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Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton is encouraging residents to come out to the District 5 Community Meeting on April 24th to talk with representatives of Louisville Metro Government if there are issues or concerns they would like to have addressed.
“I have invited various representatives and agencies to come and make themselves available to anyone who has a question about an issue or would like to know more about a program we offer in Metro Government,” says Hamilton
The District 5 Community Meeting is set for the Shawnee Golf Course Clubhouse, 460 Northwestern Parkway beginning at 6:00pm.
Among the departments invited; LMPD, MSD, Codes and Regulations, Metro Public Works and Assets, Metro Parks and Recreation, Vacant and Public Properties, Community Services, Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods, and a representative from the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office.
“I know for some, it is not easy to take off from work and come downtown to speak with someone in Metro Government. At this community meeting, we have brought Metro Government to one place. No appointments are necessary, just come in and talk,” says Hamilton. “Government works best when we know what is on your mind and how we can handle it together.”
For more information about the District 5 Community Meeting, contact Councilwoman Hamilton’s office at 574-1105.
The work of more than 130 Foster Grandparents who help mentor children will be honored at a special luncheon on Friday, April 20. Themed “Volunteers…the Heart of the Foster Grandparent Program”, the event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Olmsted, 3701 Frankfort Ave.
Participants in the Louisville Metro Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) are individuals 55 years or older who tutor and assist children with special or exceptional learning needs in essential skills such as reading, writing and math, while offering the basic guidance of a mentor, advocate and friend. Currently, more than 130 Foster “Grannies” and “Grandpas” share their compassion and caring at over 28 sites including Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), Boys & Girls Clubs and several faith-based community centers and after school programs.
Now in its 53rd year nationwide, the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) was initiated in 1965 under the Economic Opportunity Act and is federally sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Locally, FGP has been operating in our community for 46 years and is part of Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS). By the end of the 2016-2017 fiscal year, FGP volunteers served 500 children and youth and logged nearly 132,000 hours of services.
At this year’s celebration, Foster Grandparents and their guests will be joined by volunteer station representatives, Senior Corps Advisory Council members, RCS staff and other guests. One special feature will be the presentation of milestone achievement awards to individuals serving 5,10,15,20 and 25 years as a Foster Grandparent. And the “Volunteer Parade of Hats” is back by popular hand.
“Our Foster Grannies and Grandpas are wonderful individuals who not only contribute to children’s learning but also bring warmth and caring to the classroom”, stated Gena Redmon Harris, director of the Office of Resilience and Community Services. “The FGP volunteers make a positive difference and lasting impact in the lives of hundreds of Louisville youth each year.”
Foster Grandparent volunteers provide a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 40 hours of service per week and income eligibility may qualify for a minimal tax-free, hourly stipend, meal and transportation reimbursement as well as free supplemental accident and liability insurance while serving. For more information on how you can become a Louisville Metro Foster Grandparent, please call (502) 574-7307 or visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/resilience-and-community-services/foster-grandparent-program-fgp
Attorney General Andy Beshear today announced a third human trafficking arrest tied to a joint investigation by his office and Louisville Metro Police Department.
Quentin J. Burris, 26, of Louisville, was arrested yesterday in Louisville on two counts of human trafficking with victims under 18 years of age, Class B felonies.
Burris’s arrest is in connection with the search warrant served Feb. 13 at a Louisville home by Beshear’s Department of Criminal Investigations and LMPD’s Special Victim’s Unit.
The joint operation is active and ongoing. Burris is lodged at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections with a $100,000 cash bond.
Burris along with Abigail Varney and Nigel Nicholas have all been charged in connection to the investigation, which led to the discovery of two 16-year-old female victims who were being sold for sex on Backpage in January 2018.
The Backpage website is a major classified advertising website that promoted prostitution and sex trafficking, including the trafficking of children.
Since taking office, Beshear has worked to change a federal law that prevented the investigation and prosecution of companies like Backpage by state, territorial and local authorities.
In March, congress passed a law to allow these authorities to join the fight to hold accountable those who promote and facilitate child sex trafficking online.
In April, Federal law enforcement agencies seized the Backpage website.
“We are grateful Backpage, which has been used as a means of promoting the rape of children, is no longer active,” said Beshear. “We are monitoring federal actions against the website and want to ensure those responsible are held accountable.”
A core mission of Beshear’s is to bring justice to victims of rape, sexual assault and human trafficking.
Beshear has established the Kentucky Attorney General’s office as the leading state agency fighting human trafficking.
The office, along with the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations, handles human trafficking cases, and assists local law enforcement and prosecutors on human trafficking complaints.
To learn more about human trafficking and efforts to fight it, contact the Attorney General’s Office of Child Abuse and Human Trafficking Prevention and Prosecution at 502-696-5300 or visit Catholic Charities of Louisville Rescue and Restore program website at http://www.rescueandrestoreky.org. The national human trafficking hotline number is 888-373-7888.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) today, in compliance with state law and regulations, released its Request for Charter School Applications (RFCSA), opening its inaugural—and the state’s first—application period for charter schools wishing to open in the 2019-20 school year. The two-month application window runs through June 15.
Prospective applicants should review the RFCSA for application materials, technical requirements and due dates. The RFCSA and accompanying materials can be found here.
Applicants can take advantage of technical assistance opportunities offered by JCPS throughout the application period. Each application will be reviewed based on its merit against the rubric published in the RFCSA. There is no incentive in submitting an application early.
The Jefferson County RFCSA will include the Kentucky Charter School Application as well as additional questions specific to community needs in Jefferson County. In addition, the RFCSA will include more information about the form, format and information required for the completion of the application.
For more information, applicants may contact Cassie Blausey, director of school choice for JCPS, at cassiopia.blausey@jefferson.kyschools.us or (502) 485-3138.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that Louisville is ranked 3rd on the list of top U.S. mid-size cities with the most ENERGY STAR certified buildings. Louisville ranked 7th last year and this year, ranks behind only San Jose and Virginia Beach. On the list of all U.S. metropolitan areas, Louisville ranks in the top 25.
“When property owners make the choice to invest in energy efficiency, they are not only making an environmentally conscious choice but also a smart financial choice,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “I encourage all building owners to use energy efficient systems because they will see a reduction in operating costs and help make Louisville a healthier city.”
Louisville earned its ranking with 86 ENERGY STAR buildings, which includes office buildings, schools, banks, and retail and grocery stores. Energy efficiency saved Louisville ENERGY STAR building owners $6.6 million in 2017.
Since 2013, the Louisville Metro Office of Sustainability has offered free verification services from a licensed architect or engineer to validate ENERGY STAR Certification submission data for eligible buildings.
Louisville Metro Government (LMG), led by the Office of Sustainability and Office of Management & Budget, has implemented energy efficiency measures, which in 2017 saved the city $2.7 million and reduces greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing 5,300 vehicles off the road.
ENERGY STAR certified buildings use an average of 35 percent less energy and are responsible for 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than average buildings. Also, ENERGY STAR certified buildings cost $0.50 less per square foot to operate than average buildings.
LMG partners with the Louisville Energy Alliance (LEA) to promote energy efficiency and conservation efforts. The LEA hosts the annual Kilowatt Crackdown Awards, a city-wide competition that challenges building owners and operators to decrease energy use in their buildings. The Kilowatt Crackdown winners listed below were recognized last week for leadership and excellence in energy conservation.
- Norton Audubon Hospital – 2017 Kilowatt Cup Winner
- Oxmoor Center – Innovation Award
- Tully Elementary – Best K-12 School Facility
- Jefferson Community & Technical College Shelby Campus – Best College/University Facility
- First Unitarian Church – Best Church/Worship Facility
- Southeast Christian Church – Best Large Church/Worship Facility
- Norton Women’s and Children’s Hospital – Best Healthcare Facility
- Sealed Air – Best Manufacturing Facility
- The Presbyterian Center – Best Office Facility
To become ENERGY STAR certified, visit https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/facility-owners-and-managers/existi….
For more information on energy efficiency opportunities in Louisville, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/sustainability/energy-efficiency.
For the complete city rankings, visit www.energystar.gov/TopCities
As part of Mayor Greg Fischer’s Give-A-Day week of volunteer service across the city of Louisville, the mayor himself was honored today with the unveiling of a mural at Nelson Hornbeck Park in Fairdale.
The mural is a birthday present from his sister Lynn, who provided the materials for the project through a gift to the Louisville Parks Foundation. Art students from Fairdale High School and Fairdale Community School designed and painted the mural.
“This is a fabulous partnership between the Louisville Parks Foundation, Fairdale High School art department, Fairdale Community School, and Council District 13,” said Vicki Welch, who represents the Fairdale area for the Louisville Metro Council.
“I truly appreciate Lucretia Moore, District 13 resident and Ramsey Middle School art teacher, who has stepped up to lead this project. Also, Mr. Gibbs Rounsavall, art teacher, and Kathy Blevins, Director of Fairdale Community School, were instrumental in getting this project coordinated. As a birthday gift to Mayor Fischer, his sister Lynn Fischer is also a valuable partner. A huge appreciation to all!”
“I was in search of something special for Greg’s big birthday in January,” Lynn Fischer said. “I then learned the Fairdale High School art class was working on a mural for the Nelson Hornbeck pool house, and the Louisville Parks Foundation needed the paint to bring their design to life. The more I thought about the pool house mural, it seemed a perfect gift to acknowledge Greg’s love for Louisville and commitment to our City values of health and life-long learning for all of our citizens. The ability to have the students and teachers paint the mural during Give A Day week was, no pun intended, icing on the cake!”
“We were very excited to partner on this project. Coordinating community resources and people to improve our parks and facilities is what we do,” said Louisville Parks Foundation CEO, Brooke Pardue. “We hope more people reach out to us for potential future projects.”
The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) recently selected Dana Kelly, an educator at Central High School, as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction. A role model to pupils, Dana was nominated by a student for outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence in the profession.
Each year student members of NSHSS are invited to nominate the educator who has made the most significant contribution to their academic career for the Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction award. This honor recognizes exemplary educators whose passion and devotion inspire their students to grow and develop as scholars, leaders and citizens.
“Dedicated educators who exhibit a commitment to excellence deserve our highest praise and appreciation,” said NSHSS President James W. Lewis. “Through our Educators of Distinction program and the grants we provide to support professional development and enrich classroom instruction, we hope to acknowledge and encourage the vital work of the teachers, counselors and administrators who are shaping the intellect and character of our young scholars.”
The National Society of High School Scholars seeks to advance the goals and aspirations of high-achieving students through unique learning experiences, scholarships, internships, international study and peer networks. Learn more here.
