The annual blitz to rid Louisville Metro streets of the parting pothole gifts of winter is underway. We’re moving across the city in a grid pattern to patch all the potholes we can find. Of course, we respond to reports and patch potholes year round, but we especially want the public's help though the blitz that ends on April 30.

Here's how you can report a pothole:
On Twitter, use the hashtag 502pothole. Just include the address or intersection where the pothole is located along with the hashtag in a tweet, and you’re done. The pothole reporting form that you can find at the top of the city’s webpage, Louisvilleky.gov. Just click on the “Report a pothole” link and fill in the location information.
Contact Metro311 in one of these ways:
-Call them at 311 or 574-5000
-Download the Metro311 app on your smartphone and use it to report a pothole
-Email them at metro.311@louisvilleky.gov

LIHEAP funding deadline extended through April 30. 
Income-eligible residents of Louisville now have more time to apply for funding to help with energy bills, thanks to an extension of the deadline for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The former deadline of March 29 was recently pushed back to April 30 by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which administers the LIHEAP program through a network of 23 Community Action Agencies across the state.
LIHEAP is a federally-funded program that provides assistance to individuals or families struggling to pay their electric, natural gas or other energy bills. The current phase of LIHEAP, called the “Crisis Component”, assist households that are in a home energy crisis and that are facing disconnection from their utility services. Also again this year, residents who have received a current LG&E bill with a Past Due Balance may be eligible to apply. “The extended deadline is great news,” said Eric Friedlander, acting director of Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services, which administers LIHEAP locally as Louisville’s community action agency. “Our goal is that everyone who is eligible for LIHEAP, and in need of assistance, apply for this program.” LIHEAP Crisis operates on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted or through April 30, 2019, whichever comes first. Benefits provided by this program are paid directly to the applicant’s heating vendor.
To apply, residents must schedule an appointment utilizing the automated appointment system. Appointments can be scheduled by phone by calling 502-991-8391 or online at www.louisvilleky.cascheduler.com at one of six LIHEAP locations. The toll-free service is currently open and is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Applicants must be a resident of Jefferson County with a household income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines (e.g. for a household of four, the gross monthly income cannot exceed $2,720.00).
Applicants must also meet one of the following eligibility requirements:
        -Disconnect notice from utility service provider, or
        -Current bill with a past due amount, or
        -Eviction notice if utilities are included in the rent, or
        -Bulk fuel is within four days of running out; or
        -Pre-paid electric services are within ten days of running out.
Individuals who are unable to apply for this program in person may send an authorized representative on their behalf with a signed, written, note including the applicant’s name, address, phone number, Social Security Number, and the name of the designated representative. The authorized representative must provide a picture ID to verify they are the person designated in the note. Residents who are homebound and who are unable to send a representative may call 502/780-7937.

Per the PVA’s KRS statutory authority, they are re-evaluating the property values in Area 4 of Jefferson County this year, which includes Shively, PRP, and Valley Station. If your property value is reassessed this year, you will receive a postcard in the mail from the PVA which will be sent to all affected property owners on April 26th.
You have a right to appeal your property value reassessment. Those appeals must be made through a “conference” with the PVA by May 20th.
The PVA offers an online conference Tool available at www.jeffersonpva.ky.gov
For assistance with the PVA online Conference from PVA Staff, you can visit one of the following locations:
Walk-Ins are Welcome:
Weekdays April 29th-May 20th 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT at the Shawnee, Southwest, and Shively branches of the Louisville Free Public Library
Saturdays May 11th and 18th 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. EDT at the Shawnee and Shively branches of the Louisville Free Public Library, and 9am-1pm EDT at the offices of the Jefferson County PVA, 815 W. Market Street, suite 400.
By Appointment: Weekdays during the online conference period at our office, 815 W. Market Street, suite 400. Call us at 502-574-6224 to reserve a time.
By Telephone: If you are unable to participate in the online conference at home or in person, telephone conferences are available by appointment. Call 502-574-6224 to reserve a time.

Due to the severe thunderstorms last Sunday, the scheduled Mary M Miller cruises set for April 14 from Riverview Park was postponed. The new rescheduled date will be Sunday, June 23rd. The cruise times will remain at 1:30 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. and all reservations made with Southwest Community Ministries will be honored for the rescheduled date. Advanced reserved seats are still available and new reservations can be made by visiting Southwest Community Ministries and giving a suggested $5 minimum donation. On the day of event, seating will be on a first come first served basis.

We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you can make it on June 23rd. Let's hope for nice weather! If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the District 14 office at (502) 574-1114 or email cindy.thieneman@louisvilleky.gov.

Are you or someone you know in need of services but don't know where to look? LouieCONNECT.com is the perfect one stop resource that can connect people to a wide variety of helpful agencies.
This is a mobile optimized website that pulls together the services is our community that provide support for people experiencing a difficult time. It includes only those services that are free and provides all of the information needed to know what they offer, where they are located, when they are open, and any requirements to receive help.

If you are having an issue but don't know where to turn for help, LouieCONNECT.com could be just what you've been looking for.

JustServe.org is a free volunteer website dedicated to bringing communities together through volunteerism. Non-profits can post the need for volunteers and those in our community can go to the website and see all the opportunities to volunteer. Because the website is self-funded, they never ask for donations to maintain the website, they never sell advertising and they never sell any information. All those connected with JustServe.org are volunteers and there is no paid staff. The website is zip code driven, easy to use and 100% free.

If you are looking for volunteer opportunities, this is a perfect place to start looking! There are plenty of organizations to chose from that are conveniently located in your area.

7206 Johnsontown Rd. - LG&E has been issued Permit Number 19RW2449 to close a driving lane and sidewalk in order to replace overhead electrical equipment. Permit is valid from March 22nd to April 19th.

9225 Chenault Rd. - LG&E has been issued Permit Number 19RW2453 to close a driving lane and sidewalk in order to replace overhead equipment. Permit is valid from March 22nd to April 19th.

5001 W. Pages Ln - LG&E has been issued Permit Number 19RW2455 to close a driving lane in order to replace overhead equipment. Permit is valid from March 22nd to April 19th.

5603 W. Pages Ln. - LG&E has been issued Permit Number 19RW2456 to close a driving lane in order to replace overhead equipment. Permit is valid from March 22nd to April 19th.

12500 Old Dixie Hwy - LG&E has been issued Permit Number 19RW2561 to close a driving lane in order to install a gas main. Permit is valid from March 26th to April 22nd.

6605 W. Orell Rd. - LG&E has been issued Permit Number 19RW2560 to close a driving lane in order to install a gas main. Permit is valid from March 26th to April 22nd.

10910 Stonstreet Rd. - LG&E has been issued Permit Number 19RW2567 to close one lane in order to install a gas main. Permit is valid from March 26th to April 22nd.

11502 Deering Rd. - LG&E has been issued Permit Number 19RW2822 to close a driving lane and sidewalk in order to replace equipment on an existing pole. Permit is valid from April 8th to May 6th.

9100 Dixie Hwy - LG&E has been issued Permit Number 19RW2879 to close a driving lane in order to install gas service. Permit is valid from April 15th to May 27th.

8700 Dixie Hwy - LG&E has been issued Permit Number 19RW2880 to close a driving lane in order to install gas service. Permit is valid from April 15th to May 27th.

I get calls every week about speeding on our D14 streets - and with good reason. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that most people who are speeding through residential areas actually live in the neighborhood! You might be eager to come home after work, but that’s no excuse if a child is hit and injured. Quite literally, speed kills: If you hit a pedestrian at 20 mph, 5% will die. If you hit a pedestrian at 30 mph, 45% will die. At 40 mph, 85% will die. 

Driver behavior is crucial to safety in residential neighborhoods.  When you’re driving, go slow enough to see and respond to every new circumstance. Look under parked cars, and you may see children’s feet from the sidewalk, though you can’t see them otherwise. If it’s dark, take another 10 mph off your speed, just in case. In short, take every precaution necessary to avoid bringing tragedy to your own neighborhood.

Please use good judgment when you are driving and remember that, in most cases, traffic behind you will be forced to slow down if you do.

Interested in Volunteering?

Do you have time to participate in Meals on Wheels?

Southwest Community Ministries is looking for kindhearted, friendly people to deliver meals to home-bound seniors in the 40272 and 40258 zip codes.

Delivery takes about an hour weekly. There is a route on Tuesdays that departs from Sun Valley Community Center (10:00 am) or a route on Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays route departing from St. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital in the afternoon (3:30).

If you want to make a difference in a senior's life please contact Jessica Burnett 502-935-0310 ext. 244. 

We all know that illegal dumping--putting waste on property that is not licensed as a disposal facility--is an eyesore that is expensive to clean up, diminishes quality of life, discourages economic development and even sends plastic debris into our waterways.

That's why people caught dumping along our city's alleys, sidewalks, fields and roadsides are subject to fines and impoundment of any vehicle used in the dumping. That's where citizens can help with the problem. If you witness illegal dumping while it's happening, report it.

We've developed a new online form you can use to tell us where it happened, describe the vehicle(s) involved, preferably with license plate number(s), and even upload pictures. Of course you can always call Metro Call 311 or 574-5000. For more information about illegal dumping, including a link to the reporting form, visit our illegal dumping webpage.

Citizen photos help nab illegal dumper

Violator to pay $750

The man pictured has the honor of being the first person in 2019 to have their vehicle impounded by our Solid Waste Enforcement team because of illegal dumping. The photo was one of several taken by a citizen on March 7 while the dumping occurred in the 4400 block of Bardstown Road. The vehicle was impounded on March 20. The offender was fined $500 for the illegal dumping and hit with another $250 in impound and storage fees.

We are excited to announce the Metro Arts Community Center is now open! The building recently received a colorful new window wrap, and new programs and classes will be coming to the site, which is now known as the Metro Arts Community Center.Visit the website to view open hours, and try to solve our interact jigsaw puzzle based on Hannah Thompson's artwork!

Cartooning
Instructor: George Taylor
Ages 6-13. 1 hour sessions.
Thursdaysdays  6:30-7:30pm
Minimum enrollment 6/Maximum enrollment 12
Learn the basic principles of drawing thru the medium of cartooning with a focus on: Sketching, line, color, shading, perspective, and geometric shapes in cartooning, hand-eye coordination techniques and a basic understanding of animation.
Fee: $60

Drawing
Instructor: George Taylor
Ages 14 and older.  1.5 hr sessions.
Thursdays 6 - 7:30pm
Minimum enrollment 5/Maximum enrollment 12
The student will learn the basic principles of drawing and explore different drawing mediums. Drawing techniques include: seeing things as simple shapes, sketching, line drawing, understanding tone, perspective and vanishing points, negative space, create better hand-eye coordination thru gestural and blind eye contour techniques, composition and basic color theories. Drawing mediums will include: charcoal, graphite, conte’ crayon, pastels, pen and ink, and colored pencils.
Fee: $70

Acrylic “Make and Take” Painting 
Instructor: Rhonda Snyder
​Thursdays 5:30:00-7:30 p.m. &
Minimum enrollment 5 /Maximum enrollment 10 for both classes.
This family friendly class for ages 12+ will feature a completed acrylic painting each session! Each student will be provided step-by-step instruction on a preselected painting which will demonstrate color, contrast, highlighting, and easy paint strokes to encourage further acrylic endeavors. Elements of art and principles of design are emphasized in this class. Gesso canvas board and paint included!
Fee: $75

https://louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/metro-arts-center

Teen Space

• April 22nd; 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Join us for games, crafts or activities. We’ll do something new each week! Ages 12-19

Spring Gardening Fair

• April 27th; 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Join us for a family friendly Spring Gardening Fair featuring two hours of workshops, crafts and storytime for all ages. Visit the Food Literacy Project’s Truck Farm: a mobile, edible, educational garden; and learn how you can partake in the Shively Branch Library community garden and seed library. INSIDE: 2-3 p.m. Gardening Family Storytime & Crafts (Children/Family) How to Fold Paper Flowers (Teens/Adults) 3-4 p.m. DIY Mini Terrariums (Teens/Adults) How to Care for Houseplants (Adults) OUTSIDE: 2:30-3:30 p.m. The Food Literacy Project’s Truck Farm

http://www.lfpl.org/events/