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CycLOUvia, the popular event showcasing alternative transportation, is returning to Bardstown Road for the fifth time on Sunday, October 16, Mayor Greg Fischer announced. Additionally, to honor Councilman Tom Owen, a lifelong advocate for bicycles and pedestrians in our community, the CycLOUvia event on Bardstown Road will now be known as The Tom Owen CycLOUvia in the Highlands.
Bardstown Road from Douglass Boulevard to Broadway will be closed to vehicular traffic from 2-6 p.m. Police will facilitate a motor crossing at Grinstead Drive and Eastern Parkway. Many businesses along the corridor will be open and engaging the street with specials events.
“CycLOUvia is a fantastic, community gathering event that breaks the norm of cars on the street,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “While you are at CycLOUvia enjoying the road on your bicycles, be sure to stop and support our local businesses.”
This event will include the first CycLOUvia kids parade. Kids of all ages can ride with their bikes, scooters and skateboards for a parade at 2:30 pm from Douglass Boulevard to the Louisville Fire Station at Bardstown Road and Maryland Avenue. Tom Owen will serve as grand marshal of the parade. Following the parade, LMPD will be at the fire station offering kids IDs and The Diaper Fairy Cottage (1811 Bardstown Road) will have a bubble bash and sidewalk chalk for the kids. Park Community Credit Union will be stationed at Douglass Boulevard handing out water.
CycLOUvia is designed to encourage more communities to close streets to cars and open them to people. The return to the Highlands marks the tenth CycLOUvia event and fifth on Bardstown Road. Previous events have been held on Frankfort Avenue, West Broadway and in Three Points (Germantown, Schnitzelburg and Shelby Park).
Commercial establishments with frontage along the Bardstown Road corridor are encouraged to open their businesses during event hours and to engage participants, creating an atmosphere that is uniquely Louisville.
Streets account for a substantial amount of public land in all cities. CycLOUvia repurposes these public spaces by temporarily replacing traditional vehicular traffic with pedestrian traffic.
Since 2012, CycLOUvia events have attracted tens of thousands of people to various neighborhoods across the city. In addition to being part of the Mayor’s Healthy Hometown Movement, CycLOUvia promotes healthy lifestyles, alternative transportation, bike/pedestrian safety and economic development.
For more information, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/advanced-planning/cyclouvia
Six nurses in Kentucky and Southern Indiana who have improved the lives of patients, their community and the profession have been chosen as recipients of the third-annual University of Louisville School of Nursing Florence Nightingale Awards.
The winners, as well as six honorable mentions and nearly 80 other nominees, will be recognized at the Nightingale Awards dinner on Nov. 3 at the Mellwood Arts Center.
“We are very proud to honor six extremely talented and devoted registered nurses from Kentucky and Southern Indiana who have diligently and compassionately served patients across the life span,” said Marcia J. Hern, Ed.D., C.N.S., R.N., UofL School of Nursing dean. “Any one of us would want such a nurse to be there for us, our family and our friends in times of need.”
The six honorees are:
Hilary Deskins, B.S.N., R.N., is manager of Cancer Prevention Services at KentuckyOne Health. Deskins oversees KentuckyOne Health’s lung cancer screening program, one of the largest in the nation, as well as the colon cancer screening program. She developed and initiated patient educational strategies for cancer screenings and works with community organizations to promote screening. Deskins also has made impacts nationally. In October 2015, she advocated the importance of lung cancer screening to members of the U.S. Congress. Deskins and KentuckyOne Health were recognized by national advocacy group the Lung Cancer Alliance as leaders in early detection and treatment of the disease.
Anthony Frazier, B.S.N., R.N., worked as a chef for several years before deciding at the age of 45 to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing. He most recently worked as a patient care manager at Amedysis Hospice in Jeffersonville, Ind., caring for end-of-life patients. He actively volunteers at the Wayside Christian Mission, serving Louisville’s homeless population by working with men in the workforce development program. Frazier has battled a rare soft-tissue cancer in his leg and eventually had to have the leg amputated. He then had severe heart failure and is awaiting a heart transplant. Frazier’s health challenges, however, have not deterred his social work.
Mimi McKay, Ed.D., M.S.N., P.M.H.N.P.-B.C., is an associate professor at Indiana University Southeast School of Nursing, who previously served as dean of the school, and has been a psychiatric nurse practitioner for the past 26 years. In addition to educating nursing students, McKay works as an advanced practice nurse at Boys & Girls Haven, a nonprofit organization that serves abandoned, abused and neglected children. Her work with abused and sexually assaulted women and children through the partnership she started with the Center for Women and Families and IU Southeast has had lasting impacts for victims and nursing students.
Emily Neal, B.S.N., R.N., S.A.N.E., is a forensic nurse specialist at the University of Louisville Kosair Charities Division of Pediatric Forensic Medicine. Neal evaluates children who are suspected victims of abuse and neglect and ensures that perpetrators of abuse are prosecuted via legal testimony. In doing so, victims are removed from abusive or neglectful situations and their abusers are put to justice. Neal teaches parents about stress coping techniques that prevent abuse and educates medical and nursing students on identifying even minute abuse indicators. She is an appointed member of the Kentucky Children’s Justice Act Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional and interdisciplinary committee that develops policy and education aimed at improving outcomes for children.
Deborah Reed, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., R.N., F.A.A.O.H.N., F.A.A.N., University of Kentucky College of Nursing Distinguished Service Professor and Good Samaritan Endowed Chair, has raised awareness about on-the-job health risks that farmers face. Reed created the Farm Theater Dinner intervention to inspire farmers to think about occupational health, safety and disease prevention on the farm. Her research has shown that health lectures and pamphlets have little impact on farmers, who don’t have time in their demanding work schedules to attend educational meetings. The dinners provide a farmer-centered approach for families to share stories and find solutions for health and safety. Reed founded the UK College of Nursing Occupational Health Nurse Ph.D. Program.
Laura Ware, R.N., A.D.N., works at the Crestview Center in Shelbyville where she treats short and long-term care patients and educates and counsels families about making critical treatment decisions. When a person enters a residential nursing facility, it can be a lonely and frightening experience for the patient and the family. Often in these cases, patients have lost a spouse or partner, careers have ended and they have lost their independence. Ware comforts these patients when they are scared and lonely, reassuring them with a calm demeanor and excellent care. Continue reading
October is usually a month associated with orange and black. However, this weekend the city will focus its attention on the color pink to let every woman know it’s time to do something to fight a killer.
Beginning October 1st, the Historic City Hall Clock Tower at Sixth and Jefferson will glow pink as a reminder that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. It will join the Big Four Bridge this weekend as one of two markers to encourage women to get screened.
“The Metro Council stands with the American Cancer Society to encourage Louisville to screen, self-examine and test for early detection of breast cancer. We ask those who have fought and those that are still fighting this disease to join us at the Big Four Bridge this weekend to help kickoff a month of awareness and hope,” says President David Yates (D-25).
On Saturday, October 1st, The American Cancer Society will kick-off breast cancer awareness month a very special Bridge of Hope event. In honor of October, the pedestrian bridge will be illuminated pink to commemorate the beginning of breast cancer awareness month. This is also the beginning to the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk scheduled on Sunday, October 30 at the Big Four Lawn.
“Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States (other than skin cancer). We want to do all we can to raise awareness of breast cancer risks, the value of screening and early detection, and treatment options,” said Councilman Bill Hollander (D-9), Chair of the Majority Caucus.
“As we light up the historic City Hall Clock Tower pink to focus attention on the kickoff to Breast Cancer Awareness month, I encourage everyone to take part in the American Cancer Society’s Bridge of Hope event this weekend. So many of our families have been affected by breast cancer in some way, and this event is a great way to honor those who have battled this disease while also encouraging women to get screenings,” says Councilman Kevin Kramer (R-11) chair of the Minority Caucus.
The Kickoff to Bridge of Hope will begin at 6:15pm on Saturday and then the Big Four Bridge will be illuminated at 7:30pm at Waterfront Park.
President Yates also noted that the Metro Council chamber will be decorated with pink ribbons for all Council meetings in October to serve as a reminder that breast cancer screening is important and should be done annually.
To learn more go to:
http://www.cancer.org/
http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=77432
http://www.kentuckyonehealth.org/browncancercenter
Louisville’s homeless population will have an opportunity to access services, information and assistance in a one-stop environment at the 2016 Project Homeless Connect/VA Stand Down, on Wednesday, October 5. Resources available at the event will include food, clothing, medical evaluations, help with employment, education and benefit services and many other forms of assistance.
The event takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (entry doors will close at 1 p.m.) at The Salvation Army (Old Male High School) campus located at 911 S. Brook St. in Louisville. Several TARC buses will provide access throughout the day from emergency shelters to the event site. The event is coordinated by the Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), Louisville Metro Community Services, Coalition for the Homeless and other community partners including The Salvation Army.
The Project Homeless Connect/VA Stand Down (PHC/Stand Down) is an annual one-day community outreach project where representatives from community service organizations come together to address the collective needs of the homeless during a single visit. This event is made possible by the work of hundreds of volunteers and resources from the United States Veteran Association (U.S.V.A.), Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs, Louisville Metro Government and Louisville Metro Council.
The latest numbers from the 2015 Homeless Census indicate 6,737 individuals were homeless at some point in Louisville last year — either on the streets, in homeless shelters or accessing services through Louisville’s homeless service providers. A variety of factors can lead to homelessness and often these individuals may be victims of domestic violence, disabled, veterans or senior citizens.
At last year’s event approximately 560 persons participated receiving a variety of individual services including State of KY ID cards, flu shots and other medical exams and services, housing linkages, mainstream benefit access (SSI/SSDI), clothing, food and general case management services. The “Stand Down” event, named for the military concept of renewal, personal care, etc., is replicated from a national service delivery model that has proven to be crucial in eliminating barriers to housing, employment, education and the myriad of other factors that contribute to long-term homelessness.
“This is a vital event for our community because it allows our service providers to connect much-needed resources to our homeless residents”, stated Mayor Greg Fischer. “It also allows us a great opportunity to measure the needs of our homeless population so that we can come together to be more responsive”.
As an added feature at this year’s event, a number of University of Louisville student-athletes will be available to meet attendees of PHC/Stand Down thanks to CardsCARE, U of L Athletic’s Community Outreach Program.
Also offered will be a foot-washing service provided by community volunteers and the Coalition for the Homeless. Many individuals experiencing homelessness have issues with their feet due to diabetes, frostbite and other exposure issues. Every participant at Project Homeless Connect/Stand Down will be invited to soak their feet and have them examined by medical volunteers. Members of Louisville Metro RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) have also led a sock and towel drive so that each participant can leave with new socks and healthier, cleaner feet.
For more information about the Homeless Connect event contact:
Jamie Watts – Louisville VAMC Homeless Supervisory Coordinator at 502-287-4176
Eric Friedlander – Louisville Metro Community Services at 502-574-3926
Natalie Harris – Coalition for the Homeless at 502-636-9550
A community educational forum convened by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer on the possibility of expanding activities covered by Metro Louisville’s smoke-free ordinance will feature two University of Louisville researchers who study the effects of environmental factors on health.
The forum will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the Department of Public Health and Wellness, 400 E. Gray St. It will address the possible addition of bans on e-cigarette and hookah use in public places. Louisville enacted its smoke-free ordinance in 2008, prohibiting smoking tobacco products in indoor public places and worksites.
Aruni Bhatnagar, Ph.D., the Smith and Lucille Gibson Chair in Medicine and director of the American Heart Association Tobacco Research and Addiction Center (ATRAC) in the School of Medicine, and Robert Jacobs, professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences, will participate in the forum.
Bhatnagar won a grant of $20 million from the NIH and FDA in 2013 to establish the ATRAC. It conducts multidisciplinary research to help inform the manufacture, distribution and marketing of tobacco products as they are regulated by the FDA. In 2014, he chaired a 10-member panel of fellow national experts that developed the American Heart Association’s first-ever policy statement on e-cigarettes, citing the paucity of research that has been conducted on the effects of e-cigarettes on health and the need for continued rigorous research.
Jacobs researches the health effects associated with indoor air and exposures to organic dust in agricultural and industrial environments, inhalation toxicology and international environmental and occupational health practices. He has published research on the health effects associated with specific components of inhaled organic dust and on the development of methods for exposure assessment of specific biological airborne contaminants in both the work and non-work environments.
Also on the panel will be Paul Kiser, Ph.D., assistant professor at Bellarmine University; Carol Riker, M.S.N., R.N., associate professor emeritus, University of Kentucky; and Monica Mundy, M.P.H., community advisor, Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy.
More than 500 communities across the country, including 13 in Kentucky, already include e-cigarettes or hookah use in their smoke-free laws. Many local businesses, health care facilities and educational institutions in Louisville also include e-cigarettes or hookah in their own wellness policies.
For additional information, visit the Mayor’s website.
The latest schedule for mosquito fogging has been released following the recent death of a Louisville resident from the West Nile disease.
Areas to be fogged as part of the Public Health and Wellness program include those surrounded Bluegrass Ave., Inverness Ave., S. 4th Street, and Lonsdale Ave in the Southern Parkway area and Alta Ave., Saratoga Dr., Rutherford Ave., and Newburg Rd. in the Highlands.
Mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile were collected in ZIP codes 40205, 40208, 40211, 40212, 40214, 40215, 40216 and 40272. Earlier this week, the Kentucky Department for Public Health confirmed a death from the West Nile virus in a Louisville resident and has confirmed one other non-fatal Louisville case.
“West Nile infected mosquitoes are present throughout the community, and people should take the appropriate precautions,” said Dr. Joann Schulte, director of the Louisville Department of Public Health and Wellness.
Current fogging areas, as well as a list of previously fogged areas may be found here.
State Confirms One Other Non-Fatal Louisville Case
The Kentucky Department for Public Health has confirmed a death from the West Nile virus in a Louisville resident and has confirmed one other non-fatal Louisville case.
In 2015, there were three human cases in Louisville with no deaths. In 2014 there were no cases and in 2013 there was one non-fatal human case.
In most instances, people infected with West Nile virus either show no symptoms or relatively mild symptoms. However, less than 1 percent of infected people develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis. Serious illness can occur in people of any age. However, people over 60 years of age are at the greatest risk for severe disease. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are also at greater risk for serious illness.
Mosquitoes at locations throughout Louisville have tested positive for West Nile virus. Mosquito samples were collected in traps as part of surveillance by the Department of Public Health and Wellness and tested by its laboratory. Mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile were collected in ZIP codes 40205, 40208, 40211, 40212, 40214, 40215, 40216 and 40272
“West Nile infected mosquitoes are present throughout the community, and people should take the appropriate precautions,” said Dr. Joann Schulte, director of the Louisville Department of Public Health and Wellness. Continue reading
