Councilwoman
Paula McCraney
601 W. Jefferson Street
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 574-1107
Click Here to Email Councilwoman McCraney:
Visit the District 7 Website
Follow Councilwoman McCraney on Facebook and Twitter:
@PaulaMcCraneyD7
Phone Numbers
of Interest
Air Pollution: 574-6000
Animal Services: 363-6609 or 361-1318
Anonymous Tipline:
574-LMPD (5673)
Brightside: 574-2613
Jefferson County Clerk's Office: 574-5700
Legal Aid: 584-1254
Metro Call: 311 or 574-5000
Metro Parks: 574-7275
Metro Police: (Non Emergency) 574-7111 or 574-2111
Metro Safe: 572-3460
or 574-7111
MSD: 587-0603
PARC: 569-6222
Poison Control: 589-8222
Property Valuation Administration: 502-574-6380
Public Works: 574-5810
Solid Waste Management (SWMS): 574-3571
TARC: 585-1234
Veteran's Affairs: 595-4447
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Hello Neighbors and Friends,
All I want for Christmas is for you to have a very joyous holiday season filled with sugar and spice and everything nice, and all the love of family and friends that the holidays bring. Also, please stay warm, stay out of the brutal weather this weekend, and stay tuned for my 2023 calendar of events designed with you in mind.
Oh, and by the way, the Metro Council offices will be closed for the Christmas holiday, starting at 1 p.m. today, Friday, December 23rd, and reopening on Tuesday, December 27th at 8 a.m.
Courtesy of the CDC.gov
Louisville's temperatures are not expected to rise past freezing levels again until Monday or Tuesday, so staying warm and taking extra precautions are extremely important.
Hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposures to cold temperatures. When exposed to cold weather, your body begins to lose heat faster than it’s produced. The following are warnings signs of hypothermia:
- Shivering
- Exhaustion or feeling very tired
- Confusion
- Fumbling hands
- Memory loss
- Slurred speech
- Drowsiness
Hypothermia is a medical emergency. If you are not able to get medical help right away, try to warm the person up and get proper medical attention as soon as possible.
A person with severe hypothermia may become unconscious and might not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing. In this case, handle the person gently, and get emergency assistance immediately.
Frostbite can happen in freezing temperatures when your blood vessels narrow, skin temperature drops and ice crystals form around and within your cells, causing damage. A person who has frostbite may not know they have it until someone else points it out because the frozen parts of their body are numb. If you notice signs of frostbite on yourself or someone else, seek medical care.
Click here to learn more information about how Louisville Metro is preparing for freezing temperatures.
-Courtesy of CDC.gov
You are invited to join the Mayor-Elect at a public open house on Inauguration Day, Monday, January 2nd from 1-4pm. Meet the Mayor, the leadership team, enjoy light refreshments, and tour Metro Hall!
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:
Be prepared for a winter storm by following these winter weather safety tips.
- Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.
- When driving is necessary, ensure you have emergency supplies of food, water, warm clothing, and a full tank of gas in case you are stuck in traffic or have an accident and must wait several hours for assistance.
- If possible, travel during the day and do not travel alone. Stay on main roads and do not crowd the snowplows. Let someone know your destination, route, and expected arrival time.
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Limit your time outside. If you need to go outside, then wear layers of warm clothing. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia. For more information, visit the gov winter weather page on frostbite and hypothermia.
- Have at least a three-days’ supply of non-perishable food and water for your family. Remember to store anything specific to your family’s needs.
- Even though there is not a forecast for heavy snow, remember to reduce the risk of a heart attack by avoiding overexertion when shoveling snow and walking in the snow.
- Plan to stay in contact with family, check on neighbors, and listen to local officials.
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Did you know that the average American produces 25% more waste over the holidays? As our team prepares for the busiest time of the year, please take a few minutes to review our holiday reminders to keep your household clean, green and bright this season!
- Service is scheduled to occur as normal the weeks of December 26 and January 2.
- Please place all material at the curb the night before your regular collection day. With holiday travel and limited hours at disposal facilities, collection may occur earlier than normal.
- Christmas trees placed curbside should be free of all decorations. If larger than 6-foot, please cut in half.
- Foil wrapping paper, ribbon and bows are not accepted in recycling.
- Cards with sound contain batteries and should not be discarded in trash or recycling.
- Still searching for the perfect present? Consider the gift of a clean house by paying for Rumpke service for a loved one or help your friends and family get a head start on a New Year’s resolution to recycle by paying for recycling service.
With inclement weather and potential hazardous road conditions expected for Friday, weather-related service delays are a possibility. Any necessary updates will be communicated when possible via email, text, Rumpke.com and social media.
Ohio-based Condado Tacos is coming to the Oxmoor Center in May 2023. The regional chain restaurant specializes in build-your-own tacos, margaritas, and tequilas. It originally announced its expansion in February but was waiting on the TopGolf project to wrap before beginning construction on the new, 4,800-sqft space.
From LOUToday
There’s no place like home for the holidays…and we have proof. Louisville ranked No. 56 on WalletHub’s “2022’s Best Cities for Christmas” based on criteria like shopping options, events, and the community’s generosity. (WalletHub)
With the holiday season in full swing, the U.S. Government is once again offering a limited amount of free COVID-19 tests for residents to help prevent the illnesses spread.
Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of four free at-home tests from USPS.com. Limit of one order per residential address, and one order includes four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. Click here to order.
Find a recycling drop-off location near you at Louisvilleky.gov/RecycleMap.
Starting Tuesday, December 27, Christmas tree drop-off sites will be available for all Louisville/Jefferson County residents at three locations. The Hubbards Lane site will also instantly recycle Christmas trees into mulch that will be offered back to citizens for home use. Those wishing to receive mulch must bring an appropriate container in which to carry it. All lights and ornaments should be removed from trees before they are dropped off. Christmas tree vendors may recycle their unsold trees on Tuesday, December 27 only, and only at the Hubbards Lane site.
HOURS & LOCATIONS
Tuesday-Saturday, 9am to 5 pm (Waste Reduction Center closes at 3 pm on Saturdays)
December 28 - January 29
All locations will be closed on Saturday, December 31 and Saturday, January 14 for holidays.
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East District Recycling Center, 595 N. Hubbards Lane
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Public Works Yard, 10500 Lower River Road (enter from Bethany Lane)
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Waste Reduction Center, 636 Meriwether Avenue
Metro Public Works will also provide curbside pickup of Christmas trees within the Urban Services District after the holiday. Residents with City curbside yard waste pickup may set their Christmas trees and greenery out on their regular collection day. Trees may not be in plastic bags and all decorations must be removed.
Residents normally serviced by private waste haulers should check with those companies to see whether and when tree pickup is available.
With the swing of a sledgehammer, Mayor Greg Fischer marked the start of a major renovation of the city’s downtown Main Library.
The Mayor was joined by Library Director Lee Burchfield, State Senator Gerald Neal, and Library Foundation Executive Director Chandra Gordon for the announcement, which included the demolition of a wall in the Main Library’s historic Carnegie lobby.
“The Main Library is the largest public library facility in the state and serves as the nucleus of our Louisville Free Public Library System,” said Mayor Fischer. “Over the last twelve years we have invested $55 million to construct three regional libraries and build or renovate ten neighborhood libraries – to make them first-in-class. Thanks to American Rescue Plan funds, our flagship Main Library will now join those ranks.”
The $8 million project, funded by Metro government through the American Rescue Plan, will include:
- Exterior improvements to the appearance of the 1969 addition
- Renovation and reopening of the Main Library’s third floor (closed to the public in 2018 due to pension-driven budget cuts)
- The creation of 16,000 square feet of usable public space by reimagining the existing historic “stacks” area of the 1906 Carnegie Library building
- Major improvements to landscaping and the grounds, with the possible addition of a public art installation
Additional funds will be raised through private donations to the Library Foundation.
“This significant investment and initial renovation is just the beginning for our flagship Main Library. The Library Foundation is excited to discover just how big our city can dream as we look to the future for the heart of Louisville's library system,” said the Library Foundation’s Chandra Gordon.
The historic Main Library was built in 1906 with support from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. A contemporary addition, designed by Louis and Henry Architects of Louisville, more than doubled the space when it opened in 1969. Today the Main Library serves more than 200,000 visitors annually, houses more than half a million books and other items, and is home to the Kentucky History Collection.
“The Main Library has been a destination place in downtown Louisville since it opened its doors in 1908. As our city continues to grow and change, so too does the Library,” said Library Director Burchfield. “With this investment, our Main Library will remain a vibrant hub of ideas, information, and social engagement for generations to come.”
A Request for Proposals has been issued to determine the design and construction team. For more information about the Main Library project, go to LFPL.org or follow the Louisville Free Public Library on social media.
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This is how it works: each week during January, participants will receive an email with a list of 10-12 anti-racism activities. The activities range from reading an article, calling an elected official, making a donation, watching a film or viewing an exhibit by Black artists, patronizing a Black business, attending a rally, etc. Participants are asked to choose and complete 3 of the listed activities. The purpose is to keep us all focused and active in challenging racism in our daily lives. This is a personal challenge -- no one needs to report back to anyone. If participants are interested, simply provide your email address (your information WILL NOT be shared) and that puts you on the list to receive the ARC email each week. listenlearnact.org has been offering this challenge each quarter for about two years to the members of their group. The group recently partnered with Metro Lean Into Louisville to expand their reach and make this challenge a city-wide event. Here is the link to sign up: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/ambMTOs/listenlearnact
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Now through January 1st, visit Metro Hall, 527 W. Jefferson St., for the Holiday Lights Spectacular brought to us by Louisville Third Century. The lights outside Metro Hall will remain on through the remainder of the year, spreading holiday cheer! From sundown to sunup, enjoy the colors of the holidays and the beautiful city Christmas tree! And while you're downtown, visit some of the wonderful museums, distilleries, shops or restaurants. The holiday lights are close to many local attractions including Nulu, 4th Street Live!, Waterfront Park and Whiskey Row. Happy holidays from Louisville Third Century!
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Now through January 1st, start your newest holiday season tradition at Paristown’s annual Fête De Noël ("Festival of Christmas") Winter Holiday Festival, 731 Brent St., a winter wonderland featuring Louisville’s only authentic outdoor ice skating rink, photos with Santa, the Brent Street Holiday Market, trackless train rides and so much more.
The stunning 100'x50' outdoor ice-skating rink is an authentic sheet of ice featuring festive holiday music, skate rentals for all ages and connected concession stand bar. General admission tickets include 60 minutes of ice time and complimentary skate rental. Public skating hours subject to change depending on weather and ice rink conditions. Follow @paristownky on Instagram for up-to-date info and announcements. Purchase your tickets for all the exciting Fête de Noël activities here!
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Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis, America’s favorite holiday tradition for over 35 years, will be at Kentucky Center's Whitney Hall, 501 W. Main St., on December 27th at 7pm. Grammy Award winner Chip Davis has created a show that features Mannheim Steamroller Christmas classics in the distinctive Mannheim sound. The program celebrates the group’s recent anniversary of 35 years since the first Christmas album and includes dazzling multimedia effects performed in an intimate setting. Experience the magic as the spirit of the season comes alive with the signature sound of Mannheim Steamroller. Click here for event and ticket information.
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It’s Winter Break time! Gather the family on December 30th from 1-4pm and travel to the Speed Art Museum, 2035 South 3rd Street, for their Winter Family Day. During this afternoon, the Museum will be filled with programming created for younger kiddos. Get ready for story time, drop-in artmaking, and scavenger hunts throughout the Museum. These activities will be included in your ticket to the Museum. Click here for more information.
Celebrate the arrival of 2023 at Fourth Street Live! on December 31st starting at 7pm. Click here for event and ticket information.
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SIMPLIFIED DREIDEL
The dreidel is a must for any Hanukkah party since it’s the traditional game of the holiday. Older children can grasp the official rules of the game, but younger children might have more fun with a simplified version of the game. Take the time to teach the children the importance of the game by explaining its background.
1. Any number of people can take part.
2. Each player begins the game with an equal number of game pieces (about 10-15) such as pennies, nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, matchsticks, etc.
3. For this particular version on the game, divvy out 10 coins to each player and then use the following rules:
At the beginning of each round, every participant puts one game piece into the center “pot.” In addition, every time the pot is empty or has only one game piece left, every player should put one in the pot.
- Gimel - Child takes two coins from another player
- Heh - Child takes one coin from another player
- Shin - Child gives two coins to another player
- Nun - Child does nothing
Since the traditional version of the game can move slowly, this simplified version speeds up the gameplay so that kids of all ages can participate.
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Kwanzaa, an annual holiday affirming African family and social values, is celebrated primarily in the United States. Both the name and the celebration were devised in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of Africana studies at California State University in Long Beach and an important figure in Afrocentrism. Dr. Karenga borrowed the word kwanza, meaning “first,” from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, adding the seventh letter, an extra a, to make the word long enough to accommodate one letter for each of the seven children present at an early celebration. (The name Kwanzaa is not itself a Swahili word.) The concept of Kwanzaa draws on Southern African first-fruits celebrations. Kwanzaa is celebrated from Monday, December 26, 2022, to Sunday, January 1, 2023.
During the week of Kwanzaa, families and communities come together to share a feast, to honor the ancestors, affirm the bonds between them, and to celebrate African and African American culture. Each day they light a candle to highlight the principle of that day and to breathe meaning into the principles with various activities, such as reciting the sayings or writings of great black thinkers and writers, reciting original poetry, African drumming, and sharing a meal of African diaspora-inspired foods.
Seven principles (the nguzo saba), that represent the cornerstone of Kwanzaa, are celebrated across each of the seven days following Christmas. The Seven Principles are:
December 26: Unity (umoja)
December 27: Self-determination (kujichagulia)
December 28: Collective Work and Responsibility (ujima)
December 29: Cooperative economics (ujamaa)
December 30: Purpose (nia)
December 31: Creativity (kuumba)
January 1: Faith (imani).
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.
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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