Statistics show that cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Almost half (44%) of reported home fires started in the kitchen. Two-thirds (66%) of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.

The Louisville Division of Fire knows that cooking fires can be prevented. Follow these safety tips to keep you safe from fire while cooking in the home:

• Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling. If you have to leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
• You have to be alert when cooking. You won’t be alert if you are sleepy, have taken medicine or drugs, or consumed alcohol that makes you drowsy.
• Always keep an oven mitt and pan lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flame. Turn off the burner, and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.
• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

The Louisville Metro Council is now livestreaming all of its regular meetings and committee meetings on Facebook Live.

To see all meetings on Facebook Live, go to the Metro Council Facebook page by clicking here.

The public can also view all council and committee meetings on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 or on UVERSE at Channel 99.  Proceedings are live streamed from the Metro Council Clerk’s Archived Media page here.

If you would like to see the agenda for any of the Metro Council’s Committee meetings click here

On-site Repair Work of I-265 West Ramp 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 5 Office advises the public of on-site repair work scheduled on the ramp from KY 61 (Preston Highway) to I-265 West (Gene Snyder Freeway) in Jefferson County. On-site work is scheduled to be completed by mid-October.

KY 61 North (Preston Highway) to I-265 East to Smyrna Road (Exit 14) to reconnect with I-265 West

The date and duration of this work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur.  Visit goky.ky.gov for the latest in traffic and travel information in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. 

Get road construction updates on KYTC District 5 web page. Follow KYTCDistrict5 on our Facebook page or on our Twitter page.   

Roads surrounding Iroquois Park May Experience Heavy Evening Traffic on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays Due to Patrons Attending the 2020  Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular Drive-thru

This season the annual Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular in Iroquois Park will be a drive through experience. While pre-registration of ticket sales and a traffic plan are in place, we want to remind neighbors that the peak times of this event are on Fridays and Saturdays from 7-11pm. Please consider making a plan for alternative routes of travel during those times to avoid any delays.

Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular runs from October 1^st-November 1^st. For more information, please visit https://www.jackolanternlouisville.com

October 1 – 30, 2020 (Thursdays through Sundays) Party starts at 5 p.m. Route closes at 10 p.m. Special Tickets Required for all Guests ages 3+

Special Ticket Required. A Louisville tradition for over 35 years, Halloween transforms your Zoo into a living storybook, complete with some of your favorite characters brought to life, fun music and a safe place for trick-or-treating for kids 11 and under. This year, we’re celebrating with a new party experience designed to give you all the kooky you love with none of the spooky.

ALL THE FUN FOR ONE GREAT PRICE

• Enjoy a spin on the Spooktacular Carousel.
• Get up close to REAL creepy crawlies at the walk-through, free-crawling “not-so-itsy-bitsy” Spider House.
• Hear the legendary tale of the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow
• All included with your party admission!

Our reduced nightly capacity eliminates the scary traffic delays when arriving for the party. Parking is easy and convenient in the Zoo’s lot and FREE for party guests!

A SAFE TRICK-OR-TREATING EXPERIENCE

Get your same sweet treats with fewer stops along the way. To help provide social distancing and to reduce contact, there will be a limited number of treat booths throughout the Zoo. This year, rather than receiving one treat per booth, kids 11 and under will receive a pre-packaged goodie bag with multiple treats at each station! Treats will be handed out by Zoo staff members.

All staff members undergo a daily health screening and will be wearing masks throughout the party. Staff distributing treats will also be wearing gloves. In an abundance of caution and to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, crowd size at Boo at the Zoo will be reduced.

The voluntary medical detox unit created at Mary & Elizabeth Health in partnership with UofL Health is now open and has begun to accept patients. This unit will provide care to patients seeking to detox off of various substances such as EtOH (ethanol/alcohol abuse), opiates and benzodiazepines.

The medical detox unit features 12 private patient rooms, but has the capacity to expand to care for 25 patients.  Referrals are expected from our hospital’s emergency department and Peace Hospital, as well as from various other emergency departments or freestanding behavioral health facilities in the Louisville area.

The influenza (flu) shot is a flu vaccine given with a needle, usually in the arm. Seasonal flu shots protect against the three or four influenza viruses that research suggests may be most common during the  upcoming season.

Click here to see the CDC recommendations for this sesaon's flu shot in this time of the Covid 19

School Reopening Recommendations

Dr. Pollio announced at a press conference that he would be recommending a proposal regarding school reopening to the Jefferson County Board of Education at its next board meeting.

The proposal would extend Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) for the next several weeks, as our county is currently in the orange zone per KDE’s recommended school reopening guidelines (click here to view). However, the board is expected to have a broader conversation about the possibility of starting in-person learning on October 22.  One idea being reviewed is Pre-K and elementary students having the option to return to school first and staggering the return of middle and high school students when there is a steady decrease in COVID-19 cases in our community.  Here is a potential timeline the board is expected to talk about on Tuesday evening:

• October 22 – Pre-K and elementary
• October 29 – 6th and 9th grades
• November 2 – 7th-8th and 10th-12th grades

Dr. Pollio will make a full recommendation on a proposed start date in mid-October, if the data reflects it is safe to return to school buildings.

In that scenario, parents and guardians of students at all grade levels will be able to select a virtual option if they would like their child to continue remote learning.  We will have more information available next week about what in-person learning and the virtual learning option will look like upon our return to school buildings.  

Art and Writing Contest for children from 1st - 12th grade

The Jefferson County Conservation District would like to invite you and your students to participate in the Annual Art and Writing Contest sponsored by the Kentucky Farm Bureau and the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts!  

Jefferson County School Teachers and Parents: 

The topic for this year is “Exploring Kentucky's Mighty Oaks”.  The contest is open to all schools in Jefferson County, this includes public, private and home schools. The art contest is for students in grades 1st-5th and the writing contest is for students in grades 6th -12th. Downloadable forms are available at the LINK along with more information about the contest. The deadline for entries is December 1st.

• To learn more about the contest please contact our Environmental Educator, Erin James, at wildcommonwealth@outlook.com.
• A monetary award will be given to the winner in each contest. We can't wait to see how your kids express their excitement for the trees in our community

Louisville Metro Government has the following job opportunities available in the environmental and sustainability-related fields with closing dates approaching soon!

Energy Manager

Fleet & Facilities is adding an Energy Manager to its team to help move Louisville into its clean energy future! Essential functions will include creating and implementing energy conservation measures, developing and implementing renewable energy projects, and managing energy contracts with outside agencies.

Applicants must be a Certified Energy Manager (or have a similar certification) with five or more years of related experience to be eligible. 

To view the full job description and apply, click here. Closing date is September 17th. 

Environmental Coordinator

The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District is looking for an Environmental Coordinator to protect the air quality of Louisville! Main duties will include coordinating the development of air pollution attainment strategies and action plans, analyzing and interpreting air pollution data, and preparing scientific statistical and narrative reports

To view the full job description and apply, click here. Closing date is September 22nd. 

Development & Finance Director

The Center for Neighborhoods is seeking a motivated, skilled Development & Finance Director with experience in nonprofit fundraising and development. The Director is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating overall organizational budgeting and financial management, grant development, major fundraising activities, and related communications and special projects in coordination with the Executive Director, other staff, and the Board of Directors by performing the duties personally or through delegation. 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE:

• BA degree in relevant field or combination of experience and education
• Minimum 2-5 years experience working with community organizations
• Fundamental technical expertise: database management, Outlook, financial management, website management, communication and marketing skills

ADMINISTRATION:

• Responsible for representing the Arts & Cultural Alliance in a professional and collaborative manner to a variety of stakeholders.

CULTURAL PASS: 

• A program that offers free attendance to arts and cultural organizations to the youth of our region.

CONTRACT:

• Part-time independent contractor
• $40,000 for 12-month contract, average 25-30 hours/week
• Renewable yearly based on funding availability and review
• Reports to ACA Board of Directors, including ACA Chair, Fund for the Arts representative, and Louisville Metro representative; Reports directly to Fund for the Arts on Cultural Pass project management
• Work is not office-based and contractor works remotely, with own computer

APPLY:

• Submit letter, resume, and references to ACAPosition@gmail.com by November 1, 2020.

Our manufacturing training will help prepare you for a better career with good pay. The Manufacturing Training and Employment Connection (M-TEC) is a free, in-depth 3-week program where you can earn multiple certificates valued by manufacturing employers.

Get credentials in high demand:

• Safety Training Certificate
• OSHA 10 Card
• Forklift Certificate
• Lean Manufacturing Certificate

Graduates will get to attend their own private virtual hiring event with top local employers.  Although this training is free, there are a limited number of available spots in our next class, which runs from October 12-30.

Participants must be available for online group instruction Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. - Noon in addition to soft skills training. There will also be an in-person forklift training during the third week of the course.

Click and complete the online form to enroll or call (502) 276-9711 ext. 4001.  Register HERE  

Almost 100 employers in Healthcare, Logistics, Manufacturing, Food & Beverage, Retail, Business Services, Tech, and other sectors are hiring now in the Louisville area.

You can see which companies are hiring and how you can apply at our online COVID-19 Job Board, run in partnership with Greater Louisville Inc. and WorkOne Southern Indiana.

CLICK HERE  To view job Listing   

• Kentucky Cabinet for Health & Family Services: COVID-19 Updates
• Louisville Metro Government: Daily Updates on COVID-19
• Kentucky Unemployment Insurance website
• COVID-19 Pandemic Response Loans for Individuals and Small Businesses

More resources for Small Businesses

UPS officials said hiring has already begun with pay starting at $14.50 per hour, with bonuses of up to $150/week.

They are hiring package handlers, driver helpers, tractor-trailer drivers and personal vehicle delivery drivers. There are both full- and part-time jobs.

Interested applicants can apply at www.upsjobs.com.

Fall favorite Jack O'Lantern Spectacular is switching gears for 2020 to become a safe drive-thru-only event!

• DATE: Thursday, October 1, 2020. The final day is Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020
• LOCATION: Iroquois Park 5200 New Cut Rd.
• TIME:  7:30pm in early October and closer to 7:00pm later in October. We are asking cars to arrive no earlier than 6:45PM. The hours of operation are Dusk – 11 p.m. (Sunday – Thursday) and Dusk – Midnight (Friday & Saturday)
• TICKETS: The website for tickets is www.jackolanternlouisville.com. Due to COVID-19, and the fact we anticipate sold out nights, we HIGHLY encourage everyone to buy tickets online. While tickets can be purchased at the gate, this will be a cashless event. Once purchased, you can download the tickets to your phone, or print them off at home and bring them with you to the show. Tickets can be purchased online with a major credit card. 
• COST:   
  • Cars/SUVs/Minivans: $35
  • Passenger Vans/Limos: $50

• SPECIAL NIGHTS: Sensory night is held on Sunday, November 1. It is designed for those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and sensory processing differences, and their families, from 5:00 – 6:00 pm. For guest’s enjoyment, pumpkins will light up the woods, but there will be no music or special effects. Sensory Night at the Louisville Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular, made possible through the generous support of PNC Bank.

Join us for a slow and social volunteer opportunity! These projects take place on the first and third Wednesday of the month form 6:30 to 7:30 pm and rotate to different parks around Jefferson County. Due to our group size restrictions, advanced sign-up is required.

• Login or create a MyImpactPage.com account for more details 
• email LMPRvolunteer@louisvilleky.gov for more information. 

Ready to role up your sleeves and create something amazing? Riverside, The Farnsley-Moremen Landing is installing a NEW Antique Farming Equipment Display and need strong volunteers to help create the outdoor display space. 

This is an on-going project and entails excavating a bed and laying crushed rock/pea gravel for 11 pieces of antique farm machinery.

For more information or to come out to volunteer please contact Teresa Lee at (502) 935-6809 or email Teresa.Lee@louisvilleky.gov.

From the depths of Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory the ghosts and goblins have awakened to welcome the 5th Annual Home Run Halloween. This year the spine-tingling excitement happens every Sunday in October.

No ghouling around. Every Sunday will be spooktacular because kids dressed in costume receive a special Halloween mini-bat at the end of the factory tour and receive a pre-packaged bag of candy.

To make things even more spine-tingling, we’ve conjured a special treat for parents – no tricks here, kids get half-price admission every day in October when parents use the promo code BOO2020 when purchasing tickets at sluggermusuem.com. Advance tickets are required.

The World’s Largest Vampire Stake re-emerges for the fun. The 8-foot-tall stake was crafted here at the factory. Though the stake will have vampires shaking in fright, guests can pose with this marvel for a delightfully frightful photo-op. The stake fits right in with the theme of big things at the museum. The downtown attraction is already the home of The Big Bat (the largest in the world at 120 feet tall) and a giant ball and glove sculpture carved from limestone.

Guests can also learn about the spooky history of the building and hear about spine-tingling paranormal encounters employees have had in the museum during Ghost Stories of Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory.

Since re-opening its doors on June 11th, the museum has implemented additional safety precautions including social distancing floor graphics, reducing tour sizes, stepping-up sanitizing protocols and requiring masks for all guests and team members. Guests without masks can purchase them upon entering the museum for $1.00.

For more information, Click here https://www.sluggermuseum.com/

Little Loomhouse Regular Hours of Operation & Closures

August 12 - May 31   Tuesday-Friday 10am – 3pm    Saturday  11am – 4pm

Closed July 4, Nov. 26, Dec. 24 & 25, 2020

With one in three Kentuckians out of work because of the coronavirus, many in our community face anxieties around paying bills and affording basic necessities.

Louisville Water understands the stress this may cause and is launching Drops of Kindness, a new customer assistance program for an unpaid water and wastewater bill.

Drops of Kindness offers a customized approach to help customers resolve unpaid bills.  CLICK HERE for more information.

 Over 400 residents took advantage of this opportunity to properly dispose of large household items, electronic devices, yard waste, tires, documents, and prescription medication!

Separation is Key

The goal of these events is to recover as much material as possible through recycling and compost. It is important for residents to keep their material separated into the various categories so we keep recoverable material out of the landfill.  Pop-Up Drop-Off events are free recycling and large item disposal events for residents of Jefferson County. These events will pop up around the county once per month, from March through November.

The next event will be Saturday, October 24 at the Metro Fleet Services, 3515 Newburg Rd.

• Learn more about what's accepted, not accepted, and event guidelines at our website 
• Use the Recycle Coach app to receive notifications about future events or view them on the app calendar. 

Did you know that Pit Bulls are the most overbred dog breed in Louisville and make up the majority of the LMAS Shelter pet population? Pit Bulls can be great companions to families, despite stigma because of their breed.  

If you love Pit Bulls, don’t shop. Adopt!

Pit Bull adoptions are always free at LMAS and include spay/neuter, microchip and vaccinations.

To meet adoptable Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes, visit Animal House Adoption Center (3516 Newburg Rd.), open daily from 12-6pm. Walk-ins Welcome!

LMAS is taking additional precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Animal Control will only respond to the most serious incidents involving a human and domestic animal in-progress, or to assist first responders.

LMAS will remain open for adoptions, lost and found services, and stray pet surrenders from 12-6pm, Monday-Saturday. Violations and civil penalty fees can be paid online at www.louisvilleky.gov/animal-services. Pet licensing can also be purchased or renewed online or by mail. Visit the LMAS homepage for more information. Please, send questions to animals@louisvilleky.gov

Want to help? Donations Welcome

KHS welcomes pet food donations – especially cat food – for the COVID-19 Pet Food Bank through Amazon or from local pet supply stores. View our overall Wish List and our Amazon wish list at http://tinyurl.com/wishlistkhs (items are not in order on Amazon, so please scroll to find dry cat and dog food options). Deliveries are accepted at 241 Steedly Drive, Louisville KY 40214.

People who are interested in fostering will need to fill out the Foster Application(PDF) and either email, fax to 502-473-2634, or bring the completed application to the LMAS Animal Care Center, located at 3705 Manslick Rd.

For more information on our foster care program, please contact Stephanie Jackson at stephanie.jackson@louisvilleky.gov or (502) 574-6978

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.

Kentucky State website: kycovid19.ky.gov is the best way to keep up with the latest news about the novel coronavirus.

Hotline you can call: (800) 722-5725. is a service operated by the healthcare professionals at the Kentucky Poison Control Center, who can provide advice and answer questions.

Louisville Metro website with updated information about COVID-19 -CLICK HERE-

Residents who have questions related to COVID-19 call the recently launched helpline at (502) 912-8598 or to seek information at louisvilleky.gov/covid19.

University of Louisville Sponsored Test Sites:

• Downtown at the corner of Brook and Liberty streets
• U of L Health Mary and Elizabeth Hospital
• U of L Health in Bullitt County

To make an appointment, call 502-588-0414.