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 9

September 2006    

Free community shredding event returns!

Mayor Jerry Abramson urges Louisville residents and businesses to begin collecting documents and materials now for the free community shredding event at the Louisville Zoo on Saturday, September 9th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Last year, over 21 tons of material were processed.
There is no limit to the amount of documents residents may bring. Businesses are asked to bring no more than 100 pounds.
”I am pleased that we can provide this important public service to residents at no cost,” Abramson said. “The best way to fight identity theft is to destroy any materials containing names, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers and account numbers.” Police will be on hand to provide tips on how to combat identity theft.
Items for shredding include documents, discs, hard drives, credit cards and other confidential materials. All paper materials are shredded on site and recycled to make materials such as compost, tissues and toilet paper.
This event is a partnership with the Louisville Metro Police Department and Louisville Metro Solid Waste Management. A local shredding company, Shred-It, is donating its services for the event.
For more information, visit www.louisvilleky.gov or call MetroCall at 311 or (502) 574-5000.

Every 1 Reads Volunteers
Making a Difference with Students

Donate just 30 minutes per week to read with a child in school -- Every 1 Reads is a progressive, community-wide initiative with a goal of having every child read at grade level within four years. With your help...we can reach that goal.
Entering its third full year, Every 1 Reads has decreased the number of students reading below grade level from 18 percent to 12 percent. However, to fully meet the goal - nearly 5,000 additional volunteers are needed.
Mayor Abramson says the success of Every 1 Reads is key to the future success of Louisville. “Education is not only the ticket to opportunity for individuals, it is the ticket to top-tier opportunities for cities,” Abramson said. “It takes a first-rate educated workforce to keep, attract and grow the kinds of well-paying interesting jobs that will make Louisville a destination for the best and brightest jobs and young people.” There are a number of ways you can get involved with Every 1 Reads: Get connected…as a mentor, tutor or volunteer!
Donate 30 minutes per week to read with a child in school; collect books; or get matched up as a mentor.
Financially support Every 1 Reads! Every 1 Reads needs to raise $8 million over the next four years from business and the community. The school district will match that commitment.
Get your business or organization involved as a partner! Your workplace, church group, scout troop or even your neighborhood can adopt a school, hold a book drive or serve as volunteer tutors.
For more information on this important program and to sign up to volunteer, visit their website: http://www.every1reads.com/volunteer.asp

Jack McKenney
Memorial Scholarship Challenge
Former St. James Court Art Show director Susan Coleman is pledging $100 towards a new art student scholarship in memory of the late Jack McKenney, who passed away in May. Susan challenges friends and neighbors to match or exceed her pledge. Jack lived in Old Louisville for more than 22 years, serving as treasurer of the Old Louisville Neighborhood Council, the St. James Court Association, the St. James Court Art Show Consortium and the Conrad Caldwell Historical Foundation. This is just an example of his many volunteer jobs. The scholarship will be awarded during this year’s 50th anniversary show, scheduled for October 6, 7 and 8.
Pledges can be made by e-mail to Susan at articulat@insightbb.com or Margue Esrock, director of the St. James Court Art Show, at mesrock@stjamescourtartshow.com. Payments should be sent by September 30, 2006, P.O. Box 225, Louisville, KY 40201. Checks should be made payable to: The St. James Court Historic Foundation with the notation in the memo line: Jack McKenney Scholarship. Contributions are tax deductible.
Meet the challenge for Jack!

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.
  

Letter to the Editor:

Dear Unnamed Editor,

As a resident of Old Louisville I was dismayed to read the headlines in the August issue of your journal. Not only did it announce the beginning of a pain-in-the-rear parking program, the dates it gave to get the required permit expired 5 days before the announcement was delivered! Of additional dismay was the fact that it was the first time I had even heard of a program that you claim was approved by a “majority” of residents of Old Louisville. My mother has lived in Old Louisville since the early 1980’s and she never heard of it either. And she doesn’t use a computer, which means even if she had heard of it she would not have had access to the information. Of course, I went to the site as directed where I was told that there is no Old Louisville PRZ map available. Since the “majority” is comprised of people completely unknown to the two of us, the tenants in our building, and our neighbor, I suspect it is unknown to many. This has the markings of some pet peeve project of one who has nothing better to do. And how are the guests invited to Music In Central Park, the St. James Art Fair, the Garden tours, or the Ghost tours supposed to get here? Fly? What do we tell our guests? I live here, my driver’s license says so, and I have no intention of applying for your permit. If you want to do something positive for Old Louisville get on the people who dump their trash in the alley in the 1400 block of S 6th between Hill and Magnolia. Or get on the rear end of the man who owns 610 Magnolia and make him stop blocking the alley, which is a fire lane, so his friends and delivery people can chat. Or get the city to close Old Louisville to the semi drivers who use it as a short cut and whose trucks regularly block traffic and take down posts and signs because the vehicles are simply too big to be driven in a residential area. Or try to think of some way to make the inconvenience of the St. James Art fair a benefit to the actual residents who are terribly put out for five days and get not one thing from it. St. James court has sort of over shot it’s boundaries, don’t you think? Tell me what benefit the residents of any street in Old Louisville besides St. James Court get from that event? Do something that will actually benefit someone. And why don’t you tell people who the editor is?
Jan Mader

From the Editor:
I am by no means anonymous. As announced in the OLJ previously, I am an eight year resident of Old Louisville, previous member of the Board of Directors for the Old Louisville Information Center and my name is Debbie Powers. In addressing your other concerns, the parking permit zone applies to the area of Old Louisville bounding the University of Louisville and DuPont Manual High School. Residents impacted by the parking permit program were contacted and engaged in the program discussion. It is not a neighborhood-inclusive program and it has been under discussion and review for years. I dare say it has been the topic of conversation at neighborhood meetings, PIC (Property Improvement Committee) meetings and ZALU (Zoning and Land Use) meetings. All of these meetings are published monthly on the calendar on the back page of this newsletter. Additionally, the daily paper for our city, Courier-Journal, published front page articles on the Metro section numerous times. Parking has been an issue since the advent of auto ownership in our lovely, walking court oriented neighborhood. The block on which I reside has no off street parking of any kind and I have spent the past eight years fighting for a parking space near my home like all other residents of my block.
I echo your concerns regarding “event parking” in the area, especially during the St. James Art Show. Parking on my street is taken for handicapped parking and no provisions are made for those of us losing the only parking, street parking, to which we have access. It is
truly a frustrating situation for the five days of the year you mentioned in your letter. Discussed often at the PIC meetings is the issue of semi-trucks in our neighborhood and the speed with which they travel. You comments have been passed along to the chairperson of the PIC committee. If you go back and review previous Journals, you will see mention of the alley issues with trashcans and litter piling high with no resident attention to it at all. Every time I encounter a huge mess when I’m out in the neighborhood, I use MetroCall (call 311 on your phone) and report the issue. It was my understanding the trash receptacles were not to be left in the alley and were only to be brought out the evening before pickup and had to be removed the evening of the trash pickup. I encourage all residents of Old Louisville to make use of the MetroCall resource available to us with regard to the trash in the alley issue, as well as any other issue you see in the neighborhood. It is the most timely and efficient manner of addressing concerns as this newsletter is only published monthly. I cannot address your concern regarding the benefits of the St. James Art Show to the neighborhood. Following this letter is a response from the director of the Art Show.
Finally, I certainly appreciate your Letter to the Editor. As most others serving on committees and undertaking the work of this grand neighborhood, I volunteer my time and I try to balance neighborhood issues with my own busy schedule. Perhaps we will meet at an upcoming committee meeting. I look forward to that.

Editor (Debbie Powers)

From the Art Show Director:
Dear Jan:
I appreciate you voicing your concerns that I know are on many minds this time of year. What is the purpose of the Art Show? With the 50th Anniversary St. James Court Art Show just around the corner I will take this opportunity to educate new and old residents alike about this unique community event that has taken place in this neighborhood since 1956.
Somewhere between 1956 and 2006 the purpose of the art show has been forgotten by many. Sometimes that happens with businesses— the mission becomes unclear and patrons waiver and become disheartened with what is happening. I use the term “business” because now in 2006 that is what the art show is. A business with a full time paid director, a part time paid coordinator, two interns, ten art show coordinators representing 5 neighborhoods and the West End Baptist Church and countless committee members made up of Old Louisville residents.
To answer your statement “St. James court has sort of over shot it’s boundaries, don’t you think? Tell me what benefit the residents of any street in Old Louisville besides St. James Court get from that event?
In 1996, four Old Louisville Neighborhood Associations joined with St. James Court in a “Consortium” and now a Special Event Master Permit is acquired for 4 days to close this area to thru traffic. These neighborhood associations jointly created the Art Show Consortium so no, I don’t think St. James Court has overshot any boundaries.
As with anything, what you perceive as a benefits will be different from your neighbors. I can tell you what the money generated is used for and let you decide if it is a benefit. Let me reiterate that this art show is run 99% by volunteers that make decisions on how to spend this money. If you don’t like where the money is spent you can have a voice in it by attending any numerous monthly association meetings. Monies from the art show go towards:
* Contributions to purchase a bike and outfit Bicycle Patrol at Fourth Division Police Station
* $10,000 worth of scholarships to local High School Art Students
* Donations to Neighborhood Organizations; Cabbage Patch, Old Louisville Neighborhood Council, Kling Center, Salvation Army, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, Fourth District Boy Scout Troop
* Planting flowers in corner urns and in Linear Park
* Maintenance of gas lights, greens, streets & alleys
* Annual Cleanup on Oak Street, and Central Park
* Monthly payments to LG&E for the lease of under -tree period lighting
* Donations to the Filson Club for their capital improvement project
* Money for the Oak Street Charette project
* Historic street marker in the 1300 block of South Third Street
* Money to fund the Old Louisville Chamber of Commerce
* Clean ups before the Holiday House Tour and the Kentucky Derby
By enhancing this historical neighborhood using proceeds from the show, Old Louisville has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. This focuses attention and brings revenue into Louisville throughout the entire year, making the show a benefit to tourism and to visitors who can enjoy the beautifully-kept neighborhood. The first weekend of October has a direct economic impact of almost $7 million dollars on the metro area and the state of Kentucky, including $90,000 in local taxes and $500,000 in state taxes that would otherwise not have been spent in Kentucky.
The art show is produced by hard working volunteers that have a passion for a mission and that mission is to create the ultimate fundraiser to sustain their unique neighborhoods.
Margue Esrock
Director, St. James Court Art Show

BrightSide Fall Flower Shower
Your non-profit organization can help us keep Louisville in bloom! Brightside’s FlowerShower program, scheduled for September 21 & 22 at Wallitsch Nursery, provides flowers to non-profit organizations to plant on PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, such as easements or tree wells.
In order to participate in this program your organization you must be on the FlowerShower mailing list. To be added please contact MetroCall at 311 or 574-5000.
 

Prepare yourself,
St. James Court Art Show poster collectors!

Artist/Designer Sonny Whittle has been commissioned as the 2006 50th Anniversary St. James Court Art Show poster artist. Selected for his history with the show, Sonny created the first St. James Court Art Show poster 25 years ago. Sonny is a Louisville favorite and has created several Kentucky Derby posters, including their 50th Anniversary just last year. Sonny is currently involved in several significant Architectural Fine Art commissions. Completion of Whittles’ Village Studio in Crestwood is also underway and will add to the excitement.
Mayor Jerry Abramson will officially unveil the 2006 St. James Court Art Show poster on Friday, September 1, 2006, at the invitation-only kickoff event for the Art Show. The 50th Anniversary poster will be unveiled at 4:00 pm at Glassworks, 815 West Market Street. The event will be catered by the new Old Louisville café, Amici, 316 West Ormsby. Following the unveiling event, Glassworks will be open to the public at 5 pm for the 1st Friday Gallery Hop.
The 50th Anniversary poster will be on display for the public and Sonny will be available to sign posters for sale. You may also meet Sonny Whittle at the Art Show in booth SJ-228, directly west of the fountain. He will sign and number limited edition prints of the poster. This year’s show will be held October 6, 7, & 8, 2006.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit the Art Show web site www.stjamescourtartshow.com , or call Show Director, Margue Esrock. 502-635-1842.

Ghouls and Goblins Needed!

With the Halloween season fast approaching, the West St Catherine Neighborhood Association will need eager ghosts and helpers for its 3rd Annual Victorian Ghost Walk on October 28, 29 and 30. People who would like to volunteer as tour guides, “visions” or costumed interpreters will be given the necessary scripts and information (as well as complementary tickets). Please call David Domine at 502.718.2764 for more info or email at davidram13@iglou.com.
TourLouisville is also looking for tour guides (script provided) for its weekly “Ghost Tours of Old Louisville” that are attracting visitors from all parts of the country and from across the globe. If you would like to help, contact David using the telephone or email above.
In addition, all residents (and non-residents) of Old Louisville are invited to don their best Victorian apparel and costumes and stroll lovely gas-lit St James Court the three nights of the Victorian Ghost Walk. With the spread of the fame of Old Louisville’s haunted history, the Old Louisville Chamber of Commerce is promoting the idea of a “Gathering of the Spirits” fall festival that will attract history buffs and ghost fans to this unique American neighborhood.
 

The Phantoms are Here!

Old Louisville can now lay claim to the title as “the most haunted” neighborhood in the USA! Old Louisville author David Domine has announced publication of his latest book, PHANTOMS OF OLD  LOUISVILLE: Ghostly Tales from America’s Most Haunted Neighborhood.
This is the second in the GHOSTS OF OLD LOUISVILLE series and draws attention to the haunted history in the nation’s premier Victorian district. His first book, GHOSTS OF OLD LOUISVILLE: True Stories of Hauntings in America’s Largest Victorian Neighborhood (July 2005), is already in its third printing and has garnered praise from across the country.
To purchase your autographed copy of PHANTOMS OF OLD LOUISVILLE: Ghostly Tales from America’s Most Haunted Neighborhood, stop by the Visitors Center in Historic Old Louisville (502.637.2922) at 218 West Oak Street.
Watch the newspapers for a listing of a book signings and other related events. You may also check your favorite booksellers or contact McClanahan Publishing, P.O. Box 100, Kuttawa, Kentucky 42055 at 1.800.544.6959 or 270.388.9388 for a copy. www.kybooks.com/  Email: books@kybooks.com . For information on ghost tours of Old Louisville, call 502.637.2922 or go online at www.ghostsofoldlouisville.com. 

 

Upcoming Old Louisville Events - Save the dates!

**Now through mid October
Farmer’s Market
Wednesdays 3 :00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
Walnut Street Baptist Church Parking Lot, Third & St. Catherine
Saturdays 8:00 a.m. - noon or until sold out.
Corner of Preston & Breckinridge, Mayzeek Middle School
Sponsored by Farm Works.
These markets are not huge, selling only the freshest of the season, but it gives Old Louisvillians an opportunity to purchase farm fresh produce never available any more in local groceries. Fresh herbs/plants and flowers are also sold when available. The selection changes weekly.

**October 6-8, 2006
St. James Court Art Show
Enjoy the fall weather and wonderful art work from all over the country in one of the nation’s oldest, largest, and most prestigious open-air art shows: 10:00am-6:00pm Friday and Saturday, and until 5:00pm Sunday.
The St. James Court Art Show is a juried show with nearly 700 artists exhibiting throughout St. James and Belgravia Courts, Fountain Court, along Third, Fourth and Magnolia Streets. Come to the show rain or shine. As well as artwork and crafts, you’ll find plenty to eat and drink as well.

October 28, 2006
The first annual Spirit Ball
This is the Saturday before Halloween. The Spirit Ball will be a gala costume affair where guests can dance the night away in 19th-century elegance in one of the city’s most opulent mansions. In addition to music, dancing, prizes and a silent auction to benefit local causes, party goers will sample gourmet cuisine and expertly mixed cocktails as they take in the Victorian splendor of the lovely Conrad-Caldwell House on St. James Court. Tickets for first annual Spirit Ball cost $99.00 per person and include food and drinks provided by Brown-Forman. VIP passes including special access to the Spirit Lounge will start at $149.00 per person, and package deals with local B&Bs will also be available. Space is limited, so make reservations now! Call 502.637.2922!

October 27, 28 & 29 (Fri-Sun)
Victorian Ghost Tour
Sponsored by the West St Catherine Neighborhood Association, the walking tour is from 6:00-7:30 PM (every 15 minutes) and starts at The Rock at St James Court across from Central Park. Cost is $25 per person ($20 for advanced sales). Call the Old Louisville Information Center at 635-5244 for more info or tickets. Tickets can also be purchased at the start of the tour. Proceeds will help pay for period street lighting along St Catherine St.

**December 2-3, 2006
Old Louisville Holiday House Tour
Take a look inside eight of Old Louisville’s finest homes decorated for the holidays. Enjoy a “Taste of Old Louisville.” $20 advance purchase, $25 on the days of the tour. Tours 12:00 noon until 6:00 P.M. both days

Curbside Recycling

A recent drive to work through the neighborhood on my “recycling morning” saw very few of those orange recycling bins on the curbs and in the alleys of Old Louisville. Surely, we can all do a better job of recycling. All households within the Urban Services District in residential buildings with eight or fewer units are eligible for curbside recycling. This includes the neighborhood of Old Louisville.
An 18-gallon orange plastic container is provided by Metro Solid Waste Management Department to the property owner at no charge. Those residents who rent must request a bin through their landlord or may purchase a bin for $7.00. The orange bin must be used to set out recyclables. Non-recyclable material set out in a recycling bin will not be collected. To order a bin as a new homeowner, request a replacement, purchase a bin as a renter or purchase an additional bin, go to the website: www.louisvilleky.gov and find the recycling page on the sidebar of the homepage.
From the website: Curbside Collection Schedule
Recyclables are picked up on a once a week, Monday thru Friday schedule, on the same day that yard waste is collected. Different trucks collect yard waste and recyclables so they will not be picked up at the same time. To report a missed pickup after 6 PM, phone MetroCall at 311 or 574.5000. The same Holiday Collection Schedule applies as stated under Residential Garbage.
Curbside Collection Guidelines
Always use the recycling bin furnished even if additional containers are necessary for more items. The orange bin is the signal for the driver to stop, so items in other containers without the bins will not be collected.
The recycling bin must be set out by 6 AM on collection day - no earlier than 4 PM on the day before collection day.
The recycling bin must be promptly removed from the street or alley after collection.
The collection crew will not take items that are not included in the recycling program. A notice will probably be left in the bin explaining why some items were not collected. Phone MetroCall at 311 or 574.5000 if you have questions.
Flatten what you can. Use brown paper bags or a sturdy container of similar size to the recycling bin for extra items and place the bags or container beside the bin.
Condominium Recycling within the Urban Service District
Residents of condominiums may make arrangements for recycling through their condominium associations. If the association chooses to participate in this service, an authorized representative can request the service by calling MetroCall at 311 or 574.5000. Condo complexes are serviced once per week and materials are collected using specially marked 90-gallon totes. Go to the website for a list of Recyclable Materials.
For residents who live in multifamily housing not serviced by curbside recycling, there are 11 drop-off sites and 5 staffed locations throughout Metro Louisville.

 

 

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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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