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Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton is encouraging residents to come out to the District 5 Community Meeting on April 24th to talk with representatives of Louisville Metro Government if there are issues or concerns they would like to have addressed.
“I have invited various representatives and agencies to come and make themselves available to anyone who has a question about an issue or would like to know more about a program we offer in Metro Government,” says Hamilton
The District 5 Community Meeting is set for the Shawnee Golf Course Clubhouse, 460 Northwestern Parkway beginning at 6:00pm.
Among the departments invited; LMPD, MSD, Codes and Regulations, Metro Public Works and Assets, Metro Parks and Recreation, Vacant and Public Properties, Community Services, Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods, and a representative from the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office.
“I know for some, it is not easy to take off from work and come downtown to speak with someone in Metro Government. At this community meeting, we have brought Metro Government to one place. No appointments are necessary, just come in and talk,” says Hamilton. “Government works best when we know what is on your mind and how we can handle it together.”
For more information about the District 5 Community Meeting, contact Councilwoman Hamilton’s office at 574-1105.
Credit: KY State Parks
John James Audubon State Park will host a Ladies Spring Tea party and a Kentucky Chautauqua performance on May 12.
The tea party will feature delicious hors d’oeuvres and fine music at the John James Audubon State Park Museum at 11 a.m. Music will be provided by Henderson’s talented Keith Vincent. Jennifer Spence, the Audubon curator, will also give a brief talk about Lucy Audubon, John James Audubon’s wife.
The admission fee is $15, and registration is required. Call the museum to register and pay by phone at 270- 827-1893.
Following the tea, ladies will be invited to attend the Kentucky Chautauqua performance of “Aunt Molly Jackson, a Pistol Packin’ Woman” (1880-1960), portrayed by Anne Shelby.
Feisty, funny, and completely fearless, Aunt Molly Jackson lived for nearly 50 years in the coal camps of southeastern Kentucky, where her father, brothers, husband, and sons were miners. In the camps, Aunt Molly delivered babies, nursed the sick, organized for the union, and wrote songs that described the miners’ lives.
The Chautauqua performance will start at approximately 12:15 p.m. at the Audubon Museum. The performance is free to the public, with limited seating. Please call to register if you are interested. The Chautauqua performances are sponsored by Kentucky Humanities, which is a statewide source. Every year Kentucky Humanities provides funding for more than 550 public humanities programs. They are sponsored by local organizations.
For further information about the programs, contact Kim McGrew-Liggett, arts administrator at the John James Audubon Museum. Kim.mcgrew@ky.gov or (270) 827 1893.
The work of more than 130 Foster Grandparents who help mentor children will be honored at a special luncheon on Friday, April 20. Themed “Volunteers…the Heart of the Foster Grandparent Program”, the event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Olmsted, 3701 Frankfort Ave.
Participants in the Louisville Metro Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) are individuals 55 years or older who tutor and assist children with special or exceptional learning needs in essential skills such as reading, writing and math, while offering the basic guidance of a mentor, advocate and friend. Currently, more than 130 Foster “Grannies” and “Grandpas” share their compassion and caring at over 28 sites including Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), Boys & Girls Clubs and several faith-based community centers and after school programs.
Now in its 53rd year nationwide, the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) was initiated in 1965 under the Economic Opportunity Act and is federally sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Locally, FGP has been operating in our community for 46 years and is part of Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS). By the end of the 2016-2017 fiscal year, FGP volunteers served 500 children and youth and logged nearly 132,000 hours of services.
At this year’s celebration, Foster Grandparents and their guests will be joined by volunteer station representatives, Senior Corps Advisory Council members, RCS staff and other guests. One special feature will be the presentation of milestone achievement awards to individuals serving 5,10,15,20 and 25 years as a Foster Grandparent. And the “Volunteer Parade of Hats” is back by popular hand.
“Our Foster Grannies and Grandpas are wonderful individuals who not only contribute to children’s learning but also bring warmth and caring to the classroom”, stated Gena Redmon Harris, director of the Office of Resilience and Community Services. “The FGP volunteers make a positive difference and lasting impact in the lives of hundreds of Louisville youth each year.”
Foster Grandparent volunteers provide a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 40 hours of service per week and income eligibility may qualify for a minimal tax-free, hourly stipend, meal and transportation reimbursement as well as free supplemental accident and liability insurance while serving. For more information on how you can become a Louisville Metro Foster Grandparent, please call (502) 574-7307 or visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/resilience-and-community-services/foster-grandparent-program-fgp
Attorney General Andy Beshear today announced a third human trafficking arrest tied to a joint investigation by his office and Louisville Metro Police Department.
Quentin J. Burris, 26, of Louisville, was arrested yesterday in Louisville on two counts of human trafficking with victims under 18 years of age, Class B felonies.
Burris’s arrest is in connection with the search warrant served Feb. 13 at a Louisville home by Beshear’s Department of Criminal Investigations and LMPD’s Special Victim’s Unit.
The joint operation is active and ongoing. Burris is lodged at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections with a $100,000 cash bond.
Burris along with Abigail Varney and Nigel Nicholas have all been charged in connection to the investigation, which led to the discovery of two 16-year-old female victims who were being sold for sex on Backpage in January 2018.
The Backpage website is a major classified advertising website that promoted prostitution and sex trafficking, including the trafficking of children.
Since taking office, Beshear has worked to change a federal law that prevented the investigation and prosecution of companies like Backpage by state, territorial and local authorities.
In March, congress passed a law to allow these authorities to join the fight to hold accountable those who promote and facilitate child sex trafficking online.
In April, Federal law enforcement agencies seized the Backpage website.
“We are grateful Backpage, which has been used as a means of promoting the rape of children, is no longer active,” said Beshear. “We are monitoring federal actions against the website and want to ensure those responsible are held accountable.”
A core mission of Beshear’s is to bring justice to victims of rape, sexual assault and human trafficking.
Beshear has established the Kentucky Attorney General’s office as the leading state agency fighting human trafficking.
The office, along with the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations, handles human trafficking cases, and assists local law enforcement and prosecutors on human trafficking complaints.
To learn more about human trafficking and efforts to fight it, contact the Attorney General’s Office of Child Abuse and Human Trafficking Prevention and Prosecution at 502-696-5300 or visit Catholic Charities of Louisville Rescue and Restore program website at http://www.rescueandrestoreky.org. The national human trafficking hotline number is 888-373-7888.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) today, in compliance with state law and regulations, released its Request for Charter School Applications (RFCSA), opening its inaugural—and the state’s first—application period for charter schools wishing to open in the 2019-20 school year. The two-month application window runs through June 15.
Prospective applicants should review the RFCSA for application materials, technical requirements and due dates. The RFCSA and accompanying materials can be found here.
Applicants can take advantage of technical assistance opportunities offered by JCPS throughout the application period. Each application will be reviewed based on its merit against the rubric published in the RFCSA. There is no incentive in submitting an application early.
The Jefferson County RFCSA will include the Kentucky Charter School Application as well as additional questions specific to community needs in Jefferson County. In addition, the RFCSA will include more information about the form, format and information required for the completion of the application.
For more information, applicants may contact Cassie Blausey, director of school choice for JCPS, at cassiopia.blausey@jefferson.kyschools.us or (502) 485-3138.
“Daphne” lampworked glass by Steve Scherer
The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea announces a new exhibit to celebrate the Center’s 15th Anniversary in 2018. This exhibit recognizes 39 artists from all across the state who over the years have shared their talents by giving demonstrations at the Center and bringing the creative process to life for visitors.
Artist demonstrations are central to the Kentucky Artisan Center and take place every Saturday throughout the year. Demonstrating artists talk with travelers and show the processes and techniques that they use to create their individual works. From jewelry to painting to woodturning and more, demonstrating artists give visitors a glimpse into their creative cauldrons.
The exhibit, which runs from April 7 to August 31, brings together new works, biographies, photos and videos of these artists from over the years. From 2003 to 2008 artist demonstrations at the Center were held every Friday and Saturday and in 2009, Saturday became the demonstration day. Since 2003, the Center has offered 1,026 artist demonstrations!
All of the artists included in this exhibit have demonstrated at least eight or more times. The regional group, the Berea Welcome Center Carvers are regulars every third Saturday of each month. Three different members demonstrate each time and two members, Jack Gann, of Berea and Ron McWhorter, of Richmond, have works in this exhibit.
Artists often demonstrate one aspect of their process but also display examples of the steps used to create their works. Theresa Kibby, of Somerset, brings visual images that explain all the steps in her jewelry making and uses her die press to cut out animal shapes from anodized colorful aluminum.
Woodturner Jamie Donaldson, of Georgetown, brings his wood turning lathe to the Center and visitors love seeing him turn vessels as the wood chips fly. Donaldson states, “the hours I spend at the lathe are a communion. The fellowship of wood and steel is a spiritual experience by itself, and the yield is always more than art or kindling.”
Kristal Gilkey, of Berea, brings her potter’s wheel to the center and amazes visitors as she throws vast numbers of pottery pieces on the wheel. She even manages to transport the work back home to her studio Alley Cat Pottery.
Glass artist Steve Scherer, of Edmonton, is a popular demonstrating artist who uses his gas torch to create intricate animals, figures and birds from glass. During his demonstration, Scherer often shows artisan center staff how to work the glass, as they make small animals under his supervision. The exciting process of flame and glass mesmerizes visitors. His figurative piece in the exhibit titled “Grace” was created with borosilicate glass and fumed with gold.
Two-dimensional artists have also demonstrated their techniques over the years, including printmaker Deborah Stratford, of Louisville, Louie Northern, Carl Von Fischer and Janice Harding Owens of Mount Vernon, and Janice Miller, of Lancaster. From formal landscapes to folk art paintings and linocut prints, artist demonstrations offer a wide array of 2-D techniques accompanied by educational handouts, free to visitors.
Participating artists include: Berea College Broomcraft; Robert Brigl, Bowling Green; Elizabeth Brown, Mt. Sterling; Sherrie Cocanougher, Parksville; Gerald Cooper, Berea; Jamie Donaldson, Georgetown; Derek Downing, Lexington; Lindy Evans, Berea; Jack Gann, Berea; Bob Gibson, Lawrenceburg; Kristal Gilkey, Berea; Donna & David Glenn, Louisville; Darlene Hellard, McKee; Joanne Hobbs, Bardstown; Theresa Kibby, Somerset; Marianna McDonald, Lexington; Ron McWhorter, Richmond; Janice Miller, Lancaster; Lonnie & Twyla Money, East Bernstadt; Janet Northern, Mt. Vernon; Louie Northern, Mt. Vernon; Janice Harding Owens, Mt. Vernon; Gin Petty, Berea; Christopher Robbins, Berea; Jeannette Rowlett, Berea; Pamela Rucker, Lancaster; Steve Scherer, Edmonton; Janet Serrenho, Lexington; Donna & Donnie Smith, Waco; Christa Smith, Elizabethtown; Shawnna Southerland, Berea; Deborah Stratford, Louisville, Carl Von Fischer, Mt. Vernon; Mike Ware, Hindman, Bill Whitt, Waco, and Elizabeth Worley, Lexington.
The Kentucky Artisan Center features works by more than 750 artisans from more than 100 counties across the Commonwealth. For more information about events call 859-985-5448, go to the center’s website or visit us on Facebook.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that Louisville is ranked 3rd on the list of top U.S. mid-size cities with the most ENERGY STAR certified buildings. Louisville ranked 7th last year and this year, ranks behind only San Jose and Virginia Beach. On the list of all U.S. metropolitan areas, Louisville ranks in the top 25.
“When property owners make the choice to invest in energy efficiency, they are not only making an environmentally conscious choice but also a smart financial choice,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “I encourage all building owners to use energy efficient systems because they will see a reduction in operating costs and help make Louisville a healthier city.”
Louisville earned its ranking with 86 ENERGY STAR buildings, which includes office buildings, schools, banks, and retail and grocery stores. Energy efficiency saved Louisville ENERGY STAR building owners $6.6 million in 2017.
Since 2013, the Louisville Metro Office of Sustainability has offered free verification services from a licensed architect or engineer to validate ENERGY STAR Certification submission data for eligible buildings.
Louisville Metro Government (LMG), led by the Office of Sustainability and Office of Management & Budget, has implemented energy efficiency measures, which in 2017 saved the city $2.7 million and reduces greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing 5,300 vehicles off the road.
ENERGY STAR certified buildings use an average of 35 percent less energy and are responsible for 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than average buildings. Also, ENERGY STAR certified buildings cost $0.50 less per square foot to operate than average buildings.
LMG partners with the Louisville Energy Alliance (LEA) to promote energy efficiency and conservation efforts. The LEA hosts the annual Kilowatt Crackdown Awards, a city-wide competition that challenges building owners and operators to decrease energy use in their buildings. The Kilowatt Crackdown winners listed below were recognized last week for leadership and excellence in energy conservation.
- Norton Audubon Hospital – 2017 Kilowatt Cup Winner
- Oxmoor Center – Innovation Award
- Tully Elementary – Best K-12 School Facility
- Jefferson Community & Technical College Shelby Campus – Best College/University Facility
- First Unitarian Church – Best Church/Worship Facility
- Southeast Christian Church – Best Large Church/Worship Facility
- Norton Women’s and Children’s Hospital – Best Healthcare Facility
- Sealed Air – Best Manufacturing Facility
- The Presbyterian Center – Best Office Facility
To become ENERGY STAR certified, visit https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/facility-owners-and-managers/existi….
For more information on energy efficiency opportunities in Louisville, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/sustainability/energy-efficiency.
For the complete city rankings, visit www.energystar.gov/TopCities
