Wednesday Updates: VHS reunion, a council cockblock and SW Farmers Market

- Valley High School's class of 1981 is having a 30-year reunion, and today (Wednesday) is the deadline to RSVP. Click HERE for more information.

- They will be talking about fireworks and the city's attempt to cockblock a new state law that allows at the June "District 12 Dialogue", next Tuesday June 21. Major Connie Sparks, Fire Marshall of the Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Department is the invited guest for the event. She will discuss firework safety along with other topics relating to public safety and fire prevention. The meeting will be held at the Southwest Government Center, 7219 Dixie Highway and starts at 7:00pm.

- Riverside- The Farnsley Moremen Landing will hold three workshops on the creative use of herbs. Workshops are presented by Nola Lillie. All materials are provided. $5 each session or $10 if you register in advance for all three sessions. Call 935-6809 or e-mail info@riverside-landing.org

Sunday, July 31, 2PM. “Culinary Uses for Herbs” - teas, dressings and more!
Sunday, August 28, 2PM. “Herbal Cosmetics” - Bath salts, skin cream & more!

- Reminder: The Southwest Farmer’s Market is open in the north parking lot at Valley High School, Saturday mornings 9AM-1PM. Come out and support our local people who have booths at the market. Interested vendors can call Barbara Gagel at 447-6809. Senior vouchers, BBT, debit/credit cards and cash are all accepted.

Free clinics for homeowners

From Councilman Bob Henderson (D-14):

FREE CLINICS FOR HOMEOWNERS

There will be two free clinics to help homeowners address issues they face with delinquent property taxes, the Homestead Exemption or Disability Exemption (for those 65 or older or those on Social Security Disability in helping reduce the property taxes owed by exempting the first $34,000 of the assessed value of your property), consult a housing counselor about reverse mortgages or consult an attorney about at will.

Protect yourself from excessive fees and even foreclosure by coming to a FREE clinic. All unpaid property taxes will be offered for sale to private investors at an auction on July 21.

The clinics will be held on:

June 11, 2011

11am-1pm

Shively City Hall

3920 Dixie Highway

~~~~

June 21, 2011

11am-1pm

Northwest Neighborhood Place

4018 West Market Street



For more information about the clinics, please contact George Eklund at 502-618-5892

Economic development forum set for tonight at SW Gov't Center

- "Movies Under the Stars" at the Iroquois Amphitheater continues this Sunday, June 12th. This month’s movie is "Secretariat" and begins at 9pm. Concessions available.

- The Southwest Dream Team is hosting an Economic Development Forum tonight at the SW Government Center. Here's the info from the email I received:

Light refreshments start at 5:00 p.m with the Forum scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Mayor Fischer joins us along with Dan Jones from 21st Century Parks, Eileen Pickett from GLI, David Morris from the Economic Development Office and John Hollenbach, who is a developer in Metro Louisville. The other two panelists are Gant Hill, who is an area developer and Chuck Kavanaugh from the Home Builders Association.

We will be covering 5 topics in 15 minute intervals and plan on a lively discussion about the future of economic development in the South End and Southwest Louisville. Hope to see you there.

It doesn't look like any neighborhood activists or worker advocates are scheduled to participate.

Councilman Awesome to work for free as sign of shared sacrifice

Louisville Metro Councilman David Yates (D-25) has released a statement on his intent to participate in the mayor's voluntary furlough program. Yates plans to work for free for the week. Councilman Awesome?

"As families tighten their belts all across Southwest Louisville, I will take part in Mayor Fischer’s voluntary, week-long furlough program. The residents of District 25 should know that even though I will not be paid for it, I will still be working for them. Shared sacrifice of this kind helps ease budget concerns and helps us prevent massive layoffs and cuts in services."

UPDATE:Vicki Welch (D-13) and Rick Blackwell (D-12) have also released statements saying they and their staff will take part in the voluntary furlough. They will all continue to work without being paid.

Southwest Library Job Shop opens June 7th

Residents of District 14 and all of Southwest Louisville who are looking for a job now have a familiar resource at their disposal to help in the search. The Southwest Library is opening up a Job Shop on Tuesday, June 7th.

“The Southwest Library already is so important to residents in our area with its education programs for children and adults,” says Councilman Bob Henderson (D-14). “Now the branch is going one step further by offering its technical resources and assistance to unemployed members of our community.”

Henderson will join Mayor Greg Fischer on Tuesday, June 7th when the library opens its new Job Shop at 10:30am. The Job Shop provides computers, resources, trained staff and more than 600 square feet of space dedicated to job searching activities. The service is free and available to anyone during the operating hours of the branch.

“To someone who may not have access to a computer or the know how to search the internet for job openings, this can make a real difference,” says Henderson. “I am so pleased to see how our libraries adjust to helping the community.”

This is the second Job Shop operated by the Louisville Free Public Library. The first is located at the Main Branch on York Street.

For more information about the Southwest Library Job Shop, call the branch at 933-0029.

SW Louisville News Updates

- Quiet Zone News: The three CSX railroad crossings at National Turnpike, New Cut Road and Outer Loop (near 3rd St.) will become "quiet zones" beginning May 27 at midnight. Please watch for the lights.

- The Southwest Farmers Market is back on June 4th and is being relocated to the north parking lot of Valley High School due to the ongoing construction activity. From 9am to 1pm, you can buy locally grown fruits and vegetables along with other items made and grown in Kentucky. The SW Farmers Market is now accepting debit/EBT cards and senior vouchers. Let's welcome them back.

- The Southwest Dream Team will be celebrating the group's latest sign placement on May 25 at noon. The Michel Tire location at 10601 Dixie Hwy. now has a huge banner attached to the side of the building. The banner features places and people in SW Louisville.

Analysis: This is a huge banner on the back side of a tire place. An empty lot stands between the tire shop and the newly-opened Mortenson Family Dental. The empty gravel lot, formerly an old car wash, is what allows one to see the banner. Question: What happens when the empty lot between Michel Tire and Mortenson Dental is developed?

- National contract negotiations have formally opened for GE's union employees represented by the IUE-CWA in Louisville at Appliance Park. Employee health care benefits are under attack by the company, which made a multi-billion dollar tax-free profit last year. Keep these employees in your thoughts as negotiations progress.