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"There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew."
Well, I did it. I got vaccinated! Yep, I have received both shots of Pfizer and I am feeling fine. I felt the first needle go into my arm, although, it was noneventful. I didn't feel the second shot go into my arm, and questioned the administrator as to the validity of the shot. She assured me that I had been shot. I waited at the location 15 minutes as instructed before moving on, and all was good --- at least that is what I thought.
Once I got home, I could feel soreness in my arm. It was nothing to complain about, so I went into my home office and began working. About an hour into my work, I felt queasy and developed a headache. I took a Tylenol and sat in a lounge chair with my feet up. I felt better. As time went on, I didn't have an appetite, so I forced myself to eat some soup. Out of the blue I had a coughing spell and felt chills. I got into the bed and couldn't shake my chills. Three blankets, some cough medicine and two hours later, I fell asleep.
The next day was better. The soreness in my arm was still there, as was my headache. But, the chills had subsided and my cough was faint. By day three, I felt like a new woman! I had energy, no cough, no soreness in the arm or sign of a headache. I liken my experience to a severe bout of flu.
From what I read, the immune system sees the vaccine for the first time with the first dose and reacts to that, and the cells of the immune system are recruited to kind of recognize that spike protein (the part of the coronavirus that the vaccine affects). So when the body’s immune system sees the vaccine a second time, there are more cells and there’s a more intense immune response, resulting in those side effects.
I learned that the side effects are not COVID. It's simply the body building an immune response to the protein that is mimicking the disease. The side effects are expected and should resolve, like mine did, after one-three days.
I'm urging anyone who will listen to please get vaccinated. The way I see it is, when you get vaccinated you protect yourself and your family. I felt it equally important as a Metro Councilwoman to show confidence in the vaccines so that other people will follow suit and get vaccinated. I want to help a substantial portion of the population decide to get vaccinated and ultimately end this horrible pandemic.
According to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, more than 3 million people worldwide have died due to COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. The United States has the highest number of deaths with more than 566,000. So far, 200 million shots have been administered.
Johns Hopkins also reports the U.S. has 31.5 million of the world’s 140 million cases, followed by India with 14.5 million cases and Brazil with 13.8 million. Although a little over 200,000 residents in Jefferson County have been fully vaccinated, it is being reported that our COVID cases are rising slightly. This says to me that we must remain vigilant in wearing a mask and social distancing until enough people are vaccinated to create what is called herd immunity (a form of indirect protection from infectious disease that can occur with some diseases when a sufficient percentage of a population has become immune to an infection),
A surge in cases in Canada’s largest province has resulted in the implementation of severe new measures. Ontario residents who have contracted the virus must now observe a six-week home quarantine, two weeks longer than the previously required isolation measures. Police in Ontario now have new authority to question people who are leaving their home.
While I can't fathom such severe mandates for the Commonwealth, Governor Beshear has set a goal of getting 2.5 million Kentuckians vaccinated. He reported that we are about 877,000 away from that goal.
To get vaccinated is a personal decision. Everyone has his or her reason for not wanting to get the vaccination. I don't believe in scare tactics or mandates when it comes to healthcare. People must decide for themselves if getting vaccinated is for them. All I can say about it is, I felt compelled to get the vaccine because I contracted COVID-19 in March 2020, and it almost took me out. That was my "why." I know firsthand what COVID-19 can do to humans, and I just didn't think it was smart for me to wait around and possibly get it again. Getting vaccinated was the right decision for me.
If you decide to get vaccinated, know that it is very easy now to get an appointment and the supply of vaccines is great. Anyone 16 and over can receive the vaccine, and a large new vaccine site at Cardinal Stadium is now up and running. This location is convenient and the experience is quick and simple. The entire process takes 25 minutes – 10 minutes for the shot, and 15 minutes of being monitored as a precaution. This site alone has the ability to vaccinate up to 4,000 people a day with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
If you have not received your vaccination, then you have a decision to make. To help you make your decision, visit www.planyourvaccine.com. There you will find everything you need to know about getting a COVID-19 vaccination. And later in this e-Newsletter, you will find a list of vaccination sites that have thousands of openings.
I'll leave you with this from the CDC:
- Based on what we know about vaccines for other diseases and early data from clinical trials, experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine also helps keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19.
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After you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, you may be able to start doing some things that you stopped doing because of the pandemic. For example, you can gather indoors without masks with other people who are fully vaccinated.
- We are still learning how vaccines will affect the spread of COVID-19. Until we know more about how vaccines will affect the spread of COVID-19, people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 should keep taking precautions in public places like wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, and washing your hands often.
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This is an outdoor event, but masks are encouraged while entering and leaving the park, and you should wear them if you have conversations with people you don’t live with. If you are feeling ill or having any COVID symptoms, please stay home and visit the Shakespeare in the Parks website for another performance of Romeo & Juliet at a different park location. We want everyone to have a fun and safe time at the park!
The audience area will be closed off with rope and stakes and will have one entry point. You must RSVP in advance if possible, so that Shakespeare in the Parks staff can collect name/contact info for the health department if needed for contact tracing. If you are unable to register, the staff will be able to welcome you at the park when you show up. In that case, you will be asked to give your name and contact information upon arrival.
You are welcome to bring your own lawn chair or blanket and food is permitted, too. Make it a family affair!
As always, all parks performances are free – but again, please let the staff know you are planning to attend! RSVP in advance the day before the performance - April 22.
Click on this link to pre-register/RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/150994485571
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CONGRATULATIONS to District 7 resident, Jennifer Green, for being elected by her peers and board colleagues as the chairwoman of the inaugural Civilian Review and Accountability Board.
Jennifer was just promoted to Vice President, Global Mergers & Acquisitions at Yum! Brands. Prior to her recent promotion, she held the following positions at Yum! Brands: Director of Transformation, serving as lead of the Transformation Office, providing executional support for the cross-functional and cross-brand collaboration that drives Yum!'s growth goals; and Director, Corporate Counsel, responsible for drafting, reviewing and negotiating a range of complex commercial agreements, including sophisticated technology, SaaS and license agreements for newly created digital and technology organization, Yum Connect. She also served as advisor and thought partner to Yum Connect leadership team on a range of digital and technology priorities, including global commercialization strategy.
Ms. Green is a collaborative, solution-oriented corporate executive with experience spanning multiple industries and substantive areas of expertise. She has exceptional interpersonal skills, executive presence and influential leadership style with demonstrated ability to drive results through diverse, cross-functional teams. She is the perfect choice as Civilian Review and Accountability Board Chairwoman, because she is intellectually curious and an avid learner committed to personal and professional growth.
"From my perspective, law enforcement has nothing to fear. The 99.9% officers who are going to work everyday with their hearts and minds in the right place, know that you have a partner and a friend on this board and in me," she said. "I think it's important for us all to enter into this space with no agendas."
The mayor addressed the Civilian Review and Accountability Board at the start of its first meeting on April 15th, and Councilwoman McCraney, known as the architect of the review board, was on hand to answer questions.
Other board members include Scott Dickens, a lawyer and former chair of the LMPD Merit Board; Marianna Michael, a lawyer and young professional; Stachelle Bussey, whose nonprofit, Hope Buss, helps those in crisis; Kellie Watson, the Equity and Compliance Officer at MSD; Denise Sears, the leader of SOS International, a nonprofit that meets critical health care needs; Charles Keyes, an architect and retired firefighter; Turney Berry, a tax lawyer who has a lot of community service experience; Rev. Barbara Haigler of Broadway Temple AME Zion; Guillermo Sollano with Greater Art Solutions and La Casita Center, and Antonio Taylor, a Jefferson County Public Schools bus driver.
Click Here to Watch Inaugural Meeting.
We returned from spring break during a Committee week. Following are the Committees on which I serve and some of the legislative action taken:
GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT AND AUDIT COMMITTEE
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Appointments: Three reappointments to the Kentuckiana Works - Greater Louisville Workforce Development Board and one new appointment to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board were approved by a unanimous vote.
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Special Topics of Discussion:
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TARC Investigation - Chairperson Ackerson updated the Committee on the status of the final report of the investigation, which will be presented by David Beyer, Metro Council Investigator, in the coming weeks.
BUDGET COMMITTEE
- An Ordinance appropriating $725,000 to the Belle of Louisville for operating expenses was approved.
- An amended ordinance providing limited legal representation to the indigent in eviction court was approved, providing $400k from the FY 20-21 Budget. This would assist families that are evicted, including children, from becoming homeless. The amended ordinance was approved by a vote of 9-yes, 1-no and 1-abstention.
- An ordinance directing the Parking Authority of River City to issue its Mortgage Refunding Revenue Bonds to finance multiple outstanding mortgage revenue bonds to take advantage of a better interest rate was approved unanimously.
- An ordinance was approved unanimously that would appropriate $11k to the Jeff. County Coroner to fund the indigent burial expenses. Catholic Charities would be allowed to provide a burial service with dignity, which would include a prayer at the burial service and a headstone at the burial site.
COMMITTEE ON EQUITY AND INCLUSION:
Three guest speakers from the Louisville Metro Government were invited to give the committee an update on job responsibilities and work with equity in staffing, job descriptions and pay.
The speakers were presented as follows:
Keith Talley, Strategic Operations Officer, spoke about his responsibilities and the implementation of the Mayor's Strategic Plan.
- Plan how to effectively and efficiently utilize the funds from the Federal Government's rescue plan
- Major Initiatives: Build Back Better Together, Homelessness, Clean
Collaborative, Operational Excellence, Sustainability, all of which will include the theme of advancing racial equity, and also include Re-imagining Public Safety and addressing COVID in our community
Ernestine Booth Henry, Director of Human Resources, spoke about equity in job descriptions and departmental staffing/make-up.
Ms. Booth was given three questions to provide answers. They were answered accordingly:
- Question 1 - Had job description reviews been conducted? An analysis is done for 25 percent of the job descriptions annually, though they are behind from last year due to the pandemic.
- Question 2 - Are salary ranges reviewed and are they reviewed for equity? They are analyzed during the job description review to
make sure they are in the correct pay band and classification associated with each job, and they have completed a compensation analysis to determine if there are parity issues or equity challenges for each job and they will continue to monitor.
- Question 3 - Is there a need for a pay equity review? They are in the process of conducting this review, but she also recommended
having a third party do an analysis for Metro to address concerns regarding the pay of non-union employees versus that of union employees who get advances on a regular basis due to union contracts.
Kendall Boyd, Chief Equity Officer, spoke about the following:
- Reviewing job descriptions to determine what may act as a barrier and considering the impact the requirements are going to have as a whole on a group of people
- Standardized interviews with consistency in questions for all applicants and the panelist being reflective of the community in regards to diversity
- Discrimination based on a person's name and the possibility of having names hidden on resumes so that only the person's credentials can been seen
- Continuing to be cognizant after employees are hired in regards to
management, promotions, etc.
If you would like to view any of the Council Committee meetings, you may click here to access the Metro Council’s Archived Media page. Once there, scroll to the Committee you wish to view and then click “Video” and a separate window will appear.
You are invited to attend a review of a MODIFIED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT to allow a continuum of care for independent living cottages operated in conjunction with an existing assisted living facility.
Subject Property: 1704 The Meadow Road
Case Number: 20-MCUP-0016
Case Manager: Rachel Mandell (Rachel.Mandell@louisvilleky.gov)
Application Date: November 23rd, 2020
Meeting Type: Board of Zoning Adjustment
Meeting Date: MONDAY, May 3rd, 2021
Time: Meeting will begin at 1:00 PM and continue until all cases are heard
Location:https://louisvilleky.gov/government/upcoming-public-meetings
If you wish to submit comments on this case, please submit comments (in writing) to the case manager by 5:00 P.M. Friday, April 30th, 2021
or visit http://www.louisvilleky.gov/government/planning-design for:
•Meeting agenda and staff report
•User Guides – BOZA-Approved Application Process
•Public comment opportunities
A list of persons notified of this proposal is available in the case file.
Mayor Fischer joined the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhood’s Youth Implementation Team and other community leaders to kickoff National Youth Violence Prevention Week, an initiative designed to raise awareness about youth violence and highlight prevention strategies involving youth, parents, teachers, school personnel and community members.
“Public safety is something we – the public – have to work together to create,” the Mayor said. “That’s the message we’re focusing on this week as we observe National Youth Violence Prevention Week here in Louisville to raise awareness about what we can do as a community to address this challenge. We owe it to all our kids to do all we can as a community to keep them, their families and our neighborhoods safe. Because witnessing a violent crime, worrying about a violent crime or being part of a violent crime should never be normal for any child.”
Youth violence prevention is also the topic of the latest episode of the Mayor’s podcast. Click Here to Listen.
The Mayor joined Gov. Andy Beshear, University of Louisville President Neeli Bendapudi and other leaders on Monday for the opening of the new COVID-19 vaccination site at Cardinal Stadium, which has the capacity to vaccinate more than 4,000 residents per day. On Tuesday, the Mayor and public health leaders provided an update on the city’s vaccination efforts.
Anyone age 16 or older is now eligible to be vaccinated and can sign up for a shot at Cardinal Stadium or several other locations throughout the community by visiting louisvilleky.gov/covid19.
“We’re in a race,” Mayor Fischer said. “On one side, COVID-19 vaccines are more accessible than ever in our community. On the other side, we have variants that are more easily transmissible or makes people even sicker than the virus we’re familiar with that could take a firm hold in our community. That puts all of our hard-earned gains at risk.”
The Public Health Department has created a video to further educate the public about the Cardinal Stadium site and how to register. You may access this video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtoG3Hfu_h4.
Mayor Greg Fischer joined members of the Louisville Free Public Library, The Library Foundation, and JBS Louisville to announce Louisville's new Children's Bookmobile. It was made possible by several generous donations, including $145,000 from JBS Louisville.
The purchase of a new bookmobile comes at a critical juncture in Louisville. Only 35% of Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) 4th graders score at or above proficient in reading. Two out of every five JCPS students are facing housing insecurity. Meanwhile, more than 10% of students have struggled to access educational resources via remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has also highlighted disparities in access to the library’s resources for families without reliable transportation or dedicated internet in the home.
“Those with the greatest need for information and resources are often the individuals who have the most barriers to access it. Bookmobiles enable us to provide books and services directly to children in our community – meeting their needs where they are,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “Today’s announcement takes us one step closer to reaching even more children with educational resources that will set them on a path for success.”
When furnished, this new mobile library will visit daycares, YMCA programs, community centers, and faith-based organizations, as well as parks, block parties, and more—delivering not only books, but also library story times, sensory experiences, and innovative programming to under-resourced communities. The vehicle will also be equipped with computers and free, accessible Wi-Fi.
The Bookmobile project was made possible by a generous donation from Eleemosynary by LMH Foundation, which challenged area donors and organizations to match funds. JBS more than answered that call donating $145,000 toward the purchase of the vehicle. To date, The Library Foundation has raised $257,500 to fund the project.
If you would like more information or would like to know how to donate, visit www.lfplfoundation.org.
Library staff anticipates the bookmobile will be ready to roll out in spring 2022.
MAYOR'S GIVE A DAY IS
APRIL 1 - 30, 2021
Mayor Fischer continues to visit service projects happening throughout the community and reminds residents that Give A Day this year is a full month of compassion. You can sign up to join a project or register your own at mygiveaday.com.
Louisville is known for bourbon, baseball bats (the Louisville Slugger) and a boxer (Muhammad Ali). In 2014, it was deemed one of the fastest-warming cities in the U.S.
Being an “urban heat island” means the city captures the sun’s heat, boosting temps by as much as 10 degrees and trapping air pollutants. One solution? Trees, which capture carbon and slow warming. The nonprofit organization Trees Louisville offers residents a $30 rebate for each tree they plant (up to three trees per household per year), and nonprofit Louisville Grows gives lower-income neighborhoods, which have half as many trees as wealthier neighborhoods, some shade. They plant 1,000 trees a year and help inner city residents install and maintain community gardens. The University of Louisville’s Green Heart project is studying the impact of green spaces on air quality and health and planting trees to see how more trees affect residents’ health. --Story by Kathleen McCleary, Parade Magazine.
Mayor Fischer celebrated Louisville’s inclusion in Parade Magazine’s list of Greenest Cities in the U.S., which highlighted efforts by Trees Louisville to mitigate the urban heat island effect. Click Here to Learn More.
On Tuesday, April 13th, the Mayor was joined by Metro Council members and others as he signed into law an ordinance creating paid parental leave for Louisville Metro employees welcoming a child by birth or adoption.
Governor Beshear announced Thursday, April 15th, that Kentucky has 499,735 Moderna and Pfizer vaccines on hand ready to be administered. This is more than half the number the state would need to meet its 2.5 million Team Kentucky Vaccination Challenge.
“As of today, we are only 877,076 vaccinations away from our goal of 2.5 million Kentuckians 16 and older receiving their vaccine,” said Gov. Beshear. “The way we defeat this virus is with vaccines, and I want to give you one statistic to show just how incredible they are."
“Congregate settings, like long-term care facilities, at one time made up more than 68% of our COVID-19 deaths; today, just 37.72% of COVID-19 deaths are from congregate settings, after we prioritized their residents and staff for the vaccine. The vaccines virtually eliminate death and serious illness from this virus. They are a miracle.”
The Governor encourages Kentuckians to sign up today at vaccine.ky.gov to help meet the Team Kentucky Vaccination Challenge.
Amy Cubbage, general counsel for Gov. Beshear, updated Kentuckians on in-person unemployment insurance (UI) appointments, federal tax returns for UI claimants and the UI system reopening after a temporary shutdown to enhance security.
After the previous administration eliminated in-person unemployment assistance, the Beshear administration returned those services to regional career centers on Thursday to assist more Kentuckians with their claims.
Cubbage said this morning, 13 regional Kentucky Career Centers opened for approximately 9,500 in-person appointments that are scheduled through April 30.
On April 19, Kentuckians can begin scheduling appointments for May 3; after that, appointments will open up for an additional day each night at 12 a.m. Monday through Friday.
Claimants with appointments are being offered additional career center services, including re-employment services, as part of their appointments.
“We hope to have employers onsite next week with job opportunities available at all career center locations. These employer booths are outside the career centers and will be available, weather permitting, with no appointment. Masks and social distancing will still be required,” said Cubbage.
Kentuckians can also register for and access job search resources at kcc.ky.gov.
Unemployment claimants who filed federal taxes before Congress exempted the first $10,200 in unemployment insurance benefits from taxes, do not need to file an amended return. The IRS has announced it will start processing refunds owed due to this new exemption in May.
The Unemployment Insurance (UI) system reopened Tuesday morning after a temporary shutdown to stop suspicious and aggressive criminals attempting to gain unauthorized access to UI customer data.
If you have not received your letter and need to access your UI account, you can call the UI Help Line at 502-564-2900 and staff will be able to reset your PIN once they verify your identification.
Hours for the UI Help Line are:
- Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. through 8 p.m. EDT. If claimants are in the que by 8 p.m., they will be assisted.
- Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT
- Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. EDT
At this time, UI staff will only be helping with the registration process or resetting PIN numbers on the help line.
If your PIN is reset over the phone with staff members, when your letter arrives, that PIN is no longer valid. You will need to use the PIN that was reset for you over the phone. Once you receive your PIN, you will need to register in the UI system as a new user. Your letter that has your new PIN also has step-by-step instructions on how to complete the registration.
There is a tutorial video and step-by-step guide online at kcc.ky.gov
Gov. Beshear highlighted eight vaccination sites with at least 1,000 open appointments:
- UofL Health Cardinal Stadium, Jefferson County
- Kroger Kentucky Horse Park, Fayette County
- Kroger Greenwood Mall - Former Sears Building, Warren County
- Baptist Health Corbin, Whitley County
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Christian County Health Department – Bruce Convention Center, Christian County
- King’s Daughters Pavilion, Greenup County
- To register, call 606-408-2683.
- Baptist Health Hardin, Hardin County
- To register, call 270-706-1004.
- Pikeville Medical Center, Pike County
NOTE: For additional vaccine sites and to make an appointment, visit the health department’s website at www.louisvilleky.gov/covid19 for a list of vaccine providers. The department’s LOU HEALTH COVID-19 Helpline, 502-912-8598, can also help people schedule appointments.
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, April 15, Gov. Beshear reported the following COVID-19 numbers:
Kentuckians vaccinated (have received at least one dose): 1,622,924
New cases today: 834
New deaths today: 17
New audit deaths: 0
Positivity rate: 3.45%
Total deaths: 6,302
Currently hospitalized: 416
Currently in ICU: 102
Currently on ventilator: 49
Top counties with the most positive cases today are: Jefferson, Fayette, Warren and Daviess. Each county reported at least 33 new cases.
To see a list of those reported lost to the virus today, click here.
Here are the key COVID-19 data metrics for Louisville for the week of April 12th.
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635 new cases over the previous week.
Hospitalization Data
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5% of patients currently hospitalized have Covid-19.
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25% of patients in ICU with Covid-19 as o April 13, compared to 22% the week prior.
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11 COVID-19 patients on ventilators as of April 13, compared to 11 last week.
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492,445 total vaccine doses given in Metro Louisville since December.
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38.9% of Louisville residents have received at least one dose of vaccine and 22.8% have completed the vaccine series.
First Responder Data
Currently, 8 members of LMPD, Louisville Fire, Metro EMS, Metro Corrections and the Sheriff’s Office are off-duty due to COVID-19:
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5 are off with positive tests and in self-isolation
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1 are off and quarantined due to exposure to someone who tested positive
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2 are off with symptoms, pending test results
Positive test numbers for first responders/public safety since the incident began:
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559 positive tests
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554 have fully recovered and returned to duty
Metro Corrections Inmate Data:
Total Tested: 7,209
Total Positive: 414
Total Recovered: 411
Total currently under medical isolation: 3
Total tests pending: 0
Louisville is still in the Alert Level Orange for COVID cases, and the city saw its number of cases increase from last week. Additionally, there were more cases identified with the B.1.1.7 (UK) variant and the first case of the P.1 (Brazil) variant confirmed in Louisville. These cases are a reminder that the pandemic is not over. All individuals 16 and over are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible for a vaccine appointment.
“Getting vaccinated is one more tool you can use to protect yourself and your loved ones,” Dr. Sarah Moyer, Louisville's Chief Health Strategist, said.
“Once you’ve been vaccinated, you have the upper hand against the virus, because it means that even if you are exposed, you’ll be ok.”
Individuals looking for a vaccine appointment can visit the health department’s website at www.louisvilleky.gov/covid19 for a list of vaccine providers. The department’s LOU HEALTH COVID-19 Helpline, 502-912-8598, can also help people schedule appointments.
The Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration called for an immediate pause in use of the Johnson and Johnson (J &J) vaccine after six recipients of the 6.8 million doses distributed developed a rare reaction involving blood clots within two weeks of vaccination. All six individuals were women between the ages of 18 and 48.
Dr. Sarah Moyer, Louisville's Chief Health Strategist, in a recent press conference said that 5,563 doses of the Johnson & Johnson (J & J) vaccine were administered in Louisville to date and the health department has had no reported cases of blood clotting or other issues. While the latest news brings concern, Dr. Moyer said the system in place for monitoring the safety and effectiveness of vaccines is working. She added that nearly seven million people in the U.S. have received the J & J vaccine and this latest occurrence places the risk at less than one in a million. Dr. Moyer said the health department will pause the use of the vaccine to align with the CDC and the FDA.
“The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is made up of scientists and medical experts who review the data, outcomes and then make recommendations to the CDC. This pause creates time for more analysis and changes. We can’t lose sight that COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in 2020. Too many lives were lost and too many people are dealing with lingering side effects from the virus, said Dr. Moyer.”
Thanks to a $4 million dollar grant that was voted on and approved by Louisville Metro Council in December 2020, Louisville Water and Louisville MSD assisted customers with past due water and wastewater bills. With the grant, the water company has been able to help 11,765 customers.
The Louisville Water Foundation has also contributed additional funds.
Customers with past due balances are receiving notices this week informing them that turns offs will resume in June. If you are in need of assistance in paying your bill to avoid a disconnection of your service consider these options offered by the Louisville Water Foundation.
A new website, WhoWeLostKY.org, has launched to offer the family and friends of Kentuckians lost to Covid-19 an opportunity to memorialize their loved ones by writing and sharing stories. The site provides free, practical writing guidance and templates, as well as an active online submission option.
WhoWeLostKY.org hopes to support resiliency and connection by ensuring that those who died are not forgotten. The social isolation caused by the pandemic has changed mourning ceremonies and customs, leaving people few options beyond social media to communicate and share expressions of grief. The therapeutic benefits of writing are well known. Participating in this project can help a mourner's healing process as they access important memories.
“Many people feel insecure about writing, perhaps due to past negative experiences in school or due to fears about their abilities,” said Martha Greenwald, a writer, educator and the Founder and Chief Communications Officer of WhoWeLostKY.org. “We want everyone to feel comfortable participating on the site. We encourage them to write stories to share or just keep for themselves. No writing expertise is needed. We also want to be sure friends and colleagues of those who died come to the site and post stories too. Grief affects everyone, not just family members,” Greenwald noted.
The site is designed and developed by Greenwald and a team of distinguished professionals in the fields of digital technology, education, psychology, culture, and religion. The materials featured on the site are sensitive to the difficult topics being addressed and are designed to be easy to use. The site will regularly post new materials to inspire reflection specific to different times of the year. Further plans for the future include online writing workshops and a print anthology compiled from user-submitted stories.
Full details of the site and a contact form can be found by visiting WhoWeLostKY.org
Code Louisville is a program of KentuckianaWorks. It is funded by Louisville Metro Government and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.
Learning to program is exhilarating and fun, but to be successful in it you will have to work hard.
We're here to help you with an entire community of tech enthusiasts to keep you encouraged and on the path to success! We will guide you in learning not only the skills a programmer needs, but also provide you with resume writing and interview workshops, a community of developers to network with, mentors to answer your questions, and a network of employers interested in finding their next developer!
After you apply, we will contact you to begin the online pre-work courses about HTML, CSS, and, JavaScript. You will then be invited to attend a virtual orientation to find out more about the program.
CodeLouisville is free to participants!
Established in 2015 CodeLouisville has placed 590 graduates into jobs with 290 companies.
Would you like more information about the program? Are you a company looking for technical staff? Would you like to volunteer to be a mentor? Learn more at https://www.codelouisville.org/.
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Summers are critical for blood donation. With the impact of COVID on our Blood supply Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) is headed into summer with a low inventory.
Summer Triple Crown Club rewards regular donors for summertime donations, which help boost the blood supply over the summer. donate blood during these three time periods and receive a special thank you item!
KBC is a community-based nonprofit organization providing life-saving blood products to Kentucky hospitals since 1968.
For more information on giving blood and/or making an appointment please contact https://kybloodcenter.org/ or call 1-502-290-0537.
This week the Collaborative Clean Crew cleaned approximately 90.8 curb miles and collected 450 bags, 30 Tires, and 125 Other Items throughout Louisville. Other items includes everything from vehicle wreckage to illegally dumped items. The Louisville Downtown Partnership also collected 871 pounds of litter and debris from the Downtown area.
To learn more about the collaborative and how you can help, visit www.louisvilleky.gov/cleanlou. For residents who would like to track the crews’ progress, please visit the Interactive Data Dashboard
Composting is a great way to easily turn organic household waste into something valuable for our gardens. Out of all the waste that goes to our local landfill every year, 26% could have been composted instead! Backyard composting reduces your family's greenhouse gas impact and creates a valuable soil amendment for your garden or flower bed.
You can purchase Earth Machine compost bins, rain barrels, and accessories at our online store. Want to learn more? Watch our Know Waste Webinar about composting!
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Gift card scams remain a major problem. One consumer reported to BBB she received an email regarding a secret shopper/survey opportunity. After applying, she received a check in the mail with instructions to purchase gift cards and send images of the gift cards to the scammer. As a reminder, beware of anyone asking you to send photos of gift card information and never agree to pay bills via a gift card.
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Puppy scams often involve fake breeders selling non-existent puppies, but in the case of one consumer, these scams also involve very sick animals. This consumer reported to BBB he is out $10,000 in veterinary bills after his new puppy arrived extremely ill with parvovirus. The breeders who sold him the puppy had refused to provide any references. When purchasing a new puppy, always ask to see references first and, whenever possible, view the puppy in person before buying.
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Beware of scam emails or texts claiming to be from PayPal. A consumer received one saying there was a large transaction on his account, and he must call to dispute the charge. This is a phishing scam – don’t respond!
- Consumers and some BBB employees - have received text messages claiming they have Amazon Rewards credits. These text messages are a scam – do not click on any links! The links will take you to a fake website where scammers will steal your personal information!
- BBB has received multiple reports of free trial scams, and some are trying to capitalize on the Covid-19 pandemic. One consumer responded to a free trial purporting to offer a product endorsed by Dr. Fauci. These “free trials” are usually followed up by expensive monthly subscription fees.
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Be cautious of scam sites spoofing or mimicking legitimate websites. One consumer while attempting to file a change-of-address lost $80 after using a site that looked very similar to usps.com. If you are concerned a website isn’t legitimate, leave the site immediately and do not enter any payment or other personal information.
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Beware of Political Action Committees (PACS) masquerading as charities. One consumer received calls and emails soliciting donations from one such group. These organizations are often misleading about how they use the donations they receive. Before you donate, research the charity or organization by visiting bbb.org.
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Beware of scam apps known as fleeceware. Appearing on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, these deceptive apps lure users in with free trials before charging high subscription rates and have cost consumers more than $400 million. Many of the apps are image editors, camera filters, and games; they tend to target teens and children. BBB recommends parents and caregivers monitor their children’s phone use and downloads.
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Did a stranger “accidentally pay” you on Venmo? BBB warns that consumers should be wary of random payments from strangers; often the payment is sent via a stolen credit card. When victims return the payment, scammers remove the stolen credit card and replace it with their own card. Chances of victims receiving reimbursement are slim to none.
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Scammers are opening Chase bank accounts using stolen identities. Victims have reported receiving information on accounts they never opened.
Keep your personal information off the internet as much as possible and regularly check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com for unfamiliar accounts opened in your name.
This is a Waterfront Park hosted event.
Celebrate the end of the work week with Waterfront Park’s Fridays at the Front – a pop up food truck experience featuring great food and drink options. With food and plenty of green space to enjoy, this event is perfect for all ages to kick off the weekend at Waterfront Park! Entry to the event is free.
When: Every Friday (Weather Permitting)
Time: 5:00PM to 8:30PM
Location: 1101 River Road
Louisville, KY 40202
Participating food trucks:
 Lil Cheezers The Burger Joint La Chandeleur Restaurant and Food Truck Ehrlers
Website Link
Additional Information
Sundays beginning April 18th from 10:30AM to 2:00PM.
Waterfront Park is excited to announce a new event series, Brunch by the Bridge. This pop-up food truck experience invites park lovers to enjoy their Sunday at Waterfront Park. The event series will feature local food trucks with a bubbly bar. Bring your friends, a blanket, and an appetite and brunch with us on the Big Four Lawn!
Participating Food Trucks: Lil Cheezers Copper Kitchen FlavaVille Food Truck
Tim Whalen Trio: 11:30am-1:30pm
Additional Vendors Include:
Little Lou Flower Truck
Plan Your Picnic – 5% sales being donated to Waterfront Park
Board and You Charcuterie Boards
Various Big Four Arts Festival Art Vendors
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It's the 3rd Annual Earth Day Virtual Challenge and we are determined more than ever to crush last year's total of 51,023.592 miles.
The goal of the Earth Day Virtual Challenge (24,901 Miles) is simple. The goal is that during the month of April (Earth Day Month) we will collectively see how many times we can run the distance of the equator 24,901 miles!
Join the challenge for FREE! You can also upgrade your registration and you'll get the Earth Day official t-shirt, the super cool commemorative medal to brag to your friends and show off your challenge accomplishment, and an eco-friendly stainless steel drinking straw. We'll even include an Earth Day pack of wildflower seeds so you can help make a difference!
Throughout the month of April, you will be asked to log your miles and report them via our results page daily or weekly which will be tallied toward our overall goal.
Recruit your friends, family, even co-workers to join our quest! Remember to share your mission by tagging @virtualrunchallenge and #VRCEarthDayChallenge. Also, join the official Earth Day Challenge Facebook Group.
Check out the official event page here Official Event Page.
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WHEN: Thursday April 22nd on the Waterfront Lawn. Venue opens at 6 PM with event beginning at 7PM.
Experience Dixon’s mesmerizing music, as seen on TED.com, at Electric Forest, & Burning Man. The world’s premier visionary violinist, Dixon’s life mission is to inspire people – and he has done so across North America, including giving three TED talks/performances, over ten years at Burning Man, plus radio, TV, and film appearances.
A former technology leader and symphony violinist, Dixon walked away from a distinguished career to follow his dream full-time, and invented a whole new music genre. Dixon now improvises on a 5-string electric violin with a looping system he developed to create an all-live one-man symphony, guided by his remarkable personal story of life transformation.
Tickets: Tickets are $20.00 in advance and $25 day of the event. Click on this link to purchase tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/earth-day-with-dixons-violin-at-waterfront-park-louisville-tickets-149975563949
** Please bring your own chairs or blankets, snacks, and beverages. Yoga mats, hula hoops or flow toys also welcome! ***
Safety protocols: This is an outdoor event. Attendance is limited to allow for ample social-distancing. Please seat yourself at least 6 feet away from people you don’t live with. Masks are encouraged while entering/leaving the space and should be worn if/when having conversations with people you don’t live with. If you are feeling ill or having any COVID symptoms, please stay home and we will happily honor your refund request. We want you all to be comfortable and safe!
About Dixon’s Violin:
https://dixonsviolin.com/
https://www.facebook.com/dixonsviolin/videos/1810740125664989/
The Ken-Ducky Derby is a family oriented festival and an Official Kentucky Derby Festival Event. Due to COVID-19 measures, the duck race will still be held on the river, but will not be open to the public to watch at the river. However, the race will be virtual.
Do you have your duck? Though you will not be allowed to put it in the water yourself you can still participate virtually by purchasing a duck online at duckrace.com/louisville, text Ken-Ducky Derby to 1-833-442-0551, or contact the District 7 office at 502-574-1107 if you would like to get a paper order form with a self-addressed envelope.
Viewers can watch the event on April 24 at 2 p.m. on WLKY.com, Harbor House Louisville on Facebook, and Ken-Ducky Derby on Facebook. The person who purchased the winning duck will win a 2021 Toyota Corolla provided by Toyota of Louisville. Go to duckrace.com/louisville for more information
See answers at the bottom of the newsletter.
Metro Louisville now has an interactive map that will allow you to see what is happening in your neighborhood as well as others across the city. The map updates daily and if you choose you can receive alerts for your area by subscribing using the red receive alerts button on the page. Click here to try it out:.Interactive Map to Track Crime.
To view the Governors most recent updates on click here: https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=641
In August 2016 Louisville Metro Emergency Services teamed up with Bullitt County, Oldham County, and Washington County to create a regional emergency notification system – Louisville Emergency Notification System (LENSAlert). Its enhanced capabilities include using all communications modes to send alerts – mobile phones, landlines, email, text, social media, IPAWS-OPEN. Take another step in being prepared for disasters and sign up for LENSAlert today.
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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.
Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions About Smart911
Are you looking for a public place to exchange items you've sold online? Do you share custody of a child and are looking for somewhere to exchange custody?
The Louisville Metro Police Department is providing MetroSWAP Zones outside of some Division offices.
There is 24 hour video surveillance. LMPD recommends:
- Agree to meet the person ONLY at a MetroSWAP station.
- Meet only during daylight hours.
- Tell someone you trust where you are meeting and at what time.
- Meet in the parking lot at two designate areas of each location.
- Make the interaction brief and to the point.
MetroSWAP Zones are at:
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Visit http://www.louisvilleky.gov/MetroPolice/Patrol+Divisions/ to sign up to receive the LMPD’s new crime alert update for your neighborhood. Simply select your LMPD division number and click "Subscribe to Crime Alerts by Beat" to begin receiving the update.
- Division 5, please call dispatch at 502-574-7111
- Division 8, please call dispatch at 502-574-2111
Fifth Division - This division covers the area including the Highlands, Clifton and Cherokee and Seneca Parks.
Eighth Division - This division covers the area including Middletown, Lyndon, Oxmoor and the Ford Truck Plant.
Interactive Crime Mapping
You can now map crime in Louisville using the interactive mapping tool.
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. (Click here and click on the “Watch Meetings Online” button.)
OR access prior or current meetings here:
http://louisville.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2.
TO ACCESS MEETINGS THROUGH FACEBOOK: CLICK HERE
Agendas for these meetings can be viewed using the following link:
http://louisville.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2
Click Here to: View All Agencies
Click Here to Visit Website for Laws, State Legislators, Watch Bills, etc
Click here for more info.
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