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The 81st year of the historic Iroquois Amphitheater begins Sunday, April 7 with Kentucky Shakespeare’s touring production of Macbeth, and includes national musical acts, local theatre arts productions, festivals, and Metro Council-sponsored movie nights.
“The Amphitheater is a true local treasure and one of the most beautiful facilities in the Louisville area to catch a show,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “Iroquois Park presents a wonderful backdrop, and as always, the lineup this year looks fantastic.”
Production Simple, AC Entertainment and Louisville Public Media are sponsoring several shows; two of which – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit with Sun Volt April 20, and Hozier on June 13 – have already sold out. For the full schedule of concerts, visit iroquoisamphitheater.com.
Local arts and cultural programming, including the Macbeth production, will also be featured. The Louisville Youth Orchestra will perform on Sunday, April 28 as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival, and the Amphitheater will also host the Americana World Community Center Festival on Saturday, June 1.
Free family-friendly movies at the Amphitheater begin Friday, May 24 with the film “Skyscraper” and conclude on Friday, August 16 with “Instant Family.” Those films are sponsored by council members Kevin Triplett, Rick Blackwell, Nicole George and David Yates.
Later in the year, the area surrounding the Amphitheater will host the Louisville Jack O’Lantern Spectacular for the 7th year from October 8 – November 3. The Spectacular is the major fundraiser for the Louisville Parks Foundation, the non-profit entity supporting Louisville’s public parks.
Additionally, the Amphitheater is now contracted with Southern Hospitality (SoHo) for food and beverage concessions. SoHo will be providing an expanded menu of food and beverage options and is affiliated with Danny Wimmer Presents, the independent musical production company responsible for local music festivals Louder Than Life, Bourbon And Beyond and Hometown Rising.
Olmsted Parks Conservancy has received a $49,949 grant from the PNC Foundation to build a new PNC Music Garden in Shelby Park.
Shelby Park is a sixteen-acre park designed by the Olmsted Firm in 1907. It was named for Kentucky’s first governor, Isaac Shelby, and is the only park in Louisville designed in conjunction with a Carnegie library. Today, the park offers many amenities including two playgrounds, a splash pad, basketball and tennis courts, walking paths, and an iconic bandstand. The Shelby Park Neighborhood Association is very active in the well-being of this historic green space.
The new PNC Music Garden, which will open in April 2019, will include ten outdoor musical instruments. The instruments will line both sides of a fully accessible pathway that connects the two existing playgrounds, for older and younger children respectively. This addition will complement programming offered by the Academy of Music Production Education and Development (AMPED), which is run out of the Shelby Park Community Center. AMPED is a free youth music program that provides a safe environment for young minds to explore their creativity through the power of music.
“The PNC Music Garden at Shelby Park will not only connect the existing play spaces with a fully accessible engaging feature, but will also deepen the connection between the neighbors and their park,” said Layla George, Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s president and CEO. “The Shelby Park neighborhood exemplifies the spirit of inclusivity and having an inclusive play space feels right at home here. We are grateful for the continued partnership with the PNC Foundation and their support which made this project possible.”
The new space is funded by the PNC Foundation in support of PNC Grow Up Great®, a bilingual $350 million, multi-year initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life.
“We look forward to working with the Shelby Park community to provide enriching opportunities for preschoolers to explore and discover the world around them,” said Chuck Denny, PNC regional president for Louisville.
The PNC Music Garden was designed by Chris Fry from Play Pros of Kentucky and Indiana formerly Countryside Play Structures. An exclusive Landscape Structures dealer and authorized installer. Play Pros dedicates a majority of their time and efforts to inclusive play.
“We believe every child has a right to build priceless memories of childhood through play,” said Fry.
An official ribbon cutting will be held at Shelby Park on Tuesday, April 2 at 10:00AM.
Historic Locust Grove, a National Historic Landmark established c. 1792, is planning a year of programming centering on The Age of Hamilton, the period of time from c. 1770- 1805 that encompasses the American Revolution and the early years of American independence.
Keyed to the arrival in June 2019 of Hamilton: An American Musical, at the Kentucky Center for the Arts, Locust Grove will look at the personalities and events of the era of the American Revolution through the Early National period in depth. Washington, Jefferson, Burr, and Hamilton all were part of the world of William Croghan and George Rogers Clark.
The story of Locust Grove finds its roots in the American Revolution, through the military service of Major William Croghan, who established and lived at Locust Grove from 1792-1822, and his brother-in-law, General George Rogers Clark, who founded Louisville in 1778 and led the Illinois Campaign that brought the western territories under the control of American forces at the same time George Washington commanded the Continental Army in the east. Croghan fought with the Continental Army and was a participant in the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, and Germantown. He wintered with Continental forces at Valley Forge and witnessed the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781. Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, the Marquis de Lafayette were all part of the world of both Croghan and Clark.
“The experiences of the people of the Revolutionary era presented in Hamilton are mirrored in the stories of the people of Locust Grove and early Louisville,” says Carol Ely, Executive Director of Locust Grove. “It’s exciting to have the chance to explore the personalities and ideas of the era in fresh new ways.”
Locust Grove kicks off The Age of Hamilton this month with A Winter’s Ball, just in time for Valentine’s Day. This historical ball will be held on Saturday, February 9 from 7:00 – 10:00 pm, and will feature live music and period dancing. Co-sponsored by The Jane Austen Society of North America—Greater Louisville Region, guests will be asked to wear historical dress from their favorite time period as we capture the atmosphere of the ball where Alexander Hamilton met his bride, Eliza Schuyler in 1780.
Guests should look for a trio of Punch with the President evenings in March, April and May focusing on the lives and libations of presidents George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. Led by visiting historians, including Dr. Matthew Costello of The White House Historical Association, Gwynne Tuell Potts, and historical interpreter Peyton Dixon, these evening programs find connections between the first three presidents, early American history, and Locust Grove, along with period drinks. Locust Grove’s Afternoon Lecture Series, held on the first Wednesday of each month, will focus on revolutionary topics such as African Americans in the Revolution and dueling in Early Kentucky. A subsequent program on June 6, Hamilton: How the Musical Remixes American History, presented by Dr. Richard Bell, will explore the historical origins of the blockbuster musical.
This season of programming at Locust Grove also engages the site’s educational mission, with a professional development opportunity for teachers on February 16, and a student competition where students will perform using historical documents as their inspiration. Thanks to the generosity of the Louisville Theatrical Association/PNC Broadway in Louisville, participants in these programs will have the opportunity to win tickets to see Hamilton when it arrives in Louisville. Members of the public will also have the chance to win tickets for the show.
Finally, Locust Grove’s Age of Hamilton will culminate with The Hamilton Festival on June 16, 2019. This celebration of the Revolution will feature student performances of original pieces, a re-creation of the Hamilton-Burr Duel, a sing-a-long, and presentation on clothing of the period, Aaron Burr’s time in Louisville, and more.
According to Brian Cushing, Locust Grove’s program director, “The site has explored a lot of exciting directions over the years but the contributions to the United States of America by the Revolutionary War veterans connected with Locust Grove, especially George Rogers Clark, remains the cornerstone of our story. Now that Hamilton is shining a spotlight on that era, we’re able to draw our visitors, into the core of our mission of the exploration of history.”
A full calendar of The Age of Hamilton events and more information can be found at www.locustgrove.org/revolution.
Mayor Greg Fischer today outlined specific and “devastating” potential cuts to city services and staff that would, without new revenue, be necessary to cover an expected $65 million budget gap over the next four years, caused by a state-mandated pension increase that grows every year through FY23.
The potential cuts range from staffing reductions in nearly every Louisville Metro Government (LMG) department, including police, fire and ambulance services, as well as closing library branches, fire stations, health clinics, community centers, pools and city golf courses.
Other potential cuts faced by the city without new revenue include eliminating all Metro funding for agencies like Brightside and the Belle of Louisville, making the Louisville Zoo independently operated, turning Youth Detention Services back over to the state, and eliminating all Neighborhood Development Funds allocated by Metro Council and External Agency Funds allocated to local nonprofits for arts, and social and community services.
That all amounts to 317 layoffs in FY20 alone.
“This list of cuts is long, and the impact would be devastating. But we’re required to balance our budget, and without a major source of new revenue, this is what it will take to fill the gap created by the Frankfort-mandated pension obligation,” Mayor Fischer said.
LMG Chief Equity Officer Kellie Watson noted the equity impact of the potential cuts.
“We are working to apply an equity lens to all decisions. Government tends to step in where the private sector falls short. Therefore, it is inevitable that cutting any Louisville Metro Government services will disproportionately impact residents and families who are struggling,” she said.
Louisville Metro is an efficient operation. Citing the city’s strong economy, sound management and budgetary flexibility, the nation’s top credit rating services have continually rated LMG in the top quartile of municipalities, and the city is seeing revenue growth, though it is dwarfed by the increased pension obligation. LMG also has tightened its belt in other ways, including implementing a slow-down in hiring, limiting travel and further reducing expenditures in technology, equipment and office supplies.
The last major tax initiative in the city dates to 1974, when then-Mayor Harvey Sloane spearheaded a referendum to increase the occupational tax to help pay for mass transit, via TARC. The city last increased its insurance premium tax decades ago, from 2.5 percent to the current 5 percent.
Mayor Fischer stressed today that he and his team are working with Metro Council on other options to avoid the cuts, and plan to release information on that early next week.
In the meantime, the Mayor said, he wants to be sure the community understands the severity of the situation.
“While we’ve been discussing this publicly for over a year, there are some people who still don’t seem to realize the seriousness of the situation,” the Mayor said. “I’m sharing this list of specific potential cuts now so that everyone can understand the deep pain they would cause. And if you, like me, find these cuts unacceptable, I urge you to contact your Council member and share your view. My goal is to resolve this situation by mid- to late March.”
“It’s important to keep in mind that this pension situation is not something that Metro Council or I created,” the Mayor said, noting that the city has paid 100 percent of its annual pension bill every year. “It’s a challenge created by Frankfort’s years of inaction, exacerbated by the 2017 pension formula change.”
There are 8 separate Kentucky pension systems. Daniel Frockt, the city’s CFO, said the one that includes Louisville Metro is in relatively strong financial shape. However, the state mandates what the city must pay in.
For more than a year, the Mayor and his team have said that under that change, the city’s pension obligation is expected to grow to a 12 percent increase each year through FY23. That amounts to $86 million in FY19, up from $77 million in FY18, and is expected to grow to $97 million in FY20, then to $136 million in FY23.
The budget situation is especially difficult in the coming FY20, because in addition to the $10 million added to the city’s pension bill for FY19 year and another $10 million for FY20, the city faces a $15 million gap stemming from increased healthcare costs, a structural deficit created in FY19 and lower-than-projected revenues in the current fiscal year, Frockt said.
The city’s FY19 budget has $621 million general fund revenues – the resources that are impacted by the potential service cuts.
Over the past several months, Mayor Fischer, Frockt and other city leaders have been talking with Council members and other stakeholders about cuts that would be necessary without a new revenue stream.
“Many of the Council members we’ve talked with understand the difficult situation we’re in, and the need to make bold moves to ensure that the momentum we’ve built together, as a city, is not derailed by this setback” the Mayor said. “I appreciate that partnership and I look forward to announcing a proposed resolution in the coming days to avoid these devastating cuts.”
“It would be foolish and short-sighted to drastically cut the services and people who got us here,” he added, “especially as many of our peer competitor cities are investing even further in their communities.”
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) recently awarded a contract for rehabilitation of the Bernheim Bridge in Cherokee Park in Louisville. This bridge, also known as Bridge No. 8, crosses the Middle Fork of Beargrass Creek.
This project includes waterproofing and repairing the concrete arch, resetting the railings, masonry repairs on the spandrel walls and railings and new asphalt pavement on the crossing.
KYTC is coordinating the bridge repairs with Louisville Parks and Recreation and Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
Construction is scheduled to begin this week. The bridge crossing via Beargrass Road from Park Boundary Road and Alta Vista Road will be inaccessible through the duration of the project. The Bernheim Bridge will reopen to traffic in late summer.
Several popular nearby park features, including Big Rock pavilion, parking and playground area, will be easily accessible during the construction period. A detour map can be viewed below.
Louisville Paving Company was awarded the $1.1 million construction contract. Marr Construction will be the subcontractor for the masonry rehabilitation of the historic bridge. Marr has worked on several other bridge restoration projects in Cherokee Park.
The Bernheim Bridge dates to 1928 and was named for Bernhard and Rosa Bernheim, who were members of the notable Bernheim family that includes Isaac Wolfe Bernheim, who founded the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest south of Louisville.
Another bridge in Cherokee Park on the Scenic Loop is scheduled for repairs later this year. These bridges are part of KYTC’s Bridging Kentucky program. Bridging Kentucky includes more than 1,000 state, county, and municipal structures that are rated in poor condition or have restricted weight limits. More than 70 of the bridges on the list are currently closed to traffic.
Each bridge will be addressed in the next six years, either replaced with a new structure designed to last at least 75 years or rehabilitated to extend its life by at least 30 years. Those with restricted weight limits will reopen to school buses, emergency vehicles, commercial trucks, as well as passenger vehicles.
The date and duration of this work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur. Visit goky.ky.gov for the latest in traffic and travel information in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Traffic information for the District 5 counties is also available at facebook.com/KYTCDistrict5 and twitter.com/KYTCDistrict5.
The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness is offering free radon test kits while the supply lasts. You can request a kit by visitng this link or by calling 574-6650.
Radon is a gas that you cannot smell, taste or see. It forms naturally when uranium, radium and thorium break down in rocks, soil and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that comes in through cracks and gaps in homes and other buildings. Radon can cause lung cancer through prolonged exposure. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, behind smoking, and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, causing between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
The entire state of Kentucky is at high risk for radon exposure with about 40 percent of homes estimated to have unsafe levels. The only way to know if radon exists at dangerous levels in your home is to test for it.
“People can’t see or smell radon so they may not know that it can exist at dangerous levels in their homes and be exposing them to deadly health effects,” said Dr. Sarah Moyer, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness and the city’s chief health strategist. “We encourage people to take advantage of the free test kits to test their homes for radon.”
The lung cancer risk factors of tobacco smoke and radon are related. More radon-related lung cancers occur in individuals with a history of exposure to tobacco smoke. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, with the highest mortality rate of any cancer. Kentucky has the highest incidence rate of lung cancer in the nation with a rate of 93.4 per 100,000 compared to the national average of 59.4. According to the recently released 2017 Health Equity Report, cancer is the leading cause of death in Louisville.
The death rate from lung cancer in Kentucky is 69.5 per 100,000 compared to the national average of 43.4. In Louisville our lung cancer incidence and mortality rates are also well above the national average. According to the Kentucky Cancer Registry the incidence rate of lung cancer in Louisville is 94.8 per 100,000 compared to 59.4 nationally. The death rate is 61.7 compared to 43.4 nationally.
Here are a few tips to help prevent radon in your home:
- Stop smoking and discourage smoking in your home.
- Smoking significantly increases the risk of lung cancer from radon.
- Second hand smoking in the home is also a leading cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
- Increase air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air.
- Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk, or other materials designed for this purpose.
- Seek a qualified contractor to help remove the radon from your home.
Mitigation costs generally range from $1,200 to $2,500 depending on the size and foundation of the home. Consult the Kentucky Association of Radon Professionals or the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists National Radon Proficiency Program to locate approved contractors near you.
Neighborhood Place partners provide several opportunities to benefit your health including a Healthy Living Club, an educational baby shower, a Freedom from Smoking Class and much more. To learn more about these offerings, please refer to the list below.
Feb 4, 11 and 21, Passport Health Care Community Engagement at two locations
Passport members are invited to join 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.
- Feb. 4 and 11, at First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Rd (door #16) side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 1 – 3 p.m. Call (502) 212-6677 to leave a message telling us that you want to attend.
- Feb 21 at South Jefferson Neighborhood Place, 1000 Neighborhood Place, Fairdale, 2 -3 p.m. Call 1-800-578-0603, ext. 8428 to sign up.
Feb. 7, The Center for Women and Families Outreach at First Neighborhood Place, 1- 5 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd (door #24) side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School. For more information, contact Nayelyi Sanchez, Domestic Violence Advocate at (502) 581-7270. Staff with the Center for Women and Families will be on-hand to give an overview of their services which include trauma-informed advocacy and support for qualified families and individuals with supportive services; emergency shelter; sexual assault services; housing; children’s services and more.
Feb 7, Sodexo Hiring Opportunities at First Neighborhood Place, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Road (T.J. Middle School in the W.D. Bruce Building – door #24). Call 313-4700 for more information. 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.
Feb. 12, Free Energy Management Workshops at First Neighborhood Place, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd. Call 313-4728 or 313-4700 for reservations. Project Warm’s free workshops help families take control of their energy usage and learn “do-it-yourself” energy-saving tips. Free supplies will be distributed at the end of the workshop such as clear plastic/tape for windows, caulk to seal openings around windows and sealing foam. Reservations needed to reserve materials
Feb. 12, 19 and 26, Healthy Living Club at South Jefferson Neighborhood Place, 1 – 2 p.m.
Located at 1000 Neighborhood Place. Call 363-1483 for more information. Classes are open to anyone interested in gaining more knowledge to live a better and more fulfilling life. This month’s workshops beginning Feb. 12th are focused on finances including these topics: “Banking”, “How to Use Credit”, “Scams You May Encounter”, and “Financial Abuse- Are You A Victim”. Guest Speakers are Joseph Cecil with Bank on Louisville and Sandra Pace with the U.S. Armed Forces.
Feb. 14 and 20, A Healthy Journey for Two Educational Baby Shower at two locations
For more information, contact Mendy Mason at 502-341-5400. A Healthy Journey for Two is an educational baby shower open to any expectant mothers. The class will include a range of information and resources, as well as free baby items, gift cards, prizes, and snacks. Hosted by Seven Counties and KIDSNow. Fathers are welcome but must be registered.
- Feb. 14 at First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Rd. 1 – 3 p.m.
- Feb. 20 at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 3610 Bohne Ave., 1- 3 p.m.
Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 20, Freedom from Smoking Class at South Jefferson Neighborhood Place, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Located at 1000 Neighborhood Place. Call 772-8588 for more information or to sign up for the class. This seven-week program features a step-by-step plan for quitting smoking and each session is designed to help smokers gain control over the behavior. Participants are eligible to receive some free nicotine patches for attending the classes.