The Bourbon & Beyond music festival will be in Champions Park this weekend - September 22-23, 2018. More information on the festival is located online at https://bourbonandbeyond.com/

Community General Information:

• Concert setup is underway and will continue until after the Louder Than Life concert, September 28-30. There is significant construction activity as part of the setup.
• The park will be closed to the public on event days.
• On non-event days, all park users should use the Zorn Avenue entrance to lessen cross-traffic challenges with event trucks.
• Champions Dog Park will remain open and accessible on all non-event days during normal park hours.
• While many areas of the park will be inaccessible, some park paths will remain open to the public on non-event days. It is very important that all dogs be on leash throughout the park at all times. (That’s the law in all parks, all the time, by the way).

The following streets will be closed during the following times:

Monday, September 17 from 10:00 a.m. until Tuesday, September 25 at 5:00 p.m.

• Edith Road from River Road to Mellwood Avenue (will be open to pedestrians) 

The following streets will have no parking during the following times:

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday (September 22-23)

• River Road – from Zorn to Witherspoon. No parking both sides of the street
• River Dell Drive – 800 block
• Highwood Drive – 800 & 900 block
• Lake Avenue – from Mellwood Avenue to N. Birchwood Avenue
• Winifrede Lane – from Mellwood Avenue to Callabell Road
• Warren Road – the entire length of the road
• Pauline Road – from Winifrede east
• Kenil Court – from Kenilworth Road to Winifrede Lane
• Callabell Road – from Kenilworth Road west (both forks)
• Edith Road – from Mellwood Avenue to Kenilworth Road
• Emily Road – from Edith Road to Kenilworth Road
• James Road – from Edith Road to Edna Road
• Edna Road – from Kenilworth Road to Thompson Road
• Thompson Road – from Edna Road to Mellwood Avenue

Help clean up Beargrass Creek!

The Beargrass Creek Alliance is sponsoring a cleanup and a removal of invasive porcelain berry on Saturday, September 22, between 9:00 a.m. and Noon. You can park at the Girl Scouts building at 2115 Lexington Road. Gloves, bags and pick-up sticks will be provided, or bring your own. It’s recommended you wear long sleeves, long pants, a hat and bug spray. Signup at www.volunteersignup.org/HWMD4.

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. 

Tickets are still on sale now for the 5th Annual Brightside Bash presented by the Republic Bank Foundation! The Brightside Bash serves as a fundraiser for the Brightside Foundation. With the generous donations and contributions from this event, Brightside is able to continue many educational programs, sustainability initiatives, and beautification projects for the community.

The Brightside Bash is tonight, Thursday, September 20 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Louisville Palace, 625 S. 4th Street. Tickets are $53.00 each. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

This year they will be introducing a new way for you to "win" some truly incredible items with the Wheel of Chance! For each item listed in the image, Brightside will be selling just 20 tickets (at the price listed.) That means you could win a week-long getaway to a cabin in Nolin Lake, KY for just $50!! For more information or to purchase your ticket to win, contact Brightside 574-2613 today! Chances go on a first come, first served basis so don't miss out! 

Some reminders from the Division of Community Forestry

Maintenance of public trees alongside private property in Louisville is the responsibility of the abutting property owners under the Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances.

A 2017 update to LMCO Chapter 102 requires a permit from the Division of Community Forestry within the Office of Sustainability/Develop Louisville before pruning, removing, or replacing these public trees. There is no charge for the permits, but the proposed activities must conform to policies established by the Division. Permits are not required for routine watering, mulching or the pruning of limbs (based on Division standards) narrower than four inches in diameter and less than seven feet above the ground that are obstructing pedestrian traffic.

The removal of a Public Tree must also include a replacement. 

Additional information about the Division’s public tree standards and permitting process can be found on the Division’s webpage. You may also contact the Division of Community Forestry at 574-3927. 

The speed and duration of flooding can vary significantly. Flooding can occur slowly as rain continues to fall for many days. This type of flooding, sometimes called a slow-onset flood, can take a week to develop and can last for months before floodwaters recede.

More danger is presented by rapid-onset floods that occur more quickly, typically developing within hours or days. Some rapid-onset floods known as flash floods occur very quickly with little or no warning, such as during periods of extremely heavy rain or when water volume is beyond system capacity.

In urban areas, flash floods can fill underpasses, viaducts, parking structures, low roads, and basements. This poses particular dangers for travelers.

Motorists should take the following precautions:

• Be aware of the likelihood of flooding in low lying areas and proceed slowly to allow time to react if a road is covered by water.
• If floodwater is blocking your route but you can turn around safely, turn around and go to a building on high ground.
• If your vehicle is trapped in rapidly moving water, stay in the vehicle. If water is rising inside the vehicle, seek refuge on the roof.
• Never drive around a barrier into flood waters

Adapted from the Federal Emergency Management Agency bulletin, How to Prepare for a Flood

Did you know there are twelve D9 Metro Parks? Louisville Parks and Recreation will be hosting open house-style public meetings this fall. Director Seve Ghose said the meetings will not necessarily focus on a particular topic but will give the public an opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns. All meetings will be held from 6-7:30 p.m.

• Thursday, September 20, Central Government Center, 7201 Outer Loop, 40228
• Thursday, October 11, East Government Center, 200 Juneau Drive, 40243
• Thursday, October 25, Berrytown Recreation Center, 1300 Heafer Road, 40223
• Thursday, November 8, Molly Leonard Portland Community Center, 640 N. 27th Street, 40212
• Thursday, November 29, Southwest Government Center, 7219 Dixie Highway, 40258
• Thursday, December 13, Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center, 201 Reservoir Avenue, 40206

Please pick a date that’s convenient for you and make your voice heard about our twelve Metro Parks in D9!

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 next Monday, September 24.   Here’s the schedule:

In-house Voting Dates:

Monday – Friday      

• September 24 – November 5, 2018          8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Saturdays

• October 20, 2018               9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• October 27, 2018               9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• November 3, 2018              9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Exercise your right to register and vote this fall!