Wednesday October 15, 2025
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Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Dare to Care is working with Metro Louisville to relocate its production kitchen operations to the site of the former Parkland Grocery, 1200 South 28th Street. At its current location, Dare to Care produces about 1,200 suppers each workday that are delivered to 34 afterschool sites in the community. The relocation would allow an expansion of this meal production and open the potential for other meal services, including additional Kids Café meals and congregate meal services for senior adults.
The site, owned by Metro Government, has now been vacant for several years but at one time was the location of the Parkland neighborhood’s closest grocery store.
“I want to make sure that everyone in the Parkland area has an opportunity to learn more about this plan,” says Councilwoman Jessica Green (D-1). “This is an opportunity to take an abandoned building and turn it into an asset to the neighborhood.”
In addition to its meal production services, Dare to Care would like to move its administrative and fundraising offices from its main distribution facility on Fern Valley Road to the Parkland Grocery. Other plans for the building include operating a Culinary Skills Job Training program in collaboration with Catholic Charities of Louisville, creating office space for the Metro Police Public Integrity Unit so that it can move from the former Parkland Library into the Parkland Grocery freeing the library for possible future reopening as a Louisville Free Public Library. Shell space for a future retail food market is also in the plan.
To discuss Dare to Care’s plans and get residents’ input, Councilwoman Green is hosting a neighborhood meeting on Thursday, October 18, at 6 pm, at the Baptist Fellowship Center, 1351 Catalpa Street. Brian Riendeau, Dare to Care Executive Director, will be at the meeting to detail the plan, listen to comments, and answer questions. Supper will be provided by Dare to Care.
“I encourage everyone to come out and ask questions about this plan and if you have some additional ideas let us know,” says Green.
Dare to Care Food Bank is a local nonprofit agency with a mission to lead the community to feed the hungry and conquer the cycle of need. In the past twelve months, Dare to Care distributed food for over 20 million meals to eight Kentucky and five Indiana counties. Dare to Care, through its Community Kitchen, serves 34 Kids Cafes in neighborhood afterschool locations and operates Backpack Buddy weekend nutrition programs in 38 Kentuckiana elementary schools. Learn more at www.daretocare.org.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
With great fall weather underway, another great Old Louisville tradition takes place this weekend highlighting some of the best blues music to hear in Metro Louisville. And no one can argue with the price for admission: it’s FREE.
President David James (D-6) and Four Roses Bourbon invite the community to the 2018 Garvin Gate Blues Festival to be held on Friday and Saturday, October 12th and 13th 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 are the Andy T Band, Danielle Nicole, The Keeshea Pratt Band, L. C. Williams and The Driver, Jamiah “BluesSuperMan” Rogers Band, and Laurie Jane & the 45s and Friends.
The Festival grew from what 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 growth 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 Neighborhood invites you join us for this free annual two-day arts and music event featuring local and national performers, a celebration of the blues and the arts, this festival attracts a multiracial, intergenerational audience,” says Howard Rosenberg, Director of The Garvin Gate Blues Festival. “In addition to continuous live entertainment from two stages the festival has an array of food and drink vendors and over 50 crafts booths. The event now in its 23rd year is one of the most prestigious blues events between Chicago and Mississippi.”
Garvin Gate Blues Festival Schedule
Friday, October 12
Four Roses Stage
- 6:30-7:15 Jamiah “BluesSuperMan” Rogers Band
- 8:15-9:00 L. C. Williams and The Driver
- 10:00-11:15 Andy T Band featuring Alabama Mike and Anson Funderburgh
Info+ Kentucky Blues Stage
- 7:20-8:00 One Shot Johnny
- 9:10-9:55 Ladies Sing the Blues featuring LaToye Montgomery, Lainey Brown, and Jennifer Lauletta
Saturday, October 13
Four Roses Stage
- 2:00-2:45 The Pearls
- 3:15-4:00 King Bee & The Stingers
- 4:30-5:15 Django Knight
- 5:45-6:30 Mississippi Adam Riggle Band
- 7:15-8:15 Laurie Jane & the 45s and Friends
- 8:45-9:45 Danielle Nicole
- 10:00-11:15 Keeshea Pratt Band
Info+ Kentucky Blues Stage
- 4:05-4:25, 5:20-5:40 da Mudcats
- 6:40-7:10, 8:20-8:40 The Dirty Church Revival
In 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 Garvin Gate Neighborhood, Metro Council President David James, Genscape, FMS Commercial Cleaning, and Down In The Alley Records
“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.
For more details, contact Councilman James’ Office at 574-1106 or Howard Rosenberg at 502-445-4193 or visit the website at www.garvingatebluesfestival.com.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
A review of theft from automobiles, stolen vehicles and burglaries in the Highlands for the third quarter of 2018 shows that 38.5% of the crimes committed (47 of 122) were easy targets because the doors were left unlocked, keys were left inside or otherwise made available to thieves, according to Councilman Brandon Coan (D-8). This is a slight increase from the second quarter of 2018, where 34.1% of crimes committed (44 of 129) were the result of unlocked homes, businesses or vehicles.
Councilman Coan strongly urges citizens to lock their vehicles and buildings and take their valuables out of their cars as part of a new campaign called #KeepLouisvilleLocked.
“The failure to lock your doors and take your valuables out of your car not only inflates the crime rate, it gives your neighborhood a reputation as an easy target which, in turn, attracts more crime,” Coan said. “Please do your part and park smart.”
Coan is partnering with the Louisville Metro Police Fifth Division, Louisville Parks and Recreation and others to reduce crime of opportunity in District 8. He tracks “unlocked” crimes in his bi-weekly newsletter and intends to report out the statistics to local media outlets and community stakeholders on a quarterly basis.
To receive District 8 eNews, go to: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-8/subscribe-s…
For more information about #KeepLouisvilleLocked, contact Councilman Coan’s office at 574-1108.
Due to high water on the Ohio River, the annual Mary M. Miller cruises from Riverview Park have been cancelled for Sunday October 7th. The vessel’s crew has advised that they will not be able to safely access the boarding site at the park given the expected water levels this weekend.
The cruises, sponsored by District 12 and District 14, have been rescheduled for Sunday, April 14th, 2019.
Those who made advanced reservations through the Southwest Community Ministries will be contacted about the cancellation. All advanced reservations will be honored for the rescheduled date. New reservations can be made by visiting Southwest Community Ministries during their regular business hours of 9 am to 3 pm on weekdays. Seats will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the cruise.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
This coming Friday, October 5th some special volunteers will be out and about giving back to the community. Some 600 to 700 GE Workers are planning to help make an impact in District 2 and the surrounding area.
“I wanted to thank and praise these fine GE folks for their volunteerism on behalf of the people of our area,” says Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin (D-2).”This will be a great day as they help us show pride in our neighborhoods.”
GE Day is a way for the workers to pitch in and help out with several beautification projects. Those efforts include cleaning, painting, building a concession stand, fixing a fence, landscaping and many more projects in the community.
“So if you see a group of people out doing any of these things on Friday, then take the time to stop and thank them for giving their time and energy,” says Shanklin.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Since its opening in 2002, the David Armstrong Extreme Park has attracted skaters and bikers from around the country and the world. The parks newest artistic addition is sure to catch the eye of those who appreciate what the Extreme Park has brought to the city. On Friday, Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4) hosted the Big Reveal of a new mural on the outside wall of the park that gives everyone who drives or walks by it an idea of the purpose of the park and its uniqueness.
“This mural is truly an expression of the energy and colorful nature of this park and I want to thank the artists who brought their unique graffiti style forward for everyone to appreciate,” said Sexton Smith. “Let this mural be an inspiration and attraction that leads to other creative works in District 4.”
For the past few years, Braylyn “Resko” Stewart as lead artist coordinated the mural with $ 15,000 funding from Metro Parks and District 4 Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith.
“The mural project has really spruced up the Extreme Park,” Parks and Recreation Director Seve Ghose said. “We appreciate all the hard work and creativity displayed by these artists and know it’s something the city’s residents will enjoy.”
Stewart recruited the artistic talents of fellow local artists Wilfred Sieg III and the four person artist collective known as Often Seen Rarely Spoken to complete the mural adorning the outer park wall. This is an efforts to curb some of the illegal graffiti and bring a since of pride to the area!
The park opened in 2002 and was immediately recognized as one of the finest in the country. Recently, the park was closed for more than a year as the Ohio River Bridges Project was completed. The park reopened April 2015. Just a year ago, a new metal vert ramp replaced the wooden ramp at the site – that skate element is also considered to be one of the best in the world. Among the current features the bowl and full pipe, which were fixtures to the original design, were modernized. The park is named for former Louisville Mayor David Armstrong, who passed away in June at the age of 76. Armstrong was serving as mayor in 2002 when the skate park opened to the public.
Councilwoman Sexton Smith is looking to the mural as a beginning invitation to other artists and businesses to use this form of expression to fight the problem of graffiti in Butchertown and District 4.
“I am very excited about the possibility of an international Mural Festival in District 4. Together we can do this,” said Sexton Smith.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilman Brent T. Ackerson is extending an invitation to residents of District 26 to attend his Annual Town Hall meeting on Saturday morning, September 22nd in the cafeteria of Saint John Paul II Catholic Church (the former Saint Barnabas).
“This is a meeting to update everyone on what is going in the district,” says Ackerson.
The Councilman will open the meeting with remarks and introductions. Following that we will break out into small groups where citizens can speak directly with department representatives about their concerns.
Representatives of several agencies of Metro Government, including Louisville Metro Police, Public Works, Codes and Regulations, and others will be on hand to handle any questions or concerns.
The Town Hall will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 am. Saint John Paul II Catholic Church is located at 3042 Hikes Lane. The entrance to the meeting hall is on the back side of the former school building.
“I want to take every opportunity to bring Metro Government to the district,” says Ackerson.
Coffee and donuts will be provided.
For more information, contact Councilman Ackerson’s office at 574-1126.
