The
Old Louisville Journal
A Monthly Summary of
News and Events in Old Louisville
Published by OLIC, Inc., a 501(c)(3) Corporation |
Volume 28, Issue 12 |
December 2006
|
FIRST ANNUAL SPIRIT BALL A SMASHING SUCCESS
On Saturday evening, October 28, Old-Louisville
party-goers turned out in full regalia for the first annual Spirit
Ball at the Conrad-Caldwell House on St James Court. A black,
lacquered horse-drawn carriage clip clopped its way around the court
as guests arrived in colorful masquerade and dressed as various Old
Louisville characters from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The
festivities began at 8:00 p.m. and came to a close at midnight after
over a hundred revelers danced the night away while sipping
cocktails and sampling gourmet fare from Masterson’s. “It was like
stepping back in time,” said Regina Wilson, a resident of Sixth
Street who brought her husband to the ball as an early Christmas
present. “The mansion was beautifully decorated, and the costumes
and Victorian attire were absolutely fabulous. It was a great time,
and I can’t wait to come back next year.” Apart from dancing and
mingling, attendees also had the opportunity to bid on various
packages at a silent auction and do the Victorian Ghost Walk. Deb
Riall, director of the Conrad-Caldwell House, said the event was a
huge success for the neighborhood and that it will be a highlight on
the Old Louisville calendar for years to come. According to local
author David Domine, the official host of the event, “With the
Spirit Ball and the neighborhood ghost tours, we hope to turn the
weekend before Halloween into an annual fall festival that
celebrates the Victorian heritage of the neighborhood.” Next year
will see the addition of a pumpkin walk and other events that will
grow the festival into a major attraction for Old Louisville, he
said.
The first annual Spirit Ball came about as a result of more than
sixth months of planning and hard work by friends and residents of
Old Louisville. Instrumental to the success of the ball were Alan
Bird, president of the Old Louisville Chamber of Commerce, Nore
Ghibaudy, executive director of the Visitors Center in Historic Old
Louisville, and dedicated committee members that included Gary
Kleier, Deb Riall, David Domine, Susan Coleman, Rob and Margaret
Young, and Herb and Gayle Warren. Many local sponsors also
contributed to the successful event. Some of them were Brown-Forman,
Happy Balls!, Gary Kleier and Associates, Old Louisville Inns and
TourLouisville. Proceeds from the ball will benefit community
activities of the Old Louisville Chamber of Commerce. For more
information about the Spirit Ball or to reserve your tickets for
next year’s gala, call 502.637.2922.

The Resurrectionist poses with Jennie Bowman, the Phantom of Brook
Street,
and a floozy from the Pink Palace.
|
Don’t forget The Holiday
House Tour
December 2 & 3, 2006
http://www.holidayhousetour.com/
******
OLIC Board Member Elections
December 19 The Old Louisville
Information center has received three nominations for a three
open Board seats.
Please attend the December Old Louisville Neighbor Council
meeting at 7 p.m., December 26, 2006 in order to place your
vote.
The current nominees are:
Richard Wayne Tabb - Rick Tabb has been semi-retired for
the last 6 years, and is now assisting Bearwood Gardens with
quality control, staff training and development. His previous
employment includes Executive director of the Community Health
Trust and Deputy Director of the Private Industry Council of
Metro Louisville and Jefferson County. He has served as a
volunteer on numerous community boards and councils and is an
ordained minister.
Ric Poe - Rick and his wife Becky have lived in the 1300
block of 1st Street since 2002. After moving to Old Louisville,
Ric has been active with the Ouerbacker Ct. NA. He was the
liaison to the OLNC two years ago. Over the past year he has
been the Property Improvement Committee liaison. Ric works in
Information Technology at UPS. Ric’s current hobby is the
renovation of his house.
Sonia Perez - Sonia is a new resident of Old Louisville,
remodeling her home on West St. Catherine. Sonia works for
Republic Bank.
Nominations are still open and there will be a blank on the
election ballots for write-ins. |
Editorial Policy:
Letters and articles submitted to The Old Louisville Journal may
be edited with regard to space and/or content. Letters to the
Editor must be signed with a verifiable signature and address.
|

Madame Zaneskaya smiles for the camera. |

Marie Antoinnette takes a turn on the dance floor with Victorian
Gentleman Ramon Garcia. |

Joann and Arnold Calentano
Letters to the Editor
Note from the editor:
It is always the intention that this small,
neighborhood publication assist the residents by
keeping them informed of neighborhood news and
issues. A monthly publication is seldom able to
accomplish a goal such as this due to the “age of
instant information” in which we currently live.
News in a
monthly newsletter is often out of date. However,
the neighborhood discussion of a potential “wet/dry
vote” in Old Louisville has generated numerous
letters to the editor on the subject and the Old
Louisville Journal seems to be serving a real
purpose this month.
Even though we publish a monthly calendar and
regularly invite neighborhood associations to inform
the Old Louisville Journal of meetings and events,
we seldom recieve information regarding those
meetings aside from regularly scheduled neighborhood
association meetings. Apparently, numerous meetings
and gatherings have been held in the past two months
to discuss this wet/dry issue, but the word has not
spread in any organized fashion so that the entire
neighborhood may participate in the discussion.
We are publishing every letter sent to us this month
as a means to show neighborhood leadership at all
levels that there is considerable interest in the
topic and that it is imperative to include the
entire community in this discussion. As you read
through the letters to the editor this month,
remember the deep connection many of the residents
of our neighborhood feel to this community and the
passions which have resulted in these letters being
written. Frustration is clearly evident in many of
the letters.
As a challenge to the community leaders at all
levels, including Metro government officials,
business leaders, and the Louisville Metro Police
Department who also recieve this newsletter, can we
not plan a special called meeting in January to
begin examining this issue from all angles and
involve all stakeholders in the discussion? We will
certainly feature a meeting announcement in the
January Journal (date for submissions is December
15th). Again, this neighborhood issue is igniting
many feelings ranging from complete frustration to
helplessness to renewed impowerment. I implore
residents to become informed of the issue from all
sides and for community leadership at all levels to
help this be an informed and comprehensive
discussion for the entire Old Louisville
neighborhood.
From Ed Turley
There was a meeting at Mastersons Monday, Nov.13
concerning the wet/dry vote for Old Louisville. As
it stands, so far only business owners have attended
the meetings. If this were to be put to a vote then
possibly 28 businesses could/would be put out of
business. I really don’t think some people have
really thought this though. Example, we could not
sell beer or wine at the St. James Art Show. You
could not go to a quick shop or grocery store and
buy beer. Restaurants rely on the bar trade to keep
their doors open. All the bars in Old Louisville
would have to close. Business would not to relocate
to Old Louisville and we would have solved nothing.
There are laws on the books that deal with open
containers and public drunkenness. We need to
pressure the police to enforce this. Private
citizens need to get involved in the meetings.
Dear Editor:
SHOULD OUR VILLAGE GO DRY?
A few years ago when we decided to resurrect the
Old Louisville Business & Professional Association
(now the Old Louisville Chamber of Commerce) we were
inspired to model our vision of what the Old
Louisville Neighborhood should be on the concept of
the village. A village we thought, should have well
designated borders. It would not have streets that
doubled as expressway ramps, but highly integrated
streets that made getting from one place to the
other easy. A village would also have lots of
amenities so that residents could get pretty much
everything they needed within their village without
having to travel miles and miles to distant locales.
The people going in and out of these establishments
would make the streets safer, and even more
importantly, make them seem safer.
The engine for much of these changes would be
increased tourism, showcasing our rich architecture
and history. All these things together would make
Old Louisville a destination community, and in the
process, increase the pleasure of living here while
raising our property values. Since then, things have
been going pretty well as planned. New restaurants
have come enticing the suburbanites into the inner
city. Bed and breakfast inns have proliferated and
other small retail and service companies have set up
shop. However, much of this progress is now at risk.
The problem in a word is Streetpeople, (or is that
two words). The poor, mentally ill, the unemployed
and the disenfranchised wile away their hours in and
about our commercial center, begging for money,
drinking out of containers wrapped in brown paper
bags, passing out, and in the process making our
streets more menacing than they really are. Some of
our residents have suggested that banning alcohol in
the four precincts that make up much of Old
Louisville and most of its commercial areas is the
answer. While this proposal might reduce the
presence of street people, it would also destroy
much that has been accomplished by the Chamber and
the Neighborhood in encouraging tourism.
Ten of our local eateries would be so affected that
many of them would likely not survive. Four of our
favorite watering holes would be gone. Even some of
our corner groceries would be significantly
impacted, such that staying in business would no
longer be worthwhile. Our streets would become more
and more deserted and would feel, and in reality be,
more and more dangerous.
There are some possible solutions that would not
have this devastating impact on our neighborhood.
The Old Louisville Chamber of Commerce adopted the
following plan to deal with the legitimate
complaints of some of our neighbors regarding
alcohol sales:
1. Package liquor stores would voluntarily agree to
stop selling half-pint bottles and single serving
beer containers. These are the items most usually
consumed in the immediate vicinity of the sale.
2. The Chamber would again promote its
anti-panhandling initiative, “When A Helping Hand
Isn’t”. The effort would be supported by retailers
with possible hand out cards directing those in need
to local service providers in lieu of “spare
change”.
3. Local retailers which employ security guards
would be encouraged to have their guards regularly
patrol their parking lots to keep their customers
from being solicited and to discourage loitering.
4. The Fourth Police District would more vigorously
enforce the criminal laws against public drinking
and drunkenness utilizing the constitutionally
authorized “investigatory stop” procedures as
outlined in the U.S. Supreme Court Case of Terry v.
Ohio. The police would also be encouraged to
promptly respond to store owner complaints of
loitering and like offenses on their private
property (their parking lots).
While implementation of these proposals may not
prevent every incident of offensive conduct, they
would go a long way toward that goal. At the same
time, Old Louisville would continue to be a vibrant
welcoming and happening place, one where anyone
would like to live or visit.
Kenneth C. Plotnik
Dear Editor
I am very disappointed to see that some people are
upset over the discussion about banning the sale of
liquor along Oak Street.
One thing I would like to know:
Where have these people been in the last five years?
- when the situation along that part of the
neighborhood has little by little gotten worse and
worse? Have they been out picking up the trash and
discarded wine bottles with their own two hands at
all hours of the day? Have they been calling the
police on the drunks who pass out in their front
yard? Have they had to chase bums and drug
dealers off their sidewalks so it can look like they
live in a respectable neighborhood?
Well, I figure the answer to that is NO. But, I can
at least say that I have done all these things to
fight for my home and neighborhood, and I am over
these seedy, cheap liquor places making a profit at
my expense. If they want to make money off the bums
in our neighborhood, then they can police them and
clean up after them themselves! If not, they can get
out of the neighborhood, for all I care - and I
don’t care if it means I cannot buy a bottle of wine
at the store myself. I’ll drive over to Bardstown
Road where it’s safer.”
Thanks. - Gary Bruce Smith
Dear Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to encourage
all residents of Old Louisville to join in on the
efforts to ban the sale of liquor along the Oak
Street corridor. For years now we have been dealing
with the problems brought on by vagrants and bums
who rely on nearby package liquor establishments to
supply their cheap cans of beer and
brown-paper-wrapped fifths of whiskey and such.
These establishments are not good neighbors, and
they only contribute to the problems that have
plagued Old Louisville property owners for years
now. As long as they can make a quick buck selling
booze to anyone who walks in off the street, they
don’t care about the effect it has on our beautiful
neighborhood. They say they refuse to sell to
individuals who are drunk or suspicious looking, but
that is a lie. I have observed on numerous occasion
as obvious bums and troublemakers have walked in
(better, staggered in) off the street and then
exited with alcohol they guzzled down as soon as
they got back at outside.
This happens at ALL of the package-liquor
establishments along Oak Street, and I have seen it
MANY TIMES. RITEAID is the worst one of all, and
it’s not a coincidence that they are located on the
corner of the most dangerous intersection in the
entire city.
I’m sorry if restaurants who cater to respectable
citizens are affected in the process, but unless
they step up to the plate and put pressure on their
associates along Oak Street, I don’t really care if
they are affected by this ban. It is ridiculous that
we have had to put up with these problems for
so many years now!
It is a shame that the police are not doing their
job and enforcing laws that are already on the books
that forbid public vagrancy, loitering and public
intoxication.
It is a scandal that people have sat around for so
long without doing a single thing to curb this
problem.
And what’s WORSE is that several seedy
establishments in the neighborhood are catering to
the undesirables and prefer to make a couple of
dollars rather than contribute to their
neighborhood.
Yes, Oak Street is primarily a business corridor,
however, just steps from Oak Street you have homes
where people have been living for years and trying
to make this neighborhood a better place.
I’m tired of getting up in the morning and picking
up empty beer and whiskey bottles out of my front
yard. I look forward to this ban and will do
anything I can to help it along. —
K.J. Brown, Garvin Gate
Dear Editor:
An article about this proposal also appeared in the
courier journal. I think it is unfortunate that
this has been described as “targeting” any
individual business (poor choice of words on our
part)- we are really trying to address the larger
issue of crime and safety.
We have been looking into our options we hope to be
able to put a moist ordinance on the ballot. This
would allow restaurants and bars to sell alcohol.
There is some confusion as to whether or not this is
doable. We are trying to get clarification.
After the November general election we will schedule
a meeting to gather people together who support this
proposal. We will have to gather signatures equal
to 25% of the people who people of voted in each
precinct.
We will have to coordinate with the neighborhood
associations.
Kent Thompson
Dear Editor
My wife and I purchased 430 West Oak Street and are
now living there. We were present a copy of “The
Old Louisville Journal” by our Realtor and our
attention was directed to the plans to ban sale of
package liquors on Oak St. corridor. What can we do
to help in this effort.
Lyle & Judy Nutting
Dear Editor:
I am very happy to see that someone is finally doing
something about the terrible problems we have been
experiencing along Oak Street. It may be a last
resort, but if we ban the sale of alcohol, that will
surely clear out all the bums that make that area
look like skid row. I live a block away and I am
always approached by panhandlers that I see in the
various liquor stores all the time. In addition, I
am always patrolling the streets to pick up all the
embarrassing empty beer cans and bottles.
I am tired of these people destroying our
neighborhood and I am sick and tired of the three
main sources of these cheap drinks (Rite Aid, Oak
Street Liquors and 1st and Oak) making money at our
expense and not trying to help the problem they are
creating. It’s time to clear them all out and clean
up the neighborhood!
Thanks you very much.
Sincerely,
Margaret Halalli
Ormsby Ave.
Ouerbacker Arts & Crafts Neighborhood
Association progresses…
By Joan Stewart, Co-Chair Ouerbacker A&C Neighborhood
Association
Sunday, November 12, 2006 the Ouerbacker Arts and Crafts
Neighborhood Association held its’ first (annual) Winter
Progressive Dinner. Thirty-three (33) participants enjoyed
amazing appetizers (Cilantro Lime Shrimp on Asian seedless
cucumber, Olive Tapanade on toasted baguette, and Spinach
Artichoke filled Phyllo Pastry) along with drinks provided
by Jim and Kim………soup (Beef Vegetable and Vegetarian
Minestrone) and salad (Spinach with Fruit) provided by Roz
and DeLois & Sean………..entrée (Pasta Primavera) provided by
Gary and Geoffrey……..cheese course (Wensleydale with
Cranberries, traditional goat cheese, gouda, brie, and an
Australian blue cheese ) and dessert (Chocolate Harvest
Cake, Pear Upside-Down Spice Cake, and Pumpkin Cheesecake
Dip with Gingersnaps) provided by Robin & Ray and Katie.
The group gathered at 5:15ish…ate, socialized, then walked
to the next of a total of four homes opened to the
Neighborhood for the Event. We ended the evening at about
8:00pm around a nice fire in the Katie’s backyard. The
participants expressed joy at the wonderfulness of the
evening and proposed that this become an Annual Event.
OLD LOUISVILLE GHOST TOUR RECEIVES AWARD
The
Midwest Travel Writers Association, the nation’s oldest association of
professional travel writers, has recognized TourLouisville and its Old
Louisville Ghost Tours with a GEMmy Award. The honor – awarded to those
destinations judged to be ‘travel gems’ – strives to recognize
attractions offering exceptional experiences that get travelers off the
beaten path. The award was presented to David Dominé, creator of the
tour and author of the books Ghosts of Old Louisville and Phantoms of
Old Louisville, on Monday, October 23 at the Conrad-Caldwell House in
Old Louisville. Susan Dallas, marketing communications manager of the
Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau and associate member of MTWA,
made the presentation. Accepting the award along with Dominé were Nore
Ghibaudy, executive director of the Old Louisville Chamber of Commerce,
Alan Bird, president of the Old Louisville Chamber of Commerce and Ron
Harris, an actor who portrays Alfred Victor Dupont, a past resident of
Old Louisville. The honor came as the direct result of member
nominations, which were reviewed by the GEMmy Committee before receiving
final approval from the MTWA board.
According to Barbara E. Cohen, an Indianapolis-based travel writer who
nominated Dominé for the award, his enthusiasm and obvious affection for
the neighborhood makes Old Louisville Ghost Tours very special. “David
often invites participants inside his own home, and by creating these
tours with his own personal touch, he has cleverly figured out a way to
showcase regional flare and local architecture,” she said. “He has put
Old Louisville on the map, both for its untouted Victorian heritage and
haunted hotspots.” Travel writer Elizabeth Granger of Noblesville,
Indiana, asks “Who doesn’t enjoy a good story? Combine it with history,
architecture, and a natural storyteller. . . and you’ve got a definite
GEMmy.”
For more information on Old Louisville Ghost Tours, call the Visitor’s
Center in Historic Old Louisville at 502.637.2922 or go online at
www.ghostsofoldlouisville.com.
(picture above: David Domine accepted the GEMmy Award from
Susan Dallas on the front porch of the Conrad-Caldwell House.
Also honored (from left to right) were Nore Ghibaudy, Alan Bird,
and Ron Harris. )

We’re now accepting applications
for the Spring 2007 Session of the Neighborhood Institute!
Tuesday Evenings
6:00 - 8:30 P.M.
January 23 - April 17
The Clifton Center, 2117 Payne Street
* Dinner is provided for each Tuesday evening meeting!
The Neighborhood Institute is a neighborhood
leadership-education program that began in 1987. The
Neighborhood Institute equips neighborhood leaders with the
resources necessary to effect positive change by working through
their neighborhood associations.
Financial support for the Neighborhood Institute is generously
provided by the Vital Neighborhoods Initiative of the Metro
United Way.
· Twelve-week seminar
· Weekly topics
· Expert panels and speakers
· Neighborhood information exchange
· Networking
· Experiential learning
· Group problem solving
Issues Covered
Issues covered in the Neighborhood Institute depend upon the
needs of the class. The class begins by identifying and
assessing what the participants view as being their most
pressing issues. Past experience has led us to expect that the
following issues will be included:
· Community & Economic Development
· Getting Your Message Out
· Conflict Resolution
· Consensus Building
· Accessing the Power Structure
· Dealing with Public Sector Agencies
· Organization Building
· Resource Building and Tapping Resources
· Strategic Planning
· Planning, Zoning and Land Use Issues
· Legal Issues
· Law Enforcement
For more information, please contact at Mary.mayrose@louisvilleky.gov
Click here for this month's
Meeting's Calendar
Please
visit our Sponsor's Page!
The Old Louisville Journal is
published monthly by the Old Louisville Information Center, Inc.
(OLIC), a 501(c)(3) corporation, incorporated in 1984, for the
purpose of receiving tax deductible contributions. OLIC is
affiliated with the Old Louisville Neighborhood Council (OLNC), a
501 (c) (4) non-profit association incorporated in 1976 to serve as
the recognized voice of the Old Louisville Neighborhood.
Submit Journal
contributions to the Editor:
Old Louisville Information Center
1340 S. Fourth St., Louisville, KY 40208.
Phone: (502) 635-5244
E-mail: olnc@bellsouth.net
Advertising rates available upon request.
Please submit “Letters to the Editor” to the above address.
The 15th of each month is deadline for submission of all ads and articles.

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