The Schnitzelburg and Meriwether neighborhoods will be participating in a tree planting with Louisville Grows. This will be the third planting for Schnitzelburg and the first for Meriwether. In addition to large trees, emphasis will be on right of way trees for Shelby Street and Burnett Avenue. The planting is scheduled for December 7, with Citizen Forester training on October 26. Louisville Grows and neighborhood volunteers will begin canvassing our neighbors soon to identify Treecipients.

From TreesLouisville: 

TreesLouisville has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to provide 1500+ trees to Jefferson County residents since January. We are currently in our second round of the Community Canopy program which allows residents to enter their address, outline their house, and choose the right tree for their home to maximize the benefits of a healthy ecosystem such as lowering utility bills, managing stormwater runoff, and improving air quality. Your tree will either be shipped to you later this Fall or larger sizes will be available at Against the Grain Brewery on October 20 as part of our first annual Twigs and Swigs Celebration or Americana Community Center on November 9. 

Louisville loses around 820 acres of tree canopy on a yearly basis and this is one of the ways we try to restore tree canopy across the county. The program is available to all residents of Jefferson County but residents in the following zip codes will be able to reserve two trees because certain areas of the county have been affected more heavily and we want to improve our lowest canopy areas more quickly: 

40118 40202 40203 40208 40209 40210 40211 40212 40213 40214 40215 40216 40217 40218 40219 40220 40228 40229 40258 40272 40291

Thanks for your participation and happy planting!

September 13 and 14 is Oktoberfest at the German-American Club at 1840 Lincoln Avenue in District 10. This is the club's most popular two-day event, so mark your calendars -- you don't want to miss it! Each day features live music from two bands, dancing, and plenty of German food and Gemütlichkeit!

Vendors will be on site with various German and German Style goods, and there's a playground for the kiddos! Both nights the festivities are from 4 p.m. to midnight, with the Rheingold Band performing from 4 to 8 p.m. and the Prost Band from 8 p.m. to midnight. Food is served both nights from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

Admission is a $5 special membership that lasts through the end of the year. Free additional parking is available at the Cyril Allgeier Community Center at 4101 Cadillac Court. 

It's time again for the Schnitzelburg Walk, Saturday September 14. Another full day of fun, food, beer, bands, flea market, vendors and neighborhood yard sale for free! All ages and dog friendly, too.

Shop The Flea Off Market and the Schnitzelburg neighborhood yard sale from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The second public meeting for the Eastern Parkway Transportation Study will be held on Tuesday night, Sept. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Audubon Traditional Elementary School gymnasium at 1051 Hess Lane.

At the meeting, the project team will discuss feedback received at the first public meeting that was held on July 11 and from surveys and online. A presentation is planned for 6 p.m., then the remainder of the meeting will be open house where the public can view displays and talk with the project team.

The aim of the study is to develop a design plan for historic Eastern Parkway that improves safety for all users (drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and bus riders) while honoring the parkway’s original design, intent and beauty.

District 10 neighbor VIPS, Visually Impaired Preschool Services, will have an inaugural Bike for VIPS in the Parklands on Sunday, October 13 at 9 a.m. 

From VIPS: We have experienced tremendous growth and increased the number of children we have served by 15 percent annually each year for the past four years. Our most critical need is early in-home intervention services, but VIPS also offers the ONLY preschool in Kentucky or Indiana designed with the unique needs of children with blindness prior to age 5.

This fundraiser will be key: while demand for VIPS is high, funding from historically supportive agencies has declined. Check https://www.vips.org for information on the Bike event and other ways to help VIPS. 

The Cultural Pass is now year-round!

Greater Louisville youth will now have free access to many of Greater Louisville’s arts and cultural institutions during the 2019-2020 school year. The Pass is valid for one-time general admission at each of the participating institutions between September 14, 2019, and May 31, 2020.

The 2019-2020 school year pass is presented by Republic Bank, in partnership with Metro Louisville, Fund for the Arts, Arts and Culture Alliance, Louisville Free Public Library and with support from Yum! and Kosair Charities.

For more information and to sign up, go to https://fundforthearts.org/culturalpass/

From First Hour Grief Response, a new non-profit in Louisville working in the St. Matthews area (near Trinity High School):  We provide grief support for those who have suffered a sudden loss. At this time, we do not charge for our services and we want spread the word that we are here to help. We serve those in all zip codes.

First Hour Grief Response's mission is to provide compassionate guidance and support during what may be the most difficult days of your life. For more information, call 791-9938 or go to firsthourgrief.org.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, and the last day to register or change your voting information is Monday, October 7 by 4 p.m. 

Need a ride to polls on Election Day? A. Philip Randolph Institute (774-4834) provides free rides. Lyft and Uber may be giving reduced rides to the polls, or call your local party headquarters.

If you become sick or are in the hospital, you can still vote with an Emergency Medical Ballot. Request a paper absentee ballot between Tuesday, October 22 and Tuesday, November 5. Call your local Board of Election office to get an Emergency Medical Ballot. You will have to find someone to notarize your application for a ballot and then take that application to the Board of Elections to get your ballot. Once you’ve filled out your ballot, someone must take your ballot back to the Board of Elections before 6 p.m. on Election Day

Early voting hours:

• Monday through Friday: September 23 to November 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Saturdays: October 19, October 26, and November 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

For more information please contact the Jefferson County Election Center at 574-6100 or email. 

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

• 2018 missed deadline
• Prior year returns 
• Amendments
• Tax question 

Through October 16th

• Mondays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Edison Center)
• Tuesdays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Edison Center)
• Wednesdays: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Louisville Urban League)
• Saturday, October 5 at the Edison Center: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
• Edison Center - 701 W. Ormsby Ave, 2nd Floor
• Louisville Urban League - 1535 W. Broadway

It is still possible to receive a refund for returns from the years 2016 to 2018 for those who qualify. Taxpayers earning $66,000 or less can make an appointment with a VITA team member by calling 574-5687.

Speed For All Memberships is a free income based membership program for individuals and families that the Speed Art Museum is offering to make the museum and its programs more accessible to all! Your benefits as a Speed for All Member are for two adults and all children under 18.

Benefits include free admission to the museum, including major exhibitions, four free Speed Cinema vouchers, free parking in the Speed Art Museum garage, invitations to Members-only Preview Parties and special events, free admission to Global Speed Lecture Series, and more. 

To sign up for a free membership call 634-2719

Marie is ready for a second chance at a forever home! The striking four-year-old cat was abandoned before coming to the LMAS Shelter. She’s a curious, shy girl who is friendly once she warms up to you. It’s always free to adopt adult cats, thanks to the Pay It Forward Program! Marie weighs about ten pounds. She’s already spayed, microchipped at vaccinated. To adopt Marie, visit Animal House Adoption Center, 3516 Newburg Road, Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, call 473-PETS.

Marirose is the new kid on the block this week at Animal House. The approximately four-year-old Australian Cattle Dog mix is a happy, friendly girl who is always smiling. Marirose’s adoption fee is waived for an approved adopter! She weighs about 45 pounds and her adoption includes spay, a microchip and vaccinations. Meet Marirose at Animal House Adoption Center, 3705 Manslick Road, Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Email questions about Marirose to animalservicesadoption@louisvilleky.gov, or call 473-PETS.

Sunday, September 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Iroquois Amphitheatre, enjoy a free, community-wide, multi-faith, multi-cultural, intergenerational program: Love Sings Louder. 

The Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Center has been inspired by the currently popular “mass singing initiatives” facilitated by groups like Israel’s Koolulam and Canada’s Choir!Choir!Choir!. These events bring together a diverse range of community members with the idea to stop everything for a few hours and just sing together.

In partnership with a diverse group of community leaders, groups and organizations, the Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Center will bring this experience to the Louisville community, enabling participants to enjoy the feeling of togetherness through a deep communal experience – their sounds and voices coming together to create a social choir, full of hope and optimism.

Adult programs

Nonfiction Book Club, October 1, 10:30 a.m. Call 574-1672 for title.

Fiction Book Group, Wednesday, October 2, 6:30 p.m.

Beginning Bridge Lessons, Mondays through October 28, 5:45 p.m. Register at 574-1672. 

Friends of the Library Meeting, October 14, 6:30 p.m.

Express Yourself with Flamenco, Saturday, September 21, 2 p.m. Limited to 25 participants, register at 574-1672. 

Shaker Ghost Stories with Thomas Freese, Wednesday, October 30, 6:30 p.m. 

Teen programs

Homeschool Social Club, Ages 12-18, Thursdays through October 24, 3 p.m. (except October 17). 

Movie Screening: The Mummy (1999), Saturday, October 5, 2:30 p.m., for ages 12-18. 

Stranger Things Breakout, Thursday, October 17, 3 p.m., for ages 11-18. 

Shaker Ghost Stories with Thomas Freese, Wednesday, October 30, 6:30 p.m.

After-School Halloween Party, Thursday, October 31, 3 p.m.

Children's programs

STEAM Storytime, Saturday, September 14 & October 19, 2 p.m.

Sensory Friendly Storytime, Saturday, September 28 & October 26, 10:15 a.m. 

• Silversmithing: Tuesdays, Sept. 10 to Oct. 29, 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
• Oil Painting: Wednesdays, Sept. 11 to Oct. 30, 1 to 4 p.m.
• Welding: Wednesdays, Sept. 11 to Oct. 30, 4 to 6 p.m.
• Mosaics: Wednesdays, Sept. 11 to Oct. 30, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Lost Wax: Thursdays, Sept. 12 to Oct. 31, 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
• Acrylic Make & Take, Thursdays, Sept. 12 to Oct. 31, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
• Drawing: Thursdays, Sept. 12 to Oct. 31, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• Adult Pottery: Thursdays, Sept. 12 to Oct. 31, 5 to 8 p.m.
• Watercolor: Fridays, Sept. 13 to Nov. 1, 1 to 3 p.m.
• Enameling: Fridays, Sept. 13 to Nov. 1, 1 to 4 p.m.
• Youth Pottery: Fridays, Sept.13 to Nov. 1, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
• Youth Guitar: Fridays, Sept. 13 to Nov. 1, 4 to 4:45 p.m.
• Adult Guitar: Fridays, Sept. 13 to Nov. 1, 5 to 5:45 p.m 

Call for more information at 937-2055. 

September 19, The Center for Women and Families Outreach at First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Rd (door #24) side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Thursday, 1 to 4:30 p.m. Staff with The Center for Women and Families will be on-hand to give an overview of their services which include trauma-informed advocacy and support for qualified families and individuals with supportive services, emergency shelter, sexual assault services, housing, children’s services and more. For more information, contact Nayelyi Sanchez, Domestic Violence Advocate at 581-7270.

September 23, 27 and 30, Kentucky Health Career Center at four locations. If you are looking for a job in healthcare, the Kentucky Health Care Center can help with resume writing, career assessments, training funds, job leads and referrals. A representative from the Kentucky Health Career Center, part of KentuckianaWorks, will be on hand to discuss the multiple opportunities the center has to offer. Call 595-4003 for more information. 

• September 23, South Jefferson Neighborhood Place (Valley Location), 10200 Dixie Highway, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• September 27, First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Road (T.J. Middle School in the W.D. Bruce Building – door #24), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• September 30, South Jefferson Neighborhood Place (Fairdale Location), 1000 Neighborhood Place, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

If you are interested in volunteering for one of Louisville Metro Government's Boards and Commissions, now is the time to start. By being a part of a board or commission, you will offer your time and your talents to improve the quality of life in our community.

There are approximately 100 boards and commissions with many areas of interest, including business and economic development, land planning, parks and recreation, public health and public safety.

The following boards have vacancies: 

• Metropolitan Business Development Corporation
• Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board
• Bardstown Road Overlay District
• Building Code Board of Appeals
• Cemetery Board
• Civil Service Board
• Code Enforcement Board
• Community Action Partnership
• Jefferson County Public Law Library
• Deputy Sheriff Merit Board
• Downtown Development Review Overlay Board
• Downtown Management District
• Ethics Commission
• Fire Protection Districts (Fairdale, Harrods Creek, Highview, Lake Dreamland, Lyndon, Middletown, Okolona, St. Matthews & Worthington)
• Hazard Materials Ordinance Appeals & Overseers Board
• Housing Authority Board
• Human Relations Commission Advocacy Board
• Human Relations Commission Enforcement Board
• Kentuckiana Works
• Landmarks
• Library Advisory Commission
• Louisville Arena Authority, Inc.
• Louisville Public Media
• Merit Board
• Medical Center Commission of Jefferson County
• PARC Board of Commissioners
• Police Merit Board
• Redevelopment Authority
• Science Center
• Urban Renewal Commission
• Vacant Property Review Commission
• Waterworks
• Zoo Foundation Board

To learn more about board applications, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/mayor-greg-fischer/interested-serving-board-or-commission

JustServe.org is a free volunteer website dedicated to bringing communities together through volunteerism.

From JustServe.org: 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, we never ask for donations to maintain the website, we never sell advertising and we never sell any information. All of us connected with JustServe.org are volunteers and there is no paid staff.

If you're renovating or remodeling, have a plan for disposing of the resulting debris. Construction and demolition debris in Louisville garbage and junk pickup collection is prohibited by ordinance, so hiring a hauling company or renting a dumpster may be in order. 

Options for disposal of construction and demolition debris include taking it to the Waste Reduction Center on Meriwether Avenue. Fees are variable depending on volume. More information and a fee schedule are available here. 

From the Solid Waste Management division of Louisville Metro Public Works: To handle the high volume and get collection on schedule, we shifted the daily start time of yard waste collection. Crews are now starting out on their yard waste collection routes at noon instead of the previous 6 a.m. start time. That creates a better match between the availability of yard waste collection workers and equipment.

The new schedule means the regular yard waste collection schedule will extend into the evening. However, residents should continue to set yard waste out by the morning of collection day. If yard waste has not been collected by 8 p.m. on the assigned day, residents should contact Metro311 the following morning at 311 or 574-5000.

The new RecycleCoach app features notifications about garbage, recycling, bulk waste, and yard waste collection services. 

RecycleCoach will help Solid Waste Management Services communicate better by sending special messages such as bulk waste rule reminders or suspension of services for yard waste, etc.

The app also has a “what goes where” feature to allow a person to input a certain item to get information on disposal or recycling.  Download from the App Store or Google Play.

The Center for Neighborhoods' NeighborMap comes loaded with data on neighborhood resources, grocery access, flood-plain locations, tree cover and more. NeighborMap can help individuals and community organizations visualize and understand the assets available in their neighborhoods, and identify improvements they would like to see.

Students from UofL's Kent School of Social Work contributed to the project by gathering data in urban neighborhoods, and will continue the partnership with CFN to help develop strong neighborhoods. NeighborMap was created in part with funding from Louisville Metro Government.

Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) will investigate and impose fines on anyone who comes into contact with an underground natural gas line while digging without having contacted 811 to have the lines located before digging.

Contact 811 (call 8-1-1 or submit an online locate request at 811.com) before you dig and make sure that anyone doing excavation on your behalf contacts 811 two working days before they start.

For more information, please visit lge-ku.com/safety/digging.

Some offices and VA hospitals offer a "Health Promotion Disease Prevention Program" that includes treatment methods including acupuncture, tai chi, and meditation instead of opioids, and they work with the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255, Press 1) to provide support and treatment for PTSD and depression, the leading cause of suicide for veterans.

Additional references for VA material and assistance: www.vetcenter.va.gov or 1-877-WAR-VETS or (lifestyle changes for better health) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX9fLXrF4fA 

There is also a link for sexual trauma: https://www.vetcenter.va.gov/Military_Sexual_Trauma.asp

Eligibility criteria:

•    Must be owner occupied for at least one year.
•    Not available on rental property.
•    Must meet income guidelines (See intake staff) 
•    May receive assistance once in a five year period.
•    Louisville-Jefferson County only

Types of repairs:

• Furnace repair or replacement (October-April only)
  
• A/C unit- repair or replacement (Requires medical statement, available May-Sept. only)
• Electrical repairs/upgrades
• Water line repairs/replacement
• Sewer line repairs/replacement
• Water heater repair/replacement, gas or electric.
     gas line leaks

For further information contact Jackie Wilson-Rudy at 574-5850 or Jacqueline.Wilson-rudy@louisvilleky.gov.

If you wish to make a Metro311 request, please make a report online or use the mobile app. You'll receive a service request number that will help the District 10 office assist you.

 You can report online here, or download the free mobile 311 app from your app store. Or tweet @LouMetro311 or call 574-5000. 

You can now look to see if an issue you want to report has already been reported. And you'll get notification of your issue along the way. Visit Metro311 to learn more: https://www.louisvilleky.gov/311

Louisville Metro Government's Metro Business Portal, where you apply for permits, licensing and applications with Louisville Metro, is at  https://www.louisvilleky.gov/businessportal.

We receive complaints about signs that are illegally posted on poles and at intersections in the right-of-way, including "We Buy Houses," "Express Cash" and others. 

If you walk by these signs or live somewhere where these signs are posted and may be removed safely, help clean up our community by taking them down and throwing them away. Or better yet, consider recycling the signs - search for "recycled yard sign projects" online for ideas. 

Click here to sign up for the LENSAlert (Louisville Emergency Notification System). 

In addition to receiving notifications, individuals can create a Safety Profile for themselves and their household that can include any information they want 9-1-1 and first responders to have in the event of an emergency. When individuals make an emergency call, their Safety Profile is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 call taker, allowing them to send the right responders to the right location with the right information.

Information about medical history, allergies to medication, number of residents in a home and even a picture of the family dog can all be added to a Safety Profile.