We have a lot of old infrastructure in Louisville and repairs to a 147-year old, 30-inch water main will soon affect D9 drivers in a big way.   

Frankfort Avenue just east of the Mellwood Avenue intersection will be closed for several weeks beginning Sunday, June 12.  The road will also be closed between Story and Mellwood Avenues. The goal is to reopen both sections in early July.  Motorists will be able to travel on Mellwood through the intersection but will not be able to access Frankfort Avenue from Mellwood.  Detour signs will be posted; the marked detour for traveling east on Frankfort Avenue is from Mellwood to Brownsboro Road, then to Pope Street and from Pope to Frankfort. 

Louisville Water Company began operations in October 1860. The water main along Mellwood Avenue (originally called “Reservoir Avenue”) was installed between 1868 and 1869 to provide the city with a second supply line. Louisville Water originally wanted two large supply lines when it began, but the unsettled times of the Civil War stalled the city’s economy and the demand for water. After the war, Louisville’s economy quickly improved and Louisville Water was able to raise funds to install the new water main. The new 30-inch main was finished in September 1869.

The project that has already impacted traffic on Mellwood and will temporarily close Frankfort involves cleaning that pipe, installing a cement mortar lining, sealing the pipe’s joints, repairing any leaks and, in a few places, removing a damaged piece of the pipe.

Please be patient and drive carefully in the area. 

It’s time to clean house and get ready for another junk collection if you live in the 9th District Urban Services District (USD). You may begin setting out your junk Friday, June 10 in the afternoon. All junk must be set out by Monday, June 12 at 6:00 a.m. Some items (hazardous materials, construction debris, etc.) are not collected. 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! To see if you are in the collection area, go to http://mapit.louisvilleky.gov/, enter your address and check under “sanitation services.” 

United Crescent Hill Ministries (UCHM) is excited to announce the 16th Annual Home Tour, this Saturday, June 11 from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Seven destinations are on the tour, including properties on Barberry Lane, S Birchwood Avenue, Kennedy Avenue, S Bayly Avenue and Franklin Street, and Bourbon Barrel Foods. Home tour tickets are $25 each or $20 each if purchasing two or more. Proceeds will be used to benefit the Youth, Seniors and Emergency Assistance programs provided by UCHM. More information is available online: http://www.uchmlouky.org/eventsHomeTour.php. 

• Thursday, 6/9, Islamic Prayer Service, 12pm at Freedom Hall:  Gates will open at 9am and parking will be free.
• Thursday, 06/9, community bicycle ride in honor of Muhammad Ali’s life at 6:00 p.m. at the Muhammad Ali Center, 144 N. 6th Street, to take bicyclists to local Ali landmarks. The flat course is 15 miles for all experience levels. For more details and route map: http://www.louisvillebicycletours.com
• Thursday, 06/9, free showing of 2001 film, Ali, starring Will Smith at Iroquois Amphitheater, 1080 Amphitheater Road. Gates will open at 7:00 p.m. and show will start at 8:30 p.m.
• Friday, 6/10, Processional (10am) and Memorial Service (2pm):  The processional will be from 10am – 12pm and the route will travel northbound on Bardstown Rd., westbound on the Watterson Expressway, and north on I-65 to westbound I-64 (exiting on the 9th St. ramp), then traveling west on Muhammad Ali Blvd to 34th St., left on 34th St. to Broadway, making a left on Broadway and then traveling to Cave Hill Cemetery.  The memorial service will take place 2pm – 4pm at the YUM! Center.  

The Prayer Service and Memorial Service are ticketed events.

The city has also created a website (alilouisville.com) to highlight all things about Ali in Louisville, including information about Ali’s childhood, early boxing career, humanitarian efforts, local landmarks, and details about the events surrounding this week of tribute to The Greatest.

Friday, June 10 Street Closures for the Processional & Memorial Service

No Parking/No Stopping Any Time/Meters Bagged

• Main Street-1st to 4th
• 3rd Street-River to Market
• 1st Street-Witherspoon to Main
• 3200-3300 Block of Grand Avenue
• Washington Street from 6th to 7th

The following route will be utilized for the funeral procession and will be temporarily closed as the procession approaches. The exact timing of these closures will vary but the first closures are scheduled between 9:45 am and 10:15 am.

• 9th Street- From I-64 to Muhammad Ali Boulevard
• Muhammad Ali Boulevard from 9th Street to 34th Street
• 34th Street from Muhammad Ali Boulevard to Grand Avenue
• Grand Avenue from 34th to 32nd
• 32nd Street from Grand Avenue to Broadway
• Broadway from 32nd to Cave Hill Cemetery entrance
• 2nd Street will be closed between River and Main at 10:00 am and remain closed until approximately 6pm.
• 3rd Street will be closed between River and Main at 10:00 am and remain closed until approximately 6pm.
• Main Street will be closed after the public event, at approximately 4:00pm, to facilitate traffic and pedestrian flow.
• 6th Street will be closed between River and Main at approximately 3pm and will remain closed until mid-evening.
• Washington Street will be closed between 6th and 7th at approximately 3pm and will remain closed until mid-evening. Meters will be bagged as well on Washington Street according to above schedule but traffic will be allowed to flow until 3pm on Washington Street.  

There will be no passenger pickup in these areas after the event. Anyone dropping off attendees needs to make arrangements outside the restricted areas. 

A great sustainability practice is shopping and eating locally and what better way to do that than to buy local food, direct from local suppliers.   It’s easy in District 9, which is home to the St. Matthews Farmers Market, just voted “Favorite Farmers Market” by Edible-Louisville & The Bluegrass, http://ediblecommunities.com/louisville/april-may-2016/local-heroes-2016.htm.   That recognition follows a “Best in Louisville” award by Louisville Magazine in 2011 and designation as “Number One Urban Market” in the state of Kentucky. 

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the St. Matthews Farmers Market. The market exists to provide fresh local vegetables, meat, breads and cheeses for the Louisville community. The lifeblood of the market is 70 farmers and vendors, the fruits of whose labor provide for more than 2,000 people each week. The market is held Saturdays 8am– Noon, May 14–October 8 at Beargrass Christian Church, 4100 Shelbyville Rd., in D9. 

You can find more information at SMFarmersMarket.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SMFarmersMarket/, or on Twitter @farmersmarketSM.

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. 

Congratulations to Lisa Santos of the Irish Hill Neighborhood Association, winner of the Center For Neighborhoods “Neighborhood Leadership Award”.   Lisa is a longtime and dedicated leader in Irish Hill.  The neighborhood organization’s website is here:  http://www.irishhillneighbors.org/.

The award capped off a great day at the Center’s 2016 Neighborhood Summit.  I was happy to speak on the subject of “Working with Elected Officials”.

The Center for Neighborhoods has a mission of building healthy, sustainable, safe and attractive neighborhoods through engaged, informed and committed neighbors.  Learn more about its work here:  http://www.centerforneighborhoods.org/. 

Have you considered installing solar energy at your home or business or would you like to learn more about solar energy benefits and why it is a great investment today? The cost of solar energy has fallen dramatically, and with available tax credits and financing options many people find that they can install and begin saving money from day one. Solar offers many additional benefits: it improves health and air quality, reduces carbon emissions, creates jobs, boosts the local economy, and increases energy security and resilience by diversifying the energy mix.

Plan to attend a workshop that will feature a presentation by local experts on the technology and benefits of rooftop solar installations for homes and businesses. The presentation will include an explanation of net metering and other financial benefits of being a solar owner.  There will be ample time allotted for questions and answers. This is an informational workshop sponsored by the Louisville Sustainability Council. 

The workshop will be presented on four dates at the following locations: 

•      Thursday, June 9, 6:00 – 7:30 pm, Middletown Library 
•      Wednesday, June 15, 6:00 – 7:30 pm, Main Library 
•      Wednesday, June 22, 6:00 – 7:30 pm, Crescent Hill Library 
•      Thursday, June 30, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Okolona Library 

Contact Paul Brooks, Program Manager, at sol@louisvillesustainabilitycouncil.org or (502) 836-1216.

I was recently contacted regarding animals not being restrained in Metro Parks or in neighborhoods. Below are some reminders from Louisville Metro Animals Services (LMAS) regarding the animal ordinance and responsibility of owners.

• License animals through Animal Services, https://louisvilleky.gov/government/animal-services/services/license-your-pet
• Don’t allow your animals to habitually bark, whine, howl, mew, crow or cackle in an excessive or continual fashion.
• All animals must be kept under restraint at all times.
• Owners must always carry a suitable device for picking up animal waste and must dispose of it in a sanitary manner.
• Animal vaccinations must be kept up to date.

Metro Parks and Recreation is seeking nine members to fill out its new Parks Advisory Commission slated to begin meeting this September at the administration building at Joe Creason Park. The commission will meet once per month and make recommendations on Metro Parks and Recreation policy. Commission member positions are unpaid, although by state statute members will be reimbursed for pre-approved expenses.

There are no minimum requirements on who may serve, but appointments are pending a background check. For more information, please call 574-7275 or click here.

The Louisville Regional Airport Authority (LRAA) will host a public hearing on the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Bowman Field tree clearing program on Tuesday, June 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Breckinridge Inn, 2800 Breckinridge Lane.  

The Draft Environmental Assessment may be accessed at the following link: http://www.flylouisville.com/bowman-field/bowman-field-airport-area-safety-program/

The public comment period closes at 4 p.m. on Wedneday, June 29, with comments to be emailed to Aaron.Braswell@faa.gov, or mailed to Aaron Braswell at FAA, 2600 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Ste. 2250, Memphis, TN 38118.