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Photo: Louisville Metro Council
For many people, 911 is who you call in an emergency when you need police, fire or EMS. The Metro Government agency that handles 911 is also the place that alerts you to bad weather or any disaster to keep you and your family safe.
Councilwoman Madonna Flood (D-24) announces the next South Central Regional Forum will focus on the work of Emergency Services of Louisville Metro Government on Wednesday, April 18th.
“This particular forum is important because the people who work at Emergency Services are your direct connection when you need help. They answer the phone and determine who to send and stay with on the phone with you until help arrives,” says Flood.
The forum is set for the new South Central Regional Library at 7400 Jefferson Boulevard from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
Jody Meiman, the Director of the Emergency Services Agency will be the featured speaker at the forum and will address the operation of emergency services and emergency management operations in the city. He will also discuss 911 operations and the LENS Alert, which deals with notifications in the event of bad weather or a pending disaster.
“You may never have had the need to call 911 or be aware of what the city does to handle an emergency. This forum will provide helpful insight into what to do in the event of an emergency and how to stay safe and help those you love,” says Flood.
The South Central Regional Forums are sponsored by Councilwoman Flood and Council Members James Peden (R-23), Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13) and Barbara Shanklin (D-2).
For more information about this South Central Regional Forum, contact Councilwoman Flood’s office at 574-1124.
As the fight continues against drug abuse and addiction in Metro Louisville, Metro Council members applaud the Dixie Area Business Association for pulling together a first of its kind information forum and encourage residents to attend.
“Drugs in our Community: Awareness and Resources” will not only pinpoint which drugs are impacting our community; the forum also brings together many resources and agencies involved in fighting the problem to speak directly with residents seeking help.
“Our area of the county is the hardest hit with numbers of overdoses and overdose deaths. We must educate ourselves on this epidemic that is impacting our families at an alarming rate;” said Councilwoman Marianne Butler (D-15). “Hopefully one of the resource agencies can make a connection that helps someone seek treatment to overcome this disease.”
The event is Tuesday, April 17th at Holy Cross High School from 6pm – 7:30pm.
LMPD, Metro Safe, Louisville Health & Wellness, The Healing Place, Volunteers of America, Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, Young People in Recovery and Celebrate Recovery are among those that will have representatives that can speak directly with those seeking help and information. The Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition will be on hand showing people how to safely administer Naloxon and have samples to share with residents.
“The problem our community is facing with overdoses and drugs is truly a community health problem,” says Blackwell. “That is why it is important that the entire community engage themselves with the knowledge and resources to combat this heartbreaking problem,” says Councilman Rick Blackwell (D-12).
In addition to educating one’s self on this subject, Louisville Metro Police will conduct a “Drug Toss” for residents to safely discard old medications.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to dispose of unused drugs at the Drug Toss to keep them out of the wrong hands. I greatly appreciate DABA having this most insightful forum for public education on drug abuse,” says Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13).
“Every person is affected by the opioid epidemic. I have encouraged naloxone trainings throughout our community after the first one I hosted saved the life of a dear friend’s son,” said Councilman David Yates (D-25). “I thank DABA for their leadership to bring all of these great groups together to educate our community and save lives.”
Unwanted or expired drugs can be a dangerous problem. I appreciate DABA giving seniors and others a way to dispose of these drugs in a safe way. This helps keep these drugs out of the hands of those who might abuse them and gets them out of homes that might otherwise become a source for abusers,” says Councilwoman Cindi Fowler (D-14).
Holy Cross High School is located at 5144 Dixie Highway.
President David James (D-6) announces the Louisville Metro Council will hold its next regular meeting at the Academy@Shawnee this coming Thursday, April 12th.
The meeting is the first of what the President hopes will give the public a chance to see the Council in action and talk with members about issues.
“It is my hope that taking the Metro Council on the road will give us as policy makers another opportunity to meet with the public and hear what they have to say about issues,” says the President. “For many people, it can be difficult to attend a Council meeting and it is my hope they will take advantage of this road trip to come and talk with us.”
The Metro Council’s first meeting of the month of April will be held in the Auditorium of the Academy @ Shawnee beginning at 6:00pm. The Council will conduct its regular scheduled meeting at that time and then meet with the public afterwards.
“I am pleased to welcome the first Metro Council meeting offsite in many years to District 5 and the Shawnee Neighborhood. Council members will get a chance to see a great high school and I urge residents to come and join us to get a better understanding of your government in action,” says Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5), who chairs the Democratic Caucus.
“Citizen involvement in local government is vital to our success as a community. It’s important that every citizen knows their government and those who represent them are accessible. What better way to achieve this by bringing government into the very neighborhoods we serve,” says Councilwoman Angela Leet who chairs the Republican Caucus.
The Metro Council has held regular meetings outside of its regular chambers located at 601 West Jefferson Street. The Organizational meetings of 2003 when the Metro Council was seated were held at the Kentucky International Conventions Center pending the conversion of the Chambers following merger. Then in 2014, the Council held its organizational session for the year at Memorial Auditorium due to further ceiling renovations in the chamber.
This meeting will not be broadcast live and streamed over Metro TV due to technical challenges at the location. It will be recorded and rebroadcast on Metro TV at a time to be announced at a later date.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilman David Yates is encouraging residents of District 25 to come out and roll up their sleeves to help in the Brightside Community Clean Up throughout the Southend this Saturday, April 14th.
“The people of Southwest Louisville have always had great pride in their community and that is why we could use some good volunteers on Saturday,” says Yates. “These kinds of cleanups bring many diverse people together for a common purpose and help foster strong neighborly bonds.”
Councilman Yates encourages those without a specific clean up to come to Doss High School beginning at 9:00am to start cleaning up St. Andrews Church Road. All cleanup teams will receive bags and gloves at no cost, and the first 5,000 volunteers to register will also receive a free t-shirt. The cleanup is set to last until 12:00pm.
While Councilman Yates is encouraging residents to join this cleanup, he encourages neighborhoods throughout the district to join in the Brightside effort.
“If you cannot join us on St. Andrews Church Road, then I encourage homeowners, families, friends and others to get out and make an impact on your street or neighborhoods,” says Yates. “Anytime we can make the district a nice clean place, then it benefits everyone.”
If you would like to learn more about cleanups in your area or if you would like to register a group for a cleanup then go to:
https://louisvilleky.gov/government/brightside/brightside-passport-healt…
For more information, contact Councilman Yates’ office at 502-574-1125.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
President David James (D-6) is looking for a few volunteers with time on their hands this Saturday who are willing to take part in two different cleanups and show their community pride.
“I want to invite everyone to come out and join us this Saturday. Anytime we make any part of District 6 a better place for the people who live here, it benefits everyone in the district,” says President James. “We are fortunate to always have a great turn out of volunteers for these events and I am hopeful everyone will help us out.”
Volunteers need to show up at 12:00pm for the cleanup which is scheduled to last through 3:00pm.
There are two areas set for a cleanup this Saturday. One is Dumesnil between 17th and 18th Streets and then the second is at West Ormsby between the 1500 and 1800 blocks. Volunteers should meet at the corner of 18th and Dumesnil and then the cleanups will begin.
There will be a limited number of shovels, rakes and brooms, gloves and bags. If any volunteers have their own yard equipment please bring it them with you.
“So if you have the time, come join us and have some fun and help us make a different in our community,” says President James.
In the event of inclement weather, the cleanups will be moved forward to Saturday, April 14th.
For more information about the cleanups, contact President James Office at 502-574-1106.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
To passersby, 1436 South Shelby Street may look like just another building in the Fort Hill/Meriwether Neighborhood. What they may not realize is the building’s important Louisville history.
A history that will be honored and remembered on Tuesday April 10th, when Kentucky’s newest historical maker will be dedicated in front of the structure that was once known as the Red Cross Hospital (RCH).
“There was a time when the Red Cross Hospital was the only facility where African Americans in Louisville could seek health care and treatment,” says Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5). “It was the only hospital in Kentucky offering training programs for black nurses and the only institution where black physicians could treat and operate on their patients.”
The Councilwoman and Dr. Wayne Tuckson, of the Greater Louisville Medical Society, Linda Hart Lewis and Brunhilda Williams Curington whose father and mother, respectively, were on staff at the hospital before it closed in 1975 will officially dedicate and unveil the historical marker at a special ceremony beginning at 11:00am.
Mayor Greg Fischer, Jennifer Hancock of the Volunteers of America, and members of the RHC Committee will participate in the dedication. Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4) will also speak at the ceremony.
The RCH was founded in 1899 when African-American doctors, W.T. Merchant, Ellis Whedbee, R.B. Scott were part of a small group of doctors who opened the hospital in a four-room private residence at Sixth and Walnut Streets (now Muhammad Ali Blvd.).
Six years later, it moved to 1436 South Shelby Street and the facility expanded. In 1912 the first brick facility was constructed, and over the course of the next fifty years, the hospital grew in both size and importance in the community.
The Red Cross Hospital opened its own School for Nurses. Mary E. Merritt was the hospital superintendent and head of the on-site nursing program until she retired in 1945.
It offered three major services; medicine, surgery and obstetrics. It was the only hospital in the state where black nurses could be trained at their Nurse Training Department.
It was the largest black hospital in the state and treated blacks from throughout Kentucky, not just Louisville.
The hospital remained segregated up until 1953 when integration first occurred within the Jefferson County Medical Society. It allowed black physicians staffing privileges at local hospitals, the first being Jewish Hospital.
However, increased costs and continued desegregation in Louisville throughout the 1960’s saw the hospital force to close its doors in 1975 after 76 years of service to the community.
Today, the building still stands. It houses the Shelby Men’s Recovery Center of Louisville operated by Volunteers of America. Representatives of VOA will be on hand for the dedication.
“This is why it is important to remember the impact the Red Cross Hospital for generations of Black health care professionals in our city. The dedication of a small dedicated group of men with vision to provide health care at a time when the patients they sought to help had no other hospital to turn to,” said Hamilton.
There will be a reception following the unveiling and an opportunity for former patients and employees to reminisce and tour the old hospital building and current VOA facility.
For more information about the Red Cross Hospital Historical Maker Dedication, contact Councilwoman Hamilton’s office at 574-1105.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
President David James (D-6) is moving forward with developing a new neighborhood plan for the California/Victory Park community and is asking the people of area to participate in a process that will maintain the area’s culture, history and community goals.
“The California neighborhood was first created back in the mid 1800’s and as you can imagine there have been significant changes over the years. The last time the neighborhood saw a finalized plan of action was more than 30 years ago. Now, I am asking the residents and businesses in the area to have a say as to where we go from here,” said James.
The current plan was finalized in 1982. It covers an area consisting of Broadway to the north, Oak Street to the south, 9th Street to the east and 26th Street to the west.
This new planning process will be managed by Louisville Forward’s Office of Advanced Planning and a team of local planning and neighborhood advocacy consultants with a history of working in the neighborhood. But before any plan can be fashioned, there must be comments from those the plan will serve.
“If you have lived here all your life or just moved into the neighborhood, we want to hear from you. I want to hear from everyone, both homeowners and businesses leaders, young and old,” said President James.
The process, which is anticipated to take 9-12 months to complete, will begin with an inclusive, community engagement process. During this initial phase, the team of consultants will spend two to three months actively canvasing the neighborhood, encouraging community participation in the planning process.
The finished plan will focus on maintain the community’s strengths of culture and heritage and how can neighborhood health, economic opportunity and environmental resilience be improved.
Neighborhood plans provide a means to identify, preserve and build on the positive qualities of the neighborhood and set goals and priorities that will shape the future of the area in the years to come. Other benefits of a neighborhood plan include adoption into metro government; a plan can guide future development, encourage public-private partnerships, and provide the opportunity to leverage dedicated funding.
“So I want to encourage everyone to get involved. The goal is to help the California/Victory Park maintain its uniqueness while look towards the needs of the future,” says James. “We need your thoughts and ideas and together we can continue to make this area one of the best in Metro Louisville.”
