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 2

February 2006    

Mayor’s Litter-Free Louisville Summit
Generates Ideas to Reduce Clutter
‘Street Spam,’ litter hotline and cigarette litter discussed

Temporary signs cluttering roadways, cigarette butts, and a hotline to report litterers were among the topics discussed yesterday at Mayor Jerry Abramson’s Litter-Free Louisville Summit.
The summit, hosted by Brightside as part the ongoing community-wide “Keep It Clean” campaign, brought more than 80 business, civic and neighborhood leaders to the Galt House Hotel and Suites to discuss issues pertaining to all forms of litter and develop new tactics to reduce litter across Louisville.
“Eliminating litter is an issue of neighborhood and community pride,” Abramson said. “I’m challenging citizens and businesses to get involved in helping make our hometown a cleaner place to live. We had a lot of energy at the summit from residents, businesses and community organizations, and I look forward to positive results from the ideas discussed.”
Results of the summit include:
· A pilot program to notify litterers of violating the law. Beginning Jan. 17, Louisville Metro Solid Waste Management workers and more than 150 Bee Line Courier drivers will call MetroCall 311 to report litterers, providing car license-plate numbers, vehicle description, and details of the incident. The owner of the vehicle will receive a letter including the details of the littering incident along with a Brightside car litter bag and a reminder of the state law prohibiting littering with penalties up to $500, 12 months in jail, or both.
· Several auto dealerships, oil-change locations, car washes and auto-repair shops throughout Louisville will begin placing litter bags in vehicles that are purchased or serviced.
· Six organizations will be added to the list of businesses, schools and community groups whose volunteers clean community roadways through the Brightside Green Mile program. Those organizations include: Brown-Forman, Brownsboro Paint and Hardware, California Neighborhood Association, Jefferson County Public Schools, Pepsi and the city of Rolling Hills.
In addition, Mayor Abramson formed a Litter-Free Louisville citizen task force and charged agencies of city government to develop campaigns to address cigarette litter and temporary signs illegally placed in the public right-of-way, known as “street spam.”
Get Involved in Eliminating Litter in our neighborhood by:
· Picking up litter wherever you see it
· Reporting litter from automobiles, call MetroCall at 311 or 574-5000 and provide license plate number, vehicle description and location of incident
· Reporting illegal dumping, call MetroCall at 311 or 574-5000
Organizing neighborhood cleanups
Serving on a citizen task force to follow up on ideas generated at the Litter-Free Louisville Summit
Making a tax-deductible contribution to Brightside to support various cleanup activities
For help organizing a neighborhood cleanup or questions regarding any of the above initiatives, call Brightside at 574-2613 or email keepitclean@louisvilleky.gov
For more litter-related information, visit: www.keepitcleanlouisville.org
Upcoming community-wide cleanups:
· Saturday, March 25, 8 a.m. - 12 noon. Brightside Community-Wide Cleanup. For information or to register to participate, call 574-2613.
· Wednesday, April 26, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Brightside Pre-Derby Cleanup held in downtown Louisville. For information or to register to participate, call 574-2613.
· Saturday, June 17, 8 a.m. - 12 noon. Ohio River Sweep, organized by MSD. For information or to register to participate, call 1-800-359-3977

 

Free to a good home
The Old Louisville Information Center is clearing out unused equipment. If you are interested in any of the following items, contact Linda at 635-5244.
Brother electric typewriter, 2 small lamps, display tables , laser printer

February conjures up images of warmth and friendship, love and laughter. Think about what a wonderful escape from our hectic lives it would be to treat yourself to a night in one of the many neighborhood B&B’s. Perhaps you could plan a decadent dinner at one of our many restaurants or maybe brunch with your best friends on a weekend morning. Since the weather has been so mild lately (at least at the time this newsletter went to press), why not consider taking a stroll down the tree canopied streets or a walk in Central Park? This place we call ours is such a romantic little neighborhood. The glow of the gaslights in the evening merely adds to the ambiance of Old Louisville in the winter. Even with the bare trees and slumbering gardens, the neighborhood still seems warm and inviting to those who take the opportunity to enjoy it in all seasons of the year. A blanket of snow would create yet another beautiful vista for us, but I’m not wishing for that hardship!
Plans are being made for the annual clean up in Central Park which for me marks the coming of spring! Conversations are shaping the annual Garden Tour, one of the highlights for summer here in Old Louisville and the Holiday House Tour group has just put the 2005 version to bed. One could paint this awkward time of year as dreary and uninspiring, but not when living in this neighborhood. I see this time of year as simply a quiet spot in time as we look to the future.
Spend this quieter time discovering all Old Louisville has to offer. Remember, with just a few flips of the calendar, it will be spring and then Derby and then… well, you get the picture!
 

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.
  

Neighborhood Notes

The Firefighters are Coming
Louisville Metro is in the process of evaluating the fire stations in the metro area. An article discussing this study was in the November 11, 2005 issue of the Courier-Journal.
Specifically Louisville Metro is considering abandoning, remodeling, consolidating, and rebuilding certain fire stations. One of the stations recommended to be abandoned by this study is located at 6th and York. Member of the Louisville Metro Fire Department have conducted their own study of this evaluation. They have requested that they be allowed to present their findings to the neighborhood. This presentation was made at the OLNC meeting on January 24, 2006. Please contact a board member if you need additional information.


Cabbage Patch Settlement House
Since 1929 the Cabbage Patch Settlement House has been part of Old Louisville. They are in the process of evaluating and planning an expansion of their facilities to increase their mission to serve the community. The Cabbage Patch Settlement House mission is empower families and children to be self-sufficient. More information on Cabbage Patch can be found on their website cabbagepatch.org. Cabbage Patch wants to expand their recreational facilities by constructing an underground facility behind the houses on South 6th Street. The Rev. J. Tracy Holladay, Executive Director, was at the January 24, 2006 meeting of the OLNC to discuss their plans and to receive input from the neighborhood.


Neighborhood Notification
Communication is the life blood of any organization. In this day of emails and faxes, the pace of response to notifications is ever consolidated. For instance, the Neighborhood Coalition sent out an email notice that requested volunteers to be nominated to be on the Metro Committee to study the closing of fire stations. See related story in this newsletter. Having email addresses for someone in each Old Louisville neighborhood association would have facilitated a more coordinated effort to get the word out to the associations. Please submit to Linda Ewen at the Information Center, the name, address, phone number, and email address of the president of your association or someone else responsible for getting the word out to your association members. In this way we can better respond to events as they occur in the Old Louisville.

Self Defense Class Offered at the OLIC

Heart of pine
antique
flooring
3” wide,
65 sq. ft.

best offer
call 635-0937

A two hour class in Self Defense is being offered on the following Saturdays: January 28th, February 11th and February 25th.
It will teach any interested residents of Old Louisville the fundamentals in protection against sudden unwanted attacks.
The class is being sponsered by and overtime paid for by the 4th Division of the LMPD. One of their own, Allan Manganello, a very qualified patrol officer , has agreed to teach us.
When and where: each noted Saturday from 10:00 AM till Noon.
E-mail Helga Ulrich, Crime & Safety committee at HHUBMW@cs.com or call her at 637-8006 so that we can make certain that attendance is evenly distributed for each session.


 

Mayor, firefighters promote winter fire safety

With home-heating costs rising, so are the numbers of residents using space heaters and fireplaces to warm their homes. Today firefighters from the Louisville Fire Department and several suburban fire departments joined Mayor Jerry Abramson in launching a public-service campaign reminding citizens of the importance of wintertime fire safety.
“Don’t let efforts to warm your home cause a tragedy in your home,” Abramson said while MetroTV videotaped segments of a public-service announcement. He said the public-service campaign is designed to “remind our residents of the simple things they can do at home to ensure they and their families are safe this winter.”
Louisville Fire Department Chief Greg Frederick said his fire companies, in the past five years, have responded to about 60 house fires resulting from heating equipment, and that those fires caused almost $800,000 in property damage. “It’s always a leading cause of house fires this time of year, and has the potential to be even more prevalent this winter as more people may look to use alternative methods to heat their homes.”
The Louisville Fire Department provides fire protection to the urban-services district, which represents roughly one-third of Louisville Metro residents. But winter fire safety is not just an urban issue and, for the first time, suburban firefighters are combining with Louisville firefighters for a joint public-safety campaign.
“All 18 suburban fire districts have to respond hundreds of these types of calls each year, and it’s always difficult when someone loses their home, or worse, as a result of trying to heat their home,” said McMahan Fire District Chief Paul Barth, who serves as Abramson’s liaison to suburban fire departments. Barth said that fire investigators suspect a fatal house fire in Middletown in November resulted from improper use or installation of a wood-burning stove.
The public-service announcement will air on MetroTV, and will be offered to local network affiliates and Insight Cable for broadcast. In addition, firefighters from the Louisville Fire Department and several suburban fire departments will make free in-home safety inspections. To schedule an inspection, call your fire department or contact MetroCall 311 for your fire department’s contact information.
Abramson and the fire departments offer the following tips for winter fire safety at home:
· Furnaces - Furnaces should be inspected yearly by a certified technician, and filters should be changed monthly. All fueled heaters must be vented in accordance with local building and fire codes to prevent build-up of dangerous carbon monoxide.
· Fireplaces - When using your fireplace, always protect your home from sparks by using a screen made of sturdy metal or heat-tempered glass. Burn only wood in your fireplace, be sure that dampers are in proper working order, and never leave fires unattended, especially in an area used by children or pets. Remove ashes in a metal container and store them outside. Have your chimney inspected and cleaned once a year by a certified technician, or whenever you suspect a problem.
· Space Heaters - Portable space heaters should be placed at least three feet away from furniture, walls, curtains, or anything that burns, and always turn them off when you leave home or go to bed.
· Liquid Fuel - If your space heater runs on liquid fuel, such as kerosene, let the heater cool down before refueling it. Adding fuel to a hot heater can cause the fuel to ignite. Refuel your heaters outside, where spills won’t present a fire hazard. Use only the fuel recommended by your heater’s manufacture. Never put gasoline in any space heater.
· Electrical Cords - Keep electrical cords out of traffic paths and away from areas where children play. Keep cords well maintained, and replace any cord that is cracked, frayed or otherwise damaged. Never pinch an electrical cord against walls or furniture. Do not run extension cords under carpets or across doorways. Have a professional electrician replace old or damaged outlets with modern, receptacles that have proper grounding.
 

Snow Removal Information
(hopefully not necessary!)
From the website www.louisvilleky.gov 
Louisville is Ready for Winter Weather!

Winter is here and the Louisville Metro snow-fighting team is ready to hit the streets to make sure Louisville keeps moving, and residents can get to school or work and have access to hospitals or emergency clinics.
The city has many new initiatives and changes to report in this year’s snow removal plan. Mayor Jerry Abramson earmarked more than $2 million to purchase new equipment for snow removal crews, the city now has a new way to pre-treat roads in the community, Deputy Mayor Rick Johnstone is coordinating the four agencies responsible for snow removal and residents have a new online tool to track snow removal progress.
Snow and Ice Removal by the Numbers
· The first roads cleared are school bus or TARC routes, hospital routes, main thoroughfares, highly-traveled roads with hills or curves and connectors to major businesses or factories.
· There are 3,000 miles of roads in Louisville
· 1,047 miles are cleared by Louisville Metro Public Works
· 1,000 miles are cleared by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, small cities and private contractors
· The remaining one-third of miles are neighborhood streets that are not cleared
· 18.1 inches – average yearly snowfall in Louisville.
· 15.9 inches on January 16, 1994 – record 24-hour snowfall.
· 225 employees from four agencies coordinate snow removal
· 120 pieces of equipment in the Louisville Metro snow-fighting fleet
· 4 new brine distributors to pre treat roads for the first time in Louisville.
· 17,500 tons of salt on hand at seven domes or storage facilities -
additional 17,500 tons stored underground for emergency reserve.
Four Louisville Metro agencies are responsible for snow removal:
· Public Works
· Solid Waste Management Services
· Parks
· Metropolitan Sewer District
 

Sweets for the sweet ones in your life!

New Years resolutions aside, you can’t entertain notions of February (i.e. Valentine’s Day) without thinking of sweets… particularly chocolate. I have the most wonderful four ingredient cookbook and let me just say this particular recipe is a “must have” for the chocolate lovers out there. Indulge, enjoy, and go back to eating healthy on February 15th!
Chilled Chocolate
and Espresso Mousse
(served in chocolate cups, no less!)
1 pound semisweet chocolate
3 Tablespoons freshly brewed espresso
2 Tablespoons butter
4 eggs, separated
Makes 4 servings
Break ½ the chocolate in to small pieces and melt by placing them in a bowl sitting in warm water (or use a double boiler). Stir until melted.
To form the chocolate cups, take a six inch square of foil and form it in the shape of a small cup by using an orange as a mold for the cup. Flatten the bottom so the cup will sit on a plate. Repeat with more foil until you have all four made.
Spoon melted chocolate into each cup mold and use the back of the spoon to spread the chocolate up the sides of the cups evenly. Refrigerate for 30 minutes until the chocolate sets. Remove cups from the refrigerator and carefully peel away the foil.
To make the mousse, put the rest of the chocolate and the espresso in a pan (or double boiler) and melt as before. Stir until smooth. Add butter a little at a time until well incorporated. Remove from heat and gently stir in the egg yolks. Set aside.
In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold carefully into chocolate mixture. Pour into a clean bowl and chill for at least 3 hours until the mousse is set.
Just before serving, scoop mousse into chocolate cups. Garnish with fresh berries and mint leaves, if desired.
 

By the Numbers
Save this page for future reference!

Old Louisville Information Center
635-5244

Louisville Metro
Government Numbers
Website address: www.louisvilleky.gov
MetroCall - 574- 5000 or 311
MetroCall is the “clearinghouse” for community questions
· Air Pollution Control Board - 574-6000
· Animal Services - 361-1813
· Bike Louisville - 574-0104
· Community Action Partnership - 574-1157
· Code Enforcement Board- 574-8161
· Community Relations and Events - 574-5010
· Convention and Visitors Bureau - 584-2121
· Department of Housing - 574-3107
· Downtown Development Corporation - 584-6000
· Emergency Medical Service (EMS) - 574-4260
· Louisville Fire - 574-3701
· Health Department - 574-6859
· Human Relations Commission - 574-3631
· Inspections, Permits & Licensing - 574-3321
· Metro Council - 574-5000
· Metro Development Authority - 574-4140
· Metro Housing Authority - 569-3400
· Metro Parks - 456-8100
· Metro Police - 574-7660
· Metropolitian Sewer District (MSD) - 587-0603
· MetroSafe - 574-3900
· Neighborhoods - 574-4227
· Parking Authority of River City - (PARC) 574-3817
· Planning & Design - 574-6230
· Property Valuation Administration (PVA) - 574-6380
· Public Works - 574-5810
· Revenue Commission - 574-4860
· Solid Waste - 574-3571
· Transit Authority of River City (TARC) - 585-1234
· Waterfront Development Corporation - 574-3768

LG&E
Power Outages/Downed Power Lines?
(502) 589-3500
24 hours/day, 7 days/week
Gas Leaks
(known or suspected)/
Gas Emergencies?
(502) 589-5511
24 hours/day, 7 days/week
Billing or rate questions?
(502) 589-1444
Monday - Friday
7am - 7pm
Before U Dig (BUD)?
(800) 752-6007

Louisville Water Company
Customer Service (502) 583-6610
Customer service representatives are available to answer your questions Monday-Friday 8am-8pm and Saturday from 8:30am to 12:30pm. The lobby at the corporate office at 550 S. Third Street is open from 8am-5pm Monday-Friday.

2006 Project PickUp Dates
February 27th
May 29th
August 28th
November 27th

2006 Metro Government Holidays
Garbage and recycling pick up delayed by one day
January 2nd
January 16th
February 20th
May 29th
July 4th
September 4th
November 10th
November 23rd
December 25th

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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