District 14 e-News, April 12, 2023

Fowler

District 14 Councilwoman

and

Vice Chair of Democratic Caucus

Contact Cindi Fowler


Legislative Assistant

Contact Cindy Thieneman


Staff Helper

Amy Stewart


Office Locations:

CityHall
601 West Jefferson Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
(502) 574-1114

 

Southwest Government Center
7219 Dixie Highway
Louisville, Kentucky 40258
(502) 574-7988


2023 Committees:

Chair of Government Oversight/Audit and Appointments

 

Parks & Sustainability

 

Budget & Appropriations


 

Visit Councilwoman Fowler's website 

 


Metro seal

In This Edition...


The District 14 office will continue to monitor and answer concerns and emails received. 
The 601 W. Jefferson St. office and the Southwest Government Center offices are now open to the public. 
You can contact us by calling 502-574-1114 and leaving a voicemail or  email Cindi.Fowler@LouisvilleKy.gov


Remember and Honor

victim

We would like to recognize the victims and the heros in Monday's mass shooting event at Old National Bank near Louisville Slugger Field.  This tragic event has taken the lives of five individuals, Tommy Elliott, Josh Barrick, James Tutt, Juliana Farmer, and Deana Eckert.  May the families of these victims find peace and comfort in the days and weeks ahead.

To our LMPD Officer Nickolas Wilt who was shot and now in serious condition, we pray for you as you fight for your life.  Your heroic actions helped save the lives of many more.  We thank you for your service and for your selfless actions.

To all the other first responders and heroes, LMPD, EMS, Louisville Fire and Rescue, UL Physicians, and other Local, State and Federal officials, we applaud and thank you.  Your actions saved lives.

Let's join together as a community and support each other as we navigate this senseless tragedy.  

For those who would like to speak to a counselor, Louisville Metro Government’s Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods is making available mental health professionals at more than a dozen houses of worship across the city. Anyone who feels they need assistance dealing with Monday’s shooting, or community violence in general, is encouraged to reach out for help at www.LouisvilleKY.gov/government/safe-neighborhoods.


Vigil for Victims this Evening

vigil

Riverside Plant Sale Friday & Saturday

herb

Please join us to celebrate the return of spring with our annual Plant & Herb Sale. Take advantage of the Early Bird Sale on Friday, April 14 from 3-7 PM or come out on Saturday, April 15 from 8 am – 3 pm. The sale will feature annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables for your home garden.

This year, we will have some special guest vendors who will be part of our Farmers’ Market in June – September. It will be a great preview of some of what will be offered at our weekly Farmers’ Market a few weeks later!

plant

Second Annual Treefest, April 15

Louisville Parks and Recreation and TreesLouisville are excited to welcome the community to the second annual TreeFest: An Arbor Day Celebration. The family-friendly event is set to take place on Saturday, April 15, 11:00am – 4:00pm and will offer a variety of activities for those of all ages!

The day will begin with a volunteer tree planting, where community volunteers will work to plant 200 trees throughout Joe Creason Park (1297 Trevilian Way, 40213). 

Additional activities offered at TreeFest include tree giveaways, guided nature walks, tree climbing, a rock climbing wall, crafts, games, live music, vendor booths, community booths and more!

Food and beverages from Lil Cheezers, Poco502, West Sixth Brewing and Forest Edge Winery will be available for purchase. Bringing personal alcoholic beverages is prohibited.

tree

Sign Up to Help with Brightside April 15th

brightside

The date has been set!

Join in Saturday, April 15th for the Brightside Spring Community-Wide Cleanup! 

Registration is open now. Just click on the link here.

We encourage all residents to take part in Brightside's Community-Wide Cleanups. Held in the spring and fall, the events are a great service opportunity for boy/girl scouts, sports teams, faith groups and community organizations. It could also be a corporate team bonding opportunity! 

Cleanups are an integral part of Brightside's mission and without the help of volunteer groups, and many other volunteers throughout the year, Brightside could not achieve their goals of a cleaner, greener Louisville.

Neighborhoods can hold their own cleanups at any point throughout the year and we can provide gloves and bags for each Neighborhood Cleanup. We will work with Solid Waste Management to have the collected litter bags picked up. Give us a call at (502) 574-2613 or register online about two weeks prior to your event to schedule your cleanup and for information about getting supplies. 

Thanks to each and every volunteer who supports the Brightside Community-Wide Cleanup, for your time and dedication – we can’t do it without you! 

https://louisvilleky.gov/government/brightside/brightside-community-wide-cleanup


Tree Storm Debris Drop-Off

storm debris

Mill Creek Greenway Concept Plan Public Meeting, April 19th, SW Library

millcreek

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day 2023

world

Derby Brunch at Riverside

Kick off Derby Week at Riverside’s fun and festive annual fundraising event! Join Honorary Host Mayor Craig Greenberg  and Mistress of Ceremonies Dawne Gee (WAVE-3 Anchor) for this Official Kentucky Derby Festival event. The Mayor’s Derby Brunch On the River features a wonderful Kentucky breakfast, music, tours of the historic house, historic chapel, a silent auction, a brief live auction and more. All proceeds support the mission of Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing, Inc.

Tickets are: $120/person or you can buy a table for 8 people for $900.

For tickets, call Riverside at 502.935.6809.

brunch

Shakespeare's Hamlet at Sun Valley

hamlet2

Scholarship Opportunity Available from DABA

daba

Give Back to Your Community, Mayor's Give A Day Project Information

This city-wide celebration of service which humbly began as a single day of service, is now an annual month-long event where residents make time for volunteering, service and compassion. The Mayor’s Give A Day celebration leverages the greatest asset we have: our people! Our goal is to inspire our community to ensure the work and the success of Mayor’s Give A Day will continue long into the future.

mayor

Dinos Under Louisville, Now Through April 30th

dino

Dinos will take over Louisville Mega Cavern again with Dinos Under Louisville! Visitors will venture under Louisville to uncover 80 life-size moving dinosaurs on a gripping 20-minute adventure through more than half a mile of Louisville Mega Cavern’s underground passageways.

As visitors travel through Dinos Under Louisville, they enter a wormhole and are suddenly transported back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the earth! Guests will enjoy an epic adventure alongside the “live” dinosaurs and experience the Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous time periods and the extinction event that ended the time of dinosaurs on the planet.

Right before their eyes, dino lovers of all ages will see dozens of colossal dinosaurs as they take over Louisville like never before!

Get your tickets by visiting: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dinos-under-louisville-tickets-514127488157

1841 Taylor Ave., Louisville, KY 40213


Garden Plots Available at Farnsley-Moremen

spring2

Wild Lights at the Zoo

lights

March 10th through May 21st

The region's largest lantern festival comes to the Zoo in a whole new way! Experience the stunning locations, flora and fauna from Around the World as you stroll through the Zoo under the light of enormous, handcrafted, silk-covered lanterns. Don’t miss your Zoo aglow with more than 50,000 LED light bulbs. The wonder of Wild Lights is sure to create glowing smiles and bright, everlasting memories.

Dramatic archways illuminate the way on a magical journey encompassing the famous landmarks, flora and fauna of six continents. Feast your eyes on dramatic cultural displays celebrating the rich heritage and craftsmanship of lantern artisans. Engage with interactive, animated and color-changing displays. Commemorate your visit with awe-inspiring photos at our stunning photo opportunity locations. Kids (and kids at heart) can become part of the magic while swaying on our glowing moonlight swings or exploring the panda game station! The wonder of Wild Lights is sure to create glowing smiles and bright, everlasting memories.

Advance tickets are required and are valid for the date and time listed on your ticket only. Be sure to apply the $7 parking fee to your order, otherwise you will be charged at the Zoo’s admission windows. Purchase your Wild Lights tickets here !

1100 Trevilian Way, Louisville, KY 40213

 


Free Tax Assistance

The Louisville Asset Building Coalition’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, or VITA, provides trained, IRS-certified volunteers who offer free tax services at 11 sites across the city. VITA is available to individuals and families who earned less than $66,000 in 2022.

To help preparers accurately determine prepare returns EITC eligibility at VITA and AARP Tax Aide sites, individuals should bring:

  • Picture ID and Social Security cards for everyone listed on the return
  • Copy of 2021 tax return with all attachments and schedules
  • W-2s and 1099s from your employers
  • Other 1099s for interest, dividends, state tax refund or other income
  • Form 1099-G for any unemployment compensation received during the year
  • 1095-A for health insurance
  • 1098 for education credit, plus a detailed financial statement from the school
  • Bank account number and routing number for direct deposit as well as savings account number (if applicable)
  • If you do not have a bank account, we can help you open a Bank On certified account.
  • Childcare information, including Provider ID and actual amounts paid
  • Summarized list of other income/expenses for those who itemize or are self-employed
  • Additional tax information that may be required
  • Masks are required at all VITA sites
VITA tax locations

AARP Tax-Aide Free Income Tax Preparation

Tax Aide

Louisville Parks & Recreation Summer Camps

Summer break camps are set to take place Monday through Friday beginning June 20 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and will run for eight weeks, ending August 11. Camps are offered to children ages 6-12. A one-time non-refundable registration fee of $20 is due at registration and the weekly camp fee is $50 per child, due a week in advance. Registration includes a t-shirt for each participant.

summer

Jefferson Memorial Forest Summer Camps

JMF

Register here for the following camps:

Jefferson Memorial Forest & Natural Areas are offering a wide array of summer break camps. JMF's summer camps combine summer fun with nature-based science education activities and are offered to ages 7-15. Campers will take on the roles of naturalists, scientists and adventurers as they explore the Forest and the creatures that inhabit it. Traditional summer camp fun will round out the experience, inspiring exploration and creating an adventure to remember for a lifetime. 

10% off Early Bird Discounts run until April 16, 2023. 

Adventure Camp Ages 7-12 • June 12-16 Ages 7-12 • July 24-28

Campers will explore the trails deep in the forest, shoot bows and arrows, use a map and compass to discover buried treasure, and learn outdoor survival skills.

FairiesTrolls and Gnomes Camp Ages 7-10 • July 10-14

Enter a magical, hidden world in the Forest, where creatures of the imagination live. Campers use their creativity and natural materials to craft an enchanted land where anything is possible, while learning about the plants and animals of the forest. Campers will help create a play to be performed on Friday and enjoy a Woodland Fairy Tea Party!

ECO Extreme Camp Ages 13-15 • July 10-14

This adventure camp sets itself apart from other camps offered.  From camping out under the stars on an overnight trip, to paddling on the forest lake, campers are sure to get a dose of adventure at ECO X Camp, all while learning backcountry cooking, canoeing techniques, Leave-No-Trace skills, and more.

Wilderness Survival Camp Ages 7-12 • June 26-30 Ages 7-12 • July 17-21

Shelter-Water-Fire-Food: These are the four basic human needs for survival in a natural setting. In training for the ultimate survival challenge on Friday, campers will develop their ability to build a shelter, start a fire, and find food and water in the wilderness. Teams will be challenged to complete their survival skills and obtain their shelter, water, fire, and food emblems to make them ultimate survivors.

Water Wonders Camp Ages 7-12 • June 20-23

There’s an exciting world within ponds, lakes, streams and rivers just waiting to be discovered. Campers explore a lake by canoe, play in a flowing creek, and hike through a forest to a winding stream. And of course, no water-themed camp is complete without water games! Personal flotation devices (PFDs) are provided to each camper, and trained staff accompany the campers for our canoe excursion and creek play day. Parents are welcome to join their child for the canoeing excursion.

 


Reporting Potholes

Potholes

We need your help reporting potholes, use one of the methods below;

  1. Use an online form by clicking here.
  2. Use Twitter by sending the location of the hole to @LouMetro311 and include the hashtag #502pothole.
  3. Call Metro311 or 574-5000 to report potholes or any other issues.
  4. Call our office at 574-1114, and we'll turn it in on your behalf.

To report a pothole on an interstate in Jefferson County, go to the “contact us” dropdown menu and select “report a hazard” on KYTC’s website http://transportation.ky.gov or click here.


Report a Litterer!

Report a Litterer

Get directly involved in making Louisville a more litter-free community through the Report-A-Litterer program aimed at motorists who throw fast-food wrappers, cigarette butts, soda bottles or any type of litter out their car window. 

Click here to report.

Click here for more information


How Can You Help with Illegal Dumping

dumping

Illegally dumped trash is more than just an eyesore! It is expensive to clean up, it negatively impacts our quality of life and economic development, and the plastic debris may end up in our waterways and oceans. Individuals caught dumping illegally may have their vehicle impounded and face fines and fees totaling about $1,000. 

We have recently posted images on social media asking for help identifying illegal dumpers caught on camera and reporting when a vehicle was impounded. WDRB also helped spread the word about the negative impacts of illegal dumping. View their story here

Residents are encouraged to fill out this online form if they witness illegal dumping. The form can also be used to share home security camera footage or images of illegal dumping occurring with our Solid Waste Enforcement Department. Go to Louisvilleky.gov/IllegalDumping to learn more about how you can help prevent illegal dumping. 

Did you know..? Many waste materials can be dropped off legally and for FREE. Up to three large household items, up to 4 passenger tires, and up to 3 electronics items can be dropped off for free at the at the Waste Reduction Center, located at 636 Meriwether Avenue. A pickup truckload of yard waste or construction debris can be disposed for only $60.00.

Residents can also utilize the free Pop-Up Drop-Off events that occur monthly, on a Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., March - November, in various parts of Jefferson County. Items must be separated into the various categories for easy off-loading. Know before you go! View the accepted items list here: Louisvilleky.gov/PopUps.


Southwest Community Ministries - Items Needed

Southwest Community Ministries

Southwest Community Ministries is currently overwhelmed with families who have never needed assistance before but are running out of household and hygiene products! They are asking for help from members of the community, youth groups, or anyone willing to donate.

If you would prefer to give food donations, items such as ravioli, ramen, fruit cups, canned meats, soups, and peanut butter crackers are always good options. Things like Ensure and pull top lids are good for seniors as well!

Needed Household Items:

  • Toilet Paper
  • Paper Towels
  • Bleach
  • Laundry and Dish Soap
  • Any Cleaning Supply
  • Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Razors
  • Comb/Brush
  • Tooth Brush
  • Tooth Paste
  • Adult Diapers
  • Female Personal Care Items

Items can be dropped off at the Ministry (8504 Terry Rd.) Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. For more information please call (502) 935-0310.

Donations can also be made by visiting SouthwestCommunityMinistries.org/donate.


Meriweather Waste Reduction Center

Meriweather Waste Reduction Center

At the Waste Reduction Center, Louisville/Jefferson County residents can dispose of tires, household bulky waste such as metals, appliances, electronics, tree limbs and stumps up to three feet in diameter, unbagged yard waste, construction debris, and furniture.

Hours of Operation

Tuesday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Appointments available Tuesday - Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

Up to three household bulky items per day may be dropped off at no charge. Bulky loads or drop-offs exceeding three items will be charged according  - CASH ONLY.  

Examples of single items

  • Up to 4 passenger tires*
  • One appliance
  • One large household item such as mattress, box spring, sofa or chair

*No more than 4 tires will be accepted for free drop-off at one time regardless of the number of other items