Saturday December 6, 2025
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Councilwoman Marianne Butler (D-15) and the leadership of Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, invite you to this year’s “Light Up Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital” on Tuesday, December 5 beginning at 5:30pm.
This festive celebration gets everyone in the holiday spirit while reminding us to make health choices during this season of parties.
“Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital is a well-known and important part of our community and they are inviting all of South Louisville to come out and enjoy this celebration and light up South Louisville,” says Butler. “This is a great way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the week.”
The celebration is underway from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Councilwoman Butler joins Charles Powell, President, Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital and Santa Claus in welcoming the community to this year’s lighting of the outdoor chapel at the hospital. Children can have their photo taken with Santa while enjoying hot cocoa and cookies.
Thanks to the Iroquois High School Band and Choir for providing Christmas tunes and caroling.
“Come and join us,” says Butler.
Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital is located at 1850 Bluegrass Avenue.
For more information on this holiday celebration, call 502-361-6700.
Louisville Metro Councilman Robin Engel (District 22) is pleased to announce Parker Abma is the winner of the Bates Elementary “Name Our Street” Essay Contest. Parker, now a 6th grader at Jefferson Co. Traditional Middle School, was awarded $500 to be invested for future education expenses in recognition of his impressive best street name: “Leaders Lane.” The contest and prize is sponsored by Barrister Commercial Group, LLC, which owns and is constructing the new retail development SouthPointe Commons, situated near the school. Parker was recognized during a special assembly at Bates Elementary this afternoon.
Parker selected the name “Leaders Lane” because he wants the Bates Elementary Motto “Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow” to also be reflected in the new street which is to be constructed as a connector road behind the school. Parker explains that students and parents will be inspired each time they see the name “Leaders Lane”. He hopes students are reminded of the importance of learning and excelling as leaders.
Open to all fourth and fifth grade students at Bates Elementary, the essay contest attracted approximately 160 participants. The purpose of the contest was to challenge the students to think about and be involved with the infrastructure changes taking place right outside their school door and to gain a better understanding of how those changes impact their daily lives.
“Parker’s essay is very well-written and I congratulate him on a job well-done,” stated Councilman Robin Engel. “I want to thank all the students who participated in the essay contest and encourage them to take pride in their school and remain actively involved in projects as they will become the community’s next generation of leaders.” – Councilman Robin Engel
The SouthPointe Commons Lifestyle Center will be one of the largest new shopping centers in southeastern Jefferson County. The center, which is located adjacent to Bates Elementary, is expected to have approximately 383,000 sq. feet of shopping and entertainment. SouthPointe Commons is expected to have its first stores open by November 2018.
Mayor Greg Fischer joined Metro Council members to announce that construction is scheduled to begin on the $5 million redevelopment of historic Colonial Gardens in south Louisville.
The adaptive reuse project includes renovating the 7,000-square-foot historic Colonial Gardens building, as well as adding three new, one-story buildings for a total of 18,000-square-feet that will share a common patio and garden area.
“Giving new life to historic structures like Colonial Gardens helps give Louisville an authentic quality of place like no other city, and our unique character is one of the things that helps draw millions of tourists to our city every year. And that’s a huge boost to our economy,” said the Mayor. “I would like to thank Underhill Associates, our south Louisville Metro Council members and the Iroquois neighborhood for making this project a go.”
Citizens sought successfully to designate the iconic Colonial Gardens building, located across from Iroquois Park, as a local landmark in 2008. The city purchased the property in 2013 to help foster its commercial redevelopment.
The site’s developer, Underhill Associates, is in talks with local restaurant groups to occupy the four corner spaces of the building, located on the corner of Kenwood Avenue and New Cut Road, and a common beer garden area.
“Underhill Associates is excited to create a venue where the past is honored and new events will be celebrated. We are pleased to partner with the city on the gateway to Iroquois Park where people can meet, eat, have a drink, and play,” said Jeff Underhill, Underhill Associates. “Architect Jeff Rawlins has designed an attractive plan clustering four restaurants welcoming visitors with great views of the park and a beer garden.”
Underhill noted that the venue will be decorated with memorabilia celebrating south Louisville.
Post Construction Company is expected to begin construction on the property in early 2018, with a completion date of spring 2019.
Metro Council comments:
Metro Council President David Yates, District 25: “The decaying building of Colonial Gardens has epitomized south Louisville’s unrequited demand for economic investment for far too long. In the shadow of the majestic Iroquois Amphitheater, the two buildings illustrate the dichotomy of who our community has been and who our community can be. Today, we take another step toward restoring our vibrant, unique South end neighborhood. This public-private partnership will turn a dilapidated eyesore into the gateway of the south. I stand with my colleagues in championing this development and am eager for its success to catalyze further investment into both our economy and people. I thank my colleagues, the Mayor and Louisville Forward who have all stood with me fight after fight to ensure this project’s success. Once complete, Colonial Gardens will be a win-win for our city and the good people of South Louisville.”
Councilwoman Marianne Butler, District 15: “This is one of the largest economic development projects that south Louisville has seen in some time. I thank the Underhills and the administration for coming together to find a partnership that works for all involved. This is a development that will transform this tired corner into a vibrant community spot and show other developers that investing in south Louisville is a win.”
Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch, District 13: “This is a most exciting project for me and my family. We have three generations that danced at the old Colonial Gardens. My hope is that the new Colonial Gardens will provide dining and entertainment for generations to come in the future. Persistence has finally paid off after many years of planning this awesome public-private partnership.”
Councilman Rick Blackwell, District 12: “This public-private partnership will beautify a corner that has been an eyesore far too long. While great for residents of south and southwest Louisville, it will also significantly improve the experiences of those who visit Iroquois Park for the many races, Jack-o-lantern spectacular or shows at the amphitheater.”
Mayor Greg Fischer, Councilwomen Vicki Welch and Cindi Fowler and other local officials joined staff from Louisville Parks and Recreation and Wilderness Louisville on Saturday, October 21 to unveil the newest addition to Jefferson Memorial Forest and the Louisville Parks and Recreation’s Natural Areas Division’s “Louisville is Engaging Children in Outdoors” (“ECHO”) Program.
The “ECHO Mobile” will take the ECHO Program on the road, allowing programming once held solely at Jefferson Memorial Forest to be available in neighborhoods throughout Louisville.
“In the past, we’ve been fortunate to be able to bring kids from nature poor areas in Louisville to the Forest for ECHO programming,” said Mayor Fischer. “Now, the program has come full circle. We can bring them to the Forest, and we can also bring the Forest to them. The ECHO Mobile is a great addition.”
Louisville ECHO provides youth education and out-of-school-time activities at Jefferson Memorial Forest and other community spaces.
Funded through a $30,000 Meet Me at the Park grant from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and The Walt Disney Company, the “ECHO Mobile” is a mobile outdoor recreation and nature play unit to bring a bit of the outdoors to relatively nature-poor urban parks.
The ECHO Mobile will bring activities such as biking, archery and fishing, and a variety of natural materials and nature play opportunities to youth throughout the community.
“We’re excited to be unveiling the “ECHO Mobile” at the Wilderness Louisville Forest Adventure, but we’re also ready to hit the road and take it into the community starting in earnest next spring,” said Bennett Knox, Park Administrator. “It’s one more ECHO component that we can use to improve equitable access to nature for Louisville youth and families.”
The Southwest Festival, a one-day event, starts tomorrow at Sun Valley Community Center in Valley Station. Following tradition, the Valley’s Woman’s Club will host a Bean Soup Dinner tonight, starting at 4:30 PM. All proceeds from the dinner will go to support the club.
Starting at 8:00 AM on Saturday, Plumb Lodge #862 will host their annual pancake breakfast. All proceeds from the breakfast go to fun their scholarship fund. This year the event will be headlined by the Louisville Crashers. Other attractions include Toddler Town, Kids’ City, Teen City, chance to meet many local businesses, and the annual car and motorcycle show. Food and drinks will be available for purchase on site.
While the event itself is free, parking will be $5 per vehicle, and includes a chance to win one of the many door prizes. Festival organizers request that attendees leave their pets at home, only service animals will be allowed into the festival area.
Free music returns to Old Louisville when two very popular bands bring entertainment to Central Park this Friday, September 22nd and Saturday, September 23rd. The Louisville Crashers and Quiet Hollers with Fredrick the Younger highlight this weekend’s Old Louisville LIVE.
“Old Louisville is once again the place to be this coming weekend with two local musical groups that have brought attention to the music scene right here in Louisville,” says Councilman David James (D-6). “It is also another great way to get out and enjoy one of the best places in our city: Old Louisville.”
Old Louisville LIVE kicks off this Friday at 7:00pm with the Louisville Crashers and then on Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00pm with Quiet Hollers. Admission to both concerts is FREE.
“Central Park is a great place to enjoy a wide range of entertainment and events and we strive throughout the year to showcase what a great place Old Louisville is for everyone in the community,” says Howard Rosenberg, President of the Old Louisville Neighborhood Council.
All Old Louisville LIVE shows will take place at the C. Douglas Ramey Amphitheater in Central Park, are free, and open to public. Food and drink will be available for purchase.
Joining Councilman James and the OLNC as sponsors are Louisville Metro Government, The 1300 Association, South Third Street Association, South Fourth Street Association, Garvin Gate Neighborhood Association, Belgravia Association, St. James Court Association, Treyton Oak Towers, Genscape, Paradise Tomato Kitchens, Ollie Green and Company, CPA’s szand BC Plumbing.
For the latest updates about Old Louisville LIVE, visit Old Louisville Neighborhood Council’s website http://oldlouisville.org/ and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/oldlouisvilleneighborhood.
The Metro Council’s Public Safety Committee will learn more about Jefferson County’s “C.A.M.P” (Continuous Alcohol Monitoring Program) at its regular meeting on Wednesday, September 20th
“These kinds of programs are now a part of law enforcement and public safety in the 21st Century and I believe it is important that the Committee get a full understanding of how it operates and what the specific goals are to keep the community safe,” says Councilman David James (D-6).
Judge Stephanie Pearce Burke, Jefferson District Court, Jefferson County Drug/Specialty Courts, will be on hand to answer questions about the program as well as Matthew Mitchell, Director of Evidence Based Practices, SCRAM Systems, and Jen Rankin, Program Development Manager, SCRAM Systems.
Similar criteria-based programs across the country have resulted in the significant reduction of drunk driving and alcohol-related crashes. Research shows that the use of a continuous alcohol monitoring bracelet for a period of 90 days significantly reduces the probability of recidivism among high risk DUI offenders. Recidivism rates for repeat DUI offenders who wear the bracelet for at least 90 days are 50% less than those who do not utilize the technology.
“With the implementation of C.A.M.P., the Jefferson County courts are now utilizing technology in efforts to reduce recidivism in DUI offenders, with the goal of increasing public safety,” says Judge Burke.
Most repeat DUI offenders do not have the internal motivation to stay sober. C.A.M.P. will aid defendants by reinforcing sobriety. The certainty of detection is a powerful deterrent and motivator to stay sober when one does not have the internal motivation or tools to do so on their own. As a direct result, public safety is greatly improved and the offender is more likely to be successful in their recovery efforts.
The Public Safety Committee will meet at 3:30pm in the Council Chambers, Historic City Hall, 601 West Jefferson Street.
All Metro Council Committee meetings are carried live on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 and on UVERSE Channel 99.
You can watch the meetings online by going to the Metro Council home page at http://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council/metro-council-clerk and click the “Watch Meetings Online” button.
