just the latest in a long series of changes we have made as a city to address the needs of Louisville Metro Animal Services,” said Metro Council District 10 representative Pat Mulvihill. “Public Safety is one of our many goals as elected officials, and now we are not only protecting the public but protecting the animals in need of a new home or returning them to their owners. It is a great day for those who love pets and want the humane treatment of all animals.”
The LMAS Animal Care Facility is located next to Animal House Adoption Center, which was built in 2009. Shelter construction began in July 2018 with funding from Louisville Metro Government and gracious donations from FOMAS and the Harshaw Family Foundation. The LMAS Animal Care Campus is also the future home of Alley Cat Advocates, which manages the Community Cat Program.
The LMAS Animal Care Facility is open 12-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Animal House Adoption Center is now open seven days a week, excluding holidays. Meet adoptable pets daily from 12-6 p.m., and Fridays from 12-7 p.m.. For more information about MAS and Pay It Forward Free Adoptions, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/animal-services.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
President David James (D-6) is encouraging anyone who would like to help to come out for a community wide cleanup which is set for the Old Louisville area on Tuesday October 22nd.
“I want to encourage anyone who would like to help us to come out and join us,” says President James. “Cleanups are a great way to show community pride in our neighborhoods.”
The 160 volunteers from the University of Louisville are volunteering as a part of their “Cards Come Together Week of Service 2019,” which Is part of this week’s upcoming homecoming activities.
The volunteers will meet at Fourth and Oak Street to begin a cleanup of the Old Louisville area starting at 1:00pm. From there, volunteers will fan out across Old Louisville to collect trash and spruce the area up for the fall season.
“I wish to thank U of L and Dr Neeli Bendapudi for her continued and dynamic support for our neighborhoods around the university. This is another example of her great leadership,” says President James.
For more information about the cleanups, contact President James Office at 502-574-1106.