Join the Louisville Parks Foundation, Hunger Skateparks, Home Skateshop, Mayor Fischer, D9 and the Irish Hill Neighborhood Association at the official grand opening of the Breslin Skate Spot today, Thursday, August 30 at 11:00 a.m. at Breslin Park, 1388 Lexington Road. Pictured is a large group working at the site last Saturday. More information about the Skate Spot is in this WDRB report.

A much-needed shade structure is also being added to Breslin Park. It’s expected to be completed by the end of September.

There will be no residential garbage, recycling or yard waste collection within the Louisville Metro Urban Services District (former Louisville city limits) on Monday, September 3, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Collection through the week will be delayed by one day beginning with the regular Monday pickups occurring on Tuesday.

Garbage pickup in St. Matthews will also be delayed because of the holiday.

Other District 9 residents who rely on private haulers for garbage, recycling and yard waste collection should consult those haulers about holiday collection schedules.

Also, Jefferson County staffed recycling, hazardous waste and waste reduction facilities will be closed on Saturday, September 1 in recognition of the holiday and closed on Monday as usual.

Thousands of cyclists, walkers, canoeists and kayakers will hit the streets and the Ohio River on Labor Day, Monday, September 3, for the 26th Hike, Bike & Paddle at Waterfront Park.

Subway Restaurants is again the title sponsor of the events. It will be distributing $2.00 gift cards at the Subway tent. 

Paddlers will begin their adventurous five-mile course at 10 a.m., taking their canoes and kayaks through the McAlpine Locks and Dam to the Jaycees Boat Ramp in New Albany. Participants will launch their canoes or kayaks at the ramp located at the Harbor Lawn of Waterfront Park. Paddlers can drop their boats off at the “Green” parking lot near River Road and Witherspoon Street from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. Patrons will have the opportunity to try their hand at stand-up paddle boarding provided by Kentucky Paddleboarding LLC until 1:00 p.m.

For cyclists, a 15.5-mile route will leave Waterfront Park and go west to Shawnee Park and back to Waterfront Park. Bicyclists choosing not to complete the entire route to Iroquois Park can simply turn around to return to Waterfront Park.

The hiking route features three different routes to accommodate all participants, including those with four legs. Nu Image Fitness will lead the 5K hike along Waterfront Park and over the Big Four Bridge to Jeffersonville, and back to the Great Lawn. Because dogs are not allowed on the bridge, hikers with animals will be directed on a separate path leading to the Louisville Community Boathouse and back to the Great Lawn. For those needing a shortened route, the third option will travel along Waterfront Park and turn around at the Big Four Bridge. It is wheelchair and stroller-accessible. Walkers may bring dogs to participate in the hike, as long as the animal is on a leash and owners pick up waste during the walk, as required by law.

More than 50 vendors and information booths will open at 8:30 a.m. at Waterfront Park.  Participants can take home one of the 3,000 free Subway Fresh Fit Hike, Bike & Paddle T-shirts commemorating the event. These are available while supplies last.

Participants are encouraged to be “green” and bring their own water bottles which they will be able to fill at Waterfront Park and at various water stations along the routes, as part of Louisville Water’s Pure Tap To Go program.

To view interactive route maps and for more information, go to hikebikeandpaddle.org. 

The Clifton Community Council is hosting a neighborhood meeting on Tuesday, September 4, at 6:00 p.m. at the Northeast Christian Church – Clifton Campus, 131 Vernon Avenue in Fellowship Hall. Parking is available in the rear of the building. This meeting has been scheduled to further discuss the proposed two rezoning cases (shown below with links to the Planning Commission files) prior to scheduled Planning Commission public hearings on Thursday, September 20. If you are not able to attend the hearings, you may submit your comments to the Planning Commission prior to September 20th. Case manager is Joel Dock, Planner II, 502-574-5860, joel.dock@louisvilleky.gov. 

Earlier this week, a Planning Commission committee scheduled the cases for the September 20 public hearings. I spoke at the committee to note that no intended use of either property had been revealed, which makes it impossible to require further review if the use changes. The current rezoning applications would allow any C-1 use and other uses with a Conditional Use Permit. A listing of permitted uses is here. As with all rezoning cases, I urge people to make their voices heard at neighborhood meetings like the one next week, the public hearing and/or by email. 

1860-1864 Frankfort Ave., Case – 18ZONE1039

• Third Lutheran Church and parsonage
• The proposed re-zoning is from R7 to C-1
• With a ‘conditional use permit’ to retain the 34 parking spaces in the rear, 145 Stoll Ave.

1749 Frankfort Ave., Case – 18ZONE1038

• The proposed re-zoning is from R5B to C-1
• A residential property next to the former HillTop Theatre and its parking lot

A free event open to everyone to mark the return of school and to promote healthy exercise is almost here. Mark your calendars for the 19th Annual Back to School Block Party at the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center, 201 Reservoir Park on Friday, September 7th from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.  Enjoy FREE pizza, swimming, door prizes and family fun!  Make a child ID with LMPD. Click here to view the flyer.

Youth door prizes are still being accepted. If you are interested in donating a new children’s item or gift card, please contact the office at 574-3908 or email Kyle Ethridge. 

Thank you to sponsors who have already committed door prizes: 5-0-Lou, Blue Dog Bakery, Carmichael’s Bookstore, Café Classico, Crescent Hill Trading Company, Dairy Del, Graeter’s Ice Cream (St. Matthews), Heine Brothers' Coffee, Just Creations, Margaret's Consignments, McDonalds (Clifton), Red Hog Butcher, and Roar-Shack Bookstore.

Join the Frankfort Avenue Business Association on Sunday, September 9 for the 26th Annual Taste of Frankfort Avenue at The Mellwood Art and Entertainment Center! 

This year's taste will coincide with the Mellwood Art Fair and the new location means that the Taste will be bigger and better than ever! In addition to tastings galore from over 20 of Louisville's best eateries, you'll also get to sample some of The Avenue's most unique shopping destinations. 

Tickets are on sale now! $45 for General Admission. $100 for the Sip and Swig VIP Room. Proceeds from this year's Taste of Frankfort Avenue will benefit United Crescent Hill Ministries.

Buy your tickets here.

Nominate a neighbor for the Brightside Awards! The awards will be presented at the Brightside Bash presented by the Republic Bank Foundation on September 20 at the Louisville Palace Theatre. Brightside asks residents to nominate a friend, neighbor, family member, colleague or company to be recognized for their dedication to keeping our city clean and green. The nomination window will close on Friday, August 31st at midnight. The nomination form can be found at Brightside’s website: www.brightsideinc.org.

Awards include:

• Fred Wiche Volunteer of the Year Award to honor one outstanding volunteer for their valuable and selfless commitment to keeping Louisville clean and green, their dedication and contribution to building of Brightside awareness, and their demonstration of Brightside’s core mission.
• Brightside One Bright City Award to recognize a community group which, in addition to contributing many hours, demonstrates outstanding passion and commitment and is instrumental to Brightside’s activities, programs and mission.
• Brightside Green Acorn Award for Outstanding Youth Leadership to recognize that youth volunteers are not only the leaders of tomorrow – they are the leaders of today.
• Mayor’s Brightside Award for Outstanding Corporate Engagement to recognize a company that shows an exemplary overall approach to corporate volunteering and community engagement through Brightside and its mission.
• Brightside One Bright Future Award to recognize an exceptional individual who is an emerging leader in his or her business or profession, who gives back to the community through or with Brightside and who clearly serves as a role model for both young men and women personally and professionally.

The Brightside Bash presented by the Republic Bank Foundation serves as a fundraiser for the Brightside Foundation. With the generous donations and contributions from this event, Brightside is able to continue its educational programs, sustainability initiatives, and beautification projects for the community.

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. 

Louisville Metro Parks is asking the public to take the below survey about public golf courses in Louisville. Parks is looking for comments from golfers as well as non-golfers. Please take a few minutes to fill it out. Only one response per device is allowed. The survey is available here.

The work at United Crescent Hill Ministries (UCHM) would not be possible without support from over 350 volunteers! Please consider signing up to donate your time to this great organization.

Current Volunteer Opportunities Include:

• Food Pantry Volunteer – food pantry volunteers assist with stocking and organizing food, assembling food boxes for families and helping clients with their needs.
• Donation Pick-up – volunteers transport food donations to and from various partners including the Dare to Care Warehouse and Kroger.
• Utility Assistance Volunteer – provide one-on-one support to clients needing financial assistance with electric or water bills.
• Meals on Wheels – provide warm meals to homebound seniors.
• Community Meal Volunteer – assist the senior program coordinator with meal preparation during the weekly senior community meals.
• United Learned After-School Program volunteer – provide homework help and tutoring to students enrolled in the after-school program.
• United Learning Summer Camp Leaders – provide supervisor and support during the 6-week enrichment summer camp series.
• Front Desk Volunteer – assist with administrative duties such as answering the phone, fielding client questions and coordinating community between clients and food pantry volunteers.

For more information about the volunteer opportunities, hours and to apply, please click here.

If someone close to you were very depressed, or having suicidal thoughts -- would you recognize it, or know what to do or say? 

Far more people die from suicides than homicides in Louisville and we hope you will make plans to join a training on suicide prevention the week of September 9 - 15, National Suicide Prevention Week.

There are more than 80 free trainings on a proven suicide prevention technique being offered around our city.  Anyone 18 or older can take the training.  You need no health, healthcare, mental health or counseling knowledge to participate.  The training, called Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), helps participants learn the myths about suicide as well as warning signs, and includes how to give someone hope and help.

Anyone who is interested can visit QPRLOU.com to find and register for classes being offered all over the city.  Please make plans to help prevent suicides by joining a training in September! 

Louisville Forward’s Small Business Development team is accepting applications for the second cohort of the city’s Entrée-preneurship Series, a free program designed to foster the development of new restaurateurs and food entrepreneurs.

The interactive 10-class series, originally called the Food Entrepreneurship Series, will run from September 8 to December 1, and will be taught by local industry-leading professionals. All classes will meet at Chef Space, 1812 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., on Saturdays from 8:30 – 11:00 a.m.

Registration is open, but space is limited. To participate, individuals must be over 18 years of age, attend 9 of the 10 classes and be a Louisville resident. There is no fee to participate in the series. Upon completion of the program, participants will receive continued assistance and connections to resources from Louisville Forward’s small business development team. 

To apply for the Entrée-preneurship Series, visit

https://louisvilleky.gov/government/louisville-forward/entree-preneurship-series.

Schedule and class descriptions are listed below.

1. September 8 - Customer Service
2. September 15 - Employee Orientation and Training
3. September 22 - Kitchen Set-Up and Menu Development
4. October 6 - Purchasing and Managing Food Cost
5. October 13 - Health and Safety Regulations
6. October 20 - Auxiliary Food Services 
7. November 3 - Management Training
8. November 10 - Marketing and Branding
9. November 17 - Accounting and Cash Handling 
10. December 1 - Safety: Inside and Outside 

The deadline for registering to vote in Kentucky before the 2018 General Election is rapidly approaching and it’s easier than ever to do so.

Tuesday, October 9 is the last day to register to vote in the November 6 election. Kentuckians can now register to vote, and check and update their registrations online, at this website.  

Voters who will be outside Jefferson County on Election Day are among those who can vote absentee.  More information about voting absentee, both by mail and in-house, is here.

If you qualify to vote by absentee ballot, you can do that at the Jefferson County Clerk’s Election Center, which has moved to 701 West Ormsby Avenue, Suite 301, beginning September 24.   Here’s the schedule:

In-house Voting Dates

Monday – Friday 

• September 24, 2018 – November 5, 2018 from 8:30am – 4:30pm

Saturdays 

• October 20, 2018 from 9:00am – 3:00pm
• October 27, 2018 from 9:00am – 3:00pm
• November 3, 2018 from 9:00am – 3:00pm

Exercise your right to register and vote this fall!