Got a pothole you frequently drive over?

Mayor Greg Fischer today helped launch this year’s Pothole Blitz, an annual event aimed at ridding the city’s streets of the many potholes left by the repeated freeze-thaw cycles of winter.

Public Works crews will systematically go through the city’s streets patching potholes until all roads are covered, a process that should continue into late April. During last year's two-month blitz, 19,891 potholes were patched. 

Each year the same crews that lead the snow fighting effort through the winter turn their attention in March to patching potholes.

Potholes are created by a combination of water that seeps through cracks caused by normal wear and tear in asphalt, repeated freezing and thawing temperatures, and the weight of traffic. Cold temperatures cause the water to freeze and expand, weakening the pavement. The weight of traffic on the weakened pavement then breaks the asphalt, eventually leaving a hole that grows as more traffic goes over it.

Citizens are urged to report potholes to MetroCall by dialing 311 or 574-5000 or through an online form. Make sure you have the approximate address or nearest intersection.

Potholes on interstate highways should be reported to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet at 1-877-For-KYTC (367-5982).

Don't forget to get involved! Until the end of March, Councilwoman Madonna Flood, with the help of the community, will collect toiletries, snacks and other items to send to our military overseas. These are items we take for granted but to service men and women stationed in a remote desert or outpost, these items lift spirits and make life easier. Money is also being raised for postage, which is $15 per box. 

Items needed: Chewing Gum/Mints/Lifesavers, deodorant, lotion, foot powder, razors, body wash, band-aids, q-tips, hand sanitizer, wet ones, Kool-aide/Gatorade (individual packs), peanut butter, individual snacks/candy (that won't melt), chips, pretzels, Neosporin, beef jerky, sun block, after sun lotion, nasal spray, Tylenol/pain relievers. 

Drop off locations include any Republic Bank (“From the Heart Account”), Jackson-Hewitt Tax Preparers (all locations), BC Roosters (4420 Dixie Hwy), City Hall (601 W. Jefferson) and various other locations around the city. For a full listing and updates about the campaign, please click here.

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Join the statewide campaign to raise awareness about the importance of colon cancer screenings and encourage those around you to get screened!

Here are 5 steps you can take to fight colon cancer in March:

1.      Raise awareness! Share information about prevention.

2.      Talk with your family about any family history of polyps or colon cancer.

3.      Talk with your doctor about the right time for you to be screened, and the test that’s right for you. Colon cancer can be prevented with screenings. All Kentuckians age 50 and older should get regular colon cancer checks. People with a personal or family history of colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or who are experiencing symptoms are considered high risk should talk with their doctors about having earlier or more frequent tests.  

4.      If it’s time for you to get screened – schedule the screening! Make March the month you check it off your list.

5.      Volunteer for the cause. Contact the Colon Cancer Prevention Project at (502) 290-0288 or info@c2p2ky.org to learn about volunteer opportunities in our area. 

Trail Team Volunteer Project Days 

Sat., March 14, 9 am – Noon at Jefferson Memorial Forest 

Sat., March 21, 9 am – Noon at Waverly Park 

Join our Trail Team volunteers as a single day helper or a long-term volunteer to work on our 36 miles of trail in the Forest and Waverly Park. Each project day will have a different task, assigned according to weather and greatest need. Suitable for ages 14 and up; must be accompanied by an adult. Contact Sherry.Wright@louisvilleky.gov for additional information. 

Night Climbing 

Friday, March 20, 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Challenge yourself on our 52 foot climbing tower…in the dark! Learn basic climbing and belaying techniques and gain self-esteem, confidence and problem-solving skills while tackling this “high-altitude” obstacle course at night! This program is for ages 10 and up. (A parent or legal guardian must accompany any participant under the age of 18.) Please wear tennis shoes and long pants or shorts (with inseam greater than 5 inches.) Bring your headlamp! Program will meet in the Horine Section of Jefferson Memorial Forest. Pre-registration required. Fee: $15/person.

Free Guided Night Hike - Saturday, March 21, 8:00 pm

Join us for a Night Hike on the Coral Ridge Loop (2.5 miles, easy to moderate). Meet in the Paul Yost section of the Forest.

For more information on these events, please contact Jefferson Memorial Forest at 368-5404. The Forest is located at 11311 Mitchell Hill Road.

New Directions Housing is now accepting application for Repair Affair 2015 until April 30, 2015. Repair Affair is completely volunteer-drive. All repair work is performed by volunteers. Repair Affair is not a decorating, remodeling, or an emergency repair program. Repair Affair is for small repairs that improve the safety, security, and weather efficiency of the home. We do not guarantee assistance to everyone who applies. There is no cost to apply, but there are several eligibility requirements for Repair Affair: To qualify you must:

• Be 60 years of age or older or certified disabled;
• Own and reside in a single-family home;
• Qualify as low income

If you know of anyone who would like to apply, please have them call Jacie Morgan at (502) 719-7153

Mark your calendars – Registration for the Brightside/Passport Health Plan Spring Community-Wide Cleanup is now open! The cleanup will take place on Saturday, April 18th with the suggested cleanup times of 8:00am – 12:00pm. We know what you are thinking, “that’s the same day as Thunder Over Louisville!”  You would be right.  Due to the dates of Jefferson County Public School’s spring break and a couple of other major events in our city, we felt that April 18th would be the best day for everyone.  What better ways to prepare for a day of fun and fireworks than doing some good work to make our community Derby ready before the festivities begin! (If the date we have set doesn't work for your group, that's OK, we will support any cleanup that takes place in the weeks surrounding April 18th.)

Brightside welcomes all groups, large and small, to participate in the cleanup. Simply register your group online at www.brightsideinc.org, or complete and return the downloadable registration form. All cleanup teams will receive bags and gloves at no cost, and the first 5,000 volunteers to register will also receive a free t-shirt! You won’t want to miss out on an exciting new design for our t-shirts this year made in collaboration with a great local artist and business owner, Jason Pierce.

Supply pick up will be held on Saturday, April 11th at the Iroquois Park Amphitheater, 1080 Amphitheater Rd, 40214 from 10:00am– 2:00pm.  All supplies are pre-packaged by group for team leaders to collect. If a group fails to pick up their supplies on April 11, and they have t-shirts, the t-shirts go to other volunteers on a first come first serve basis. Groups who do not have t-shirts can call Brightside on Tuesday, April 21 to see if any t-shirts have been returned. Supplies will also be available at our satellite location located at Joe Creason Park, 1235 Trevilian Way, 40213 from 2:00- 5:00pm on Tuesday, April 21st and Friday, April 24th .

Brightside is proud to be holding our Cleanup with the Mayor’s Give A Day Week of Service for the third year.  Cleanups are an integral part of Brightside's mission and without the help of your volunteer group, and many other volunteers throughout the year, we could not achieve our goals of a cleaner, greener and more sustainable Louisville.  We look forward to seeing all of you in April!