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SubscribeFlorists, hair stylists, photographers, caterers, and the many other types of vendors it takes to make a wedding come to life will gather Sunday, Jan. 22, at the Sawyer Hayes Community Center at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park to showcase their wares. The event is sponsored by the Louisville Wedding Network.
Anyone interested in these services is encouraged to attend the free, public event, which is slated from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 2201 Lakeland Road in the Louisville park.
The trade show will feature the many types of talent, products and services required to pull off a successful wedding, according to Tiffany Emerson, sales representative for the property.
Sawyer Hayes Community Center is a wedding venue set in 580 acres of parkland that plays host to dozens of local weddings each year, Emerson said.
“We set the stage for the best day of your life and are thrilled to welcome the vendors who are our business partners in this work,” she said.
Gov. Matt Bevin today announced 10 appointments to the University of Louisville Board of Trustees’ 13-member board. The additional three members include student, faculty and staff representatives.
The Board is responsible for providing governance and oversight for the University’s administration and is accountable for the health, reputation and integrity of the University community in all aspects.
The following is a list of the appointments made:
- J. David Grissom, of Louisville, shall serve for a term expiring Jan. 13, 2023.
- John H. Schnatter, of Louisville, shall serve for a term expiring Jan. 13, 2022.
- Sandra Frazier, of Louisville, shall serve for a term expiring Jan. 13, 2021.
- Nitin Sahney, of Prospect, shall serve for a term expiring Jan. 13, 2021.
- Bonita K. Black, of Crestwood, shall serve for a term expiring Jan. 13, 2020.
- Brian A. Cromer, of Louisville, shall serve for a term expiring Jan. 13, 2020.
- Ulysses Lee Bridgeman, Jr., of Louisville, shall serve for a term expiring Jan. 13, 2019.
- Ronald L. Wright, MD, of Prospect, shall serve for a term expiring Jan. 13, 2019.
- James M. Rogers, of Prospect, shall serve for a term expiring Jan. 13, 2018.
- Diane B. Medley, of Ekron, shall serve for a term expiring Jan. 13, 2018.
Click here to view a video message from Gov. Bevin on the University of Louisville Board of Trustees appointments.
Gov. Bevin made these appointments pursuant to Sections 69 and 81 of the Kentucky Constitution, and KRS 164.821, as amended by SB12 during the 2017 Regular Session.
Download the executive order.
Ballard High School has inducted its inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame class, recognizing alumni who achieved outstanding accomplishments in their athletic careers or service to the athletic department at Ballard.
The Ballard Bruins Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes graduates and school supporters who are at least 10 years out of high school. In addition to acknowledging athletic success, the award also recognizes recipients’ post-Ballard graduation accomplishments and service.
Inductees include (by graduation year unless otherwise indicated):
- Marty Bailen, was involved in Ballard athletics for more than 40 years in all capacities, including announcer and statistician. The football press box is named after him.
- Pat Crawford, served as Ballard’s first principal, from 1968 to 1985. The football stadium is named after him.
- Allan Houston, 1989, played on Ballard’s 1988 Kentucky state championship team, and went on to play at the University of Tennessee, graduating in 1993 as the school’s all-time leading scorer. He also played for the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks.
- Jeremi Johnson, 1999, rushed for more than 2,000 yards and scored 35 touchdowns his junior and senior seasons. He played football at Indiana University and Western Kentucky University, and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2003 National Football League draft.
- Jeff Lamp, 1977, was on Ballard’s 1977 state championship basketball team, voted Kentucky Mr. Basketball in 1977, and starred at the University of Virginia. He was selected by the Portland Trailblazers with the number 15 pick in the 1981 draft. He also played for the Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers.
- Gary Plock, 1974, was a four-time Kentucky state champion and two-time All American in tennis. He was also an NCAA doubles finalist at the University of Texas, and was elected to the Kentucky Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985.
- Jim Reuther, served as Ballard’s first athletic director. The basketball gymnasium is named after him.
- Sally Sligar, 1975, earned multiple state championships in track and cross country in what were then state record times, and went on to run cross country and track at the University of Tennessee.
- Jeremy Sowers, 2001, threw four no-hitters in high school and led the team to consecutive appearances in the state championship game. Was named the Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year, starred at Vanderbilt Univeristy, and was selected the sixth overall pick in the 2004 Major League Baseball draft.
- Susan Stoddard, 1982, ran track, played volleyball and softball, and excelled in basketball, which she played at the University of Florida.
- Kent Taylor, 1973, held school and regional records in the 2-mile, participated in the 1973 Mason Dixon Games, and went on to run track and cross country at University of North Carolina.
Inductees will be recognized at the Ballard Athletic Hall of Fame banquet which begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14 at the Marriott East Hotel, 1903 Embassy Square Blvd. For ticket information, visit Eventbrite.
Metro Solid Waste Management Enforcement employees have acted and the first vehicle of 2017 caught in photographs illegal dumping has been impounded in the Portland Neighborhood.
Crews were able to locate this Ford Ranger pickup truck that was photographed on December 10th by one of the department’s surveillance cameras in the 3000 block of Bank Street.
“I applaud the employees of Solid Waste Management for their dedicated efforts to enforce the ordinance we passed on the Metro Council to impound any vehicle found illegally dumping on our streets and alleys,” says Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5), who represents the Portland area.
Solid Waste Enforcement tracked the vehicle down January 6 and had it impounded. The owner was fined $500 plus a $250 cleanup fee and an impound fee of about $250.
“The Metro Council continues to send a strong message that Solid Waste Management continues to enforce. To anyone who decides to illegally dump in Metro Louisville, you will be caught and it will be costly,” said Hamilton.
Some cameras were purchased with D5 Neighborhood Development Funds and are dedicated to sites in District 5. The cameras are moved periodically within the district so potential illegal dumpers should be aware that they too may be caught
For the first time in more than 25 years, Metro Parks and Recreation will be operating youth baseball and softball leagues at Wyandotte Park in south Louisville for children ages 6-18. Sign-ups are available online now at this link. Tee ball ($20 entry fee) will be available for children ages 6 and under.
Softball and baseball league ($40 entry fee) divisions are as follows: ages 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16 and 17-18. In addition to the cost of joining the league, entry fees cover the cost of the uniform and rental of a glove if necessary.
“We’ve had a successful partnership with Major League Baseball through the RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program, and offering leagues through our department is the next step in growing the sport in the city of Louisville,” said Metro Parks and Recreation Director Seve Ghose.
Player sign-ups will take place through March 4 online and at three Metro Parks and Recreation Community Centers; Cyril Allegier, Southwick and South Louisville. Practices will begin the week of March 20, and games will begin on Saturday, April 10 at Wyandotte Park. In addition, Metro Parks and Recreation is seeking volunteer coaches for league teams.
Those interested in participating should call Steve Edwards at (502) 744-0498.
“We’re hoping to find enthusiastic role models who will mentor the players, teach them fundamentals and how to be team players,” Ghose said. “We’re hoping an abundance of kids sign up, but the league will only be successful if we have a good number of coaches willing to take on the challenge.” For more information, see the attached flier or click on this link (includes a testimonial from a past volunteer coach). https://louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/louisville-metro-parks-and-rec…
Fairdale High School continues to hit benchmarks needed to shed its priority label, according to a state audit report made available last week.
The Kentucky Department of Education Two-Day Progress Monitoring Review looked at multiple reports and data, in-school observations and interviews to give the priority school feedback on improving student performance over the preceding two years. The report also outlined strategies to raise student achievement and improve conditions that support student learning.
Overall, the review team gave the school high marks for its curriculum, instructional design and assessment practices, rating it a 3 on a scale of 4 in 11 of 12 separate categories.
“I am not surprised by these positive external reviews,” said Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens. “The work happening at Fairdale is an example of what priority schools can do with the right leadership and right support. This is a school keeping students at the center of all decision-making, with all staff contributing on the continuous improvement journey.”
“I’m tremendously proud of our entire Fairdale High School family and the improvements that continue to be made,” said Brad Weston, JCPS assistant superintendent for Area 2 who served as principal of the school until last November. “This reflects not just how well the school is doing academically, but really how well we’re doing in recruiting, hiring and retaining dedicated teachers and staff.”
Brandy Corbin, Fairdale’s principal, said expectations for her students and staff are high – and the report shows both are hitting the right marks. “I see the dedication and work that happens every single day at Fairdale, and to see it reflected in an independent review is rewarding,” she said.
The report cited just one area as an improvement priority – teachers engaging students in learning. Dr. Marco Munoz, director of Priority Schools, said that’s an area that continues to challenge schools across the country. But he noted that Vision 2020, the district’s strategic plan, places an emphasis on deeper learning. “With that focus and direction, we have a clear road map on how we can engage kids and have ownership of the learning,” he said.
The report also indicated the school had satisfactorily addressed an improvement priority identified in the 2014-15 Internal School Review for Fairdale, related to developing and documenting common grading and reporting policies.
Schools in priority status are reviewed every two years by KDE. Fairdale received the shorter, two-day review which focused on the AdvancED Standard 3, Teaching and Assessing for Learning, because of its positive gains in recent years. A copy of the report is attached.
January is National Radon Action month. The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness wants you to know the dangers of radon and encourages you to test your home. The department is offering free radon test kits while the supply lasts. You can request a kit online by clicking this link: https://louisvilleky.wufoo.com/forms/qoixf410qzn3z/ or by calling 574-6650.
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that is naturally found in soil. It can enter the home through small cracks in the home’s foundation and can cause lung cancer through prolonged exposure. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, behind smoking, and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, causing between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
The entire state of Kentucky is at high risk for radon exposure with about 40 percent of homes estimated to have unsafe levels. The only way to know if radon exists at dangerous levels in your home is to test for it.
“We encourage everyone to test their homes for radon, “said Dr. Joann Schulte, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. “People can’t see or smell radon so they may be unaware that it might exist at dangerous levels in their homes and be exposing them to deadly health effects.”
The lung cancer risk factors of tobacco smoke and radon are related. More radon-related lung cancers occur in individuals with a history of exposure to tobacco smoke. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, with the highest mortality rate of any cancer. Kentucky has the highest incidence rate of lung cancer in the nation with a rate of 93.4 per 100,000 compared to the national average of 59.4. The death rate from lung cancer in Kentucky is 69.5 per 100,000 compared to the national average of 43.4. In Louisville our lung cancer incidence and mortality rates are also well above the national average. According to the Kentucky Cancer Registry the incidence rate of lung cancer in Louisville is 94.8 per 100,000 compared to 59.4 nationally. The death rate is 61.7 compared to 43.4 nationally.
.Here are a few tips to help prevent radon in your home:
- Stop smoking and discourage smoking in your home.
- Smoking significantly increases the risk of lung cancer from radon.
- Increase air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air.
- Natural ventilation in any type of house is only a temporary strategy to reduce radon.
- Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk, or other materials designed for this purpose.
- Seek a qualified contractor to help remove the radon from your home. Mitigation costs generally range from $1,200 to $2,500 depending on the size and foundation of the home. Consult the Kentucky Association of Radon Professionals or the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists National Radon Proficiency Program to locate approved contractors near you.
