I was pleased to join a group in Clifton Saturday to start a 150 year neighborhood tradition when “The Clifton Tree” – a beautiful red oak - was dedicated at 131 North Vernon Avenue on the Clifton campus of Northeast Christian Church. It’s designed to be a gathering place where neighbors, families, and friends can meet to take a family/group picture. The tree will grow along with the people who use it for photos.
An example: A recently married couple in 2017 would take a picture of themselves at The Clifton Tree. When they have children, they can take a family picture of their growing family with the growing Clifton Tree. When the children start school, a family picture can be taken. When the children graduate from school, a family picture can be taken to show how much the family and tree have grown. When the children get married, they can gather at The Clifton Tree for a family picture. Another family picture can be taken when the grandchildren of the married couple from 2017 come into the world. The Clifton Tree with its deep roots will stand tall as future generations of Clifton neighbors pass under its canopy.
Thanks to the Clifton Community Council for the idea of The Clifton Tree – and for all it is doing to make D9 a better, more sustainable place to live, work and raise a family.
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Anyone who has driven along South Peterson Avenue off Grinstead Drive has felt and heard the distinctive rumble of driving over that Local Landmark brick road. Some of those bricks loosened of late, compromising the integrity of the road. So a crew from Metro Public Works’ East District Roads and Operations team sprang into action. They dug out the loose bricks along with the old sand and dirt beneath them. Then they reset the bricks in a sand and mortar mix. Good as new, so rumble on. For more about Historic Peterson Avenue check out its Wikipedia page, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterson_Avenue_Hill.
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Please plan to attend two public meetings to discuss the River Road Shoulder Project. The proposal is to add asphalt to both sides of the road from Zorn Avenue to the east. The project will create 10’ traffic lanes and bike lanes on each side. It’s designed to make the road safer and is privately funded.
Two public meetings are planned to discuss the proposal: Thursday, March 2 and Tuesday, March 14 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Louisville Water Tower, 3005 River Road.
Congratulations to D9 resident Paula Do! A third-grade teacher at St. Francis of Assisi School in the Highlands, Do will receive the Father Joseph McGee Outstanding Catholic Educator Award at the Salute to Catholic School Alumni dinner on March 14.
Do has taught third grade at St. Francis of Assisi for 33 years. After attending St. James Church and School in Elizabethtown, Do earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Bellarmine University and later received a master’s in education from the University of Louisville. She described her instruction at Bellarmine as “rigorous” and said it laid a solid foundation for her career as an educator.
Interacting with students and “getting them excited about learning” is what Do said she enjoys the most about the classroom.
“I really like the kids. I never mind walking in the door. I always enjoy seeing them,” she said.
More about Paula Do and the award is in this article from The Record: http://therecordnewspaper.org/long-time-teacher-named-mcgee-winner/. Congratulations!
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Last Saturday, I woke to see three letters to the editor complaining about litter. It was great to then join a big group doing something about it. Thank you to everyone for coming out to support Sydney Blandford and Metro Parks by cleaning up the Beargrass Creek Greenway on Saturday. D9 residents, Metro Parks, AmeriCorps and Holy Cross High School families all came together to clean the area. Click here for photos from the event.
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Metro Public Works (MPW) Roads and Operations Division works year round patching potholes whenever they are reported. MPW encourages anyone who spots a pothole in Louisville to report it to MetroCall as quickly as possible. There are several ways to do it:
Whichever method you choose, make sure to be as specific with location information as you can. Don't assume someone else has reported it.
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My office is partnering with the Louisville Asset Building Coalition (LABC) to provide FREE tax preparation services again in 2017. The service is FREE if you earned $55,000 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or less in 2016 or if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Call the office today to see if you qualify and make your appointment! Appointments are available on Fridays (February 17, March 10, 24, and April 7, 14) between 9:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Please call the office at 574-3908 to make an appointment.
Do you instead file your own taxes? Through the LABC website there are two options to self-file online. The “Turbo Tax Freedom Edition” is available if you have $31,000 or less in income. The software has a well-designed interview process that guides you through the process of making decisions about your filing status, inputting your income and making decisions about deductions and tax credits for which you may qualify. The other option is “My Free Taxes”, which is available if you make $62,000 or less. This program is developed by H&R Block and uses an interview process. Please visit, http://labcservices.org/index.php/free-tax-filing-at-labc-services, for more information.
AARP also offers free tax services at Clifton Christian Church, 131 Vernon Avenue, in D9 on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. More information is available here or by calling 394-3433.
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Several bills being considered by the Kentucky General Assembly would affect the way Metro Government is operated. House Bill 202 has many provisions. Here are some: (Read the entire bill by clicking here.)
- Governor will appoint individuals to fill vacancies of Council due to death, resignation or removal, currently Metro Council fills vacancies.
- Governor will fill Mayoral vacancies, currently Metro Council appoints.
- Mayor is limited to two terms beginning January 1, 2019, may not serve more than two consecutive terms, and is prohibited from running for election or being appointed Mayor for at least four years, currently term limits are three terms.
- Each Caucus (Democratic and Republican) shall hire a minimum of two staff persons, resulting in an unfunded mandate to Louisville Metro, currently Metro Council makes staffing decisions.
A similar bill has been introduced as Senate Bill 222 and may actually move quicker than HB 202. (Read SB 222 here.)
House Bill 246 (read the full bill here) would change the rules for solid waste in Louisville. Currently, we make compost from yard waste, instead of sending it to the landfill. The Frankfort legislation would reverse the ban on plastic bags for yard waste, even though yard waste in plastic bags cannot be composted. House Bill 246 was approved in the House this week and it will now go to the Senate.
I am very concerned about these bills - and any legislation that strikes at bedrock principles of local control.
Here are ways to make your voice heard in Frankfort:
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Call or write your legislators to let them know your views on important issues. (The link lets your locate your representatives and gives you contact information.)
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Call the toll-free legislative message line (1-800-372-7181) to leave a message for any legislator or group of legislators. Be ready to say you support or oppose a bill, by number, and ask that your message be conveyed to the legislators and leadership in the House or Senate.
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Below are some Ninth District calendar events! To view a full listing of events please visit the District 9 Blog at http://district9news.wordpress.com/. If you would like to submit events to be considered for the blog calendar please email Kyle Ethridge or call 574-1109.
Thursday, February 23: Crescent Hill Library, 2762 Frankfort Avenue, to host a movie discussion group on Spotlight at 6:30 p.m. Questions, please call the branch at 574-1793.
Friday, February 24: Historic Frankfort Avenue will host the F.A.T. Friday Trolley Hop from 6:00pm to 10:30 p.m. The FAT Friday Trolley Hop, held year-round on the final Friday of every month, provides FREE parking and transportation to participating shops, restaurants and galleries. The free trolleys run along Frankfort Avenue from Cannons Lane to River Road and many businesses will host special sale, live music and refreshments. For more information, visit http://www.frankfortave.com/.
Saturday, February 25: Live at the Clifton Center, 2117 Payne Street, Special Live Broadcast Show on WXOX 97.1 with Jaye Jayle with special guest Cher Von. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and music starts at 8:00 p.m. with a cash bar. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 the day of the show. Tickets are available online at www.cliftoncenter.org.
Monday, February 27: Crescent Hill Baptist Church, 2800 Frankfort Avenue, to host children's open gym. Children 17 years old and younger, accompanied by a parent or other caregiver (must be 18+), are invited to play in open gym for free. There will be balls, hula hoops, and other gym equipment. Play times for children 10 and under 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and for children 10-17 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Questions, please email andrea@chbcky.org.
Tuesday, February 28: St. Matthews Library, 3940 Grandview Avenue, to host Muhammad Ali: Life, Advocacy and Legacy at 2:30 p.m. Hear from the Education Team of the Muhammad Ali Center about the life of the late boxing legend, and how his legacy continues. In our current cultural climate, what might Ali have injected? How, as citizens of his beloved home city, can we better go where he would have guided us? Questions, please contact the branch at 574-1771.
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