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Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilwoman Cindi Fowler is inviting residents of District 14 to take part in her next Community Forum on Tuesday, March 20th as a way of bringing an issue or concern to her attention and the attention of Metro Government.
“These forums are part of my goal to always stay in touch with the people of District 14,” says Fowler. “I want to make sure everyone knows the latest update on repaving of Dixie Highway and other ongoing programs that affect this area.”
The next “Fowler Forum Community Meeting” will be held at Valley High School’s Conrad Bachmann Auditorium, 10200 Dixie Highway, beginning at 6:30pm.
Representatives from LMPD, Code Enforcement, MSD, and two representatives of Louisville Public Works and Assets will be in attendance to talk about Dixie Highway and other issues.
The Councilwoman says if the public has other issues of concern, this is a way to let her know how you feel about an issue.
For more information about the Fowler Forum, contact Councilwoman Fowler’s office at 574-1114.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilwoman Madonna Flood (D-24) announces the 2018 ‘Doing Our Part from the Heart” Campaign will be extended through April as a way to help the brave service men and women who are serving their country in some of the most dangerous spots in the world.
“I am very pleased with the response from the community with the collections that have been made so far,” says Flood who kicked off this year’s effort on February 14th. “We have been very fortunate that the weather has worked in our favor this year. We still would like to send as much as we can to make life a little easier for our troops.”
The Councilwoman says the extra time will allow for the community to collect more items to be sent off to those in the military. The new deadline is April 14th.
Joining Flood as sponsors of the 2018 campaign are the Okolona Business Association, the Okolona Fire Department, Republic Bank, Scheller’s Fitness and Cycling, PARC and Jackson-Hewitt Tax Service and Wesley Manor. The campaign runs through the end of March.
If you cannot donate items and wish to make cash contributions to help cover the cost of shipping, Republic Bank continues its partnership by setting up an account to accept all monetary donations to cover postage for the items going overseas. Every package cost $17.40 to send. Make sure to note on the check “From the Heart” account at these locations:
- Outer Loop 4808 Outer Loop, 40219
Shepherdsville 438 Hwy 44, Shepherdsville 40165
Corporate 601 W Market St, 40202
Brownsboro Rd 4921 Brownsboro Rd, 40222
J-Town 3811 Ruckreigel Pkwy, 40299
Dixie 5250 Dixie Hwy, 40216
Here is a list of items needed that can be dropped off at a “Doing Our Part” location:
- Chewing Gum/Mints/Lifesavers/other candies that will not melt
- Deodorant
- Lotion
- Foot Powder
- Razors
- Body Wash
- Band-Aids
- Q-Tips
- Bug Repellant with DEET
- Eye Drops
- Hand Sanitizer
- Wet Ones
- Kool-aide or Gatorade individual packs
- Peanut Butter
- Individual snacks, chips, nuts, pretzels
- Neosporin
- Sun Block/After Sun lotion
- Nasal Spray
- Tylenol/Pain Relievers
Here are the drop-off locations for the 2018 Doing Our Part from the Heart Campaign:
- Republic Bank “From the Heart Account” at all Republic Banks
- Okolona Fire Department 8501 Preston Highway, Louisville
- Scheller’s Fitness & Cycling
- 8323 Preston Highway, Louisville
- 11520 Shelbyville Road, Louisville
- 1000 Veterans Parkway, Clarksville
- Jackson-Hewitt All Locations in Louisville and Southern Indiana
- Wesley Manor 5012 East Manslick Road
- City Hall 601 West Jefferson, Louisville
For more information about the 2018 “Doing Our Part from the Heart” Campaign, contact Councilwoman Flood’s office at 574-1124. You can visit the Councilwoman’s webpage at http://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-24 or go to “Doing our Part From the Heart” on Facebook.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilman Bill Hollander is inviting District 9 residents to come out to the bi-monthly “Meet with Bill” meeting on Wednesday, March 21st.
“We are always happy to hear from constituents. To make those meetings more convenient, we’ll be holding office hours at various places around the district in addition to our regular, evening D9 Community Conversations,” says Hollander.
“Meet with Bill” is set for the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center, 201 Reservoir Avenue, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. in the party room.
“Please stop by with any questions or concerns. It is an informal way of telling me what’s on your mind,” says Hollander.
For more information about “Meet with Bill” or any other issue in the district, call 574-1109 or email kyle.ethridge@louisvilleky.gov
Mayor Greg Fischer joined Public Health Director and Chief Health Strategist Dr. Sarah Moyer, community members and officials from agencies and organizations across the city to release Coming Together for Hope, Healing and Recovery, a report and two-year action plan to address substance use and misuse in Louisville.
Coming Together for Hope, Healing and Recovery includes a science-based analysis of the use of illegal drugs, tobacco and alcohol in Louisville and ways to accelerate the city’s fight against drug abuse. Work on the two-year action plan began last July when the Department of Public Health and Wellness convened a wide-ranging group that included people in recovery, leaders of nonprofits, law enforcement, health care institutions, experts of social work, school officials, concerned parents and scholars. Over the following months, work groups studied the problem, examined initiatives already in place in Louisville and in other cities, and created the two-year plan.
“America is facing one of the most serious drug epidemics in history, with opioid use taking a devastating toll,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “We’re proud of the efforts we’ve taken to fight it thus far, but we know we have to do more. Working together and implementing these recommendations will put us on a stronger path toward hope, healing and recovery.”
The report makes specific evidence-based recommendations to be implemented over the next two years. It proposes new initiatives and advocates for expanding and strengthening programs already in place that are proving to be effective. They include:
- Enacting new policies to establish safe and reliable sober living residences, increasing quality recovery options.
- Expanding diversion from jails and emergency rooms though programs like the Centerstone Living Room Project.
- Increasing harm reduction education and opioid overdose prevention by expanding syringe access and ensuring greater access to naloxone.
- Reducing stigma by promoting public understanding of substance use disorder as a chronic illness and publicizing access to crisis support.
- Expanding recovery support by advocating for more affordable record expungement to aid those in recovery.
- Increasing peer support in emergency rooms to better connect patients to treatment.
- Connecting employers with treatment providers to increase job placement opportunities for those working to overcome substance use.
- Developing quality metrics to measure effectiveness of treatment providers.
- Reducing youth substance use by establishing a community-wide coalition to prevent substance use, integrating resilience building, trauma-informed care and Adverse Childhood Experiences into initiatives for young people.
“Finding solutions to the problem of substance use disorder and creating a more resilient community requires the involvement of all of us,” said Dr. Moyer. “Specific organizations and individuals across the community have stepped up to champion each of the plan’s goals. This greatly increases our chances for success and making Louisville a city where everyone and every community can thrive.”
Findings of the report also include a picture of substance use in the area:
- Overdose deaths in Louisville have increased every year since 2011. In 2016, the age-adjusted drug overdose death rate in Louisville was more than double what it was in 2011.
- Drug misuse is widespread across Louisville. In 2016, Metro Emergency Medical Services (EMS) performed overdose runs in every single Metro Louisville ZIP Code, without exception. From 2011 – 2016, there were overdose deaths in nearly every Louisville ZIP Code.
- Overdose deaths caused by synthetic opioid analgesics, such as fentanyl, have increased 10 times from 2012 to 2016, and overdose deaths caused by heroin have increased 7 times from 2011 to 2016.
- While the use of illicit drugs garners significant media attention and community concern, tobacco and alcohol use remain far more pervasive throughout Louisville and affect many more people.
- The age-adjusted alcohol-induced death rates in Louisville Metro are consistently higher than state and national rates.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Youth Tobacco Survey, the use of e-cigarettes among young people has surpassed the use of conventional cigarettes since 2011.
To see the entire report go to louisville.ky.gov
“Stories of Ali,” a brand new lecture program of the Muhammad Ali Center will bring its Oral History Project to life through a series of live recorded programs. Each event will focus on a specific topic of Muhammad’s life, featuring two or three persons knowledgeable about the Muhammad Ali-specific theme to participate in a public oral history forum facilitated by the Center’s Collections Department.
The inaugural program, “Ali and the Nation”, will be on Friday, March 30th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Ali Center. It is free and open to the public.
“Stories of Ali: Ali and the Nation” will present two approaches and understandings of the Nation of Islam: to explore Ali’s early religious conversion and his choice to devote much of his life to his new faith. The two interviewees are:
Dr. Brandon McCormack, professor of Pan-African Studies at the University of Louisville, will offer an educational and historical perspective.
Donald Lassere, president and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center, grew up on the South Side of Chicago and has memories of the Nation of Islam selling bean pies and serving as protectors. Through his role at the Center, Donald will offer a unique perspective of the Louisville Lip. His stories will be of a personal nature, based on memories, and professional knowledge.
The Muhammad Ali Center’s Oral History Project is an ongoing initiative created to utilize the practice of oral history to document the life and legacy of Muhammad Ali. More information about the Project is available here.
The Democratic Leadership of the Louisville Metro Council is calling on the people of Metro Louisville to contact lawmakers in Frankfort and let them know the importance of passing Senate Bill 66.
The proposed legislation deals with pension funding obligations by local city and county governments. Failure to pass the bill could have devastating effects for Metro Louisville.
The Leadership has released the following statement:
“There are less than two weeks left in the current legislative session in Frankfort. As this session draws to a close, there is word that SB66 may not be called for a vote.
There is great debate on how to fund the state’s obligations to the pension system for the coming years. Every year Kentucky’s cities and counties meet their financial pension obligations to their employees. Now these local governments are faced with a major financial crisis if SB 66 is not passed.
Louisville Metro Government is looking at a $38 million dollar increase in pension funding on top of the $76 million it already annually pays. If Louisville is forced to pay this increase, there could be devastating cuts in services covering all areas of government including public safety and laying off employees.
SB 66 would allow local governments to phase in increases up to 12% per year over a period of ten years. It is a realistic approach. It would allow Metro Louisville to work within its means to provide government services while keeping its commitment to our employees.
The time has come for the people of Louisville to let Frankfort know they support giving city and county governments the leeway needed to continue pension obligations by passing SB 66.
This is not an issue that should be dealt with in a special session. Right now, the Mayor and the Metro Council are putting together the Fiscal Year 2018 to 2019 Operating and Capital Budgets. A special session on SB66 is simply kicking the can down the road, while Metro Louisville and other cities are put in limbo.
Lawmakers should realize that if SB 66 is not passed, the proposed pension costs along with cuts in the budget proposed by Governor Bevin will have a major negative impact on the people of Metro Louisville. It will increase a possible budget deficit from $38 to $50 million.
Louisville is the chief economic engine that drives the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Now is not the time to stop our progress. The people of Louisville are asking the General Assembly to do what is right.”
Thirteen seniors from Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) have been awarded the 2018 Vogt Educational & Leadership Scholarship, which recognizes the students for their academic achievements and leadership in and out of the classroom. The students will be celebrated for their accomplishments during the annual awards luncheon, being held at noon on Monday, March 19 at The Olmsted, 3701 Frankfort Ave.
Prior to his death in 1999, Henry V. Heuser Sr. established the endowed scholarship fund at the Community Foundation of Louisville to provide $10,000 college scholarships annually to remarkable JCPS high school seniors. This special award honors exceptional students throughout Jefferson County who have demonstrated high standards of scholarship, leadership, character and citizenship. Including this year, more than $2.9 million has been awarded to 291 students.
Henry V. Heuser Jr. will host the annual awards luncheon to present the scholarships. He will be joined by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio, JCPS principals, more than 100 business and community leaders, and several university and college presidents from the region who have contributed additional scholarship incentives if the awardees attend their colleges.
Student winners are selected based on SAT/ACT scores and cumulative GPAs, as well as demonstrated community and campus leadership, participation in extracurricular activities, and recommendations from principals and community leaders.
The 2018 Vogt Educational & Leadership Scholarship recipients are:
- Franklin Alongi, Atherton High School
- Brian Knapp, Ballard High School
- Randi House, Butler Traditional High School
- Nora Alshimary, Brown School
- Madison Sneve, DuPont Manual High School
- Jovita Devasia, Eastern High School
- Patrick Ryan, Fern Creek High School
- David Do, Fairdale High School
- Rachel Roberts, Jeffersontown High School
- Kaylee Coleman, Louisville Male High School
- Madison Shely, Marion C. Moore School
- Ryan Finley, Southern High School
- Oliver Kratholm, Waggener High School