In this Issue
Hello Neighbors and Friends,
March is Women’s History Month—a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements, resilience, and leadership of women who have shaped our past and continue to impact our present and future. It is a month dedicated to uplifting the voices of women, acknowledging their contributions, and reaffirming our commitment to gender equity in all areas of society.
In celebration of this special month, the Louisville Metro Council Women’s Caucus proudly hosted the 2nd Annual Rosie the Riveter Awards Ceremony on Thursday, March 13. This event, which I had the privilege of conceptualizing, was designed to recognize ten incredible women throughout our community who embody the strength, perseverance, and “We Can Do It” spirit of the iconic Rosie the Riveter.
It has been incredibly rewarding to see my fellow Metro Council members embrace and support this vision—to celebrate the fearless women in our city who are making a difference every day. But what touches me the most is witnessing the humility of our honorees as they graciously accept this recognition. These women do not seek the spotlight; they serve, advocate, and lead because it is their passion and purpose.
This year’s honorees were recognized for their outstanding service, bravery, and resilience in a range of fields, including education, women’s rights, social justice, health and wellness, fashion and beauty, law and order, literature, and philanthropy. Their dedication and impact are woven into the fabric of our city, and they truly represent the spirit of Rosie the Riveter—women stepping up, breaking barriers, and making lasting change.
I encourage everyone in our community to celebrate these amazing women. If you see them, take a moment to congratulate them, encourage them, and thank them for their contributions. Their stories inspire us all, and they remind us that there are countless “Rosies” in Louisville—women working tirelessly to make our city a better place.
And who knows? Next year, the Women’s Caucus just might recognize you or one of your loved ones!
Happy Women’s History Month!
Pictured with Councilwomen Jennifer Chappel, Paula McCraney, and Josie Raymond are:
Top Left to Right: The Honorable Gerina Whethers, Marsha Weinstein
Middle Left to Right: Diane Porter, Meka Kpoh
Bottom Left to Right: Rachel Greenberg, Emily Bingham
Top Row: Honorees, Honorees' Representatives, Council Members
Middle Row (Accepting on Behalf of Honorees): Taylor Augusta Henry (Heather French Henry's Daughter), Laura DeBeer (Anna DeBeer's Aunt), and oSha Cowley-Shireman (Office of Christina Lee Brown)
Bottom Row (Pictured with Councilwomen Chappell, Raymond, Shameka Parrish-Wright, and McCraney): Rhonda Mathies
The ten remarkable women from the Louisville Metro community who were presented with the Rosie the Riveter Award were compared to women in history who made a lasting impact on society. The honorees include:
- Literary Arts - Emily Bingham compared to Harper Lee.
- Philanthropy - Christina Lee Brown compared to Melinda French Gates.
- Athletics - Anna DeBeer compared to Flo Hyman.
- First Lady Educators - Rachel Greenberg compared to Laura Bush.
- Fashion and Beauty - Heather French Henry compared to Phyllis George.
- Health and Wellness - Meka Kpoh compared to Margaret Charles Smith.
- Social Justice - Rhonda W. Mathies compared to Fannie Lou Hamer.
- Education Advocacy - Diane Porter compared to Mary McLeod Bethune.
- Women’s Rights - Marsha Weinstein compared to Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
- Law and Order – Gerina Whethers compared to Alberta Odell Jones.
Click the following link to watch the full ceremony on Youtube: https://youtu.be/1NS9S37AZ_M
The Louisville Metro Council held its regularly scheduled Council meeting Thursday, March 13, 2025. Here are some of the highlights.
Old Business
Approved
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O-042-25: established the manner in which approximately $2.9 million in Opioid Settlement Funding wold be spent: for the hiring of a 3rd party advisor to create a District Court Diversion program, school and after-school drug prevention programs, expansion of contracted evaluation services for programs financed by opioid settlement funds, and funding to expand awareness for Casey’s Law.
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O-023-25: an ordinance amending Section 11.4.7 of the Land Development Code. If a development plan is changed by 25% or more within 3 yeats of first approval, a neighborhood meeting must be scheduled for community input.
Consent Calendar – all items passed unanimously
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R-028-25: resolution honoring Rev. Dr. Geoffrey S. Ellis by dedicating the northwest corner of 19th and Cedar Streets in his honor.
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R-025-25: resolution approving the granting of local incentives to Atomic Brands, Inc.
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R-026-25: resolution approving the noncompetitively negotiated professional service contract for the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods concerning positive facilitation of youth development, prevention, diversion, and treatment for the Louisville Youth Continuum of Care Project.
The next Metro Council meeting is Thursday, March 27, at 6:00 p.m.
To watch the Council meeting and access the agenda and related attachments, click HERE.
To see all meetings on Facebook Live, go to the Metro Council Facebook page by clicking here. To watch Metro Council Meetings live on YouTube, you can visit the LouisvilleMetroTV channel 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.
For additional information or questions, you can reach the Metro Council Clerk’s Office at (502) 574-3902.
This week we’ve celebrated some great community wins, executed some excellent police work, launched our summer jobs program, and mourned the loss of a Louisville legend. As we remember Junior Bridgeman and prepare for March Madness, as always, Go Cards.
Thanks for all you do to provide essential services to our community – let’s continue working together to move Louisville forward in a new direction. Please check out this week’s Mayor's Minute on YouTube. Click here: YouTube
This is your Notice to Proceed for the Final Design of three (3) separate safety improvement locations along the Westport Road Corridor.
Strand will work toward getting a state permit for the following projects together or separately (process still to be determined):
-Median Island at Pitt Academy
-Median at Westport Middle School
-Median at 9254 / McDonald’s property
-Sidewalk tie-in at West Creek Way
Notes
- Louisville Metro Public Works (LMPW) will endeavor to complete these projects ASAP. All projects will be vetted by Strand, LMPW and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) for an encroachment permit and then scheduled with a Metro Annual contractor.
The Office of Planning is preparing for the 2025 Zoning Matters conversation series at the libraries, with 12 total events scheduled throughout the year. This is a great opportunity for residents and community members to connect with city planners, ask questions about zoning and development policies, and get more information about the ongoing Land Development Code (LDC) Reform process, including ways to increase housing opportunity. More information is on our website here: www.louisvilleky.gov/ldcreform.
Here are a few upcoming dates near District 7 this spring:
Crescent Hill Library on Tuesday, March 18th from 3 – 7 PM
Northeast Regional Library on Tuesday, April 15th from 3- 7 PM
Louisville Metro Government is hosting a career fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, at Louisville Slugger Field, 501 E. Main St.
Join us to discover a wide range of job opportunities, attractive benefits and a supportive atmosphere that promotes growth and innovation. This is your opportunity to learn how a career in public service can make a real difference in the community.
Take the City-wide 4-Week Anti-Racism Challenge sponsored by Listen Learn Act!
How it works: For 4 weeks beginning April 4th, participants will receive a weekly email with a list of 10-12 anti-racism activities. We ask participants to complete 3 of the activities over the course of the week. It is purely personal; you don't report to anyone. By regularly participating in anti-racism activities, we naturally develop better habits of noticing and challenging racism in our daily lives. Sign up here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/472deGd
What is LensAlert and how do I sign up for it?
Alerts are sent out for missing persons, severe weather, traffic disruptions, chemical spills and more, and can reach cell phones, landlines and email inboxes. LENSAlerts are separate from the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, a national alert system that can reach devices without enrollment for select emergencies, like AMBER Alerts.
Residents can sign up for LENSAlerts on the Louisville Metro Emergency Services website or by texting "LENSAlert" to 67283.
Associated Smart 911 profiles can be edited during or after enrollment online to include as much or as little personal and household information as desired, to provide to 911 operators during emergencies. This can include photos of family members or medical information, for example.
Mark Women’s History Month with the Herstory Museum’s exclusive 1,000-piece foil puzzle! Embracing the idea that “Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History,” this puzzle highlights a remarkable collection of trailblazing women. See how many you can identify.
It’s available in the Frazier’s Museum Shop and online.
1000 pieces. Completed puzzle measures 20-inch x 27-inch.
Love collecting our limited edition mini-bats? Then this bundle's for you! As a thank you for being a Mini Slugger collector, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is offering a deal. Get 10 of our special 2025 mini-bats for just $69.99 (a $100 value). The bundle includes this year’s St. Patrick’s Day bat as well as Happy Birthday, It's a Boy, It's a Girl, Valentine’s Day, Jockey Silks, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Halloween, and Happy Holidays.
As a show of appreciation, below is a $10 off gift certificate to use on your next purchase of $50 or more. Just enter the promo code GIFT10 at checkout.
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Louisville Bats Baseball Opening Night | March 28
The Louisville Bats are back at Louisville Slugger Field to open the 2025 season against the Memphis Redbirds. Game highlights and specials include $3 adult beverages, $6 frozen spirits, an appearance by the Zooperstars, and a post-game fireworks show.
To buy tickets, click here.
Date: April 5, 2025
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Big Four Lawn: Waterfront Park
The Walk to End Parkinson’s Disease, is an event dedicated to raising awareness for the rapidly spreading neurological disorder. This event exists to raise awareness of the disease, and to gain donations to benefit those who need it most. This event is April 5th and is being held at Waterfront Park at the Big Four Lawn. The event will start at 10:00 AM.
For more information visit: https://ourwaterfront.org/event/walk-to-end-parkinsons/
**This event is produced by the National Parkinson’s Institute**
Kentucky Science Center’s ThunderBlast, Saturday, April 12, is our annual family-friendly event during Thunder Over Louisville. With some of the best views in town for airplanes and fireworks, plus fun-filled activities to keep the kids entertained, exclusive food trucks, clean indoor bathrooms, and exciting happenings inside and out, you and the family will have a BLAST!
Click here for tickets: Thunder Over Louisville
Click here to read the social media public comment policy of the Louisville Metro Council.
Just for Fun Answers
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