District 9 Green Triangle eNews, February 20, 2013

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District 9

Green Triangle eNews

February 20, 2013


You are receiving this email because you have contacted the 9th District Office about the green initiatives.  If you would like to be removed from this communication please email Katie Holmes with “REMOVE” in the subject.  This is a bi-weekly eNews.

If you are having trouble viewing this email please click on the Microsoft Word version of the eNews at the bottom of this email. 

What is the Green Triangle?

The Green Triangle is a community-led sustainability initiative in the 9th District, working to realize the following vision: Imagine Individuals, Businesses and Government working together to create a 9th District of:

-Green spaces for people to connect with nature and each other;

-Green options for transportation; and

-Green thinking that promotes the conservation of resources and our small neighborhood feel.


Contact the Green Triangle:

Katie Holmes

 Special Projects Coordinator

Phone: 502.574-1109

katie.holmes@louisvilleky.gov

 

Tina Ward-Pugh

9th District Councilwoman


 

LINKS

My Green Triangle

Green Triangle Facebook

Green Triangle Blog

9th District Blog

9th District Website


The Green Triangle thanks the following sponsors:

Thanks as well to the Frankfort Avenue Business Association for serving as our fiscal agent.

Volunteers Needed for Lexington Road Planting

cleanup

Join 9th District Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh, her staff, and the Green Triangle in another phase of the Lexington Road improvements between Cross Hill and Top Hill Roads on Saturday, March 9th from 8:30 am – Noon. We will be planting, mulching, weeding, and cleaning the hillside along Lexington Road.  Please volunteer to be a part of this restoration effort.  Plan to arrive at 8:30 a.m.  Gloves, tools and Louisville Water Company PureTap water will be provided to all volunteers.  Please bring your own reusable water bottle.  Call the 9th District office at 574-1109 for more information.


Tree Planting on Frankfort Avenue

Billy Goat Hill

The Billy Goat Hill Tree Canopy Committee has announced tree removal and replanting that will take place this month along Frankfort Avenue.  This is part of the first phase of implementation of the Frankfort Ave Street Tree Master Plan that was initiated by the committee and was approved by the Clifton Architectural Review Committee in July 2012.  On Saturday 2/23/13, Greenhaven will be removing 15 ornamental pear trees in the verge along Frankfort Avenue in front of the Kentucky School for the Blind and American Printing House. The following Saturday, 3/2/13, 12 London Plane trees will be planted to replace the pears. Both of these dates are weather permitting and will be rescheduled accordingly if need be. The majority of new trees will be approximately 1 1/2 inch caliper in size. The trees will be watered and cared for by the Kentucky School for the Blind and American Printing House.  Learn more about why the new trees are better choices for our community on the Green Triangle Blog.


Wild and Scenic Film Festival

WildScenic

Kentucky Waterways Alliance (KWA) is getting ready for their 5th Annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival at the Clifton Center on March 2nd and they need your help!  This is KWA's 20th Anniversary; Wild & Scenic is going to be the kick off for their year-long birthday celebration.  This festival grows each year and they expect this to be the biggest year yet, so they will need all the help they can get!  There will be several Wild & Scenic volunteer opportunities and a multitude of ways you can help out if you are interested.  Contact Jessica@kwalliance.org for more information. 

If you are interested in attending the film festival from 6-10pm on March 2, you can learn more and order tickets on KWA's websiteThis year’s films combine stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography and first-rate storytelling with the theme of “A Climate of Change.” Wild and Scenic Film Festival informs, inspires and ignites solutions, and creates positive probabilities to restore the Earth and human communities.


Become a Walkability Wizard!

CFN

From the Center for Neighborhoods: Is your neighborhood interested in a Walkability Assessment or would YOU like to promote conducting an assessment in your neighborhood?  Then, join Center For Neighborhoods and the Mayor's Healthy Hometown for a community-wide WALKshop on Saturday March 2nd, 10am-1pm.  Location to be announced. Gather to learn the "steps" in conducting a Walkability Assessment and how to evaluate block attractiveness, surface conditions, curb ramps, sidewalk connectivity, lighting, and overall walkability.  This training and information will also allow you to assist other neighborhoods in conducting walkability assessments as a walkability wizard!  If you are interested in participating, please email lisad@centerforneighborhoods.org 


Spend Grain from Apocalypse Brew Works

Apocalypse

Apocalypse Brew Works at 1612 Mellwood Avenue, in the 9th District, sent the following information about an opportunity for people to use their spent grain for composting or other uses.  Kudos to Apocalypse for working with the community in sustainable ways!  

We have great compostable material in our spent grain (the grain pieces after we have stripped them of fermentable sugar to brew beer). Since the spent grain has already been ground up and is wet, it's well on its way to becoming compost. We have it picked up once a week by a local farmer to be used as feed for cows, but this spent grain can also be used for baking (think dog cookies, bread, pizza dough-about a cup per batch) and chicken treats (sprinkle out on the ground-they love it!).  If folks are interested in picking some up, they can email leah@apocalypsebrewworks.com and I can let them know when we'll have fresh spent grain available. Bring a container, bag, or a bucket!  

Apocalypse Brew Works is located at 1612 Mellwood Ave at the I-64 exit onto Mellwood. Folks are also welcome to come pick up some spent grain anytime we’re open for the public: Friday & Saturday from 5pm-11pm. Make sure to notice our solar collectors on our roof that we use to heat our water!


Louisville Metro SustainabilityCommittee

On Thursday, February 28th at 3:00pm the Louisville Metro Sustainability Committee meeting will feature an environmental update from WFPL Environment Reporter Erica Peterson on the top five environmental issues facing Louisville.  The committee will also hear an update from the Louisville Metro Police Department on environmental improvements that have been made at the Louisville Metro Vehicle Impound Lot on Frankfort Avenue near Beargrass Creek.  The meeting will take place at City Hall, 601 W. Jefferson Street, and is open to the public.  The meeting will also be aired live on MetroTV, Insight Channel 25.  Committee meetings are also aired in reruns on MetroTV, and the schedule can be found here.  You can also watch the meeting online here.


Comment on Draft Sustainability Plan

Sustainability Plan

Citizens have until February 28 to comment on “Sustain Louisville,” the draft Sustainability Plan released by Mayor Greg Fischer and the Louisville Metro Office for Sustainability. The plan highlights 19 broad goals and 60 initiatives surrounding sustainability.  Mayor Fischer is asking citizens to specifically provide feedback on which of the 60 initiatives is most important to them.  View the draft plan here.  A public forum will be held on Wednesday, February 20, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Jefferson Community Technical College Health Sciences Building, 110 W. Chestnut Street.  Other ways to comment on the plan include:

  • On Twitter @sustainlou
  • On the Facebook page Sustain Louisville
  • Email comments to maria.koetter@louisvilleky.gov
  • Mail written comments to: Maria Koetter, Director of Sustainability
    Louisville Metro Government, 444 S. 5th Street, Louisville, Ky. 40202

The full report can be downloaded at www.louisvilleky.gov/sustainability, or viewed in hard copy at the circulation desk of the Main Library, 301 York Street.


Sustainability Tip – Home Water Conservation

water

There are many ways to save water around the home.  Here are some ideas to start with:

  • Do a water audit of your home: check for leaky faucets and fix them, and test your toilet for leaks by putting a drop of food coloring in the tank.  If the toilet bowl water changes color without flushing, there is a leak. 
  • Place a plastic bottle full of water in your toilet tank to reduce the amount of water used when you flush. 
  • Only run the dishwasher when it is full.  Adjust the water level on your washing machine to match the load of clothes you are washing.
  • Run the faucet at the lowest water flow necessary for what you are doing.
  • Install low flow aerators on your sink faucets.  Aerators are screw-on tips that go onto the end of faucets to determine the flow rate. Aerators are inexpensive and are effective measures to reduce water use.  Aerators can be found at hardware and home improvement stores.
  • Do not pre-rinse dishes before loading the dishwasher.
  • Take a shorter shower.  Make this a routine and buy a low flow shower head.  Older showers use 7 gallons of water a minute, versus 2.5 gallons a minute for low flow models.