For the last several months, I’ve been working on preventing parking charges at Waterfront Park, following a vote by the non-profit corporation that runs the park to charge for parking in all lots every day, except Mondays and Tuesday.  Because that seemed to me like a bad idea for a park which has become one of Louisville’s most beloved and diverse places,  I urged reversal of the decision, while stressing the need for an additional funding stream for the park following a veto of state appropriations by Governor Matt Bevin.

On Wednesday, it was announced that a generous group of donors had contributed $220,000 to prevent parking charges for this fiscal year and next fiscal year (through July 2019) while a more permanent solution is found.  A Courier-Journal article about the plan is here:   http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2017/10/23/business-leaders-chip-money-keep-free-parking-waterfront-park/790238001/. 

At the press conference where the donations were announced, I thanked both the donors and the hundreds of citizens who spoke up and said we needed to find a better solution than making the park less accessible to everyone.

Thank you to the many District 9 residents who supported this effort! 

Halloween is a busy time in District 9.  Hillcrest Avenue has long been Halloween Central in Louisville (see the calendar listing for October 31 and this Courier-Journal story: http://www.courier-journal.com/story/life/home-garden/2017/10/19/louisville-halloween-hillcrest-avenue-history/780324001/.); St. Matthews celebrates Halloween in Brown Park on Saturday (also in the calendar); and it all starts with the Halloween edition of FAT Friday on Frankfort Avenue.

Join the fun at the Frankfort Avenue Business Association’s Halloween Trolley Hop on October 27, from 6:00-10:30 pm, and check out all The Avenue has to offer. Held year-round on the final Friday of every month, the Hop attracts thousands of people to enjoy free trolley rides to participating shops, restaurants and galleries along the Frankfort Avenue corridor. Many of the businesses host live music and entertainment, complimentary refreshments and special sales on trolley hop nights. Trolleys run from RiverPark Place on River Road to Cannons Lane.

Join the fun Friday night and start your Halloween activities early. 

MSD has closed South Hubbards Lane to through traffic between Winchester and Alton Roads to allow a sewer line repair. Local access is permitted for residents and use of the parking lot at Waggener High School. 

After excavation was completed, it was determined that both lanes must be closed for the duration of the repair for the safety of motorists and the repair crew. 

Repairs are expected to be completed by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 27.

If you have any questions or concerns about the work taking place, please contact Sheryl Lauder with MSD at 540-6552 or Sheryl.Lauder@LouisvilleMSD.org.

The 2017 Sustainability Summit: Resilience, Equity and Climate Change is on Friday, October 27 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, 1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd. This year’s Summit will focus on why climate change is a high priority issue in Louisville, how we are planning for it and what we need to do to transition to a more equitable and climate resilient Louisville.

Advance tickets to the #2017Summit are $30 ($20 for LSC members, $7 for college students with ID). Group discounts are available, as are a limited number of free community tickets. To register (or apply for community tickets), visit the LSC website: www.louisvillesustainabilitycouncil.org.

Crescent Hill Baptist Church, 2800 Frankfort Avenue, is hosting a Wendell Berry Documentary screening at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy “Look & See, A Portrait of Wendell Berry”. This event is free, but a ticket is required due to limited seating. Tickets available online at https://chbc-look-and-see.eventbrite.com. 

Louisville residents are invited to bring unneeded documents and prescription drugs to be shredded and disposed of to a free event on Saturday, October 28. The Drug Toss/Shredding Event is in partnership with Louisville Metro Police.

Citizens can protect themselves from identify theft and divert unused medications from the waste stream or misuse by bringing items to:

Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center
Lot W, Phillips Lane
Saturday, October 28, 2017
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Businesses may not participate in this event. All paper materials will be shredded on site and recycled. Shredding donated by the Louisville Branch of Shred-It Louisville. The Drug Toss will be done as a drive-through event.

Black out all personal information on all medication containers that will be tossed. For safety reasons, sharps, needles, lances, cosmetics, personal care or hygiene items cannot be accepted. Medication products should never be flushed down the toilet or drain, burned in the open or thrown in the trash because they can contaminate the environment if they get into the drinking and ground water.

Happy Halloween! Here are some safety tips to keep in mind while trick-or-treating on Tuesday, October 31.

• A responsible adult should accompany young children
• If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you
• Agree on a specific time children should return home
• Teach your children to never enter a stranger's home or car
• Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends
• Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home
• All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant
• Avoid masks, which can obstruct vision
• If children are allowed out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags, or give them glow sticks
• When buying Halloween makeup, make sure it is nontoxic and always test it in a small area first
• Remove all makeup before children go to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation

Children and adults are reminded to put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don't run, across the street.

Safety Tips for Motorists

• Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully
• At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing
• Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween

• October 12 – November 5: Louisville Jack O ’Lantern Spectacular – Iroquois Park, tickets range from $9-$16. For more information call 368-5865 or visit www.jackolanternlouisville.com. $5 off weeknight vouchers are available for the event through the Metro Council offices. Please call 574-2854 to provide your address for up to four $5 off vouchers to be used Monday through Thursday.
• Friday, October 27: Free Dive-in movie at 7:00 p.m. at the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center, 201 Reservoir Avenue. Movie is Monster House, rated PG.
• Saturday, October 28: Halloween in Brown Park from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 

The Great St. Matthews Pumpkin Caper, sponsored by Troop 115 Boy Scouts of America, will run until October 31st (or until the pumpkins run out!). The pumpkin sale is the major fundraiser for the troop for each calendar year.  Proceeds help the troop pay for operating expenses as well as help fund Scouts' fees for trips, uniforms, and other expenses.

The Pumpkin Caper will be held at Beargrass Christian Church, 4100 Shelbyville Rd.  Hours will be 4:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.  Beargrass Christian has sponsored Troop 115 continuously since 1943.  The Pumpkin Caper has been the troop's major fundraising effort since the 1980's. Credit cards accepted.

Please contact Charlie Gabriel at 291-4490 if you have any questions.

The Office of Planning Permitting and Design-Construction Review has received a demolition permit application for the property at 2727 Lindsay Avenue, Case No. WR1039349.

The above referenced property is listed or potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Per Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances (LMCO) 150.110, the requested demolition permit can be issued on the following date: 11/16/17

For additional information regarding this application visit the website: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/construction-review  or contact Mike Beard, Plan Review Supervisor at 574-3321 or Cynthia Johnson, Metro Historic Preservation Officer at 574-2868.

Please plan to attend a neighborhood meeting on a proposed change in zoning meeting on Thursday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Matthews-Eline branch of the Louisville Free Public Library, 3940 Grandview Avenue. Hear from representatives on a proposed change in zoning from OR3 to CN to allow a 2,146 square feet boutique clothing store on approximately 0.2 acres at 115 Fairfax Avenue located within the City of St. Matthews.

If you cannot attend the meeting, but would like to share comments or concerns, please call Nicholas Pregliasco at 426-6688 or the land planning and engineering firm representative John Miller at 636-5501.

The St. Matthews Area Ministries (St. MAM) is looking for volunteers in the office and in the food pantry, to help with homebound food delivery and to serve as substitutes. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Suzanne at SuzanneDeGregorio@stmam.com.

Supplies are also needed. Help to stock St. MAM’s shelves by donating any of the following: paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent, dish soap, garbage bags, canned meats/fish, canned fruits, canned tomatoes, canned chili, pasta sauce, toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine products, razors, body wash), and infant items (baby wipes, baby wash and baby lotion).

Finally, please consider making a Thanksgiving Basket for donation to a family in need. In a re-useable grocery bag, please provide stuffing mix, 5 lbs. bag of potatoes, 2 lbs. bag of onions, 2 cans of carrots, 2 cans of cranberry sauce, 2 cans of yams, turkey gravy, pie filling mix, and pie crust (not frozen). Please delivery the bags to St. MAM, 201 Biltmore Road Monday, November 20 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday, November 21 from 8:30 a.m. – Noon only. Questions, please contact Sarah Banks at 893-0205 or email SarahBanks@stmam.com.