250 JCPS students have a warmer holiday thanks to community generosity and the 3rd Annual Metro Louisville Coat-A-Kid Program

Councilman David Yates (D-25) along with this year’s sponsors announced the results for another successful year for students in Jefferson County Public Schools.

Additional assistance this year was given by local Dixie Highway restaurant Khalil’s, owned by Khalil (Charlie) Batson & local “Cancer Sucks” non-profit, Shirley’s Way, founded by Mike Mulrooney. Each organization helped sponsor a Coat Drive event in partnership with the Queen of Hearts drawing this past Monday. A 55” Samsung Smart 4K TV donated by John Poynter with Century Entertainment and Furnishings, was raffled off to those who brought a new coat.  

Local Entertainer, Dusty Leigh collected over 50 coats, 3^rd Division LMPD, Lime Scooters & El Toro combined for over 30 coats.  Louisville Professional Firefighters #345, Louisville Hi-Tech Floor Covering, Rodger’s Body Shop and Empire Home Improvement gave cash donations to support the cause. The money was used to purchase new winter coats for the drive.

The JCPS Clothing Assistance Program will now distribute the 300+ coats to students before classes resume in 2020.          

What is PAL?

Parents of Addicted Loved ones is a support group of parents helping parents. They meet every week on Sundays. Our primary goal is to provide hope through education and support, at no charge, for parents dealing with addicted loved ones.

• When: Sundays; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• Where: St. Raphael the Archangel Church (2900 Bardstown Rd.) 
• For more information, please contact mmeeks13@bellsouth.net or (502) 609-0926. 

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.

VITA Tax Assistance program has been offering free tax preparation to individuals and families under a certain income bracket in our community for years. This organization depends on volunteers to help prepare taxes and greet clients. We hope you’ll consider joining the team!

If you are interested in volunteering for the 2019 tax season (January-April 2020) please email volunteer@labcservices.org. Make sure you indicate which site you would like to volunteer at (there are 11 sites available).

Volunteer trainings will start in December. Volunteers are needed to help prepare taxes AND greet clients. If interested in volunteering, please sign up by completing this Volunteer Application

Kentucky voters who wish to vote in another party's primary in the May 19, 2020 Primary Election must change their registration no later than Dec. 31, 2019.

Voters can change or update their registration at Kentucky's one-stop online voter portal, GoVoteKY.com.

Under Kentucky law, to be qualified to vote in a partisan Primary Election, a voter must have been a member of that party on Dec. 31 of the prior year or a new voter who has not changed their affiliation. Voters who change party affiliation after the Dec. 31 deadline are not eligible to vote in partisan races in the Primary Election.

Voters can verify their current registration status at GoVoteKY.com. To change party affiliation, voters may make the change on the online portal, or complete a voter registration card and return it to their county clerk. Registration forms are available at county clerks' offices.

Registration forms submitted by mail, in person, or electronically must be received by the County Clerk by Dec. 31. The Jefferson County Clerk’s Election Center is at 701 W Ormsby Ave #301.

Community Forestry Assistant - Louisville Metro 

The Division of Community Forestry is hiring a Community Forestry Assistant to monitor tree canopy status, manage community forestry projects, and assist with public education and engagement programs. Applicants must be a Certified Arborist by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or obtain within six months of employment. Proficiency with GIS is required. 

To view the full job description and apply, click here.

Program Manager - Louisville Sustainability Council

The Louisville Sustainability Council (LSC) is hiring a full-time staff person to coordinate programs, membership, volunteers, and events. The Program Manager will primarily work remotely and will report to the LSC Board Chair in the absence of an Executive Director.

To view the full job description, click here. To apply, contact Alicia Hullinger at chair@louisvillesustainabilitycouncil.org.

AmeriCorps VISTA Community Outreach Coordinator

The Food Literacy Project is hiring! They are seeking an AmeriCorps VISTA Community Outreach Coordinator to strengthen their capacity to serve low-income youth by diversifying resource development efforts and meaningfully engaging stakeholders in their work.

For more information and how to apply: click here.

AT&T Hiring 40 New Employees for the Downtown Call Center

• AT&T downtown call center is located at 534 Armory Place. 
• These are full-time, entry level sales representative positions with benefits.
• Must be 18 or older to apply. Must be proficient with computers and have basic typing skills.
• Anyone interested can apply here

Michelle Amos is the Director of Programming and Education for the Little Loomhouse. She holds her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Louisville in fiber construction. She has shown in over 50 exhibitions and has been awarded the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft Artist Residency. She has years of experience teaching with a focus on community art and special populations.

Workshops:

• Mon 01/06: Fiber & Spinning Workshop - learn how fiber is spun into yarn. Participants will card wool, finger spin a small amount of wool, and make bracelets to take home. This program is appropriate for ages 5 years to adults.
• Mon 01/13: Weaving in the Round Workshop - learn the art of Weaving in the Round. Participants will design and weave their own piece to take home. This program is appropriate for ages 5 years to adults.
• Mon 01/27: Tapestry weaving workshop - learn the art of Tapestry weaving on a lap loom. Participants will design and weave their own piece to take home. This program is appropriate for ages 7 years to adults. 

Families welcome. To register, email liz.magee@lfpl.org or call 502-964-3515

Weave a Rag Runner for Beginners Saturday December 21, 2019

Spend a lovely Saturday afternoon weaving a Rag Runner in our Top House Studio from 1 pm – 3 pm. The cost of this is $25, all supplies included. This is a fantastic opportunity at a great price. You can weave gifts for others or decorate your own dining area. Each participant will pick their own rag to weave with from our large selection. 

Drop In Weaving -ages 6 & up  December 26, 27 & 28, 2019 and January 2 & 3, 2020

Drop-In Weavings are designed for the whole family or the individual child, age 6 up to adults. Projects include purses, bags, cats on mats, mice in a bag, scarves, bean bags, and more.  We will be offering 2 sessions on Thursday & Friday. Students are welcome to join us for one or both! Or Both Days.*  *Students that register for both sessions will have the option of making 2 separate projects or using both sessions to make one larger project. If students register for both sessions, please bring a sack lunch.   

January 4, 2020

12:30 pm - 2:00 pm  Intro to Weaving - beginners class is perfect for you. Work with a knowledgeable and patient instructor. The cost is $25 a person for the 1.5 hour class, all supplies are included.  Ages: 15 years and up

2:30 pm - 4:00 pm Intro to Spinning Yarn - Learn how to turn fiber into yarn on a drop spindle and begin to spin your own yarn. The one and half hour class is $25.00 and includes supplies.  Ages: 13 years – adult

We will be closed on Tuesday, December 24th and Wednesday, December 25th and Tuesday, Dec 31st and Wednesday, Jan 1st in honor of the New Year Holiday so our Volunteers and Employees can enjoy this holiday with their families.

Space is limited for all classes, so please call 502-367-4792 to register in advance. Beginners welcome and encouraged. No experience needed.

Seasonal Christmas tree drop-off will also include leaves this year. Starting December 26, drop-off sites will be available for all Louisville/Jefferson County residents at four locations. All lights and ornaments should be removed from trees before they are set out or dropped off. Residents may also drop off loose leaves. Containers used to bring leaves to the drop-off sites must be disposed of off-site by residents.

DROP OFF LOCATION

• Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Waste Reduction Center will close at 3 p.m. on Saturdays
• December 26 - January 31, all locations will be closed on Wednesday, January 1. 
• Public Works Yard
• 10500 Lower River Road (enter from Bethany Lane)

The common practice of online shopping means we have a lot of extra waste at home. From bubble wrap to cardboard to padded envelopes and air pillows, the list goes on. The best thing to do is reuse the items - refill the boxes, pack fragile items with bubble wrap or air pillows, mail something else in the envelopes, or use items for craft projects. (Or you can always donate to someone else to reuse.) But if you find yourself needing to dispose of them, here's some useful information:

• Cardboard Boxes - Please recycle your cardboard! Flatten the boxes to conserve space in your own recycling bin or in our recycling dumpsters around town. Don't put them out for Large Item Collection ("junk") because they won't get recycled. 

• Bubble Wrap, Air Pillows - These can be recycled with plastic bags at participating retail stores. Keep them out of your home recycling containers and drop off recycling dumpsters. 

• Padded Envelopes - To know what to do with these, you have to know what they're made of. Some envelopes have paper surrounding bubble wrap. These cannot be recycled since they are made of a mix of materials. Some are all plastic and can go with the bubble wrap (see above). If the padding is made of all paper, the envelope can go in your home recycling containers or drop off recycling dumpsters. 

• Styrofoam - Large blocks of Styrofoam can be recycled at Foam Fabricators, 950 Progress Blvd, New Albany, IN. They must be clean and free of tape and stickers. They do not accept any other form of Styrofoam. And Styrofoam is NOT accepted in curbside recycling or drop off recycling dumpsters

Convicted offenders required to self-report; pet organizations must check list before adopting out or selling a pet

Louisville Metro Animal Services (LMAS) is reminding residents that a new Louisville ordinance that took effect Tuesday requires the name of any person convicted of animal abuse in Jefferson County to be placed on an Animal Abuse Registry.  

LMAS will notify convicted offenders of the requirement to self-register and pay an annual registration fee of $100. Offenders will remain on the registry for a period of two years. Pet stores, shelters and animal organizations that offer pet adoptions and sales are required to check the registry before allowing a person to adopt or purchase a pet.

Under the ordinance, LMAS will maintain the Animal Abuse Registry, updating it at least once every 30 days. Anyone convicted of animal abuse outside of Jefferson County must register within 10 days of establishing residency. Failure to register or comply with the registry could result in a maximum 60 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. To view the Animal Abuse Registry and read the ordinance, visit www.louisvilleky.gov/animalservices.