Welcome to Southwest Louisville Magazine

There's a new entry in the virtual news world that is focused on our corner of the universe. "Southwest Louisville Magazine" is a new site that recently launched and is dedicated to news and discussion of events and happenings around the southwest.

Southwest Louisville Magazine joins an increasingly large web presence for our community. The more, the merrier. Stop by and check it out today.

New on the site right now is a petition against the recent opening of the Vendors Village flea market in the Dixie Valley Shopping Center. There is also a forum, classified ads and a restaurant directory with more to come.

Interesting feature: The site's content can be translated in over 20 languages.

Support this new venture in our community and participate today.

Center for Women and Families focus of next District 12 Dialogue

It is an important agency that deals with a serious problem in Metro Louisville: domestic violence. The important work of the Center for Women and Families will be the focus of November’s District 12 Dialogue hosted by Councilman Rick Blackwell (D-12).

“The Center offers refuge to women and their children who are in abusive relationships,” say Blackwell. “It is important to know how the Center works for our community to provide help and services to the victims of domestic violence.”

Marta Miranda, president and CEO of the Center for Women and Families, will be on hand to talk about their mission and the various programs offered.

“We are approaching a holiday time when the Center will be dealing with the potential of increased violence. I think it is important to not only understand what the Center does but how we can help,” says Blackwell.

Joining Councilman Blackwell will be representatives of other Metro Government agencies including MSD, Licensing and Permits and Louisville Metro Police. A representative of Congressman John Yarmuth’s office will also be on hand.

The November District 12 Dialogue will be held at Beechland Baptist Church, 4613 Greenwood Road beginning at 7:00pm. The District 12 Dialogue will take off for the month of December in honor of the holidays but will return with a new schedule of meetings in January 2012.

“I want to thank the agencies who helped us out this year by providing the people of District 12 with a better understanding of how different government services work,” says Blackwell. “My staff and I wish everyone a joyous holiday season and we will see you next year.”

For more information about the November District 12 Dialogue, contact Councilman Blackwell’s office at 574-1112.

District 25 grows under redistricting

In late October, the Metro Council unanimously approved new boundaries for all 26 Metro Council Districts. Redistricting is required every 10 years after the census data is released to ensure every district is evenly represented.

District 25 now includes portions for Auburndale, Iroquois Park, Pleasure Ridge Park and Valley Station.

The new District boundaries can be viewed here and a list of affected precincts can be found here.

If you don’t know what precinct you live in, please visit "MapIt" and enter your address. Your voting precinct will show up under the Political Information tab.

Represent SW Louisville on a board or commission

For years, I have urged residents of Southwest Louisville to be involved in their community by serving on city boards and commissions. I'd like to ask you all again today to take a look at donating some of your time so that we can be fairly represented on metro boards and commissions.

There is an online form you can fill out to be considered. The link appears below. You can pick a category so you don't get stuck on a board you don't like or a commission on which you have no interest.

Please consider doing this today.

Thanks for reading.

Link to serve on metro board or commission.

Heating assistance program begins Nov. 7

- Please join us Saturday, November 5th at 9:00am for the 4th annual Race to End Homelessness 5K. Race, walk or meander in Cherokee Park's Scenic Loop to help kick off National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week. To register or sponsor a friend go to www.racetoendhomelessness.org today. Pets welcome!

-  The LIHEAP Subsidy Program begins Monday, November 7, 2011. LIHEAP, the Low income Home Energy Assistance Program, helps income eligible residents of Jefferson County with their utility bills. Appointments are required to apply for this program and are being issued in person only. Beginning November 2-4, 2011, between 7 am – 4 pm, appointments can be made at the CAP office at the Urban Government Center only located at 810 Barret Avenue, Room 127.

Applicants need to bring the following documents when scheduling an appointment:

1) Picture ID
2) Most recent heating bill or verification from landlord, stating heating expenses included in rent.
Starting November 7, 2011, appointments will be scheduled at all three CAP offices daily from 8am to 5pm (no Friday appointments at the East Office), based on appointment availability. The LIHEAP offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 for Election Day.

Please click here to review the press please to learn more about the eligibility criteria and other details to apply.

Annual 3rd Division Block Watch Captains meeting, Nov. 3

From Councilman Bob Henderson (D-14):

Officer Todd Brimm recently transferred to the 3rd Division working as a patrol supervisor. He will be organizing a contact list of block watch leaders as he has done elsewhere in the city. The division is building an email distribution list, which allows officers to send residents information about suspects, crime trends, localized maps and other real-time crime information. Brimm says working with block watches is an easy way to “build strong areas of influence where residents are involved” which he said requires less city resources because officers are alerted by residents. Brimm says it requires more officers to patrol areas where residents don’t communicate with police. Residents in many south and southwestern neighborhoods have been able to build rapport with division officers, some of whom have given their cell phone number so they can be reached anytime.

Block watch members from Iroquois, Fairdale, and Pleasure Ridge Park and Valley Station areas along with those interested in starting block watches in their area are invited to the Metro Police 3rd Division’s first block watch captain’s meeting at 6:30pm, November 3rd at Southwest Government Center.

Block Watch Captains and Neighborhood Association Presidents, please RSVP with Sergeant Todd Brimm at todd.brimm@louisvilleky.gov