District 12 eNews | 11.19.14

Louisville Metro Government sent this bulletin at 11/19/2014 12:58 PM EST
District 12
Rick Blackwell

Councilman Rick Blackwell
601 West Jefferson Street
(502) 574-1112
Email Rick

Liz Kennedy
Legislative Aide
(502) 574-1112
Email Liz

Visit the D12 Website
Follow on Twitter
Follow on Facebook

In this issue...

District Dialogue Recap!

Thank you to all of the constituents who braved the frigid temperatures to attend last night’s District 12 Dialogue. The new Southwest Regional Library Community Room was a great venue to host the meeting and Branch Manager Rebecca Maddox was on hand to point out the great features of this architectural gem as well as remind everyone that it is OUR community library. Please check out the LFPL Southwest website (http://www.lfpl.org/branches/southwest.htm) for more information on Community Classes and how to reserve one of the many available meeting spaces for your next community event.

Mohammad Nouri with the Dixie Highway Improvement Project provided an overview of the entire Dixie Highway Masterplan and specifics about the design of the first phase of the project, which will transform the corridor from Crums Lane to Rockford Lane. Construction is expected to begin in Spring of 2015 and we will keep the momentum going with design for Phase 2 (Rockford to Greenwood) following immediately. Both Phase 1 and Phase 2 are fully funded through the State Transportation budget for $12.2 million. The Masterplan is available online here.

Many thanks to our guest speakers and to all the Metro Department representatives who attended. Please stay tuned to the District 12 E-news for information about upcoming meetings and Dixie Highway Improvement Project progress.

Track Progress of Snow Removal with Online Map

The Louisville Metro Snow Team is made up nearly 300 employees from four agencies - Metro Public Works, Solid Waste Management Services, Metro Parks and Codes and Regulations. The Snow Team uses 160 pieces of equipment to clear 1,362 miles of road in Louisville. The total two-lane miles covered by crews on designated snow routes equals 2,721. 

Louisville's snow routes focus on major roads, school and TARC bus routes, arteries to local employers and hospital and emergency routes.

As a part of an ongoing agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, city crews will treat and clear most state roads and highways. That equals about 315 miles of roads in Louisville, including roads such as Shelbyville Road, Beulah Church Road and Dixie Highway.

The city's salt storage facilities are well-stocked and ready to fight winter weather. Before the season's first snowflake, the city had 35,000 tons of salt available, including 15,000 tons on hand at salt domes and storage facilities as well as 20,000 tons stored underground for emergency reserve.

During a winter weather event, you can track the progress of snow removal using and interactive map that is constantly updated with the latest info. It's a great tool to use before hitting the roadways when they are in poor condition. 

Click here to check it out. Stay safe!

Events & Classes at the Southwest Regional Library

library

Adult Courses

  • Southwest Page Turners- Monday Dec. 8, 7 p.m., Thu., Nov. 20 & Dec. 18, 2 p.m.
  • Southwest How-To Festival - Sat., Nov. 15, 10 a.m., Learn 30 things in 3 hours! All ages. 
  • Recipe Exchange - Mon., Nov. 17, 6:30 p.m.
  • Scrabble Scramble- Thu., Nov. 20 & Dec. 18, 10 a.m.
  • Paying for College 101- Sat., Nov. 22, 1 p.m., KHEAA will outline financial aid basics.
  • Feel Good Fair - Mon., Dec. 1, 7 p.m., Learn about local charities.
  • Project Linus Day - Sat., Dec. 13, 9 a.m., Help provide blankets for those in need.
  • Winter Wonderland Train Show - Mon., Dec. 22 - Wed., Dec. 31, 9 a.m.

Computer Classes

  • Computers by Appointment- Call 933-0029 for an appointment. 
  • Computer Basics 2 - Tue., Dec. 9, 2 p.m.
  • Microsoft Excel 1 - Mon., Nov. 24 & Dec. 15, 6 p.m.

Children Programs

  • LEGO Party - Sat., Nov. 29 & Dec. 27, 2 p.m. All ages.
  • World of Minecraft - Sat., Nov. 22, 1 p.m. Free sessions.
  • Toddler Dance Party - Sat., Nov. 22 & Dec. 6, 10 a.m. Ages 0-5.
  • Frozen Storytime - Sat., Dec. 20, 2 p.m. Ages 9 and up.
  • Gingerbread Building Competition - Mon., Dec. 22, 2 p.m. All ages.
  • Winter Wonderland Train Show - Mon., Dec. 22 - Wed., Dec. 31, 9 a.m. (except Dec. 25) 

STORYTIMES

  • Children’s Storytimes - Every Wednesday, 9:15 a.m. (Babies), 10 a.m. (Toddlers), & 11 a.m. (Preschoolers)
  • Family Storytimes - Thursdays, 6 p.m.

Teen Programs

  • Teen Game Challenge - Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. Ages 12-19.
  • Code Club Mon. Dec. 15, 3:30 p.m. - Learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python and more. All levels welcome.
  • Southwest How-To Festival - Sat., Nov. 15, 10 a.m. Learn 30 things in 3 hours! All ages.
  • World of Minecraft - Sat., Nov. 22, 1 p.m. Free sessions.
  • Paying for College 101 - Sat., Nov. 22, 1 p.m. KHEAA will outline financial aid basics.
  • ACT Practice Test - Sat., Dec. 6, 10 a.m. Call 933-0029 to register.
  • Gingerbread Building Competition - Mon., Dec. 22, 2 p.m. All ages. Call 933-0029 to sign up

Local Program Brightens the Holidays for Louisville, Southern Indiana Seniors

senior

This season, many seniors in the Louisville area, in addition to Clark and Floyd counties in southern Indiana, who are alone or impoverished will receive some holiday cheer thanks to the 
"Be a Santa to a Senior" program. Sponsored by the local Home Instead Senior Care office, the program brings together area nonprofits, retailers, numerous volunteers and members of the 
community to provide gifts and companionship for lonely and isolated seniors.

Home Instead Senior Care has partnered with community ministries, food banks, senior outreach programs, YMCA Adult Day Center, Utica Elementary (Jeffersonville, IN), the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, and Stonestreet Elementary. Program officials hope to collect 600 gifts in order to help more than 200 area seniors this holiday season.

Participating retail locations will display "Be a Santa to a Senior" Christmas trees from Nov. 20-Dec. 15 that feature ornaments with seniors’ first names and their gift requests. Holiday shoppers can pick ornaments from the trees, buy the items listed and return them unwrapped (and with the ornament attached) to the store.
 
Be a Santa to a Senior trees will be located at: 

  • Walmart,10445 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY
  • Walmart,1351 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville, IN 
  • Walmart, 175 Outer Loop, Louisville, KY

Program partners and volunteers will wrap and distribute the gifts to local seniors who might otherwise spend the holiday alone.

For more information about the program, visit www.BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call 502-448-1511 or 812-948-9770.

Farnsley-Moremen Hosts Old Fashioned Holiday Festival

old

Fourth Annual Free Coat Exchange on Nov. 28

coat

Someone has a coat they do not need - somone needs a coat they do not have! On November 28th you can give the gift of warmth to someone in need in our community at the 4th Annual Free Coat Exchange.
 
WHEN: Friday November 28, 2014 10am-1pm
 
LOCATIONS:

Please search your closet and consider donating to this worthy cause. Visitwww.freecoatexchange.org for more information

LIHEAP Appointments Available at Southwest Gov't Center

The annual program that helps low income residents of Louisville with their utility bills has begun. LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, is a federally funded program operated by Community Action Partnership, part of Louisville Metro Community Services. The Subsidy Phase of LIHEAP will run this year through Dec. 11.

Appointments will be held at the Southwest Government Center (7219 Dixie Highway, 502-574-1272) weekdays between 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., based on appointment availability. Upon registering for an appointment, residents will receive an appointment slip verifying the appointment date, time and location. LIHEAP applications will be completed at the time of the appointment and the assistance received is a one-time benefit, paid to the heating vendor.

Applicants must be Jefferson County residents with a household income at or below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines and willing to provide the following documentation at the time of their appointment:

  • Picture ID for head of household (if available)
  • Proof of all household income for the preceding month (food stamp award letter, Social Security award letter, pay stubs, etc.). All individuals 18 or over in the household with no income – and who do not receive food stamps -- must have a Proof of No Income form completed prior to applying for benefits. (Available at the CAP office at 810 Barret or by clicking here.)
  • Social Security card(s) or official documentation with social security numbers or Permanent Resident Card Numbers for everyone living in the household.
  • Most recent heating bill or verification from landlord that heating expenses are included in the rent (i.e. lease agreements).

Individuals who are unable to apply for this program in person may send a representative on their behalf with a note including the applicant’s signature and phone number. Call 574-1157 for more details on how this process works. Residents who are homebound -- which means a medical professional can verify they are confined to the home -- and who are unable to send a representative, may call 574-1274.

LG&E reminds customers that it is their responsibility to make arrangements to ensure continued service. Please contact LG&E’s customer service office at 589-1444 if you cannot make a payment in full and need to set up payment arrangements.

LIHEAP is made possible by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is a pass through grant from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which contracts with Community Action Agencies across the state. Louisville Metro Community Action Partnership (CAP) is part of the Louisville Metro Department of Community Services. For more information about CAP, visithttp://www.louisvilleky.gov/government/community-services or call CAP at 574-1157 (TDD available at Metro Call – 574-5000); or Community Action Kentucky at 1-800-456-3452.

Help Keep Our Community Safe

lmpd

Check out the LMPD web application to keep up to date with Crime Reports and trends for your neighborhood, Click here to get started.