District 11 eNews (August 1, 2024)

Banner
Councilman Kevin Kramer

Metro Councilman Kevin Kramer

601 W. Jefferson Street
Louisville, KY 40202
502.574.1111
Contact Kevin Kramer
 

Become a Fan

  
Scott Harrington

 

Legislative Assistant
Phone: 502-574-3456
Contact Scott Harrington


Track Crime in the City

In this issue:


District 11 Town Hall Meeting on August 19

Towh Hall Meeting

I will host a District 11 Town Hall Meeting on Monday, August 19th, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at The Jeffersonian, 10617 Taylorsville, Road, in Jeffersontown in the Watterson Room.  I will be joined by representatives from the Louisville Metro Police Department, Planning & Design Services, Metro Public Works, and Metro Department of Codes & Regulations. Other elected officials will be invited. 


Blackacre Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Walk on new driveway TONIGHT!

Please join us tonight as we celebrate the newly paved driveway into Blackacre State Nature Preserve and Historic Homestead, 3200 Tucker Station Road.

Blackacre Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Would you like me to attend your next neighborhood meeting?

It is my goal to attend at least one neighborhood meeting in every subdivision in District 11.  The best way for me to keep informed is to attend one of your neighborhood or HOA meetings.  I welcome any opportunity to be invited to speak to neighborhood groups or just to attend and listen to you and your neighbors.

If you would like me to attend a meeting, please call Scott Harrington, my legislative assistant at 574-1111 or send him an email scott.harrington@louisvilleky.gov.

-Kevin Kramer


Jtown Historical Society to feature local historian on August 6

Tuesday, August 6, 2024. The meeting will be held at 1:00 P.M. at the Jeffersontown Branch Library, 10635 Watterson Trail.   Program: History of Louisville, Part 3: “From 1923 to 2023”.  Speaker:  Steve Wiser, Louisville historian, author, and architect, FAIA.  


St. Edward Church to host blood drive on August 8

Blood Drive

St. Edward Church, 9608 Sue Helen Drive, will sponsor a Red Cross blood drive on Thursday, August 8, 2024, 2 - 6 P.M. in the gym.

The need for blood remains at a critical level as the number of donors is shrinking.  Appointments are preferred.  Sign up early.

Appointments can be made by calling 1-800-733-2767 or online at RedCrossBlood.orgenter Sponsor code: StEdwardLouKy.    Walk-ins will be welcomed as appointment spaces allow.  The wearing of face masks will be optional.    Please be a donor and tell your family and friends about our drive on August 8.  

        All donors that donate will receive a $20 Amazon gift card via email!  

        IMPORTANT: Donors MUST have a valid email address on file to receive their reward.


Vision Zero Louisville seeking public feedback on speeding

Vision Zero Louisville

Online survey available through September 30

As part of Vision Zero Louisville – the city’s transportation safety initiative that prioritizes the prevention of fatal and serious injury crashes – partners of the initiative, including Louisville Metro Public Works and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, announced today that they are raising awareness about the relationship between speed, speeding and safety, as well as seeking public input on speeding and speed management in the community. Louisville residents are invited to share their experiences and opinions in a brief online survey, which is available through September 30, 2024.

The survey results – coupled with crash data, current local conditions, and a peer review of cities leading the way in terms of speed management and Vision Zero – will help shape Louisville’s first-ever Speed Management Plan. This plan is a multifaceted and balanced effort to manage speeds on non-interstate streets through roadway design, intersection design, modernizing policies and practices related to speed limits, and enforcement.

“The effects of speeding are deadly, and drivers on Louisville’s High Injury Network, where a majority of fatal and serious injury crashes occur, should be especially aware of their speed,” said Lt. Craig Browning, commander of LMPD’s Traffic Unit. “This Speed Management Plan is the right thing to do, and this community-informed effort will help us look at feasible and effective solutions to address speeding as we work toward our vision of zero roadway deaths by 2050.”

Vision Zero Louisville’s speeding survey coincides with a media blitz by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), as part the agency’s year-round Speeding Catches Up With You campaign focused on speed prevention on our nation’s roads. Studies show higher speeds result in greater impact at the time of a crash, which leads to more severe injuries and deaths. NHTSA reports speeding contributes to more than 25% of all traffic-related deaths nationwide.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: In 2022, Louisville Metro Council passed an ordinance calling for zero roadway deaths by 2050 through the Vision Zero Louisville transportation safety initiative. The initiative is managed by Louisville Metro Public Works, in partnership with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, which in July reminded Kentuckians to slow down this summer through its “Not So Fast, KY” speed enforcement campaign. Vision Zero Louisville promotes a multi-layered approach to saving lives, including redesigning roadways to encourage appropriate speeds and improving trauma-related care for crash victims.  For more information, visit visionzerolouisville.org.


UofL Digital Literacy Train the Trainer Program and info session details

Join us on Microsoft Teams for an August 02nd 1:00pm information session about the FREE technology training, funded by Metro Council!

Register Here

UofL Digital Literacy Train the Trainer

Louisville Zoo has stunning new mural by local art collective

theZoo

The Louisville Zoo has a vibrant new mural featuring a series of animals at the entrance, created by the talented local art collective Often Seen Rarely Spoken (OSRS). This exciting addition enhances the Zoo's entrance and is set to captivate visitors throughout the season.

“The new mural space was a perfect canvas for some animal artwork and nicely complements the new entrance signage that we installed last year,” said Dan Maloney, director of the Louisville Zoo.

Since forming in 2016, OSRS has made a significant impact on Louisville's visual culture, contributing more than 200 murals to the region. Their work includes high-profile collaborations with iconic organizations such as the Belle of Louisville, Racing Louisville, KFC YUM! Center, Norton Children’s Hospital and Louisville Slugger.

“We thoroughly enjoy contributing art to the visual culture of Louisville and think it’s important to capture the opportunity to communicate on blank wall space,” expressed the OSRS collective. “The Zoo is an icon of the city that we all grew up coming to, so it feels full circle coming back as adults to add a piece in the entryway that will be seen by every single person that comes to the zoo. Literally thousands of kids might be inspired by this art in the coming decade, and that effect is hard to measure right now, but we know it’s going to be impactful.”

The mural, which took a week to complete, involved meticulous planning and collaboration between the OSRS artists and zoo staff. “We wanted to create something that would resonate with visitors of all ages and become an integral part of their zoo experience,” said one of the OSRS artists.

Visitors are encouraged to share their photos and experiences on social media using the hashtag #WeAreLouZoo. Additionally, the Zoo has a range of exciting events to enjoy, making this the perfect time to visit. Visit louisvillezoo.org/events for more information.

Zoo Hours

The Zoo is open daily year-round. Spring/summer hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (stay until 6 p.m.). The Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Visit louisvillezoo.org for more information.

Plaza Mural

Louisville Zoo celebrates rare birth of Sumatran Tiger cub for the first time in 20 years

Jingga

Webcam highlight video: https://youtu.be/FbB38VmBgNA

The Louisville Zoo proudly announces the birth of a Sumatran tiger cub, marking the first tiger birth in more than 20 years for the Zoo. Born at 7:40 p.m. on July 23, 2024, the cub is the offspring of 16-year-old male Kami Sambal (kah-me-sahm-ball) and 14-year-old female Jingga (Jean-gah; like the game). Both mother and cub are thriving under the dedicated care of the Zoo’s expert staff. Jingga is demonstrating all the appropriate behaviors of an experienced mother, grooming, nursing and carrying her neonate cub. 

Currently, the newborn is behind the scenes bonding with mom. Plans for public viewing will be announced via the Zoo’s official channels and website soon. Guests are invited to follow updates and watch the tiger cub’s first weeks by viewing our Tiger Cub Cam at louisvillezoo.org/cubcam.

The last Sumatran tiger cubs born at the Zoo were Leela, Jai, and Mohan in April 2004, followed by two Amur, or Siberian tiger cubs, Irisa and Anya, in October of the same year.

"It’s been a long time since the Zoo has welcomed a tiger cub to our extended family and we are all excited by the arrival of this rare and endangered youngster," said Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney. "I commend the Islands and Animal Health teams for their efforts and invite our community to come celebrate with us as we watch this precious cub grow and progress."

A naming contest sponsored by Norton Children’s will be announced in the coming weeks

Guests can also “adopt” the tiger cub through a special ADOPTS package which includes a mom and cub plushie, an adoption certificate, the adopter’s name listed on the Zoo’s website, a colorful Zoo magnet and two admission passes to visit to the Louisville Zoo — all for $99. Visit louisvillezoo.org/adopts for more information and to purchase.

About Sumatran Tigers

Sumatran Tigers, the last of the island tiger subspecies, are smaller than mainland tigers and are critically endangered. Fewer than 400 individuals are estimated to still survive in the wild.  Found only on Sumatra, their habitat is threatened primarily by development for palm oil plantations. Palm oil is found in hundreds of foods, cosmetics and cleaning products. As worldwide demand for palm oil accelerates, so does the loss of vital tropical forest lands. These lands are home to thousands of unique plant and animal species. Choosing palm-oil free products and those containing sustainably grown palm oil helps preserve and protect wildlife and wild places.  

Cub in mouth

translation-graphic-revised-2023