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SubscribeWith great fall weather underway, another great Old Louisville tradition takes place this weekend highlighting some of the best blues music to be heard in Metro Louisville. And no one can argue with the Cost: it’s FREE.
Councilman David James (D-6) and Four Roses Bourbon invite the community to the 2016 Garvin Gate Blues Festival to be held on Friday and Saturday, October 7th and 8th at The Gate on Garvin Place at Oak Street in historic Old Louisville.
“The Garvin Gate Blues Festival is yet another reason why Old Louisville is the place to be during the fall season. It began as a simple idea to bring a little music to a neighborhood and then grew into a wonderful community event,” says James. “I can think of no better place where you can sit back and enjoy some great music from some of the best in our area and across the country.”
Among the headliners for this year is Castro Coleman aka Mr. Sipp “The Mississippi Blues Child” who is the 2016 Best New Blues Artist Album Award Winner; along with Hector Anchondo Band and Karen Lovely.
It began in the parking lot of the Rudyard Kipling in 1988; a simple jam session that became popular to the people of the area. Over the years, the Garvin Place Association experienced grwoth with new expanded boundaries and before long became the Garvin Place Neighborhood Association.
The Association extended an invitation to those in the jam session to be an accommodating host and create a new neighborhood event. Since then, legendary blues musicians that have performed at the festival through the years.
“The Garvin Gate Blues Festival continues a great month of October for the Old Louisville Neighborhood,” says Howard Rosenberg, Chairman of the Old Louisville Neighborhood Council. “We began the month with the St. James Court Art Show, now the Festival and will finish the month with the Victorian Tales of Terror on October 13, 14, 15 and 16th. It is a great time to be in Old Louisville.”
Garvin Gate Blues Festival Schedule
Friday, October 7
Four Roses Stage on Oak St. @ Garvin Pl.
6:30-7:30 Sheryl Rouse and the Bluez Brothers
8:00-9:00 Mark Telesca
9:30-11:00 Karen Lovely
Info+ Stage on Oak St. @ Fourth St.
7:30-7:55, 9:00-9:25 Robbie Bartlett
Saturday, October 8
Four Roses Stage on Oak St. @ Garvin Pl.
2:00-2:45 Tyrone Cotton Band
3:15-4:00 The King Bees
4:30-5:15 Louisville White Lightning Curtis
5:45-6:30 daMudcats
7:00-8:00 Southern Avenue
8:30-9:30 Hector Anchondo Band
10:00-11:15 Mr. Sipp, The Mississippi Blues Child
Info+ Stage on Oak St. @ Fourth St.
2:45-3:10, 4:00-4:25 The Tarnations
5:15-5:40, 6:30-6:55, 8:00-8:25 Laurie Jane and The 45s
In addition to continuous live entertainment from two stages, the festival has an array of food and drink vendors and over 50 craft booths.
This free blues music festival is presented by Four Roses Bourbon and The Garvin Gate Neighborhood and is sponsored by Louisville Metro Councilman David James, Genscape & FMS Commercial Cleaning.
“This Festival is also one way we can help preserve the historic nature of the Garvin Gate Neighborhood in Old Louisville,” says James. “I want to thank Four Roses Bourbon for partnering with us as we keep Old Louisville unique. Help yourself to some great blues this weekend,”
Proceeds benefit the Garvin Gate and Old Louisville neighborhoods and A Recipe to End Hunger, a charitable cookbook started by WAVE3 television personality, Dawne Gee. Proceeds help schools raise the funds needed to feed every child in need.
For more details, contact Councilman James’ Office at 574-1106 or Howard Rosenberg at 502-445-4193 or visit the website at http://www.garvingatebluesfestival.com/.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) is calling on local businesses and organizations to recruit volunteers for Make the Connection, a JCPS initiative providing seventh-grade students across the district the opportunity to speak with caring community adults about the importance of planning for college and a career.
Each October, the Make the Connection program connects JCPS seventh graders with professionals who volunteer an hour of time speaking with the students at school about their career and the path that got them there. Volunteers from a range of occupations visit schools and conduct two 30-minute sessions with the students.
“Our valued community partners are a critical asset to the district and our students as we prepare them for college and for their future careers,” said JCPS Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens. “That’s why we’re asking 800 volunteers to give one hour of their time between Oct. 5 and Oct. 31 to share with our students about the importance of planning for their future. With these students at a transitional point in their lives, the Make the Connection program provides citizens a meaningful opportunity to help guide them as they look ahead to high school, explore careers and learn what it takes to work in an industry that interests them.”
To get involved, businesses and organizations can click here to find a date, time and location. Those interested in volunteering may also call the JCPS Office of Business Partnerships at 502-485-3995 for additional information.
In recognition of October as Manufacturing Month, area students this month will visit manufacturing plants, job shadow workers and get a virtual tour of GE’s Appliance Park – all efforts to expose them to potential careers in manufacturing and create a new flow of skilled employees to fill good-paying jobs.
Mayor Greg Fischer will help tout Manufacturing Month at events throughout the month, including Carrithers Middle School’s first-of-its-kind virtual tour of Appliance Park on Oct. 7, which is National Manufacturing Day.
Other students will tour Appliance Park, KCC Manufacturing and the Louisville Ford Assembly Plant this month to learn more about careers in manufacturing and to gather information about training and educational opportunities.
“Manufacturing is vital to our local and regional economies, and it’s increasingly important that we create a stronger pipeline of educated and skilled employees to meet the demand,” the Mayor said. “These students are seeing the kind of jobs available in modern, technology-driven manufacturing facilities, and seeing people working as efficient teams to make a broad range of products.”
The Louisville area has 1,600 manufacturing companies employing approximately 76,000 people and providing an $11 billion impact to the local economy. The Louisville region has added 18,000 jobs in manufacturing since the height of the recession in 2009, outpacing the national recovery rate.
The tours at GE, Ford and KCC Manufacturing were developed by KentuckianaWorks, the Kentucky Manufacturing Career Center Employer Advisory Group and Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana, and funded by a grant from the Louisville Redevelopment Authority.
“Our goal is to promote career opportunities in manufacturing,” said Mike Kopp, recruiter with KCC Manufacturing. “By spotlighting our facilities and products, we hope to educate and motivate these young people to consider a career in manufacturing. “
“This year’s manufacturing celebration allows JA to reach even more students with JA Job Shadows,” said Debra Hoffer, president of Junior Achievement. “The experience of spending time in an actual workplace is extremely impactful for students and helps them to make better decisions in regards to their future careers. Students will have exposure to jobs in manufacturing that have opportunities for advancement, education and a great pay right here in our community. “
As manufacturing rebounds in the Louisville region, the demand is increasing for workers who have greater skills and training.
KentuckianaWorks is currently offering free training through the Manufacturing Training and Employment Connection (M-TEC). It’s an intensive, two-week program where participants can earn multiple training certificates valued by local manufacturing companies. Graduates also get direct connections to employers who have jobs to fill.
New M-TEC classes are scheduled for October and November at the Kentucky Manufacturing Career Center in south Louisville. For more information, call (502) 276-9711, ext. 4001.
Schedule of Manufacturing Month activities
October 4
- Students from Bullitt County High School will tour GE Appliance Park, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 4000 Buechel Bank Road.
October 6
- Rabbit Hole Distilling, NuLu’s first distillery, will break ground on its new $12.5 million distillery, 1:30 p.m., 711 E. Jefferson Street.
October 7
- Students from Butler, Iroquois and Shawnee High Schools will tour KCC Manufacturing, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., 2716 Grassland Drive. Contact: Mike Kopp, 502-491-9881.
- More than 90 middle school classes from Greater Louisville will participate in a first-of-its-kind virtual tour of Appliance Park. Mayor Fischer will join 8th grade students from Carrithers Middle School for the virtual field trip, 9:30 a.m., 4320 Billtown Road.
October 12
- Mayor Fischer will team up with Ford and Junior Achievement to give students from Jefferson County and Central High Schools a look inside the Louisville Ford Assembly Plant through the JA Job Shadow program, 9:00 a.m., 2000 Fern Valley Road.
October 14
- Crown World, dental laboratory and manufacturer, will have its ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening celebration of its new state-of-the-art facility, 1:30 p.m., 3841 Business Park Drive.
October 15
- Mayor Fischer will join officials from BAE Systems, along with employees and their families to celebrate the 75thanniversary of the Naval Ordnance, 2 p.m., 163 Rochester Drive.
October 21
- The West Louisville Career Fair will be heldFriday, October 21 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Louisville Central Community Center, 1300 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd. Companies recruiting at this career fair will have a heavy focus on the manufacturing sector.
October 26
- Mayor Fischer will join officials from Clariant Corporation to break ground on its new manufacturing facility, 11 a.m., 1300 S. 11th
Louisville-based manufacturers and those participating in events are encouraged to join in Manufacturing Month by using #LouMFG on social media.
To learn more about Louisville’s robust manufacturing sector, visit
In celebration of National Farmers Market Week, leaders of Louisville’s local food movement today launched the Double Dollars program at four Louisville farmers’ markets.
The program matches SNAP customers’ spending, dollar for dollar, up to $20, and aims to make shopping at farmers’ market more affordable for residents receiving government assistance. For example, if a resident uses a SNAP card to make a $10 purchase, the program will match that $10, giving the resident a new total of $20 to spend at the farmers’ market.
“Local food is for everyone, regardless of who you are, where you live, or how much money you make,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “I’m proud to have Double Dollars in our community and look forward to extending the program to additional farmers’ markets in our area.”
The Double Dollars program is funded by the Community Farm Alliance and is currently available at these farmers’ markets: Bardstown Road, Gray Street, Phoenix Hill and the newly opened South Pointe farmers’ market.
Using the program is simple. First, visit one of the four participating markets. Next, swipe the SNAP card for any dollar amount and receive wooden tokens, which will be matched dollar for dollar for the amount spent. Lastly, purchase healthy, locally grown, ready-to-eat items. Households can use Double Dollars to buy food intended to be prepared and eaten at home, such as breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables, honeys and jams, and meat and poultry.
“Making fresh, local produce affordable for those who are on a very limited budget pays back with a healthier community and a better quality of life for residents,” said Councilwoman Marianne Butler, District 15.
In Louisville, there are more than two dozen farmers’ markets operating during various times and days of the week. Continue reading
Councilman Kevin Kramer of District 11 and Councilman Stuart Benson of District 20 will be holding a town hall meeting tonight at the Jeffersontown Fire Department (10540 Watterson Trail). The meeting will start at 6:30 PM.
The councilmen will be present as well as officials for other local government agencies to answer any questions. The meeting will include an update on the Urton Lane Project.
For more information, contact the office of Councilman Stuart Benson at 574-1120.
After a study completed by the Office of Planning and Design Services, a draft of regulations regarding methane plants within the county has been given the Louisville Metro Council.
The methane plants are bio-digester. A bio-digester is defined as a renewable energy system that uses controlled decomposition of biodegradable materials (e.g. outdated food from local groceries and yard waste) in oxygen-deprived environments using naturally occurring bacteria to convert the biodegradable materials into methane-rich biogas and a waste product, which is used as a fertilizer.
According to the proposed regulations, any plant will need to be a minimum of 1,320 feet away from a residential property, school, religious building, park, community center, hospital, nursing home, or assisted living facility and at least 50 feet from a public right-of-way. Vehicles delivering feedstock, the biodegradable materials, shall not unload their cargo until they are fully enclosed in the receiving building and feedstock can only be stored in a fully enclosed building. All bio-digesters must also comply with noise ordinances, all local, state and federal laws regarding utility substations, safety, maintenance, health, and so on. Plants must also submit an emergency response plan and strategies for limiting odor that is generated from the decomposition. Natural methane is an odorless gas and it is produced in a variety of places throughout the world, including swamps and marsh lands.
There are currently three bio-digesters in the county: two of which are operated about Metropolitan Sewer District and the third is a private company. Any new proposed plants would need to seek a conditional use permit in industrial zones and the permit grants the applicant the ability to hold a public hearing. Conditional use permit holders must meet all requirements set forth in the regulations, and the Board of Zoning Adjustment must determine that there will be no adverse effects to neighboring properties before the permit is issued. However, plants that are strictly for agricultural use are exempt from zoning requirements, noise ordinances, odor mitigation, and emergency response plans per state law. A map of lands that are eligible for use is available on the City’s website.
The regulations are open for public comment, and if you missed one of the six meetings already, the final four meetings are coming up quick:
- July 27th, 6 – 8 PM – Newburg Library: 4800 Exeter Ave,
- July 27th, 6 – 8 PM- Central Government Center: 7201 Outer Loop
- July 28, 9 AM- Old Jail Auditorium: 514 W. Liberty St
- August 1, 6 PM – Old Jail Auditorium: 514 W Liberty St
Written comments can be submitted to Brian Mabry via Brian.Mabry@louisvilleky.gov. All comments must be received by 12 PM on August 1st to considered during the evening public hearing.
Last night, Louisville mayor Greg Fischer proposed the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The overall budget is $822 million, which reflects an increase from last year due to an improving local economy. The city says they are anticipating a 4%, $20 million, increase in revenue this year.
58% of the budget is dedicated to public safety and related agencies. This approximately $475 million will be used to hire new firefighters and new metro police officers. Some will go to replacing city vehicles, such as police cars, ambulances and snow plows. $300,000 will be used to add more public cameras to the city and $640,000 will used to pay metro police officers working in areas where crime is higher overtime.
$20 million will be used to repave streets and roads in the city with no word at this time on which roads will be improved. There is also $500,000 set aside to increase the number of bike lanes throughout the city. $100,000 will be used to redesign parts of Broadway and $1 million will be used to purchase vacant and abandoned properties.
Other points of interest are $4 million which will be used for repairs at Slugger Field, $1 million for repairs at the Louisville Zoo, a 2% raise for non-union city employees and $6.1 million to upgrade computers and software for the city government.
The entire budget proposal can be viewed on the City of Louisville website. Anyone wishing to comment on the budget will have the opportunity on Wednesday, June 1st at 5:00 PM. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers, which are located at 601 West Jefferson Street. Sign-ups will begin at 4:00 PM on the third floor of City Hall. Speakers will be given 3 minutes to make comments and may submit a written statement as well. For more information on the meeting, you can contact Tony Hyatt at 502-574-4137 or Stephen Haag at 502-574-1204.
