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Photo: Kentucky State Parks
My Old Kentucky Home State Park in Bardstown will open “The Race is On” exhibit on the traditions of the Kentucky Derby on April 18.
The new exhibit includes items from the world-famous horse, Secretariat, including his winning Preakness Stakes flower blanket garland, winning bets, and racing silks from Secretariat’s horse farm “The Meadow!” Also, see costumes worn by Diane Lane and John Malkovich and props used in Disney’s hit movie “Secretariat.”
There are also items from 2015’s Triple Crown Winner American Pharoah, including Zayat Stables LLC’s silks, and more.
See My Old Kentucky Home’s “Kentucky Bowl,” a trophy carefully and exquisitely handcrafted in crystal by the world-famous Steuben glass works, designed by Sidney Waugh, a member of the original “Monuments Men” that helped to save priceless works of art during WWII.
“My Old Kentucky Home” will be performed on each tour by the park’s guides.
Visitors can also enjoy imaginative and over-the-top Derby hats and seersucker fashion on display in the mansion’s parlor, in addition to My Old Kentucky Home’s own set of coin silver mint julep cups made by William & Archibald Cooper.
Learn the story of how “My Old Kentucky Home” became the official post parade song of the Kentucky Derby and My Old Kentucky Home’s horse racing history that connects the 200-year-old farm to virtually every Kentucky Derby winner in history!
This exhibit will be open through May 31.
The exhibit is included in the regular ticket price for the regular Federal Hill mansion tour. Adult prices are $12 with discounted pricing available for seniors, children, military, and groups. Tours begin on the hour, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Last tour starts at 4 p.m.)
My Old Kentucky Home also offers a golf course and campground. The park is located at 501 E. Stephen Foster Avenue, Bardstown, KY 40004. For more information, call 502-348-3502.
If you plan to run the Derby Festival’s Marathon or miniMarathon, but haven’t registered yet, your time is running out! Registration for the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and miniMarathon Presented by Walmart and Humana will close at midnight on Thursday, April 20. There will be no late registration. The registration fees are $95 for the miniMarathon and $105 for the Marathon. Runners can register online at DerbyFestivalMarathon.com.
For runners who don’t want to go the distance of the mini or full Marathon, they can recruit friends and register as a team. In conjunction with the 2017 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon, the Marathon Team Relay option is again being offered. The Team Relay registration fee is $325. Teams can consist of up to 5 runners and have as few as 3 competing members. Relay Teams will run the same course as the Marathon, which has been divided into 5 separate legs consisting of two 5k, two 10k, and a 12.2k.
The Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and miniMarathon is still the largest annual day of road racing in Kentucky. 2017 races are set for Saturday, April 29, and will again be capped at 18,000 runners. Both races will start simultaneously at 7:30 am on Main Street near Slugger Field and will finish at Preston and Witherspoon streets.
Walmart and Humana are Co-Presenting Sponsors of the Marathon and miniMarathon. The Official Race Medical Partner is Norton Sports Health and Contributing Sponsors are BB&T, Churchill Downs, Louisville Water Company, Powerade, and The Courier-Journal. Official Bourbon: Jim Beam®. Official Hotel: The Galt House. Official Pace Car: John Jones Auto Group.
The Derby Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. It entertains more than 1.5 million people annually. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.
Photo: Kentucky State Parks
A Daniel Boone memorabilia collection that will be displayed at Fort Boonesborough State Park will be unveiled today, April 15, at the park.
Ray Buckberry of Bowling Green spent a lifetime collecting the 351 items in the collection, which includes items books, prints, and other items relating to Daniel Boone items from the Daniel Boone television series. Buckberry donated the collection to the Fort Boonesborough Foundation, which is loaning it to the park for display.
A ceremony honoring Buckberry and opening the collection will be at 1:30 p.m. on April 15 at the fort.
A cabin at the fort will be devoted to the collection. A display case has also been added at the park campground for display purposes.
An entire generation grew up with Daniel Boone, played by Fess Parker, on television and younger generations continue to learn about Boone. Although the foundation acknowledges that not all the items are correct to the time period, it is still a valuable look at the impact Daniel Boone had on the American public.
The fort is open 9-5 Wednesday to Sunday, April through October. Other cabins feature period-dressed interpreters who can talk with visitors about life in the 18th century. For more information, call 859-527-3131.
Photo: Kentucky Department Fish and Wildlife
Twenty years ago this December, seven elk were released atop Potato Knob in Perry County in front of thousands of onlookers. The landmark restoration of a free roaming elk herd in Kentucky was off and running.
Fast forward to present day. There are now more elk in Kentucky than any state east of the Rocky Mountains and each year the prospect of harvesting one compels tens of thousands of hunters to apply for Kentucky’s quota elk hunts.
Those interested in applying for 2017 should not delay. Applications must be submitted online at fw.ky.gov by midnight (Eastern time) April 30.
“For the person who has always wanted to elk hunt but just couldn’t afford to hunt out west, consider applying for a Kentucky elk quota hunt,” said Gabe Jenkins, elk program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “Our application and permit costs are low in comparison and our elk hunters enjoy some of the highest success rates in the country.”
Kentucky residents and those living out of state can apply for each of the four permit types – bull or cow firearms and bull or cow archery/crossbow – but can be drawn for one hunting permit only. Each entry costs $10. Applicants for the youth-only hunt can put in for the regular elk quota hunts as well but cannot be drawn for both in the same year.
This year, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife will issue 700 general quota hunt permits and 10 youth permits. The permit breakdown will be 100 bull archery and crossbow permits, 150 bull firearms permits, 160 cow archery and crossbow permits and 290 cow firearms permits. Youth permits are valid for use for either sex during all elk seasons.
At least 90 percent of the available elk quota hunt permits go to Kentucky residents. Last year, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife received almost 75,000 applications from more than 34,000 applicants. Kentucky residents alone submitted 46,365 applications.
Sixty-eight percent of hunters who were drawn and purchased their elk permit for the 2016-17 season filled their tags.
Bull elk hunters enjoyed the highest rate of success among drawn elk hunters last year. Eighty-one percent filled their tags and 70 percent of hunters utilizing archery and crossbow equipment successfully harvested a bull. The success rate for cow elk was 35 percent for archery and crossbow hunters and 67 percent among hunters using a firearm.
“A drawn hunter isn’t guaranteed an elk but a little planning goes a long way,” Jenkins said. “Whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer or hire a guide, putting in the time and effort goes a long way and increases your chances of success.”
The bull firearms season generates the greatest interest at application time, and understandably so. The past two seasons have produced two state records and five of the 10 largest bull elk taken in Kentucky since the species’ reintroduction in 1997.
The bull firearms season consists of two week-long hunts, one starting in September and one starting in October. Likewise, the cow firearms season is broken into two week-long hunts in December.
The bull archery/crossbow seasons open in September and the cow archery/crossbow seasons open in October. Each runs through Dec. 31. However, hunters drawn for a cow or bull elk archery/crossbow permit cannot hunt when an elk firearms season is open.
Applicants’ names will be drawn at random by the Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT) in May and randomly assigned a permit type based on their application choices. Hunters drawn for an elk hunting permit are blocked from re-applying for three years.
While waiting to learn if you’ve been drawn, explore Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s website. It offers information about the basics of elk hunting in Kentucky as well as a newer featured called Kentucky Elk University. Designed to educate hunters of all experience levels, this online tutorial covers preparations before an elk hunt, what to expect in the field and what to do after the shot.
EARLY RETURNS: The 2017 spring youth turkey season ended April 2 with hunters reporting a harvest of 1,693 birds.
The youth-only weekend precedes the opening of the 23-day general statewide spring turkey season. This year, the general season opens Saturday, April 15.
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION: With spring now in full bloom across Kentucky, it’s important to remember to guard against tick bites if you plan to be on their turf.
This means minimizing the amount of exposed skin by tucking pants legs into socks or boots and tucking in your shirt, utilizing repellents containing 20 to 30 percent DEET per the directions on the label and checking your clothing and body after being in wooded and brushy areas and areas with tall grass.
Consider treating clothing and boots with a product containing Permethrin, an insecticide that kills ticks, mosquitos and other pests, but allow any articles treated with Permethrin to dry completely before wearing. One treatment can protect through multiple washings.
Should you find a tick attached, grab the tick with tweezers as close to the skin’s surface as possible and steadily pull straight back to remove. Afterward, clean the area around the bite and wash your hands.
As part of an annual extravaganza of compassion and service, thousands of Louisvillians will be volunteering in ways large and small during the Mayor’s annual Week of Service, which runs Saturday through April 23.
One of the week’s largest projects will be the Brightside & Passport Health Plan Spring Community Wide Cleanup on Saturday. Already, more than 16,000 people are committed to making Louisville a greener and cleaner community, by picking up litter and debris from neighborhoods, greenspaces and roadways.
And there is still time to register: Go to www.brightsideinc.org. With the help of sponsors Passport Health Plan and the Kentucky Pride Fund, Brightside provides bags and gloves to all participating groups, and T-shirts to the first 5,000 registrants.
Volunteer for Give A Day Projects
Mayor Greg Fischer will kick off this sixth annual Give A Day week with a 9 a.m. stop Saturday at the Build A Bed event at Meyzeek Middle School, where hundreds of volunteers will work in teams to build beds that will go to Jefferson County Public School children who are sleeping on couches, air mattresses or even the floor.
Other Saturday events include a 3 p.m. bicycle giveaway to refugees at Kentucky Refugee Ministries, thanks to volunteers from Pedal Power; and huge community cleanups and picnics in the California, Parkland and Shelby Park neighborhoods. (Similar events are planned in the Smoketown and Shawnee neighborhoods on April 22.)
The Mayor’s goal for the week, which helps launch the 2017 Kentucky Derby Festival, is to break Louisville’s existing “world record” for caring and helping – set in 2016 with more than 175,000 volunteers and acts of compassion.
“When we decided six years ago to start to focus on celebrating and cultivating compassion as one of our city’s core values, the people of Louisville responded, demonstrating over and over again that this is a city where people believe in the value of doing what our great native son Muhammad Ali called ‘the work of the heart,’” the Mayor said. “That work happens every day in this city. Give A Day simply shines a spotlight on it.”
The Mayor pointed out that participating in the Week of Service can be as simple as dropping food into the Dare to Care bins at all area Kroger stores.
And for the second year in a row, the international WE Day will, in partnership with the Mayor’s office and WLKY, hold a short Walk of Compassion through downtown as a Give A Day event on April 18. The public is invited to join more than 3,000 students participating in the lunch-time walk, carrying signs of compassion.
Students from both private and public schools are a huge component of Give A Day. JCPS’ students will be planting trees, collecting items for local food pantries, organizing campus and neighborhood cleanups, writing thank you cards to police and veterans, and collecting teddy bears for police to have in their cruisers when they make runs on cases involving children.
“We are proud to once again have 100 percent participation from our schools in the Mayor’s Give A Day initiative,” said JCPS Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens. “Last year, our students logged more than 1,145 days of service – that’s more than three years of kindness, service and citizenship in just one week. This experience gives our students a chance to give back to our community and participate as citizens in our diverse, shared world.”
Most local Catholic schools are also engaged in projects. St. Stephen Martyr, for example, is making care packages for cancer patients, filling decorated bags with things like hard candy, pocket tissues, hand sanitizer, lip balm and small packages of snacks. And fifth-graders at Holy Trinity will be visiting and playing games with residents of the Masonic Home.
Local businesses are also a huge part of the Week of Service, as companies large and small contribute their time, talent and treasure on projects throughout the community.
Volunteers are still needed for more than 100 projects of all kinds. To register, go to the website: www.mygiveaday.com and click on “volunteer for an existing project.”
Groups and individuals are urged to use the same website to report projects and good deeds they are doing on their own.
Photo: Altitude Trampoline Park
Dixie Highway is undergoing a resurgence of new businesses and the newest addition is a fun entertainment center for all ages. Altitude Trampoline Park held its official grand opening celebration this week with city leaders on hand to welcome the new businesses.
“This is another great day for the new Dixie Highway. We need new exciting businesses like this to show everyone that this area of the city has much to offer,” said President David Yates (D-25).
The President was joined in the grand opening by Council members Rick Blackwell (D-12), Cindi Fowler (D-14) and Marianne Butler (D-15). They were also joined by Shively Mayor Sherry Conner.
The Altitude Trampoline Park is a 41,000 square foot, indoor trampoline park with jumping activities including sports and fitness programs, competitive jumping, and just plain, old-fashioned jumping fun.
The park will include such activities as a foam pit, gymnastics tumble tracks, toddler area, basketball dunking lanes, dodge ball and fitness classes.
“We are excited about another major investment along Dixie Highway. Southwest residents have often asked for more recreational opportunities for our youth and Altitude certainly meets the need in a big way,” said Blackwell
“South Louisville is happy to welcome Altitude to our community. Another locally owned, thriving business offering a fun night for families. Welcome – we are glad you are here and encourage others to join you!” said Butler.
“I am excited to see this wonderful new addition to South Louisville! The Altitude Trampoline Park will provide kids and their families a fun, positive space that’s close to home. I am encouraged by this promising economic investment along Dixie Highway, bouncing the Southend to new heights!” said Fowler.
“I want to thank the Council members and the people of the area for their support as we begin this venture,” said Mr. Chuck Hall of Altitude Trampoline Park, “We look forward to being a part of this great community.”
Altitude Louisville is going be a fresh, new entertainment option for groups and individuals to have active fun located at 4420 Dixie Hwy, Louisville, KY 40216.
To learn more go to: http://www.altitudelouisville.com/altitude-lousiville-trampoline-park.
Councilman Bill Hollander is inviting District 9 residents to come out to the next “Meet with Bill” set for Wednesday, April 19th.
“We are always happy to hear from constituents. To make meeting with us in person more convenient, we’ll be holding office hours at various places around the district in addition to our regular, evening D9 Community Conversations,” says Hollander.
“Meet with Bill” is set for the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center, 201 Reservoir Avenue, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. in the meeting room.
“Please stop by with any questions or concerns. It is an informal way of telling me what’s on your mind,” says Hollander.
For more information about “Meet with Bill” or any other issue in the district, call 574-1109 or email kyle.ethridge@louisvilleky.gov
