Councilwoman Fowler and her staff would like to wish all our Dads a very happy and special Father's Day this upcoming Sunday. Please take this time to celebrate all the amazing men in your life that have supported you throughout the years!

We offer our greatest thank you's to all of the fantastic fathers out there who put their families first each and every day. You truly are heroes in our eyes!

Dads get free admission to the Louisville Zoo on Ford’s Father’s Day, June 19, 2022. Families can bring their dad out to see the Zoo’s newest dads: Hartmann’s mountain zebra Gibbs, harbor seal Oscar, and soon-to-be father Masai giraffe Baridi. 

Any father may simply inform the attendant at the gate as they enter for free admission. The Zoo encourages others visiting with dad to purchase tickets and parking in advance online for quick entry.  

The Zoo is open daily year-round. Current hours through September 18, 2022 are 10 a.m. ─ 5 p.m. (exit by 6 p.m.) The Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The Louisville Free Public Library’s annual 10-week Summer Reading Program encourages children and teens to read for fun over the summer and helps them avoid summer learning loss.

School-aged children simply read ten books, teens read six books, and preschool-aged children and younger need to read, or have read to them, 20 books to complete the program. Studies have shown that children who participate in public library summer reading programs increase their enjoyment of reading, improve their reading skills, and return to school better prepared to learn.

The 2022 Cultural Pass offers individuals ages 0-21 in Greater Louisville access to arts and culture activities provided by 57 venues, free of charge, from June 1 through September 4, 2022. 

The Cultural Pass is designed to inspire, explore, and discover new experiences. This year’s Cultural Pass will offer both in-person and virtual opportunities so that every family can participate in a way that works for them! On the first Saturday of June, July, and August Cultural Pass participants can also attend Cultural Pass Days - click here to learn more. LFPL’s Summer Reading Program and Cultural Pass start June 1 and are FREE to all area youth. You can pre-register now for both programs online or by downloading the Beanstack Tracker app (for iOS or Android). Cultural Passes will be available for pickup June 1^st at LFPL libraries.

On Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., you can participate in Summer Reading Kickoff and Cultural Pass Day at the Main Library.  Enjoy FREE crafts and activities from the Library and Cultural Pass venues, as well as magic, face painting, and live performances from the Louisville Leopards, Flamenco Dance, and Redline Performing Arts. PLUS - food trucks will be available, so you can have lunch on site too.

Planting for the Future

Apply for tree grants with MSD’s Urban Reforestation Program

Louisville MSD Urban Reforestation Grants will pay for trees planted within MSD’s Drainage Service area including most of Jefferson County. The cities of Anchorage, Jeffersontown, St. Matthews, and Shively provide residents and businesses in those municipalities with stormwater/drainage services. Therefore, those four areas are not part of this grant program. 

MSD’s Urban Reforestation Grant Program is open to residents, organizations, companies and agencies. Download the Urban Reforestation Grant Application or visit LouisvilleMSD.org/trees for more information. The application deadline is Monday, August 1, 2022, at 5 PM. Please contact Sarah Duker at Sarah.Duker@LouisvilleMSD.org or 502.540.6248 with any questions.The MSD Urban Reforestation Program plants 1,000 trees annually by working with residents, businesses, municipal organizations and neighborhood associations. These trees redirect an average of 1.35 million gallons of stormwater away from the sewer system every year, decreaseing sewer overflows into our waterways. By planting more trees, MSD not only absorbs stormwater but also reduces erosion and flooding, provides shade, reduces noise pollution and carbon dioxide in the air, and provides a habitat for nearby wildlife

We need your help to report potholes:

1. Use an online form by clicking here.
2. Use Twitter by sending the location of the hole to @LouMetro311 and include the hashtag #502pothole.
3. Call Metro311 or 574-5000 to report potholes or any other issues.
4. To report a pothole on an interstate in Jefferson County, go to the “contact us” dropdown menu and select “report a hazard” on KYTC’s website http://transportation.ky.gov or click here.

Gov. Andy Beshear announced that starting Monday, May 9, Jefferson County tenants and landlords can apply for rental assistance through Team Kentucky’s Healthy at Home Eviction Relief Fund.

Renters and landlords can view a complete list of requirements and apply for rental assistance through stopmyeviction.org or teamkyhherf.ky.gov for up to 12 months of past-due rent and utility bills and three months of future payments.

The Kentucky Housing Corporation recommends that Jefferson County tenants with a scheduled eviction court case contact the Legal Aid Society at 502-584-1254 and contact their landlord and ask to remain as they apply for rent assistance. Third parties can also help tenants complete the online application, and instructional videos are available to help applicants. Team Kentucky also has a customer service line – 833-597-3687 – to help Spanish-speaking applicants.

Team Kentucky Homeowner Assistance Fund Earlier this year, Gov. Beshear announced that, thanks to $85.4 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, the commonwealth launched the Team Kentucky Homeowner Assistance Fund. Qualified homeowners can visit teamkyhaf.ky.gov to apply for up to $35,000 in assistance to help with delinquent mortgage payments, property taxes, homeowner’s and/or flood insurance, homeowners’ association fees and utility costs. If approved, the funds will be paid as a grant directly to mortgage servicers, utility companies, county property tax administrators, insurance agencies or homeowners’ associations. Since February 2022, Team Kentucky has distributed more than $3.4 million to more than 300 homeowners. The average payment per household is $14,000

The Office of Advanced Planning and Sustainability provides incentives to property owners of $1 per square foot of cool roof installed, with a goal of incentivizing at least 100,000 square feet of cool roofs. Buildings located in Metro Council Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 14 and 15 are identified as high heat island areas based on the Urban Heat Management Study (2016) and will receive 70% of the available funding for Fiscal Year 2022. The program will continue until funds are depleted. Incentives are limited to a maximum of three properties per property owner per fiscal year. 

Learn more and apply for the Cool Roof Incentive Program.

Illegally dumped trash is more than just an eyesore! It is expensive to clean up, it negatively impacts our quality of life and economic development, and the plastic debris may end up in our waterways and oceans. Individuals caught dumping illegally may have their vehicle impounded and face fines and fees totaling about $1,000. 

We have recently posted images on social media asking for help identifying illegal dumpers caught on camera and reporting when a vehicle was impounded. WDRB also helped spread the word about the negative impacts of illegal dumping. View their story here. 

Residents are encouraged to fill out this online form if they witness illegal dumping. The form can also be used to share home security camera footage or images of illegal dumping occurring with our Solid Waste Enforcement Department. Go to Louisvilleky.gov/IllegalDumping to learn more about how you can help prevent illegal dumping. 

Did you know..? Many waste materials can be dropped off legally and for FREE. Up to three large household items, up to 4 passenger tires, and up to 3 electronics items can be dropped off for free at the at the Waste Reduction Center, located at 636 Meriwether Avenue. A pickup truckload of yard waste or construction debris can be disposed for only $60.00.

Residents can also utilize the free Pop-Up Drop-Off events that occur monthly, on a Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., March - November, in various parts of Jefferson County. Items must be separated into the various categories for easy off-loading. Know before you go! View the accepted items list here: Louisvilleky.gov/PopUps.

Senior Nutrition Program provides nutritional lunchtime meals to active senior citizens at Congregate Meal Sites and delivers to homebound seniors through the Meals on Wheels Program, throughout the Louisville Metro area. These programs help to improve the lives of older adults by supporting good nutritional health and promoting their independence and well-being.

• Click here for Senior Congregate Sites that are currently open.
• Click here to refer a senior to the Meals on Wheels program.

For general information about the Senior Nutrition Program, please call 502.574.6325

Southwest Community Ministries is currently overwhelmed with families who have never needed assistance before but are running out of household and hygiene products! They are asking for help from members of the community, youth groups, or anyone willing to donate.

If you would prefer to give food donations, items such as ravioli, ramen, fruit cups, canned meats, soups, and peanut butter crackers are always good options. Things like Ensure and pull top lids are good for seniors as well!

Needed Household Items:

• Toilet Paper
• Paper Towels
• Bleach
• Laundry and Dish Soap
• Any Cleaning Supply
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Razors
• Comb/Brush
• Tooth Brush
• Tooth Paste
• Adult Diapers
• Female Personal Care Items

Items can be dropped off at the Ministry (8504 Terry Rd.) Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. For more information please call (502) 935-0310.

Donations can also be made by visiting SouthwestCommunityMinistries.org/donate.