Happy 1st day back to school v2.0 to all the kids who went back today! Hope it was smooth and next week continues to be painless for students, teachers, and bus drivers. Kudos to the parents who have had to find alternative childcare and make major adaptations to accommodate JCPS's flub-up.

I have to apologize about the lateness of getting out this newsletter--it's been a jam-packed summer in D15! We've had events like the South Points Buy Local Fair, the 53rd Annual World Championship Dainty Contest & Fest, LMPD's National Night Out, Better Block: Wilder Park featuring Ramen Fest, and (I'd be remiss not to mention) Beyoncé performing at D15's L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. I've had meetings with local leaders, such as University of Louisville President Kim Schatzel and KyCAD President Moira Scott Payne. As co-chair of the Metro Council Women's Caucus, we organized a meeting focusing on period equity and dignity featuring a Q&A with a local gynecologists while we made period packs that will be distributed by Change Today, Change Tomorrow to homeless women in our community so they have access to period supplies when they need them. We've also been hard at work on legislation and keeping up with committee work.

You can regularly catch me at neighborhood meetings throughout the month in the district. Many are on the same night, so it is difficult to make them all, but I try to make as many as I can. It's a great opportunity to connect with me, as well as our LMPD 4th Division District Resource Officers. I hope to see you at one soon!

Here are all the upcoming D15 neighborhood association meetings:

• German-Paristown Neighborhood Association (GPNA), 8/21 at 6 pm at Hope Mills (954 E. Kentucky St.)
• Schnitzelburg Area Community Council (SACC), 8/29 at 7 pm at Emerson Park (1100 Sylvia St.)
• Saint Joseph Area Association (SJAA), 8/29 at 6:30 pm at Bradley Park (2516 Bradley Ave.)
• Meriwether Neighborhood Association, 8/29 at 7:45 pm at Preston Park (413 Augustus Ave.)
• Cloverleaf Neighborhood Association, 9/11 at 6 pm at Cloverleaf Baptist Church (4401 Manslick Rd.)
• Taylor Berry Neighborhood Association, 9/5 at 6 pm at South Louisville Community Center (2911 Taylor Blvd.)
• Wilder Park Neighborhood Association, 9/5 at 6:30 pm at the Wilder Park Community Center (120 Fairmont Ave.)
• Lucky Horseshoe Neighborhood Association, 9/21 at 6 pm at 1017 Queen St.

Wyandotte, Hazelwood, University, and Jacobs are all lacking representation, so if you're interested in starting a neighborhood association, please reach out! We would be happy to connect you with the resources and advice that will help you start organizing. You don't have to do anything crazy--a simple neighborhood meetup in someone's front yard is a great way to start connecting with neighbors.

By the way, the 119th Kentucky State Fair kicked off yesterday, so if farm animals, fudge, and Ferris wheels are your thing, make sure you make it over to the Kentucky Exposition Center by August 27th to catch all the fun!

See you around D15, 

Ellison Repaving/Redesign

Public Works has finalized the plans for the redesign and repaving of Ellison Avenue from Barrett Ave. to Charles St. The final plans, community engagement, and other documents for the project can be found at http://www.louisvilleky.gov/rightsizing.

Representatives from Public Works will be at the upcoming German-Paristown Neighborhood Association and Schnitzelburg Area Community Council meetings to answer any questions that people may have about the project.

FREE Tickets to Louisville Bats Games: August 23 or September 6

The Louisville Bats are hosting Metro Council Community Night tickets to local Louisville non-profits organizations to attend Bats games on Wednesday, August 23rd and Wednesday, September 6th. Request your tickets here.

Taste of South Louisville: August 26

We’re already hungry just thinking about Taste of South Louisville. 😋🍴

It's all going down this Saturday from 6-8 pm at Churchill Downs Millionaires Row with more than 25 decadent tastes from around the world. From savory to sweet, you'll get to try food from up-and-coming chefs while delighting in your hometown favorites. There will also be a live silent auction and cash bar.

All proceeds support South Louisville Community Ministries providing emergency assistance and compassionate advocacy for neighbors in crisis.

Get tickets: https://www.tasteofsouthlouisville.com/

Women's Equality Day: August 26

Women’s Equality Day is an event celebrated around the nation commemorating the passage of the 19^th amendment and women’s right to vote. The Office for Women, together with several agencies, including the League of Women Voters, Delta Sigma Theta, University of Louisville Women’s Center and JCPS (Georgia Chaffee TAPP School and Grace James Academy) is hosting a celebration on August 26, 2023 from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm at the Ali Center. The theme of the event is “Our Voices Matter” and will highlight the ways that women and gender diverse individuals champion advocacy and civic engagement. Artwork by students at the Georgia Chaffee TAPP school will be on display, the Real Young Prodigys will be presenting, Dr. Jabani Bennett will lead a community movement exercise and there will be an opportunity for engagement in a community art project. The panel, “Our Voices Matter” will feature student and community advocates who will focus on gender equity and climate change, transgender rights and advocacy for pregnant and parenting students.   Attendees are encouraged to bring period products to be donated to JCPS schools. The event is open to the public and refreshments and childcare will be provided.

Registration is highly recommended: https://louisvilleky.wufoo.com/forms/z1pohkau1hfkpy2/

Louisville Youth Orchestra Auditions: August 26 - September 3

The Louisville Youth Orchestra (LYO) is kicking off its 65th season of working with student musicians from across the community. The LYO serves over 250 students through 8 ensembles that serve a wide range of skill levels from beginner to advanced and nearly everything in between. If you know a student that is interested in music, we have a home for them in one of our orchestras. You can learn more about the LYO and the auditions at https://www.lyo.org/audition or see some of our work at https://www.facebook.com/LouisvilleYouthOrchestra.

Schnitzelburg Area Community Council Neighborhood Meeting: August 28

On Monday, August 28th, join the Schnitzelburg Area Community Council (SACC) for a neighborhood meeting in Emerson Park at 7 pm. Speakers will include representatives from Louisville Grows and Transit Authority of River City (TARC). I'll also be on hand to answer any questions you may have. See you in the park!

Saint Joseph Area Association's Watermelon in the Park: August 28

Join the Saint Joseph's Area Association for their annual Watermelon in the Park on August 28th at 6:30pm in Bradley Park. This event will coincide with the neighborhood association’s general meeting. All are welcome to attend. Bring a neighbor! 🍉🍉🍉

Friends of Iroquois Park Meeting: August 28

The next Friends of Iroquois meeting is scheduled for August 28 at 6:30 pm at Iroquois Library (601 W Woodlawn Ave). All are welcome!

All Wool & Yard Wide Democratic Club Beer Garden: August 31

The All Wool & Yard Wide Democratic Club is hosting a beer garden on Thursday, August 31st from 6 - 10 pm at their clubhouse at 1328 Hickory Street. The event is free and all are welcome!

Iroquois Park 85th Anniversary Music Under the Stars: September 2

Join us for a FREE celebration of the 85th anniversary of the Iroquois Amphitheater with Music Under the Stars! Iroquois Amphitheater, in partnership with American Musical Productions, will be showcasing musical numbers from shows such as "Naughty Marietta," "Show Boat," "The Desert Song," "Anything Goes," "The Student Prince" and many more! The 25-piece orchestra features soloists Emily Albrink, Chad Sloan, Erin Alcorn, and Tristan Tournaud under the direction of Joseph Rubin.

Iroquois Park Open to Cars: September 9 & 10

The Iroquois Park Overlook will be open once again to vehicular traffic on Saturday September 9th and Sunday, September 10th. The gate will be open from 10 am to 4 pm. 🚗

Please be courteous to pedestrians and DRIVE SLOWLY.

CycLOUvia: September 10

CycLOUvia is coming back to Three Points Louisville!!

We will be transforming the Three Points Loop (Goss Avenue, Logan Street, and Shelby Street, between Texas Avenue and Kentucky Street), into a paved park on Sunday, September 10th from 2-6 pm. Walk, bike, dance, or skate through some of Louisville’s great urban neighborhoods—sans cars! This event is free, fun, and family-friendly.

Be on the lookout for new murals coming to the Three Points intersection in the coming weeks. CycLOUvia will coincide with the 2Buck Invitational happening that weekend, so these new murals will be some of many that will be painted that weekend!

FREE Summer Movie Series at Iroquois Amphitheater

DeSales Day on the Grounds: September 30

DeSales is hosting the 3rd Annual Day on the Grounds on Saturday, September 30. It is a tasting event with more than 35 local food & beverage vendors providing samples! All monies raised go to support students through tuition assistance. Ticket information can be found at www.DesalesTaste2023.com.

Louisville Ghost Walks Benefiting Wilder Park

The Wilder Park Neighborhood Association and Louisville Ghost Walks have teamed up, for an ongoing fundraiser, to raise money for the annual Christmas party for neighborhood children.

Louisville Ghost Walks has agreed to donate $3 of each ticket sold to go toward purchasing gifts, food, and prizes for the Annual Wilder Park Christmas Party held in December. The 90-minute walking tours occur every Friday and Saturday night now through November 3rd and include some of downtown Louisville’s most famous haunted addresses, such as The Brown Hotel & Theater, the Palace Theater, and more. Admission is $23.00. The tour group meets at 6:45 pm at the Brown Hotel's statue of Mr. Brown on 4th Street and departs at 7:00 pm.

Reservations are required, and you must mention reading this announcement so your donation of $3 is recorded. For reservations, text or call 502-689-5117, or email loughstwalks@aol.com. Book early, dates fill up quickly.

Find more info: www.louisvilleghostwalkingtour.com

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Earlier this year, Imagination Library of Louisville expanded their zip codes and they now cover more families in D15!

Imagination Library of Louisville is the local affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and they mail a FREE monthly, age-appropriate book to children under five years old to help them develop a love of reading and get ready for kindergarten. Scan the QR code on to register or click here.

Green Resources for Residents Guidebook

The Office of Sustainability is excited to launch the Green Resources for Residents Guidebook, a one-stop resource to help individuals and families save costs while going green! Residents can learn about financial incentives available through the Inflation Reduction Act, Louisville Metro Government, Louisville Gas & Electric, and more.

Mosquito Prevention

Mosquito season is officially here. To protect Jefferson County residents from diseases the pests can carry, the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) is out in the community actively treating known breeding grounds, trapping mosquitoes and testing them for diseases.

Each spring and summer, LMPHW treats 14,500 catch basins to eliminate mosquito larvae as well as 8,982 miles of swampy areas and large areas of land known to collect standing water. The department also places 148 mosquito traps around the city and county.

To protect you and your family from mosquitoes, remember the three D’s: Drain, Defend, Dress.

Drain: Prevent mosquito breeding grounds by emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, toys, pet water dishes, discarded tires and drain birdbaths on a regular basis.

Defend: Use insect repellents when you go outdoors. Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide longer-lasting protection. To optimize safety and effectiveness, repellents should be used according to the label instructions.

Dress: Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and closed-toed shoes when outdoors. Avoid perfumes and scented lotions.

To make a complaint about mosquitos in your neighborhood, call Metro Call at 311 or 502-574-5000. To learn more about mosquitoes and ways to prevent mosquito bites, click here.

Jail Population Dashboard

Mayor Greenberg announced a new transparency tool that allows citizens to access to real-time information on who is residing in or in the care of the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections. The Louisville Metro Corrections Dashboard, which can be found here, displays daily infographics on the corrections population that includes gender, race, length of stay, category of charge, amount of set bond, and other information.

Community Crosswalks Program

The Community Crosswalks program, a collaboration between the Department of Advanced Planning and Office of Arts & Creative Industries, is ongoing placemaking effort to support Louisville’s rich culture through tactical interventions that enhance safety. The program utilizes unique, vibrant asphalt art designed by local artists to disrupt the monotony of the street at intersections around Louisville. These colorful designs improve the aesthetic of the streetscape and serve as a tool for increasing pedestrian safety.

According to the Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Safety Study, communities that have implemented similar asphalt art programs have seen a 50% decrease in the rate of crashes involving vulnerable road users and a 17% reduction in the total crash rate. Examples of Louisville’s new asphalt art crosswalks can be seen along South Fourth Street at the intersections of West Chestnut Street, West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, and West Liberty Street.

The Mayor has allocated $50,000 in his proposed budget for the Community Crosswalks program. Neighborhood associations, community organizations, and businesses are encouraged to install colorful crosswalk art at intersections in neighborhoods across Louisville. Details on applying for the program and eligible funding can be found here.

PrimeGov Conversion

Metro Council is in the process of transitioning to a new meeting information system, PrimeGov, which is replacing the Legistar system.

Metro Council meeting agendas are now accessed by the public online at: https://louisvilleky.primegov.com/public/portal. To view the attachments to an item, you must view the HTML version of the pdf version of the packet. A “search” functionality allows you to browse current legislation on the PrimeGov public portal by typing in a keyword.

The public may watch the proceedings live on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184, or on UVERSE at Channel 99, Metro Council's Facebook page, or streamed live on Swagit (select Watch Live). 

Currently, you may view archived meetings and search passed legislation on the old Legistar system at http://louisville.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2, but all meetings will soon be available on the PrimeGov site exclusively.