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Hello Neighbors and Friends,
Thanksgiving Day is the perfect time to ask yourself if you are an optimist or a pessimist. Yes, that is the 2022 Thanksgiving question.
When you look at a glass of water, do you see it as half-full or half-empty? An optimist sees the glass half-full. When you purchase a doughnut, do you look forward to savoring the taste, or do you complain about the hole in it? A pessimist sees and complains about the hole. How about this, when you face life’s trials and tribulations, do you meet them with hope or despair? Are you an optimist or a pessimist?
It has been well said that the optimist is the person who sees an opportunity in every calamity, while the pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity. The optimist is the person who believes this is the best of all possible worlds; the pessimist fears that the optimist is right. An optimist is also the person who goes on a fishing trip and takes along the tartar sauce.
According to a Psychology Today website post (Vild, 2022), a new Harvard study revealed that:
- A recent study of 150,000 women found that those most optimistic were likely to have a longer lifespan beyond the age of 90.
- A person's mindset is in part genetically inherited, but studies show that up to 75 percent is within one's control.
- Gratitude can alter one's outlook, promote healthy relationships, and increase one's potential for longevity.
Optimists believe wholeheartedly that things will work out, and when they do not work out, an optimist will learn from the experience to navigate a new path. Pessimists tend to have less confidence and take failures personally. Any setback can wound their self-esteem. They often rebound by assigning blame to others (Vild, 2022).
Vild states in her post that if there is only one change you can make to alter your outlook, promote healthy relationships, and increase your potential for longevity, it is this: Say thank you. Vild quotes Robert Emmons, the foremost expert on gratitude, stating that expressing gratitude is considered the forgotten factor in happiness research. Emmons’ research shows that gratitude produces measurable results in the body, mind, and social world. It actually improves physical health. A routine gratitude practice in which you write down those things for which you are thankful has exponential benefits in terms of health, relationships, and overall resilience.
So, this year, along with breaking bread with friends and family around the dinner table, remind one another of the many reasons to be grateful. In fact, text or email all your guests and ask them to bring a gratitude list to dinner. As you feast on the turkey and dressing, green beans, and mashed potatoes, share your gratitude list and increase your health.
Happy Thanksgiving, and in all things Give Thanks.
References:
Are You an Optimist or a Pessimist? | Psychology Today
The Two Most Important Days, How to Find your Purpose and Live a Happier, Healthier Life by Sanjiv Chopra and Gina Vild https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.17897
Metro Council Offices will close today, Wednesday, November 23rd at noon, and re-open on Monday, November 28th. Happy Thanksgiving!
If you would like to see the agenda for any of the Metro Council Committee meetings, click HERE.
To watch the Council meeting and access the agenda and related attachments, click here: Metro Council Meetings
MEMO FROM THE CASE MANAGER FOR BULL RUN TOWNHOMES
From: St Germain, Dante
Email: dante.st.germain@louisvilleky.gov
To: District 7 Residents
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 4:11:58 PM EST
Subject: 22-ZONE-0073 Herr Lane (Bull Run Townhomes) to be continued to Dec. 15
The Bull Run Townhomes case that was scheduled to be heard on Thursday (November 17th) is going to be continued to December 15th. You are receiving this email because you contacted Planning and Design expressing interest in this case.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Dante St. Germain, AICP
Planning & Design Services
(502) 574-4388
https://louisvilleky.gov/government/planning-design
Meeting Type: BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT
Meeting Date: MONDAY, DECEMBER 05, 2022
Time: Meeting will begin at 1:00 PM and continue until all cases are heard
Location: 514 W Liberty Street, 40202
Learn how to watch and participate online at:
https://louisvilleky.gov/government/upcoming-public-meetings
To view documents related to this proposal, please visit the link below or the address or phone number below:
https://aca-prod.accela.com/LJCMG
Louisville Metro Planning and Design Services (Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
444 S. 5th Street, 3rd Floor, Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 574-6230
Or:
Visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/planning-design for:
• More information on zoning processes
• Public comment opportunities
• Applications for a petition for a night hearing, including procedures to change the time and/or location of a public hearing to 6:00 pm or later downtown, or to a convenient location.
Visit https://louisville.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx for meeting agenda and staff report.
Friday, November 25, 2022
3 to 10 p.m.
Light Up Louisville, powered by LG&E, is a free, annual event that will kick off the holiday season in the city! We look forward once again to welcoming Louisville citizens to Downtown the day after Thanksgiving to welcome the REAL Santa Claus!
Light Up Louisville begins at 3 p.m. with free Children's Activities inside Santa's Workshop, free Holiday Train rides, live music and a Holiday Market! Santa's Workshop, sponsored in part by AT&T, will include cookie decorating, writing letters to Santa, as well as gingerbread and stocking crafts. Santa's Workshop will be located on 6th Street, next to the city Christmas tree.
Right outside the children's area you will find the Honor Flight Bluegrass tent, sponsored by Humana Military and the McDonald's Bell Restaurant Group. Families can write holiday greetings to US Veterans and Honor Flight Bluegrass will distribute the letters. Write your letter ahead of time to bring and put in the Honor Flight mailbox by clicking the following link and printing the document: Honor Flight Holiday Card.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LIGHT UP LOUISVILLE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Light Up Louisville | LouisvilleKY.gov
Mayor's Challenge Toys for Tots Toy Drive
Friday, December 2nd - 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Please join us in making some noise and bringing some toys during the 2022 Mayor's Challenge Toys for Tots Toy Drive! This year we hope to surpass our 2021 numbers and bring some extra joy to the boys and girls this holiday season!
This year, the need is greatest for boys and girls ages 10 to 12, and 13 to 16. Toys for ages 3 to 6 are not needed at this time due to the overwhelming love shown by the city.
For more details, please click here: Marine Toys for Tots
Whether you spend the day after Thanksgiving relaxing and enjoying a day away from work and stress or camping outside Best Buy overnight for the Hunger Games of electronics sales, it seems Black Friday has cemented its place in everyone's holiday calendar. Check out this roundup of ways to avoid the corporate shopping madness:
Click here: How To [Not] Do Black Friday in Louisville (do502.com)
November 26th is Small Business Saturday, a day for supporting local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Remember, for every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $73 remains in the local economy. Compare that to the same $100 spent at a non-locally owned business, where only $43 remains in the local economy. For more information on Small Business Saturday: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/
OR
Click here for another Shop Small Business Saturday event: keeplouisvilleweird.com/WestSmallBizSat.
Click here to view a WHAS11 video interview with the GLI president and local business owners:
Louisville businesses hoping Cyber Monday will help them grow nationally - YouTube
To read about the most recent VA Medical Center construction events, go to:
https://www.va.gov/louisville-health-care/programs/new-robley-rex-va-medical-center
To request weekly updates about the construction events, send an email requesting updates to: LOUVAMCCONSTRUCTION@USACE.ARMY.MIL
For ALL construction-related inquiries, please email:
LOUVAMCCONSTRUCTION@USACE.ARMY.MIL
Check us out on social media:
Starting January 1, rates at parking garages and on-street meters operated by the Parking Authority of River City (PARC) will increase, the first change in parking rates since 2018. PARC also will introduce online discounts for drivers who pay for daily parking in advance.
The increase will cover a new state parking sales tax being implemented next year, as well as revenue declines related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, the Kentucky General Assembly approved House Bill 8, which requires sales tax to be collected on parking fees. The 6 percent tax will be applied for parking services – surface lots, garages and meters; the tax’s estimated annual budget impact for PARC is $1 million.
The rate increase will allow PARC to cover necessary annual capital expenses and infrastructure improvements, the cost of which have risen in recent years. “The funding from this increase will help us ensure that our parking garages are safe, clean and well-maintained,” said PARC Director Mike Tudor.
The annual operating expense to maintain PARC garages is currently about $8.5 million. In 2020 and 2021, PARC lost an average of $4 million annually related to the pandemic and was forced to tap into the authority’s savings fund to cover maintenance costs.
Parking in all PARC garages will remain $1 for the first 30 minutes, and PARC is not extending paid parking hours on the street. Drivers can still park on the street for free after 6 p.m., and parking on the street will remain free on Sundays. Drivers who are grabbing take-out also can take advantage of free 15-minute parking at metered spaces near the entrance of a restaurant by putting their flashers on.
To read more about the parking increase, click here.
PARC’s New Rates
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Current Average Rate
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New Average Rate (effective January 1)
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Monthly Unreserved Parking
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$96.07
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$107.14
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Monthly Reserved Parking
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$115.83
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$133.38
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Transient Hourly Parking
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$2.00
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$3.00
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Transient All-Day Parking
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$20.00
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$22.00
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On-Street Meter Parking (first 2 hours)
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$2.00/hour
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$2.25/hour
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On-Street Meter Parking (after first 2 hours)
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$3.00/hour
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$3.35/hour
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PARC launching online discounts, offering free parking on Small Business Saturday
In an effort to off-set the impacts of the rate increases, PARC will be offering discounted daily parking in its garages online through the website www.parcdaypass.com. Discounts will go up to half off the daily parking rate and will encourage parkers to book their parking space before coming downtown for business or pleasure. The discounts will not apply to event parking.
PARC also will offer free on-street parking on Small Business Saturday, November 26, to encourage visitors and residents to celebrate the holiday season at local restaurants and complete their holiday shopping at local retail stores.
After a two-year hiatus, the Louisville Ballet and Louisville Free Public Library are excited to announce the return of in-person Nutcracker Family Storytimes!
Children of all ages and their families are invited to join a Louisville Ballet dancer for a reading of the classic holiday story The Nutcracker, followed by Nutcracker-inspired dancing and crafts. In addition, every family at each storytime can enter for a chance to win four tickets to see Louisville Ballet’s upcoming production of The Brown-Forman Nutcracker.
Join us for one of these Nutcracker Family Storytimes:
Nutcracker Family Storytimes are free and open to the public. For more information, visit LFPL.org/Nutcracker.
The Louisville Zoo is celebrating Kroger Wild Winter Days now through February 28, 2023 with a Dare to Care food drive and discount admission when you donate a food item for the drive.
Guests who bring at least one canned food item per person may purchase discounted tickets at the Zoo windows for $9.75 per adult and $6.75 per child/senior ticket.
The discount is available at the gate only and is not valid for online purchases. The offer is not valid for special fee-based programs, for prepaid groups, field trips or with other discounts. No refunds will be provided for tickets prepaid in advanced or purchase online. Multiple cans are appreciated but only one discount per admission; additional cans do not provide additional discounts.
Some of Dare to Care Food Bank’s most needed items are canned meats like tuna and chicken, as well as canned fruit, beans, peanut butter, soup, rice, cereal, fruit juice, pasta and canned vegetables. Please avoid glass containers. More details are available at https://daretocare.org/.
The Zoo is open daily year-round. Fall/winter hours are 10am-4pm (stay until 5pm). The Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Black Friday Survival Guide: Courtesy of the Jefferson Mall
Black Friday is THE busiest shopping day of the year. There’s lots of hustle and bustle, and everyone is scrambling to snag the best deals. To help make your Black Friday experience as easy as possible, we’re offering up our Top 5 insider tips so you can shop smarter. Consider this our Black Friday Survival Guide!
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1) Create a shopping list. This may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s really the key to making the most of your Black Friday shopping. Write a detailed list of who you’re shopping for (including yourself) and what you need to get.
2) Build your budget. If money is tight, a budget is essential. Even if money isn’t tight, a budget will help keep you from over-spending. Decide how much money you have available to spend total and/or per person, and then stick to that number. This will help you cut down on impulse buys as well.
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3) Be realistic! Everyone is shopping on Black Friday, so expect lines and some waiting. It’s part of the fun. If you aren’t ready for that much social interaction but still want the Black Friday deals, consider buying online.
4) Take care of yourself on Black Friday! Dress comfortably; wear your best sneakers and your comfiest pants. We recommend wearing layers, as it can be chilly in some stores and much warmer in others. A backpack or cross body bag is also a win – it not only frees up your hands but are both perfectly on-trend accessories!
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5) Make It Fun! Shopping is 1,000 times more fun when you’re with others. Plus, you’ll have someone to help you make the tough decisions AND to help carry your purchases throughout the day! Make it fun by dressing alike, or wearing holiday-themed T-shirts, headbands, or jingle bells…whatever fits your style and shows other shoppers you’re having fun!
Take time for a photo with your group – if you’re feeling extra festive, incorporate the big guy into your photo! You’ll find info on Santa photo reservations on Jefferson Mall’s Holiday page.
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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.
Message from the LMPD 8th Division
Please make note of the below tips to help make sure theft doesn't happen to you.
- Never leave anything of value in your vehicle; this includes laptops, purses, GPS devices and even loose change.
- Do not leave your vehicle running while unattended.
- Always lock your vehicle doors.
- Remove garage door openers from vehicles when parked outside.
- Do not leave your keys in your vehicle, this includes key-fobs.
- Do not leave the windows of your vehicle open, or partially open.
- Try to park your vehicle in a well-lit area.
- Never leave a firearm unprotected in your vehicle.
- Immediately report any suspicious person, or vehicle to (502) 574-7111.
Stay aware of new development in your area! Sign up for Gov Delivery notifications at:
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/KYLOUISVILLE/subscriber/new
On January 1, 2019, a new Comprehensive Plan, called Plan 2040, went into effect. As a resident of District 7 (or any district in Louisville), it is important to review the Comprehensive Plan if you are interested in development that is proposed for the neighborhood. The Comprehensive Plan is the guidepost for all development, and the Planning Commission must use it as one of the guiding principles and tools for making decisions regarding the approval or denial of a neighborhood development project.
Read The Comprehensive Plan (Plan 2040)
The Comprehensive Plan is representative of over 6,000 voices, including Metro staff, an advisory committee, and resident volunteers. The Advisory Committee, made up of diverse representatives from neighborhood and community organizations as well as development and business interests, finalized its recommended goals, objectives, and policies on February 21, 2018.
On April 16, 2018, the Planning Commission recommended the Comprehensive Plan for approval. The document was then reviewed by the Metro Council as well as 12 local municipalities with zoning authority for formal adoption. Those 12 local municipalities are: Anchorage, Douglass Hills, Graymoor-Devondale, Hurstbourne, Indian Hills, Jeffersontown, Lyndon, Middletown, Prospect, Shively, St. Matthews, and St. Regis Park.
Louisville COVID-19 case counts are holding steady at the red-alert level. Health experts recommend people living in high community-level counties to wear a mask indoors in public, stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if experiencing symptoms. Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness
Here are the key COVID-19 data metrics for this week:
- Daily average incidence rate of 56.1 cases per 100,000 population
- Weekly incidence rate of 376.79 cases per 100,000 population
- 3,013 new cases reported over the previous week
- 1 newly reported death
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4.4% staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19
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5.9% staffed ICU beds are in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19
- 47.6 of those fully vaccinated have received a booster dose
- Wastewater testing data shows the BA.5 variant to be the dominant variant.
Need help finding a COVID test or vaccination location? Have you tested positive for COVID, but aren't sure what to do? Call the LOU Health COVID-19 Helpline, 502-912-8598, available Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Language translation services are available.
Subscribe to Louisville Metro's Covid-19 e-newsletter for the latest news!
Monkeypox tends to spread through close contact with someone who is infected with the virus. It can spread through prolonged face-to-face contact and intimate physical contact such as kissing, cuddling or sex. The virus can also be spread through materials, like bedding, that has previously touched an infectious rash or bodily fluids. Click here for more information: monkeypox
Louisville Metro Council livestreams 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.
To watch the Council meeting and access the agenda and related attachments, click HERE.
Click Here to: View All Agencies
Click Here to Visit Website for Laws, State Legislators, Watch Bills, etc
Click here for more info.
District 7 Disclaimer: By taking part in District 7 events, you grant Councilwoman Paula McCraney full rights to use the images resulting from photograph/video filming. Councilwoman McCraney will have the right to any reproductions or adaptations of the images for inclusion in her e-Newsletter or other Council publications. This might include, but is not limited to, the right to use them in printed and online materials, social media and news releases.
If you do not wish to be photographed, please email the District 7 office at paula.mccraney@louisvilleky.gov prior to event attendance.
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