The saying goes, "When one door closes, another one opens," and that door holds a wealth of possibilities. Yes, you may have some trepidations about what is to come but contemplate what you're leaving behind and then look ahead. Take a moment to reflect upon about all the things you have experienced, the lessons learned, and the people you got to know. Reflect on the invaluable thigsapply them to the new and exciting things to come.
A new opportunity means a fresh start and all the possibilities new beginnings bring. Your co-workers and friends at the Metro Council would like to thank you for being an integral part of Louisville Metro Government and serving the citizens of our community. We hope that 2023 will be your best year yet.
ANGELA BOWENS
KEISHA DORSEY
GINNY FIRST
BETSY FOSTER
MARK FOX
NICOLE GEORGE
BILL HOLLANDER
CHRIS LEWIS
SUSAN HUGHES
DAVID JAMES
MEGAN METCALF
KETURAH MORROW
STEPHEN OTT
JAMES PEDEN
RACHEL ROARX
KEVIN TRIPLETT
AMY HOLTON STEWART
CHARLES WEATHERS
LOL
Just kidding. Good luck to all in your future endeavors!
1. The first New Year’s celebration dates back 4,000 years. Julius Caesar, the emperor of Rome, was the first to declare Jan. 1 a national holiday. He named the month after Janus, the Roman god of doors and gates.
2. Be sure to eat leafy greens on New Year’s. Tradition says that the more leafy greens a person eats, the more prosperity he or she will experience.
3. Many people ring in New Year’s by popping open a bottle of champagne. Americans drink close to 360 million glasses of sparkling wine during this time. The bubbly stuff dates back to the 17th century, when the cork was invented.
4. Forty-five percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. The top resolutions are: to lose weight, get organized, to spend less and save more, to get fit and healthy, and to quit smoking. While nearly half of all Americans make resolutions, 25 percent of them give up on their resolutions by the second week of January.
5. Make sure to be surrounded by family or loved ones on New Year’s Eve. The first person you come across in the new year could set the tone for the next 12 months.
6. At the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, 10,000 participants step through City Hall and perform in unique costumes. The parade dates back to mid-17th-century, incorporating elements from Irish, German, English, Swedish and other European heritages.
7. About 1 million people gather in New York City’s Times Square to watch the ball drop. The Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop came about because of a ban on fireworks. The first ball in 1907 was 700 pounds and was lit with 100 25-watt lights. The current ball puts the old one to shame (thanks to technology). Today, it is covered in 2,688 crystals, is lit by 32,000 LED lights, weighs 11,875 pounds and is 12 feet in diameter.
8. The song, "Auld Lang Syne" is traditionally sung at the end of New Year’s parties. Poet Robert Burns wrote it in 1788. The overall message is that people have to remember their loved ones, dead or alive, and keep them close in their hearts.
9. Many people ring in New Year’s by popping open a bottle of champagne. Americans drink close to 360 million glasses of sparkling wine during this time. The bubbly stuff dates back to the 17th century, when the cork was invented.
10. According to statistics from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, vehicles are stolen on New Year’s Day more than any other holiday. Don’t think your old car is safe, either. In 2011, the 1994 Honda Accord was the most stolen car.
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly is a Council Chronicle series that offers a glimpse at unusual stories in the news around the world. They are intended to provoke thought, inform and elicit a range of emotions from joy, outrage, anger, amusement or hope. These are a summary of stories worth knowing. Each month we will feature a story of the Good, the Bad & the Ugly around the globe. If you come across a news item that falls into any of these categories, please email it to me for possible inclusion in the monthly e-newsletter.
THE UGLY
WOMAN IS BERATED AND CURSED AT BY ENTITLED STRANGER FOR NOT SHARING HER ICE CREAM WITH THE WOMAN'S KID
A 25-year-old woman was returning from a college course-related trip via train. This woman will hence forth be referred to as (25F) for purposes of this story. (25F) had 24 hours to get to her destination, which was 6 hours away, complete her assignment, and take the train back home the very next day. As you can imagine, she was exhausted when she boarded her train at 10pm. Once she got seated in her assigned cabin on the train, she noticed she was sharing with a middle-aged woman and her toddler child. She nodded her head in greeting at the passengers.
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Shortly after, she realized she hadn't eaten in several hours. (25F) had 30 minutes before the train was scheduled to depart, and she spotted a snack bar outside the window of the train. She quickly left the train, purchased some snacks and an ice cream treat and went back to her cabin. (25F) decided to eat her ice cream first to prevent it from melting. At that time, she noticed the kid eyeing her ice cream and asking for it. She looked at his mom to see how she would handle it and the woman said, "give it to my son and buy yourself another one."
(25F) was shocked at the woman's demand and refused but pointed out the snack bar and suggested she purchase an ice cream for the child. The mom started yelling profanities at her and saying things like, "you're a brat" and "you're heartless for doing this to a child." (25F) responded by putting her headphones on and turning up the volume on her music and finishing her ice cream in peace. The rest of the long journey was spent in complete silence.
When (25F) returned home she told friends and family about the incident with this entitled and demanding woman. She received mixed reactions. Her boyfriend thought it was hilarious and thought she handled the situation appropriately. However, her mom was upset with the way she reacted and said she should have given the child her ice cream. I would have responded in the exact same way as (25F) and ignored the woman and her offspring and enjoyed my ice cream.
How would you have reacted if you were placed in this situation?
CALEB HOWARD, 1/3
AARON HORNER, 1/8
JOHN TORSKY, 1/11
BRIANNA WRIGHT ,1/19
STEVE HAAG, 1/26
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
COLD WEATHER SAFETY TIPS
When you are outside, frostbite and hypothermia are possible, so you need to protect yourself.
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Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing.
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Wear a hat. Try to stay dry and out of the wind.
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Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
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Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves.
ICE SAFETY
To keep pipes from freezing on an outside wall:
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Let hot and cold-water trickle or drip at night from a faucet.
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Open cabinet doors to allow more heat to get to un-insulated pipes under a sink or near an outer wall. 3. Make sure heat is left on and set no lower than 55 degrees.
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If you plan to be away: (1) Have someone, check your house daily to make sure the heat is still on to prevent freezing, or (2) drain and shut off the water system (except indoor sprinkler systems).
IF PIPES FREEZE:
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Make sure everyone in the home knows how to shut off the water, in case a pipe bursts.
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NEVER try to thaw a pipe with an open flame or torch. Use a hair dryer instead.
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Always be careful of the potential for electric shock in and around standing water.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent, deadly killer claiming about 1,000 lives each year in the United States.
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Install a carbon monoxide detector.
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NEVER run generators indoors.
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Open a window slightly when using a kerosene heater and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
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NEVER use a gas oven to heat your home.
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If your heat goes out, you can keep warm indoors by closing off rooms you do not need, dressing in layers of lightweight clothing, and wearing a cap.
Wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and heaters
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Always keep a screen around an open flame.
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NEVER use gasoline to start your fireplace.
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NEVER burn charcoal indoor
Follow these tips to stay safe and warm this chilly winter season.
In the last few years, we have all experienced new challenges that have affected our mental, physical, and social well-being. Many of us have felt tired and stressed, which is why wellness and self-care are more important than ever before. Our wellness journey is an ongoing one, and we have to prioritize our emotional and physical health. Here are some ideas to care for the many dimensions of wellness, so we can nourish our bodies and nurture our minds.
EASY EXERCISES FOR PEOPLE WHO SIT ALL DAY
Is Sitting the New Smoking?
There’s plenty of research that tells us that the cumulative effects of sitting, either at a desk all day or because of a sedentary lifestyle, can have a negative impact on our health. A 2014 study by Dr. James Levine, director of the Mayo Clinic – Arizona State University Obesity Solutions Initiative, went so far as to declare that sitting is the new smoking."
Ongoing research has shown that sitting too much is not in fact worse than smoking, but it is a real and serious health concern worthy of behavior modification. Sitting at a desk job all day can cause lower back pain, eye strain, tight shoulders, tight hips, and repetitive back strain. Sitting all day at work or being a couch potato at home are very unhealthy. These practices negatively impact your life expectancy, cause a sluggish metabolism, weight gain and deformed vertebral disks. Studies have shown that we are also increasing our risk of serious diseases such as:
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Breast, Colon, and Ovarian Cancer
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Obesity
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Heart Disease
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Type 2 Diabetes
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Depression
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Muscle Degeneration
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Back Problems
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Leg Circulation Disorders
Counteract the effects of prolonged sitting with these easy exercises (shown above) to improve your health.
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Incorporate a stretch and strengthening routine into your day.
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Take Regular Breaks by setting an alarm as a reminder to get up and move at regular intervals.
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How You Sit Is Important. Making sure that you are sitting with your feet flat on the floor with your spine upright in a neutral forward-facing position is key. Ideally, try to have a chair that supports your back when you need it, but also allows you to sit upright using your postural muscles to lengthen your spine.
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Train Your Body for Your Sitting. If you have to sit a lot, prepare your body. Try Pilates or Yoga to help keep your body balanced and strong.
Healthy Habits for a Healthy Body
Whether you’re working from home or just hanging out at home, taking time to move during the day will create positive effects over a lifetime.
Establishing healthy habits is a challenging but important part of maintaining your wellness. Small actions and simple activities like these can make a big difference in your holistic health. The holistic approach to health care focuses on the health of the entire body and mind and not just parts of the body.
Coconut, AFTER.
Before & After Rescue Dog Transformation
Who can resist a heartwarming makeover, especially when it involves a sweet dog? Whether they were abandoned, lost or mistreated, these down-on-their luck dogs were in dire need of a loving presence in their lives. That's where caring animal shelters, pet rescues and foster parents come into the picture. With lots of love and much-needed TLC, these rescue dogs started thriving — inside and out. These before-and-after transformation pictures speak for themselves. Hopefully, it will inspire you to adopt a rescue pup of your own.
BEFORE
In just over three short months, Coconut has gone from a sickly, gravely underweight, and apathetic dog who had given up on life to a happy, healthy, and pampered pooch. Her new family calls her "sunshine canine" because she loves to lay out by the pool and catch some rays. This pup is now living the good life and enjoying every moment of it.
Coconut, Before her rescue.
Please consider adopting a pet from your local animal shelter or a pet rescue if you have room in your home and heart for a new furry family member. Trust me, you'll be so glad that you did. 🐾❤️
Side-Eye Pics are a series of photographs of people or animals behaving strangely or annoyingly. They are doing things that make one pause and take a second look. Their actions are perplexing enough to those observing them to earn them the side eye.
Dine and Dash?
NEW YEAR'S DAY 1/1
NEW YEAR'S DAY OBSERVED, METRO HOLIDAY 1/2
HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS DAY, 1/11
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY, 1/16
NATIONAL POPCORN DAY, 1/19
NATIONAL PIE DAY, 1/23
NATIONAL SPOUSE'S DAY, 1/26
NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY, 1/30
NATIONAL HOT CHOCOLATE DAY, 1/31
NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH
NATIONAL GLAUCOMA AWARENESS MONTH
CERVICAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH
BIRTH DEFECTS PREVENTION MONTH
WALK YOUR PET MONTH
Did you know that several of the New Year's tradition's that we engage in today actually date back to ancient times? Whether your tradition is eating lucky food, making some noise or having a drink, here are some different ways that people celebrate the start of a new year around the world.
MANY NEW YEAR'S TRADITIONS INVOLVE FOOD
In the south, black-eyed peas and pork foretell good fortune. Eating any ring-shaped treat (such as a doughnut) symbolizes “coming full circle” and leads to good fortune. In Dutch homes, fritters called olie bollen are served. In Scotland they hold bonfire ceremonies where people parade while swinging giant fireballs on poles.
The Irish enjoy pastries called bannocks, and rice promises prosperity in India and Pakistan. Apples dipped in honey are a Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) tradition. In Swiss homes, dollops of whipped cream, symbolizing the richness of the year to come, are dropped on the floors, and allowed to remain there!
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EATING 12 GRAPES AT MIDNIGHT
In Spain, people attempt to eat 12 grapes during the 12 strokes of midnight. Tradition says that if they succeed before the chimes stop, they will have good luck for all 12 months of the coming year.
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MAKING SOME NOISE
In Thailand, it was once tradition to fire guns to frighten off demons. The forces of darkness were routed by firecrackers in China. In Denmark, they throw plates and glasses against each other’s front doors to banish bad spirits. Ecuador's tradition is to burn effigies of famous people to destroy bad “juju” from the past year and start fresh. In the early American colonies, the sound of pistol shots rang through the air. In the U.S. today, many watch the ball drop in New York’s Times Square. In other countries, many folks wait for the church bells or the chimes of clock towers to ring out.
Fireworks to ring in the New Year!
GIFT-GIVING
New Year’s Day was once the time to swap presents.
Gifts of gilded nuts or coins marked the start of the new year in Rome. Eggs, the symbol of fertility, were exchanged by the Persians. While early Egyptians traded earthenware flasks. In Scotland, coal, shortbread and silverware were traditionally exchanged for good luck.
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NEW YEAR'S FOLKLORE
Some customs and beliefs are simply passed down through the ages. Here are some favorite age-old sayings and proverbs.
"On New Year’s Eve, kiss the person you hope to keep kissing."
"If New Year’s Eve night wind blow south, It betokeneth warmth and growth."
"For abundance in the new year, fill your pockets and cupboards today."
"If the old year goes out like a lion, the new year will come in like a lamb."
"Begin the new year square with every man." [i.e., pay your debts.] – Robert B. Thomas, founder of The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Quick-Fix Meals feature recipes that are hearty, tasty and quickly prepared. These meals are ready in 30 minutes or less. They are ideal for those days when you come home after a long day at work, hungry and tired. But you want a substantial meal, not just a quick snack.
BONELESS PORK CHOPS
These pan-fried boneless pork chops are a juicy and flavorful meal that’ll be on your table in just 15 minutes, with no marinating or breading required. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
4 boneless pork chops, 1-inch thick
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder, or onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
fresh parsley and thyme, optional garnish
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Remove the pork chops from the fridge 20 minutes ahead of time. (This helps them to reach room temperature for even cooking.)
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Pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Set aside.
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In a small bowl, mix garlic powder, paprika, salt and black pepper. (If your pork chops is brined, you can omit the salt.)
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Rub the chops on all sides with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Then rub in the seasoning mixture evenly on all sides.
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Place a large cast iron pan on medium-high heat. When hot, add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and swirl the pan to coat.
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Add the pork chops and fry until the internal temperature reaches 140°F / 60°C**, flipping every minute to prevent overheating.
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Cooking time will be about 6-7 minutes in total (about 3-4 minutes PER SIDE) for 1-inch chops 1-inch chops*** (see notes for other thicknesses). Add optional thyme to the pan halfway through.
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Remove from heat and transfer the pork chops to a plate. Cover with foil or a plate and let rest for 3-5 minutes to let the juices redistribute through the meat.
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Garnish with optional minced parsley before serving.
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Boneless pork chop recipes are great for so many reasons: they’re low carb, budget-friendly and easy to cook. These sautéed pork chops are the skillet version of our popular have just 275 calories per 6-oz. serving.
The key to ensuring they turn out juicy and tender instead of dry and chewy is by following the tips above. Tender and juicy guaranteed.
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Regular refined olive oil is preferable, as it has a higher smoke point than extra virgin olive oil.
Store leftover boneless pork chops in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat on medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes or in the microwave for 3-4 minutes on 50% power.
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TRUTH BOMBS are described in the urban dictionary as surprising but true statements. A fact or piece of knowledge that, when told to a listener, is devastating to the listener's argument or world view.
New Yorker Seth Phillips has gained a cult following for his truth bombs that protest anything from loud engines, phones that shatter easily, “x” in espresso, and other very specific, small things that add up to our daily lives. He has a whopping 7.5 million followers on social media. Phillips has gone mainstream enough that fashion giant Zara has capitalized on his popularity by selling "Dude with Sign" shirts in their summer collection.
And, of course, there’s always something new to protest. Such as, hot coffee in summer or verifying you’re not a robot online. Those of us who have had enough of everything will get a chuckle out of this series.
LOL
This series features a note left on a car windshield by a passive-aggressive driver who couldn't walk away without expressing exactly how they felt. These notes are downright funny and/or outrageous.
A Messy Lesson
Although the message written on the paper isn’t legible, the words written across the windshield are clear. Someone was pretty ticked off and had the time and the peanut butter to spare. The driver of this vehicle will have the chance to see the error of their ways as they clean up the mess made on their car.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
JANUARY 1ST
CHANNEL SMITH
JANUARY 2ND
MARILYN PARKER
BRIAN POWELL
SCOTT REED
JANUARY 4TH
JECOREY ARTHUR
BRIANNA WRIGHT
JANUARY 5TH
BRENT ACKERSON
JEFF NOBLE
JANUARY 6TH
STUART BENSON
RICK BLACKWELL
DEBBIE CARROLL
KIP EATHERLY
ROBIN ENGEL
MADONNA FLOOD
STEVE HAAG
KEVIN KRAMER
BARBARA SHANKLIN
JANUARY 7TH
CINDI FOWLER
PAULA MCCRANEY
TONY PIAGENTINI
DONNA PURVIS
MARKUS WINKLER
JANUARY 20TH
SCOTT HARRINGTON
CHERYL WOODS
HAPPY WORK ANNIVERSARY TO ALL!!!
'WOULD YOU RATHER' QUESTIONS ARE GREAT CONVERSATION STARTERS AND JUST PLAIN FUN.
1. Would you rather clean up confetti in Times Square or after Zoo animals?
2. Would you rather eat Black Eyed peas for one year or eat broccoli for one year?
3. Would you rather sing Auld Lang Syne to a large crowd or make a toast?
4. Would you rather give up Netflix or TikTok for one year?
5. Would you rather volunteer at a Homeless shelter or at an animal shelter?
6. Would you rather live the last year over again or move on to the New Year?
7. Would you rather give up soda or French fries for 6 months?
8. Would you rather be twice as fast as you were last year or be twice as strong?
9. Would you rather make resolutions for yourself or make resolutions for other people (but they get to make resolutions for you)?
10. Would you rather be in Times Square or a beach on New Year’s Eve?
I pray for equality, unity and peace in every city in our country. Equality for all people everywhere. I pray for justice for all those who have lost their lives needlessly and unjustly. I pray that all people, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status be treated with the dignity and respect we all deserve. I pray for change so that healing can begin in this country and around the world.
Amen.
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