The deadline for registering to vote in Kentucky before the 2019 Primary Election is coming up and it’s easier than ever to do so.

Monday, April 22 is the last day to register to vote in the Tuesday, May 21 election. Kentuckians can now register to vote, and check and update their registrations, online.  More information and links are at this website: http://elections.jeffersoncountyclerk.org/registration-deadlines/.

Exercise your right to register and vote in 2019!  

Below is a helpful link to street closures and no parking areas for 

Kentucky Derby Events

https://louisville-police.org/478/Kentucky-Derby-Festival-Information

Just click on the tab for more information on street closures, No Parking Areas, FAQ's & Website.

https://discover.kdf.org/?_ga=2.28778815.2004054483.1555698755-1687465532.1555698755

Churchill Downs Parking Info https://www.churchilldowns.com/visit/info/spring-meet-parking

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

The Southwest Dream Team is excited to unveil our pilot "Future Dreamers" Civic Leadership Academy. Participants will graduate from the Future Dreamers program with increased knowledge of community assets and opportunities, and will have the resources and connections necessary to help address these challenges. Our goal is for graduates to become lifelong advocates and ambassadors to improve quality of life for residents in south and southwest Louisville.

The Future Dreamers program is a series of 5 workshops taking place on

Tuesdays from 6-8pm from May 7 to June 4. 

Register to Participate

Nominate a Participant

Sponsor a Participant

Learn more about Future Dreamers and support the inaugural class here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/future-dreamers-civic-leadership-program-tickets-58642180340

A new option to report illegal dumping is the new online form

Report:

• where it happened
• describe the vehicle(s) involved
• include license plate number(s) if available
• upload pictures if available

For more information about illegal dumping, including a link to the reporting form visit our illegal dumping webpage.

Are you or someone you know in need of services but don't know where to look?

LouieCONNECT.com  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.

The annual program that helps prevent low income residents of Louisville from being disconnected from utility services began on Monday.

LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, is administered by Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services. The Crisis Component of LIHEAP will run through March 29, or until available funds have been expended, whichever comes first.

This year’s Crisis Program once again features expanded eligibility allowing residents who received a utility bill with a past due amount to apply, in addition to continuing to serve those who received a disconnect notice.

Residents wishing to apply must make an appointment in advance utilizing the automated appointment system. The toll free service is available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

Appointments can be scheduled by phone by calling 502-991-8391 or online at louisvilleky.cascheduler.com.

Applicants must be Jefferson County residents with a household income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Read more details here. 

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, twice a month if you prefer to deliver two days/month. We have a Tuesday route that departs from Sun Valley Community Center (10:00 am) or a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday route departing from Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital in the afternoon (3:30).

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

Volunteers of America have recently opened new addiction recovery locations to better serve the community. They have several programs at 1436 South Shelby Street. Freedom House is a residential program for pregnant and parenting women. Shelby Men’s Recovery Center is also located on South Shelby. This is a 90 day residential program for men, where clients are able to work while seeking treatment. They have Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) and services for men, women and families. These services are available at 2500 West Broadway and 4303 W Broadway. Transitional Housing will be available in July for homeless women with children who would like to continue their sobriety at 4303 W Broadway

If you are know someone who may be interested in VOA’s programs, please contact the intake office at 502-635-4530. They’re able to do a quick screening, verify their insurance, and set up an intake date and time.

#DareTo Defeat Epilepsy

is the largest awareness building and fundraising event of the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana and we invite you to lace up your shoes and join in this fight!  Your involvement will provide much needed help, hope, and support to the over 153,000 children, adults, and veterans living with epilepsy and their loved ones in Kentucky and southern Indiana. Its simple - register to participate, set your personal fundraising goal, recruit team members to do the same, and work together to successfully achieve your mission!  Create a cool team name to honor a loved one impacted by or who lost their life to epilepsy or a seizure disorder.   Your involvement will have a real impact as we work together to defeat epilepsy!  

It's time to sign up for a booth at the

2019 Buy Local Fair!

Help us make it local, even cooler, and that good kind of weird.  

They are now accepting booth registrations for the 2019 Buy Local Fair. You can help create the best gathering of our wonderful local Louisville community. With an estimated attendance of over 6000 people, you will be part of something big. Booth space is limited so sign-up today.

When: Sunday, May 19th; 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Where: Louisville Water Tower Park

Make it a good one, register today!

Free Training and Jobs links for Manufacturing and Construction

To find programs for FREE training and to connect people to jobs in construction and manufacturing, please click one of the following

The Career Calculator is being used in schools, career centers and libraries across the Louisville region.

Links to Workforce Resources

• KentuckianaWorks Homepage
• KY Career Centers  
• KY Health Career Center
• KY Manufacturing Career Center
• Code Louisville
• Mayor's SummerWorks
• KentuckianaWorks College Access Center
• Kentuckiana Builds
• Degrees Work
• Events Calendar 

Due to potential severe weather, the annual Mary M. Miller cruises from Riverview Park have been cancelled for Sunday, April 14^th.

The cruises, sponsored by District 12 and District 14, have been rescheduled for Sunday, June 23, 2019.  

Those who made advanced reservations through the Southwest Community Ministries will be contacted about the cancellation. All advanced reservations will be honored for the rescheduled date.

The Lou Tate Gallery at The Little Loomhouse

Side by Side: An Exhibition of Artistic Collaborations

 April 20 – May 18

Gallery Hours: Tues-Fri 10am-3pm & Sat 11am-4pm

Artist Reception, free and open to the public

Thursday, May 9th 6:30-7:30 pm 

Side by Side exhibition is made up of groups of art – one made by the student artist, one made by the professional artist, and one collaborative piece. Each design represents a lively interaction between youthful spirit and the experience of professional working artists.

Side by Side is an annual program offered by VSA Kentucky in partnership with The Kentucky School for the Blind, and The Little Loomhouse.

Additional April Events:

Help support Kenwood Heights Christian Church short-term mission team traveling to the Dominican Republic next summer.

• Saturday MAY 11
• 10:00am - 2:00pm
• Kenwood Heights Christian Church
• 5620 New Cut Road, Louisville, KY 40214

Come and shop our vendors including:

Hand Sewn & Crochet items, Baked Goods, Trades of Hope, Scentsy, Thirty-One Gifts, LipSense, Perfectly Posh, Vinyl Apparel, Drinkware and Signs, Hand Painted Gifts, Hair accessories, Baby items, Rodan and Fields, Color Street Nails, Creative Home Art, Jams and Jellies, Damsel in Defense, Hand made Jewelry, Creations, Wreaths and more!

Indoor Yard Sale Sponsored by the MSGN. McKune Council Ladies Auxiliary #2021

• Saturday May 11th
• 8:00am to 2:00pm
• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cafeteria
• New Cut Rd. and Southside Drive

Now that Yard Sale Season is back, Organizations and Neighborhoods sponsoring Yard Sales  can send their information to us and we will include in the newsletter.  Email to Barbara.Nichols@LouisvilleKy.gov

Get your garden started with low-cost plant starts from Louisville Grows’ Seeds and Starts Sale. This yearly plant sale helps community members grow and eat fresh produce from their backyards and community gardens.  Proceeds from the sale directly support Louisville Grows’ Community Garden Grant program.

At the Seeds and Starts Sale, you are able to purchase plants for your yard or community garden plots for a lower price than you’ll find in local stores.  Each spring, we use volunteer help to grow thousands of organic plants in our greenhouse to sell at-cost to the community. We offer a wide variety of heirloom and organic vegetables, flowers, fruit trees, berry bushes, soil, compost, and more. The Seeds and Starts sale will be April 20 and May 11, 2019 at the People’s Garden greenhouses (536 N. 44th Street). The Seeds and Starts program simplifies gardening for home growers and increases the number of backyard and community gardeners throughout Louisville Metro. Support local gardeners and organizations at our biggest annual fundraiser for Louisville Grows!

Visit seedsandstarts.org to pre-order plants and gardening supplies!

Click here for a Seeds and Starts Shopping List.

The Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District is working on their long-range plan and they need the feedback of Louisville's citizens. They have created a survey to find out what the top environmental resource concerns are for residents in our county.

Click the link below to access the survey.

http://jeffcd.org/home/resource-concern-survey/

Feeding Stray Cats?  Alley Cat Advocates can help get outdoor cats fixed and vaccinated at NO COST TO YOU!  

 Cat Caretakers living in the following Jefferson County zip codes 40208, 40209, 40213, 40214, 40215, 40216, 40217, 40219, 40258 and 40272 are eligible  for spay/neuter services for unowned community cats,  They will be vaccinated, spayed/neutered, treated for flea and ear-mite medicine, given a great vet visit, ear-tipped (the universal symbol of a neutered cat) and returned.

When there are no more kittens; the number of cats gradually goes down  and annoying behaviors such as yowling, fighting, spraying stop.