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Dear Neighbor and Friend,
This newsletter is dedicated to Mothers everywhere, and my message space is dedicated to Teachers and Nurses. All of you ROCK!
Have a great week teachers, nurses and moms. We are grateful to you, and we love you thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much!
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.
-William A. Ward
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”
~ Maya Angelou ~
Councilwoman McCraney will host her first virtual “Muffins with McCraney" on May 23, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Grab a muffin from your pantry, fix yourself a bowl of cereal or prepare a full breakfast; brew some coffee, get comfortable and tune in to ZOOM to ask questions, make comments and share your thoughts about your local government or anything else of interest to you.
The ZOOM invitation will be included in next week's e-Newsletter, or a special e-blast will be sent to you with log-on information.
This is staying together - apart - at its finest. Social distancing works! Stay tuned for more information.
The Next Budget Committee Public Meeting is May 13, 2020.
Register to speak at the public hearings. For the May 13th meeting, registration is May 12 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To sign up, go to the Metro Council Clerk’s website at:
https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council/metro-council-clerk
If you do not have access to the internet, you may register by calling the Metro Council Clerk’s Office at 502-574-3902 during the same period listed above for registration, and you will be provided the information to call in for the meeting.
Non-participants can view the meeting live on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 or on UVERSE at Channel 99. Proceedings will be streamed live from the Metro Council Clerk’s Archived Media page at http://louisville.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2
To view the 2020 - 2021 Recommended Executive Budget Document in its entirety (Size is 9.42 MB), click here.
To view the 2020 - 2021 Recommended Detail Budget Document (Size is 6.14 MB), click here.
To view the video of Mayor Fischer presenting the budget to the Metro Council, click this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCET7DNP3jI&feature=youtu.be
JCPS to Launch CARE Hotline
313-CARE to offer assistance and referrals for services, basic needs
Families can call 313-CARE (2273) for assistance and referrals related to medical services, drug and alcohol addiction help, homelessness and basic needs such as food, housing and utilities, among other supports.
The CARE line will be operated by professionals from the Academic Support Programs Department and includes school counselors, mental health practitioners, Family Resource Youth Services coordinators, and coordinators from the departments of Early Childhood, Health Services and Community Supports.
“We know there is a tremendous amount of anxiety and uncertainly right now beyond how students are going to complete their school work,” said JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio. “Many of our families are concerned about jobs, how they’re going to pay rent, how they’re going to keep food on the table. The JCPS CARE line connects families with professionals who will be able to walk callers through the resources that are available and help connect them to the services they need.”
"The 313-CARES hotline is for JCPS students to connect to services they normally get at school. For example a student who may be going through anxiety or depression would normally be able to walk down the hall to the office of the mental health services practitioner in the building. For another example, if we have a student who may have become homeless during the pandemic as defined by McKinney Vento Act, they qualify for services specific to homeless children that are administered by schools. Essentially, this hotline simply connects our students to our non-instructional support staff," stated Abby Piper, JCPS Executive Administrator, Government/Community Relations.
CARE operators will be able to offer assistance, resources and referrals for:
- Basic needs, including food, utilities, clothing, public transportation and housing
- Medical services
- Emotional/ behavioral/ mental health
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction support
- Unemployment
- Homelessness
The line will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, until May 29. The district will evaluate the response and determine if there’s a need for it to continue over the summer and into next year.
Families can continue to call 313-HELP for general JCPS-related questions.
Follow JCPS online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Virtual Graduation Ceremonies, Light-Ups and Videos top the list
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) will celebrate its graduating seniors with several events and recognition programs, including virtual graduation ceremonies. Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio announced the plans at a web-based news conference today.
“All of us sympathize with this special senior class that will finish high school without many of the events and ceremonies that traditionally mark this important occasion,” Pollio said. “JCPS and our community partners are stepping up to recognize the historic Class of 2020 in unique ways that celebrate their achievements in ways they can experience from home.”
Here is a list of the planned programs:
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VIRTUAL GRADUATION CEREMONIES – JCPS is live streaming 25 graduation ceremonies on YouTube featuring speeches and a reading of all seniors’ names the last week of May. Full videos of the virtual graduations will be posted on YouTube and on the JCPS website. A few schools with small graduating classes will share a ceremony.
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STADIUM LIGHT UPS – The lights will be on at every JCPS high school football stadium Friday from 8-9 p.m. to highlight the Class of 2020. Louisville City FC’s Lynn Family Stadium will be lit up from 8 p.m. – midnight on May 8th to celebrate all local high schools’ seniors.
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TARC BUS ADS – Beginning May 18th, the sides of 21 TARC busses will have a banner with the name of a JCPS high school and the names of every senior in that high schools’ graduating class.
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CLASS OF 2020 VIDEOS – JCPS is producing videos for each of the 28 schools with graduating seniors. WAVE, WDRB, WHAS and WLKY plan to air the videos in their newscasts over the next three weeks. The videos are also being released on JCPS’ social media sites.
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RADIO – WHAS Radio will be airing the graduation speeches of several JCPS seniors during the Tony and Dwight Show. WAMZ plans to run 30-second “moments” from seniors recounting their senior years and thanking their classmates and teachers.
Several JCPS high schools are planning recognitions on their own including placing signs in the yards of graduating seniors.
“I still hope to have in-person graduation ceremonies and celebrations for every 2020 graduate this fall,” Pollio said. “But just in case we can’t, I want our seniors to know that we did our best to make the end of their high school career as special as possible.”
Now is a great time to consider taking advantage of the Lawn Care for Cleaner Air program of the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District. You can save up to $100 on a new, air-friendly electric-powered mower in addition to smaller amounts on electric string trimmers, electric blowers, and reel mowers. Not only will you save a little cash, you will help lower air pollution in our city. For more information about Lawn Care for Cleaner Air, please email us or call us at (502) 574-6000.
If you want to have less grass to mow to begin with, check out our Grow More Mow Less program page.
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As you can see, the clean-air savings are substantial:
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The CDC has recommended that passengers wear face coverings to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. These coverings should be secured over the nose and mouth, fit appropriately, and be otherwise compliant with CDC directives. Cloth or medical masks are acceptable and homemade face coverings using household items are absolutely acceptable. The CDC has also recommended limiting interaction on buses to the extent practical. By requiring passengers to exit the bus through the rear doors, interactions between drivers and passengers will be cut in half.
Beginning Sunday, April 26, in a continued effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, TARC implemented two new measures:
- All passengers are required to exit the rear doors
- All passengers are required to wear a face covering
The only exceptions to these two new rules will be that those with mobility issues may choose the exit best suited to them, and children under 2 and those passengers with breathing difficulties will be exempt from wearing a face covering.
“These additional requirements improve the level of safety for our riders and drivers, and support the best practices for COVID-19 prevention for our entire community,” said Laura Douglas, TARC Co-Executive Director.
“TARC cares about our drivers and passengers. These measures reflect TARC’s ongoing commitment to their safety amidst this crisis. Please, cover up and step back,” said Margaret Handmaker, TARC Co-Executive Director.
TARC drivers are “critical infrastructure workers” under federal law. While we recognize that TARC’s safety changes may place additional burdens on our riders, we are asking for the community’s help in protecting our drivers. Even though PPEs and masks are in short supply, or it may take an extra moment to make a face covering at home, it is still vitally important that TARC’s workers are protected, and that those they come into contact with are protected.
TARC would also like to issue a reminder that ridership on ALL TARC BUSES remains limited to “essential services only.” For those traveling for essential needs but who are not essential workers, if able, please avoid traveling on TARC during the peak travel times of 6am to 9am, and 2pm to 6pm. Click here to see examples of essential trips: Essential trips
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Apply for a 30% Senior Discount on Sewer Services
If you'd like to apply for a 30% Senior Citizen Discount of the amount billed for sanitary sewer service and the EPA Consent Decree Surcharge, please print, complete and return the form. You must be able to provide documentation verifying:
- you are the legal title/leaseholder/renter of the property
- you are 65 years of age or older
- your household gross income is $35,000 or less per year.
Click HERE for the form.
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In lieu of onsite science education, Kentucky Science Center will provide virtual content called “Do Science at Home” which will be shared on all of its digital channels.
Follow Center on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!
These fun and educational tutorials are a great way to have a blast with children of all ages. We may not be able to visit the Science Center in person, but that doesn't mean we have to give up all of the exciting opportunities it offers!
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Case information
As of 5 p.m. May 7, Gov. Beshear said there were at least 6,128 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 208 of which were newly confirmed Thursday. The Governor read out several ages of the day’s positive cases, which demonstrated that all age ranges are contracting the virus.
Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear also reported 11 new deaths Thursday, raising the state’s toll to 294 deaths related to the virus. At least 2,177 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
Phase 2 Reopening of the Economy
Gov. Beshear said that as long as Kentucky keeps up the fight against the coronavirus with promising results, the following business sectors are in line to restart:
- May 11 – Manufacturing, construction, vehicle and vessel dealerships, professional services (at 50% of pre-outbreak capacity), horse racing (without spectators), pet grooming and boarding
- May 20 – Retail, houses of worship
- May 22 – Restaurants, with limited 33% capacity and outdoor seating
All businesses should follow the 10 rules of staying healthy at work as well as industry-specific guidance, which will be issued as soon
May 25 - Social gatherings of no more than 10 people, barbers, salongs, cosmetology businesses and similar services
June 1 – Movie theaters, fitness centers
June 11 – Campgrounds, public and private
June 15 – Child care, with reduced capacity; and potentially low-touch and outdoor youth sports
“We are opening our restaurants on a limited inside capacity plus unlimited outdoor seating if they can get the spacing that is needed,” Gov. Beshear said. “This allows restaurants to be open for Memorial Day weekend, but please be careful.”
The Governor added that Phase 3 is coming July 1 with bars, with limitations, and gatherings up to 50 people allowed.
Houses of worship would be allowed in-person services at a reduced capacity and everything is contingent on being able to do social distancing, cleaning, sanitation and other accommodations.
“A crowd is still going to be a dangerous thing until we are further along in defeating this virus,” Gov. Beshear said. “It’s something we need to continue to avoid.”
Healthy at Work reopening process During the Healthy at Work phases, the Department for Public Health will evaluate individual businesses’ ability to safely reopen. Industry groups and trade associations are encouraged to communicate with and gather input from their membership to develop and submit reopen proposals on behalf of their members. Individual businesses may submit via the online reopen form. All proposals will be evaluated according to White House guidelines and other public health criteria. This step will ensure that Kentucky businesses are able to comply with public health protocols and CDC guidelines.
To read related press release from Governor’s Office, Click HERE
For additional information, including up-to-date lists of positive cases and deaths, as well as breakdowns of coronavirus infections by county, race and ethnicity, click here.
More information:
Read about other key updates, actions and information from Gov. Beshear and his administration at governor.ky.gov, kycovid19.ky.gov and the Governor’s official social media accounts Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
A Steady and Measured Opening Saves Lives...
A study released earlier this week warned that it is too soon to ease Louisville’s social distancing strategy, which is working to slow the spread of the disease and “flatten the curve” of infection. The study was co-authored by Dr. Sarah Moyer, Metro Louisville’s chief health strategist, who said Indiana’s rush to reopen is far too risky at this point.
“Quite frankly, it scares me,” Dr. Moyer said. “In Kentucky, we’re opening up more slowly. We have fewer cases and deaths. We need to keep it that way.”
Mayor Fischer again urged his fellow Louisvillians to avoid the temptation to cross the Ohio River to dine out at a reopened restaurant or visit a barber for a haircut in Southern Indiana.
“The data tell us that it's just too soon to do things like go to restaurants and malls. Don’t get me wrong, I love our local restaurants. I get carry-out almost every day. But the truth is that even at reduced capacity, an indoor dining area is like a buffet for the virus,” the Mayor said.
This study gives us important guidance on how we can more safely reopen in the coming weeks – which starts with maintaining our current social distancing measures, and adding even stronger containment measures, like expanded testing and contact tracing,” the Mayor said.
Read the study at www.louisville.edu/sphis/documents-and-pdfs/JCCOVID19PredictionWeek1Report5120distribution.pdf
Daily COVID-19 data
As of Wednesday, there have been 37 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Louisville, bringing the total to 1,513 with 863 recoveries. There have been no additional deaths since Tuesday. The confirmed Louisville total remains at 108.
Currently, 65 members of LMPD, Louisville Fire, Metro EMS, Metro Corrections and the Sheriff’s Office are off-duty due to COVID-19:
- 23 are off with positive tests and in self-isolation.
- 33 are off and quarantined due to exposure to someone with a positive test.
- 9 are “screened off” with symptoms and tested, or due to be tested, but have not received test results.
Positive test numbers for first responders/public safety since the incident began:
- 35 positive tests.
- 12 have fully recovered and returned to duty.
Metro Corrections inmate data for May 6:
- 164 inmates have been tested.
- 1 test is pending.
Testing to be ramped up at Metro Corrections
In response to an uptick in cases of COVID-19 among Metro Corrections employees, Mayor Fischer today said that testing will be ramped up at Louisville’s Jail to ensure the disease does not get a foothold in the facility.
Seventeen Metro Corrections employees have tested positive for COVID-19, while another seven are awaiting test results. Thirty-one employees are in self-quarantine due to possible exposure to the virus.
“Over the last week, we’ve seen a troubling increase in positive tests among our corrections officers,” the Mayor said. “So, we’re increasing testing and taking additional steps to halt the spread of the virus in our jail.”
Fortunately, no inmates have tested positive for COVID-19, although the jail has housed inmates who were known to have the virus. There will now be broader testing to include asymptomatic employees and inmates, with plans to do 200 more tests later this week.
Are you interested in being tested for the COVID-19 virus? If so, here's your opportunity.
All testing sites: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/health-wellness/louisville-covid-19-response-testing
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Shawnee Park
As part of a partnership between the state, Kroger Health and Louisville Metro, mobile COVID-19 testing is being provided at Shawnee Park.
To accommodate a safe and secure testing site, some pedestrian access and all motor vehicle access in the park for personal use has been restricted. However, Shawnee Park will remain open to walkers, runners, and bicyclists who want to use the Paul Bather Sports Complex on the northwest side of the park and Paul Hornung Field on northeast corner of the park.
Sign-up at krogerhealth.com/covidtesting. On the homepage, a virtual assessment guide will ask screening questions, or you may call 1-888-852-2567 and select option 3 for support.
Testing will be conducted from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays through Friday, May 15. The tests are available to the general public, but you must register at www.thelittleclinic.com/drivethru-testing to be screened and scheduled.
MAP: www.louisvilleky.gov/sites/default/files/mayors_office/pdf_files/shawnee_testing_map.pdf
Bashford Manor
Governor Andy Beshear announced a new statewide partnership with Walmart, which will help Louisville test more people for COVID-19.
Testing started April 29th at Walmart's Bashford Manor location. It is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Online registration is required.
The site will test up to 200 people each day. It will be open to first responders and healthcare workers, regardless of symptoms, plus anyone over 18 who is showing symptoms.
To sign up for the Walmart testing, click here,
or register here at: https://doineedacovid19test.com/Louisville.htm
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Beginning May 11th, all Kentuckians will be required to wear masks in public. Police will not enforce or write tickets, however businesses are encouraged to reject service to citizens refusing to participate.
“This isn’t something you can be fined for, and again no one is going to be arrested for not wearing a mask,” the Governor said. “But should you if you’re going to the grocery store? Yes. Think about it: None of us knows if we are infected but asymptomatic with this virus. This protects you and other people.”
He said every Kentuckian should wear a mask when going to the grocery, into any place of business or any place where social distancing of keeping at least six-feet apart might be broken.
Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner for the Department for Public Health, displayed a variety of available mask designs and showed proper use.
“When you wear these, it has to cover your nose and go beneath your mouth,” Dr. Stack said. “Ideally, it also should go below your chin.”
For more infromation about how to wear masks correctly and how to make your own, click on the link below: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
Do your part to protect yourself and others during the coronavirus pandemic. Since the CDC now recommends that everyone wear cloth face coverings in public, especially in grocery stores and pharmacies, it's more important than ever to make sure your face is properly covered. You can easily sew your own mask if you have fabric scraps and basic sewing skills, but just in case you need protection in a pinch, we've got you covered.
We've followed the U.S. Surgeon General's guidelines to create an easy-to-follow visual demonstration of how to make your own no-sew mask from something as simple as a cotton bandana (we found ours at Tractor Supply), t-shirt, or hand towel, plus a set of elastics and a standard coffee filter.
What you need:
- 2 rubber bands, hair elastics, or similar
- cotton bandana, t-shirt, or similar cotton fabric
- coffee filter or paper towel
While a bandana provides a basic level of coverage the CDC also recommends adding a coffee filter or similar paper material as an added layer of protection against potentially harmful particles in the air. For easy instructions, watch the video above, and simply add the filter as you fold the bandana, as shown below.
As we mentioned, a bandana is great in a pinch, but cotton fabrics with a tighter weave (like quilting fabrics or flannel) have proven to be even more effective. You can use the same no-sew folding method for any fabric square!
Don't forget: The CDC recommends machine-washing your mask or face covering—in this case, your bandana— on a regular basis, especially if you're wearing the mask frequently.
Article by: Natalie Schumann , Assistant Editor at Country Living, where she covers country music and entertainment news
To the world you are a mother, but to your family you are the world.
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“To the world you are a Mother, but to your family you are the World.” – Unknown
“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother” – Abraham Lincoln
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“In a child's eyes, a mother is a goddess. She can be glorious or terrible, benevolent or filled with wrath, but she commands love either way. I am convinced that this is the greatest power in the universe.” ― N.K. Jemisin,The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms |
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Question: How many eggs can you put in an empty basket?
Answer: One, because once you put it in there, the basket's no longer empty.
Question: Which is correct to say, “The yolk of the egg are white” or “The yolk of the egg is white”?
Answer: Neither, the yolk of the egg is yellow. Duh.
Question: If a plane crashes right on the border between Canada and the United States, where should you bury the survivors?
Answer: Nowhere, I hope; they are survivors!
The United Kingdom-based dance apparel company Dancewear Central posted this perplexing pink plethora on its Instagram page. It's a simple premise: Among this flock of flamingos, there's a single ballerina. Can you spot her?
© Courtesy Dancewear Central
NOTICE: All Metro Council meetings are carried live on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 and U-verse Channel 99. The meetings are also available online at the Metro Council home page at http://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council/metro-council-clerk by clicking on the “Watch Meetings Online” button.
Agendas for these meetings can be viewed using the following link:
http://louisville.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2
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