West Louisville Chess Club’s 4th, 5th and 6th Grades Team brought home the 1st Place Team Championship trophy. Congratulations!
 
Corbin Seavers and the West Louisville Chess Club are recognized for their winning accomplishments at the annual Queen City Classic held in Cincinnati.
 
The “People’s House” was full at Metro Council. Please join us anytime to learn more about our local government and how it works. Every other Thursday at 6pm.

President Pro-tem Cheri Bryant Hamilton presiding at Louisville Metro Council meeting as President David James recognizes Rashad Abdur-Rahman and National Youth Violence Prevention Week.

Da'Marrion Fleming introduced  his organization to metro council last week. Sowing Seeds with Faith, prepares diverse youth academically and socially for the adverse moments in life by instilling accountability, expectations, structure and faith.

The after-school enrichment program offers tutoring and commonly overlooked concepts and principles needed in life. All students participate in small group training and homework sessions. We believe team-building and peer tutoring also helps create an academically rich environment. Currently, the tutoring program is held in the Louisville Central Community Center located at 1300 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd. Sowing Seeds with Faith is now the largest after-school enrichment program in West Louisville.

The vision is to become better, so we can do better, only to expect better. We plan to change the environment our students are exposed to so we can change the expectations our kids are held to. We aim to provide our children with opportunities so they can become products of success and greatness.  Da'Marrion Fleming

The Barrel, a creative urban attraction designating the intersection of Fourth and Main Streets as the center of the Bourbon District was unveiled last week.  

"The iconic Barrel" will function as a gathering space for visitors to the Bourbon District, as well as serve as a new and exciting showpiece to celebrate the bourbon renaissance in Downtown Louisville,” said Rebecca Matheny, Executive Director of the Louisville Downtown Partnership (LDP). 

To all whom these letters shall come, Greetings: Know ye the Louisville Metro Council hereby issues this

PROCLAMATION

Honoring

Spradling Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church
150th Church Anniversary

Whereas,  In midsummer of 1868 a group of 15 Christian stewards banded themselves together to worship under the leadership of the Reverend Anthony Bunch. Religious services were held in a carpenter shop on Hancock Street between Chestnut and Madison streets. In 1875 Reverend E. H. Curry, a pioneer of Zion Methodism in the state of Kentucky, became its first mission pastor. The church assumed the name of Curry Chapel; and

Whereas, In 1880, a site was purchased on Finzer Street between Jackson and Preston streets.  A modern brick church building with seating capacity for 500 people, and one of the largest pipe organs, in the city of Louisville, was constructed; and

Whereas,  Jacob Street is proud to be listed as a pioneer in the founding of Young Men’s Christian Association and the Bessie Allen Sunday school under the leadership of such members as W. W. Spradling, Barry Rogers, Dr. P.M. Flack, Will Lewis and Lizzie Peers. Jacob Street Tabernacle soon became recognized as the training ground for the bishophoric and high church office: and

Whereas, In 1939 the church building on Finzer Street was completely destroyed by fire. Under Reverend Flack and followed by Reverend R. N. Davis a building was purchased at 971 South Preston Street.  Extensive remodeling and renovating was done in 1940; and

Whereas, Many great people of faith have led Spradling: Rev. George Maize III,  Rev. R.N. Davis, M.C. Jones, Rev. Matthew Petway, Dr. Joseph L. Walton, Rev. Harold Stateman, Brother Anthony K.R. Gibson, Rev. Cleaster Davis, Rev. Dr. James Crumlim, Rev. Woody McElvany and Pastor Marcia J. Cole-Morton. Under the leadership of Pastor O. Lacy Evans the future of Spradling Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church is limitless.

The Smoketown Family Wellness Center held its grand opening Saturday.
The center will offer pediatric care and healthy lifestyle support for children and families.
The center will offer fitness programs and classes ranging from cooking to disease prevention, The community that will ultimately decide what happens inside. 
“There aren’t a lot of resources here. There are a lot of great community partners and we like to say we’re a hub for all of those partners to come and offer resources,” Kish Cumi said.
Clinical services for children will begin in May.

The wellness center, founded by Louisville physician Dr. Charlotte Stites, will offer a full-spectrum of pediatric care plus family coaching. 

“We are more than a clinic,” said Stites, explaining that she and the staff want to be partners with families.
“We’re all on the same team,” she said. “ … It takes a village to raise healthy children.”

The grand opening attracted dignitaries, such as Ruby Hyde, Congressman John Yarmuth, Mayor Greg Fischer, State Rep. Attica Scott, Councilwoman Sexton Smith and Nachand Hyde-Trabue, a wellness center board member who grew up in Smoketown. 

You can always see Christie Brown with the colorful logo image of the Institute for Healthy Air, Water and Soil, as she encourages everyone to focus on our inner connectivity and health as the center of our universe.

The $100 million revitalization project, which includes the revamped community center, features 287 rental units, said Tim Barry, director of the Louisville Metro Housing Authority. It also will include 23 single-family units. (Eleven of the single-family lots have been spoken for.)  In addition to the wellness center, the former community center building includes 32 apartments that already have been filled, Barry said. There’s also a meeting room, and some unused space on the ground level of the building may be used to display memorabilia, showcasing the history of Sheppard Square and Smoketown.

Louisville students joined thousands of their peers across the country in the "March for Our Lives," a call for stricter gun laws prompted by last month's tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Thousand of students and their supporters marched in the drizzling rain and hail through downtown Louisville on Saturday, chanting "Enough is enough!" and "This is what democracy looks like!" before holding a rally in front of Metro Hall. 
Facing the crowd, two dozen teens held a banner stretching the width of the steps. “WE’VE HAD ENOUGH.” 
Congressman John Yarmuth and Mayor Fischer along with several students spoke at the rally.
North Oldham High School Zoe Kuhn stated: “Listen to our voices and know that we will not quit and we will not be silenced,” Zoe said, looking out at supporters from atop the Metro Hall steps. “Change and reform is on the horizon, and if you pretend as though it’s not, you will quickly be left behind,” she shouted.

WE THE PEOPLE 

Since 2000, this event has raised crucial funds to support the important work of the Fairness Campaign and the ACLU of Kentucky. Both organizations work tirelessly to make Kentucky a more inclusive place - one that values all people - and their work has never been more important than right now.

The mic hand off from Chris Hartman of Fairness to Michael Aldrige of the ACLU is always a special moment.  This event makes everyone smile. Just look at Evon Smith, Cathy Yarmuth, Erin Smith, Judge Eric Haner,  George Stinson, Mayor Fisher and Lacey Smith.

Cathe Dykstra led the way and partnered with Metro United Way so we can easily access services from more than 900 organizations. Thank you!

Brian Warren announced LouieConnect is available in Spanish and English. More languages are on the horizon.
 
Type louieconnect in your web browser and find hundreds of services available in our community. Get the help you need today.

Ruby Hyde is a true mover and shaker who has a passion for improving underserved communities. She is the eighth of nine children, spent her childhood in the Smoketown Neighborhood; and, attended St. Peter Claver School where she was first introduced to the Ursuline Sisters. Her mother, an active worker in the community and church; and, Ursuline Sister Inez Staeuble are credited with being her most significant mentors helping to mold and shape the fiber of her being for helping others. She has received numerous awards and recognitions and has been a major influential contributor to the Smoketown, California and Shelby Park neighborhoods’ redevelopment and economic plans; is founder of Smoketown Pride and Heritage Homecoming Festival; organizer of the first Southwick Festival and assisted in the Newburg, Berrytown and Griffytown festivals. Ms. Hyde feels called to reach out to those who are hurting and those who are falling through the cracks and is especially committed to helping young women who have little support. This is evident in one of her current ministries which is volunteering at Wayside Christian Mission.  Counsilwoman Sexton Smith considers Miss Hyde and angel on the journey. Ruby's journey may very well have begun as a young water girl for the young Cassius Clay.  You can visit the University of Louisville archives to listen to her story. 

Mini-Versity Child Development Center

Family Night

This year’s 1st Family Night will be kicking off March 29, 2018 at 5:00pm. The theme for this event is Health & Wellness, with guest speakers: Joel Worth, SNAP Education and Kevin Fields, President & CEO at LCCC. We hope that you can attend this event with staff and family.

 If you're interested and would like more information please call (502) 583-7352.

The newly-created “ECHO Mobile,” which brings outdoor nature play activity to neighborhoods throughout Louisville, has been hitting the road and the full schedule of stops for this spring and summer has been released.
Children and families will play with everything from musical instruments to materials for creating imaginative natural Louisville ECHO will be visiting local parks and community centers.

For the full ECHO schedule, please click here.

Reporting potholes is easier than ever! Keeping our roads and community pristine is an important issue to everyone in the area. Follow any of the three simple methods listed below when you see a pothole and Public Works will respond as soon as they can in order to fill them.

·  Click here to use our easy online form.

·  Use Twitter by including the hashtag #502pothole and the location of the hole in any tweet.

·  Call MetroCall 311 or 574-5000 to report potholes or any other issues. You may also email them at metro.call@louisvilleky.gov         

Councilwoman Sexton Smith is participating in the discounted recycle cart program with Solid Waste. District 4 residents benefit! The 95-gallon and 65-gallon recycling carts are available for District 4 residents for only $25 -- this is a 50% discount off the cost. To order 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

The Russell Homeownership Incentive  Program is an excellent way to move into a neighborhood rich with history and a wonderful housing stock. Louisville Metro Government (LMG) is placing a priority on  incentivizing homeownership in an effort to further  stabilize the Russell neighborhood. 

 Criteria: 

• Committed to keeping the home as your primary residence for five years. 
• Excited about making up to $24,999 in qualified improvements to your home. 
• Willing to complete homeownership counseling, if a first-time homebuyer.  
• Willing to conduct a lead inspection on the property if it was built prior to 1978.  

For more information, please contact Donnie Adkins at (502) 574-8020.

Founded in 1981, the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft (formerly Art and Craft Foundation) was started as a way to build interest in the state’s rich craft heritage, which lead to a collection of American Folk Art from the region.
 
In 2001, the organization relocated to four-story cast iron structure located in downtown Louisville's West Main Street Historic District. The three galleries located on the first, second and third floor provides 27,000 square feet for large-scale exhibitions.
 
The Museum was renovated in 2016 to create a space that better serves the public and fosters creative thinking and exploration. KMAC worked with Christoff:Finio architects, NY.

For more information about KMAC events Click here

The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District wants to hear from you!

 The APCD is creating a series of workshops along with new educational resources to better serve our community. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and let us know your thoughts. We will use your feedback as we plan our workshops and future community engagement efforts. The deadline to complete the survey is  April 30, 2018.

Click this link to take the survey: https://louisvilleky.wufoo.com/forms/the-apcd-wants-to-hear-from-you/

The Landbank Authority launches new Last Look properties for March!

Last Look Properties - 
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LAST LOOK PROPERTY LIST PDF

Properties are sold on a first come, first serve basis and more information can be found via our website here. Please share these updates with your colleagues and networks and as always contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Notice of Application for Demolition Permit of Historic Structure      
 The Office of Planning Permitting and Design--Construction Review has received a demolition permit application for the property listed below:
 

Subject Property:

  120 S. Floyd St.

Case Number:    WR1051347

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

Per LMCO (150.110), the requested demolition permit can be issued on the following date:

3/29/18

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.

Louisville Metro Develop Louisville, Office of Planning Permitting and Design--Construction Review

444 S. Fifth Street, Suite 100, Louisville, Kentucky 40202-4313

Notice of Application for Demolition Permit of Historic Structure      

The Office of Planning Permitting and Design--Construction Review has received a demolition permit application for the property listed below:

Subject Property:  300 S. Roy Wilkins Ave. Building #51

Case Number:    WR1052927

Subject Property:  300 S. Roy Wilkins Ave. Building #53

Case Number:    WR1052938

Subject Property:  300 S. Roy Wilkins Ave. Building #54

Case Number:    WR1052934

Subject Property:  300 S. Roy Wilkins Ave. Building #55

Case Number:    WR1052933

Subject Property:  300 S. Roy Wilkins Ave. Building #56

Case Number:    WR1052936

Subject Property:  300 S. Roy Wilkins Ave. Building #57

Case Number:    WR1052930

Subject Property:  300 S. Roy Wilkins Ave. Building #58

Case Number:    WR1052928

Subject Property:  300 S. Roy Wilkins Ave. Building #59

Case Number:    WR1052929

For more information on the Beecher Terrace Redevelopment Project visit this website: http://visionrussell.org/historic-preservation/section106/

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

Per LMCO (150.110), the requested demolition permit can be issued on the following date:

4/22/18

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.

Louisville Metro Develop Louisville, Office of Planning Permitting and Design--Construction Review

444 S. Fifth Street, Suite 100, Louisville, Kentucky 40202-4313