Councilwoman Marianne Butler was joined by Mayor Fischer, Director Gabe Fritz, parks officials, Wilder Park residents and participants in Metro Parks Summer Camp to open the new splashpad at the park.  The pad replaces an inoperable wadding pool and the restrooms and water fountain are new.  Overall this was a  $510,000 investment paid for mostly with a federal grant.  "Children and adults now have another option to staying cool in the warm months;" said Councilwoman Butler.

Thank you to Kroger at Central Station for hosting the Ice Cream and Cops on Friday. Officers Rausch and Morrison, Lt. Skaggs and Major Judah were on hand to great people and offer information while Kroger supplied ice cream.  Major Judah and Councilwoman Butler are pictured with a couple of mascots that braved the heat.

The Louisville Bats are hosting two types of Louisville Metro Government Nights. 
   Metro Council Monday: For this program, the Bats will host groups and organizations doing the good of the community. This includes 12,000 total tickets distributed for use on any of these Monday night August 28. Examples include school fundraisers, charity auctions, and several others.
   Community Night: The 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 the game August 2. Groups will need to 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.
   To request tickets for either part of the program, organizations should contact Shelby Harding at sharding@batsbaseball.com. Please include your Metro Council District, organization name, contact name, mailing address, daytime phone and number of tickets requested. Email requests are preferred, but if email is not available please call 614-4502.

Compost bins offer a way to turn organic waste into valuable compost for use in gardens. Our Solid Waste Division has a limited supply of Earth Machine compost bins available for sale at $45 each. They're available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Solid Waste Management office, 600 Meriwether Street, whiles supplies last. Payment must be made by check or money order. No cash or credit cards will be accepted. For further information call 574-3571.

Canine Influenza or “Dog Flu” is a highly contagious virus that can affect dogs and cats of any breed, age, sex or health status. Almost ALL dogs exposed to the virus will become infected and the majority of dogs (80% of infected dogs) will develop flu symptoms. Most dogs recover within 2-3 weeks.                      

TRANSMISSION:
The virus travels from infected dogs to non-infected dogs and cats through:
   Direct contact
   Coughing, barking and sneezing
   Contaminated objects: clothing, surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes
   People moving between infected and non-infected animals
   Dogs that socialize with other dogs are at greater risk (dog parks, grooming facilities, etc.)

PREVENTION:
   Talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s health and if the canine influenza vaccine is right for your dog. The vaccine is a two-part series given two weeks apart.
   At this time there is no vaccine for cats.
   Avoid exposing your dog or cat to obviously sick dogs.
   Avoid taking your dog to areas where dogs gather (dog parks, grooming facilities, boarding kennels, etc.).
   If your dog or cat is showing signs of illness, isolate it from other animals and seek veterinary care.
   Wash your hands after handling any animal.
   Clean all surfaces with disinfectants.
   Do not share toys between healthy and obviously sick animals.

Consult your VET with any questions!

A discounted recycle cart program is now available for District 15 residents. The 95-gallon recycling carts normally cost $50, but Councilwoman Butler has made them available for residents of District 15 for a reduced cost of $25. The reduced cost recycle carts will be available on a first come first served basis until the funds are depleted. This particular offer is available to District 15 residents only. To receive your recycle cart call Solid Waste Management (SWMS) at 574-3571 or download the form here:
  https://louisvilleky.gov/sites/default/files/public_works/pdf_files/3-8-17_garbageandrecyclingcart_recyclingbin_95-65.pdf  Then mail in the completed form and $25 to SWMS at:
Louisville Metro Solid Waste Management
Attn: Collection Division
600 Meriwether Avenue
Louisville, KY 40217-1146