Are you interested in serving on a Board or Commission?

Interested in learning more about the many different Boards or Commissions?

Apply online and search for current vacancies here:

https://louisvilleky.gov/government/mayor-greg-fischer/boards-and-commissions-list

Louisville Metro residents have three good options for disposal of falling leaves this autumn. The best option is a “Love ‘em and Leave ‘em” approach that leads to healthier yards as described below.

Other choices, in order of preference, include reusable containers and compostable containers. 

As a last resort the Solid Waste Management Division of Public Works is offering a free leaf drop-off service. 

WHEN: November 10 through December 5 from Tuesday through Saturday.

• Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: 10500 Lower River Road (corner of Bethany Lane)

Drop-off will not be available on November 26 and 27 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Only loose leaves will be accepted. They will be turned into compost and used in mulching projects throughout the city. Containers used to bring leaves to the drop-off sites must be disposed of off-site by residents.

This is the first leaf season since enforcement of an update to the Yard Waste Container Regulation went into effect on January 1, 2015. The update requires that yard waste be disposed of in reusable or compostable containers instead of regular plastic bags.

The drop-off service will complement methods citizens used successfully to comply with the regulation through the planting and growing seasons. Residents are urged to consider one of the following disposal methods before using the drop-off service:

Best: For a healthier lawn, mulch leaves with a lawnmower and let them settle into the turf system along with grass clippings and trimmings as a natural fertilizer and weed deterrent. Get more information on this Love ‘em and Leave ‘em approach at www.lelelouisville.com.

Next Best: Place yard waste in reusable containers no larger than 40 gallon capacity that have handles (old style trash cans) to reduce the need for continual purchase of single-use bags. A limited number of cans are available for in-person-only sale at our Solid Waste Management Services office at 600 Meriwether Avenue. The cost is $10 per can and must be paid by check.

Still Good: Place yard waste in paper bags designed for yard waste collection or in compostable plastic bags that meet ASTM D6400 standards. A limited number of paper bags are available at no charge at any of our Staffed Recycling Centers or at the Solid Waste Management Services office at 600 Meriwether Avenue.

Helpful Hint: The number of containers needed for large volumes of leaves can be reduced dramatically by mowing or shredding the leaves before collecting them.

“Don’t need that extra coat? Donate it to someone who does!”

Date of give away: November 27, 2015 - 10am until 1pm

The idea is an exchange amongst community: those who can, donate a coat; those who need, take a coat.  You don't need to go out and buy a new coat to donate-- just look in your closet.  If you need a coat, you take one with no questions asked.  There is no registration and no qualification process.  It is very simple.

The first annual Buy Nothing Day Coat Drive in Louisville was held Friday, November 26th, 2010, from 10a-2p.  Traditionally one of the biggest retail spending days of the year, the Coat Exchange encourages a different kind of exchange on Black Friday.

The idea for the Coat Exchange in Louisville was originated by Ted Loebenberg of Brokers Unlimited Inc Professional Auctioneers.  Ted coordinated several years of successful coat drives in his native Rhode Island and decided to bring the initiative to Louisville in 2010.  The Louisville location was hosted and co-coordinated by the The Green Building.  In total, the two locations collected and gave away over 800 for the inaugural exchange.  

Learn More: http://www.freecoatexchange.org/

Courses to prepare people for jobs at GE, other employers

Additional free training is available in Louisville and Bullitt County to help people qualify for good-paying manufacturing jobs that are opening up at GE and other area employers.

GE has announced plans to hire at least 75 new workers and prefers to hire individuals who have received the Certified Production Technician or CPT training.

The first step in getting the free four-week CPT training is to attend an orientation session. Sessions are being held at the following locations:

KY Manufacturing Career Center, 160 Rochester Dr., Suite 115B, Louisville

·         Tuesdays and Fridays at 2 p.m. (No session November 27)

Southwest Regional Library, 9725 Dixie Highway, Louisville

·         Mondays at 2 p.m. (November 9 and 16 only)

Call (502) 276-9711, Ext. 4001, to register for an orientation session.

There was a tremendous response to an initial round of CPT training announced in early October, and registration was full for the orientation sessions held in October and the training classes that are taking place throughout November. New classes will start in December at the Kentucky Manufacturing Career Center, 160 Rochester Drive; the NIA Center at 29th & Broadway and the Bullitt County campus of Jefferson Community & Technical College in Shepherdsville.

Graduates of the four-week CPT training earn a nationally recognized certificate and will have opportunities to interview with local companies. You must be at least 18 years of age.

The training is being provided by KentuckianaWorks through the Kentucky Manufacturing Career Center which opened in 2013 to train and connect people to manufacturing jobs. The facility near the airport in south Louisville was created in response to Mayor Fischer’s BEAM initiative to make the region a hub of advanced manufacturing.

www.kentuckianaworks.org

BBB Tips on Holiday Shopping

Get ready for Black Friday and Cyber Monday Shopping with these tips from your BBB

The holiday shopping season is here! Whether you are planning to go out shopping on Black Friday, or shop from home on Cyber Monday, here are some shopping tips from your Better Business Bureau.

Black Friday Shopping

Know before You Go. Many retailers will release their Black Friday deals online, in social media, and other publications. Some will also send emails (sign up for their email alerts). Research where the sales are and make a list of your gift priorities to compare prices and plan your day of deals.

Read the ads carefully. Black Friday is known for “door busting” sales, but sometimes quantities are limited or there are other restrictions. Read the *fine print. Before you wait in line for hours or brave the boisterous crowds, be sure you know what’s really being offered.

Check Return and Exchange Policies. Make sure you know what the return and exchange policy is for your Black Friday. Watch for final sales, a very short return window (like before December 25th), or in-store credit. Some stores also charge restocking fees.

Ask for gift receipts. A gift receipt can be tucked into a gift item or card so that the recipient can return or exchange a gift if it’s not just right.

For more tips on Black Friday shopping: bbb.org/blackfriday.

Cyber Monday Shopping

Beware! Cyber Monday is one of the biggest online shopping days, but beware of scams. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Watch out for holiday-related cons that require you to link to a website and share personal information.

Beware of fake websites. Fake websites will often mimic famous brands. Scammers take advantage of bargain hunters and parents who are looking for that hot new toy. Use a credit card for online shopping, as it has more fraud protections than a debit card.

Be safe online. When shopping online, look for a small lock icon and an extra s in the URL (https… the extra “s” is for secure). Also, make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date.

Use strong, unique passwords – Create strong passwords for all online accounts and include letters, numbers, and symbols. Longer passwords are more secure and harder to crack.

Read the Fine Print. Before you submit your order, look or the return policy, any warranties, and verify the shipping date. You wouldn’t want the gift to come AFTER the holidays! Sometimes popular items can be on backorder.

Keep documentation of your order - After completing the online order process, there may be a final confirmation page or the shopper might receive confirmation by e-mail – BBB recommends saving a copy of the Web page and any e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.

For more tips on Cyber Monday shopping: bbb.org/cybermonday

Don’t forget LOCAL businesses! Thousands of small and independent businesses are participating in Small Business Saturday on November 28th. Look for the “Shop Small” signs at local businesses for Small Business Saturday specials or visit shopsmall.com for a list of participating retailers.

For more tips on Small Business Saturday: bbb.org/shopsmall.

Check out BBB. Find businesses you can trust at bbb.org. We have BBB Business Reviews on more than 4.7 million businesses, from the most popular chains to local shops. Read Customer Reviews and see how the business responds to complaints.

For more tips, go to bbb.org or call 1-800-388-2222.