As Hurricane Dorian continues to travel along the east coast, many consumers are seeking ways to help with disaster relief efforts. Many organizations are available to assist those in need; however, events like this also provide an opportunity for scammers looking to take advantage of the situation.

Before you give, Better Business Bureau provides the following tips for disaster relief giving:

• Do your research. Visit give.org to see the charity’s BBB Charity Report and to verify that a charity meets BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
• Don’t fall for copy-cats. Double-check the name of charities. A fraudster may use a copy-cat name that is similar to a reputable organization.
• Be wary of emails and social media. If you receive an email or see a social media post that link to a relief organization, beware. Scammers may provide links to fake websites. It is always best to go straight to the charity’s website instead or call them directly.
• High pressure tactics. Don’t feel pressured to give immediately. A charity will be happy to accept your donation today or next week.
• Be cautious of crowdfunding. If you are looking to donate through a crowdfunding site, it is best to give to someone you personally know. While donations to charities and nonprofit organizations are often tax-deductible, donations via crowdfunding sites are generally not.

For the most current list of highly dignified charities, please visit give.org.

TreesLouisville is a nonprofit organization focused on restoring urban tree canopy in Louisville.  They are partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation to provide 1500 free trees to Louisville residents. 

Louisville loses around 54,000 trees annually and this is one way we can help restore our depleted canopy. 

To participate go to arborday.org/treeslouisville, type in your address, and choose your tree! Trees will either be shipped to your home or you can pick up a larger tree at one of our two events. 

• Pickup events are scheduled for October 20, 12pm-4pm at Against the Grain Brewery, 401 E Main St, Louisville, KY 40202 or November 9, 10am-2pm at Americana Community Center 4801 Southside Dr, Louisville, KY 40214.

This is the second of four seasonal Community Canopy programs.  Last winter 870 free trees were delivered to residents of Louisville and the goal is to provide more than 3,500 free trees over the next two years. 

The following species are available: American Sycamore, Black Tupelo, Serviceberry, Redbud, Kentucky Coffeetree, Overcup Oak, Shadblow Serviceberry, Swamp White Oak, Sweetbay Magnolia, and Tulip Poplar.

If you do not have residential curbside recycling service or if you have too much for your bin/cart, we have free recycling drop-off locations around the county for your convenience. Some are staffed by Public Works employees to help with drop-off. Others are self-serve. Here's an interactive map of the drop-off locations.

What you can drop off:

Self-service and full-service locations:

• Flattened cardboard
• Paper containers and cups
• Milk, juice and soup cartons
• Newspapers/inserts, phone books, magazines, junk mail, office paper
• Plastic bottles, cups, and containers
• Glass bottles and jars
• Metal bottles and cans

Full-service locations also accept:

• Used motor oil and filters
• Used anti-freeze
• Used cooking oil

Do’s and don’ts

• Recyclable items at self-service locations may be mixed.
• They should be loose in the dumpster, not in bags.
• Items at full-service locations must be separated by material. Staff members will help unload.
• No dumping. Take up to three large items to the Waste Reduction Center free of charge.
• No liquids/paints/oils/etc. in the Self-Service dumpsters.
• Flatten cardboard to save space in the dumpster.

If the dumpster is full, contact Metro311. The crews empty them on a schedule based on how long it typically takes to fill, but sometimes they get full sooner than expected.

VITA is now offering free tax preparation to help with the following questions/topics:

• 2018 Missed Deadline
• Prior Year Returns 
• Amendments
• Tax Question 

May 13th - October 16th

• Mondays: 9AM - 4PM (Edison Center)
• Tuesdays: 9AM - 4PM (Edison Center)
• Wednesday: 11AM - 7PM (Louisville Urban League)

Saturdays at the Edison Center will run from 9AM - 3PM on Aug. 3rd, Sept. 7th, and Oct. 5th 

Edison Center - 701 W. Ormsby Ave, 2nd Floor

Louisville Urban League - 1535 W. Broadway

Call 502-574-5687 to book an appointment!

Rapid bus stations soon to be installed

Soon, you’ll see construction crews working on new bus stations. These “RAPID” stations are a visible sign of things to come – the region’s first Bus Rapid Transit system.

Linking the Gene Snyder to downtown, the RAPID will provide TARC customers improved access along the new Dixie Highway.  The new RAPID bus line will offer faster service, with fewer stops. It will also provide more comfortable stations, which will be used by the RAPID and regular bus routes.

All lanes now open on vital section of Dixie Highway

Crews on The New Dixie Highway Project have completed median construction on a critical, busy section of the roadway in the heart of Shively. The section between Herbert Avenue and Crums Lane, which links Shively City Hall and the on-ramp to I-264, opened earlier this month.  

The opening of all four lanes in this section will be a significant improvement for drivers. For the past six months, there has been only one southbound lane on this busy section of roadway – which carries an estimated 60,000 vehicles a day. For about a month, there has also only been one northbound lane on that section. Work crews also reopened lanes between Greenwood Road and Wells Drive as well as between Meyer Lane and Upper Hunters Trace.

The New Dixie Highway Project broke ground in December of 2017, and all the major components will be complete in December 2019.  Final surfacing and landscaping is slated for completion during the spring and summer of 2020.