Mayor Greg Fischer has presented his recommended budget to Metro Council and we are hard at work reviewing it, asking questions and finalizing a budget for 2015-2016.  The first budget hearings were this week and they will continue throughout the month.  All of them will be televised on Metro TV and are available for viewing, either live or later,  at the Metro TV website:   https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metrotv/services/watch-metro-tv

Mayor Fischer’s recommended budget can be viewed here:    https://louisvilleky.gov/news/mayor-fischer-unveils-new-city-budget-no-new-taxes-invests-road-paving-body-cameras-housing.  It is  an $873 million spending plan that does not raise taxes and the Mayor says is designed to  strengthen physical, economical, educational and social connections across Louisville.

Metro Council will adopt a budget at our June 25 meeting.  In the meantime, let me know what you think.  You can reach me anytime at bill.hollander@louisvilleky.gov or 574-1109. 

Plan to attend the Crescent Hill Garden Tour on Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tour 10 private gardens in the historic Crescent Hill neighborhood. The tour will feature creative gardening in small spaces, from organic gardens to shade gardens, and give visitors innovative ideas to try in their own outdoor space. Tickets are $10 and available the day of the tour at the Peterson-Dumesnil House, 301 South Peterson Avenue, where the tour begins. You can also purchase tickets in advance at St. Matthews Feed & Seed, 225 Chenoweth Lane. For more information visit www.crescenthillgardentour.org.

The 2015 Butchertown Art Fair will be held within the 800 and 900 blocks of East Washington Street in Louisville on Saturday, June 6 from 10:00am-7:00pm and Sunday, June 7 from 11:00am-5:00pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring pet supplies such as food, toys, and flea and tick medications to donate to the Saving Sunny Organization, which works to reduce the flow of pit bull terriers into shelters and assists dog owners in underserved areas. Visit http://butchertown.wix.com/artfair or email butchertownartfair@gmail.com for more information.

The event will include over 80 art and craft vendors, food trucks, beer, wine and cocktails, children's activities, street performers, live music and more. Participating food trucks include Little Jimmy's Italian Ice, Black Rock Grille, Sweet & Savory, Apex Catering, V-Grits, Longshot Lobsta, Dragon King's Daughter and Johnny's Diner Car.

The Art Fair is free and open to the public, and proceeds from booth fees will benefit the Butchertown Neighborhood Association Inc.

It’s time to clean house and get ready for another junk collection for the 9th District Urban Services District (USD). You may begin setting out your junk Friday, June 19 in the afternoon. All junk must be set out by Monday, June 22 at 6:00 a.m. For collection guidelines please visit http://louisvilleky.gov/government/public-works/services/junk-and-bulk-trash-disposal. Sign up for junk set out reminders by email and text, click here!

From Monday, June 22 through Saturday, June 27, to correspond with Junk Pick Up dates, River Metals Recycling (RMR) is inviting 9th District Residents to receive higher rates for recycling scrap metal: an extra $10 per net ton for sheet metal/appliances and 5 cents per pound extra for aluminum cans and copper.  To participate, print the coupon attached to this email and bring your scrap metal to RMR at 2045 River Road between June 22-27. RMR hours of operation are: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Saturday 7:30 a.m. – Noon.  Thanks to RMR for offering this incentive. Go green with RMR and get your green!  Keep metal out of the landfill by taking it to River Metals to be recycled instead of setting it out for Junk Pick Up. Click here to view a video on how to recycle your metals at RMR.

Bees are crucial to the global food supply and are responsible for $15 Billion of crops in the United States alone each year.  But we are losing too many bees,  with pesticides, habitat loss and mites being the main suspects. 

So what can we do about it?  In addition to supporting habitat preservation and pesticide restriction efforts, anyone with a backyard can help by planting flowers. When starting the garden strive for several things:

Abundance- Clump plants so the bees can find and visit many flowers in one location. This provides a worthwhile food stop! Coneflowers in a large clump will attract honey bees and all types of native bees and butterflies.

Sequence – Plant for bloom succession. You need a succession of overlapping blooming from spring to fall. Learn when specific plants bloom so you get a good overlap.

Diversity - Select plants that will provide pollen as well as nectar. Bees need diverse pollen and nectar sources for balanced diet. Don’t forget trees and shrubs that can provide pollen and nectar.

Pesticide use - If possible, do not use pesticides!  Insecticides can kill beneficial insects as well as the insect you are trying to kill. Herbicides may kill plants (dandelions and Dutch white clover) that bees can get pollen and nectar from.  So, do not go for that perfect lawn with no weeds in it.

We can also become - or support – local beekeepers.  Bees have been a part of the Billy Goat Hill Garden on Payne Street since 2009, when the Kentuckiana Beekeepers Association served as mentors and donated three beehives,  which produced close to 70 pounds of honey and won the 2009 Kentucky State Fair blue ribbon for light amber honey.  Elwood Stroder and others are shown working with the beehives at Billy Goat Hill this spring. 

To learn more about the Kentuckiana Beekeepers Association , click here:  http://kyanabees.com/

We’d like to feature your sustainability story - a resident or business doing good things for the environment.  Riding the bus, bicycling, walking, gardening and more - our eNews will feature practices which can benefit all of us.  Send your story to Bill Hollander or Kyle Ethridge. 

I have teamed up with the Louisville Bats to provide tickets to deserving groups in the community for selected Bats games. The program is once again split into two parts; community nights and Metro Council Mondays.

COMMUNITY NIGHTS:

The Louisville Bats will host two community nights, providing tickets, hot dogs, and soft drinks to non-profit groups who would not be able to afford a Bats game under regular circumstances. These two nights include 4,000 guests for each game – June 30 and July 22. Groups will contact the Bats office directly to sign up for the program and each group member will get a voucher for a ticket, hot dog, and soft drink. Examples include mentoring organizations, social service agencies, and many more. This program is not intended for use by individuals.  

METRO COUNCIL MONDAYS:

For this program, the Bats will host groups and organizations doing the good of the community that might not fit into the category above. This includes 12,000 total ticket vouchers – without hot dogs and drinks – distributed for use on ANY of these designated Monday nights: June 15, June 29, July 27 or August 17. Groups are able to choose their own date within these Monday nights. Examples include school fundraisers, charity auctions, and several others. This program is also not intended for use by individuals.  

If your organization is interested in receiving tickets please contact Kate McGuire in the Bats office via email at kmcguire@batsbaseball.com. Please include your Metro Council District, organization name, contact name, mailing address, daytime phone number, and number of tickets requested. 

Several months ago the Louisville Water Company (LWC) submitted an application to Metro Public Works (MPW) to request speed humps on Reservoir Avenue. MPW reviewed their application and conducted a speed study. Based on their guidelines, Reservoir Avenue met the criteria for speed humps. LWC is funding the entire project and four new speed humps will be installed this week.

The Louisville Asset Building Coalition (LABC) is offering free tax assistance this summer for people that need to file back taxes, prepare amendments or have received a letter from the IRS requesting information. LABC will be providing assistance until October 15, 2015, by appointment only. To make an appointment please call 882-5490 – appointments will start at 9:30 a.m. and last until 2:00 p.m.

• Mondays at the LABC offices, 118 W. Breckinridge Street
• Tuesdays at the Louisville Urban League, 1535 W. Broadway
• Wednesdays at Sun Valley Community Center, 6505 Bethany Lane

United Crescent Hill Ministries (UCHM) to host a home tour on Saturday, June 13, from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Tour homes in the historic community. Proceeds to benefit UCHM youth, seniors and families. Tickets are $25 each or $20 each when you purchase two or more. Tickets are on sale online, at Margaret’s Consignments, 2700 Frankfort Avenue and at Carmichael’s Bookstore, 2720 Frankfort Avenue. Visit www.uchmlouky.org for more details. 

Join Just Creations to celebrate their 25th Anniversary on Sunday, June 14, from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the corner of Frankfort Avenue and S. Bayly Avenue. Enjoy food, drinks, live music, kid’s events, door prizes and much more! The first 200 people at the event will receive a FREE Street Fest t-shirt.

Children’s craft activity from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Children of all ages are invited to make their own drum or shaker and join in the musical celebration throughout the day. Live music throughout the event. DJ Craig Waits, owner of the Groove Company will be the emcee/DJ for the event. From 1:15-2:00 p.m. The Barefoot Best Friends and The JOE Band will share the stage playing traditional mountain music. From 2:15-3:15 p.m. Zim Marim will take the stage. Zim Marim is a dynamic ensemble performing in the neo-traditional Zimbabwean marimba tradition. From 3:30 – 4:45 p.m. Appalatin will perform high-energy Latin music. La Casa Catering will be on hand to offer Mexican-infused dishes, including wraps, burritos, tortas, chips and salsa, and a special tamarindo drink. The Comfy Cow will be there to satisfy your sweet tooth. All food will be available for purchase. Food and drink tickets available at the Welcome Tent. Just Creations will also be giving out door prizes throughout the event – one free ticket for each person in attendance. Must be present to win.

The Clifton Center, located at 2117 Payne Street, will host its largest fundraiser for the 23rd year at the Taste of Frankfort Avenue on Sunday, June 14th from 5:30pm-8:00pm, with a VIP experience starting at 4:30pm. The evening will showcase more than 20 fantastic eateries in the neighborhood, and attendees will enjoy food tastings, a cash bar, a raffle package and live entertainment by local musicians. Tickets are $45, or $100 for VIP Tickets, and can be purchased at www.cliftoncenter.org or at Carmichael's, 2720 Frankfort Avenue. All proceeds from this annual event benefit the Clifton Center, a historic facility the serves as a gathering place and presents a variety of cultural and musical events in our community.

New to the event this year is an expanded VIP ticket option for $100 which offers special amenities like reserved on-site parking, drink tickets, and early admission to the tasting area before it opens to the general public. VIP ticket holders will also enjoy reserved seating on the Eifler Theater stage where several of Louisville's premier food and drinks makers will conduct demonstrations and offer special tastings of brandy, bourbon, coffee, cheese and other savories. VIP guests will also receive a gift bag, as well as a chance to win a season pass to the 2015-16 Live at the Clifton Center season.

The restaurants that will be vying for cash prizes in four different categories include Porcini, Varanese, Volare, Bourbon's Bistro, Craft House, North End Café, Irish Rover, Gary's on Spring, Cellar Door Chocolates, Silver Dollar, Grape Leafe, Caffe Classico, DiFabio's Casapela, Homemade Ice Cream & Pie Kitchen, Crave Café, Boombozz Pizza, the Comfy Cow, Vint, and Heine Brothers' Coffee. 

In conjunction with the Taste event, a "Shop, Dine and Play on The Avenue" raffle package is available to the public. The package is valued at over $3,000 and includes gift certificates to Frankfort Avenue restaurants and retailers, a pair of season passes to the Clifton Center's 2015-2016 concert series, and tickets to performances presented by the Kentucky Center for the Arts, Broadway in Louisville, Louisville Orchestra, Kentucky Opera, and Chamber Music Society of Louisville. Raffle tickets are $25 each and can be purchased online or by calling Kristen at (502) 896-8480 ext. 303. Only 500 tickets will be sold.

Louisville Water, MSD and ORSANCO are sponsoring the Ohio River Sweep on Saturday, June 20, from 9:00 a.m. – Noon. Picking up trash along the shoreline is a little thing that makes a big difference. MSD will equip all volunteers with gloves and bags at Eva Bandman Park, 1701 River Road. 

The Clifton Community Council is presenting the first annual Clifton Fest 2015 on Saturday, June 20, from Noon to 10:00 p.m. between State and Williams streets. The fest will host nearly 35 booths of local, handmade goods, Louisville bands, food trucks and Clifton nonprofits.

The Clifton Fest would like to thank the Silver Dollar, Barcode 1757, Hill Top Tavern, their main sponsor Sweet Water Bewery, and Tito's vodka for their financial backing. This neighborhood festival to celebrate Clifton and everyone involved has a Clifton connection.

Volunteers are still needed for this event. If you are interested in volunteering please contact the primary organizer, Brad Curry at 418-5362 or email brad@rededgelive.com. 

District 9 residents don’t have far to travel for driver’s license services, with one of six Jefferson County offices located at Bowman Field.  The branch there is the busiest in the state of Kentucky, with approximately 10,400 transactions per month. Last year, the branch processed 65,461 driver’s licenses and 15,660 permits.   It is the only branch in Jefferson County in which Kentucky State Police offer vision, written and road tests.   Services include: