Get on board for the New Cut Road Trolley Hop, beginning July 28

Saturday, July 28th brings a monthly opportunity to see and enjoy the best attractions in South and Southwest Louisville when the New Cut Road Trolley Hop kicks off its inaugural run.

“We are announcing an easy way to combine the fun of many events in our region with a convenient and economical way to spend a great day with family or friends,” says Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13). “This Trolley Hop is a first for our area and wonderful way to showcase some of the great places we know and love in the Southwest.”

On its inaugural run, the New Cut Road Trolley Hop leaves the Iroquois Amphitheater headed for the Jefferson Memorial Forest's Welcome Center. Along the way, there will be stops at the Little Loomhouse, Auburndale Village Shopping Center, the southwest corner of Third Street Road and New Cut Road; Outer Loop Center, northwest corner of New Cut Road and Outer Loop and the new Fairdale Library.

“Our kickoff coincides with the Kentucky Music Weekend at Iroquois Amphitheater which is a traditional event for the summer,” says Councilman Dan Johnson (D-21). “This event is a tradition for many people and the Trolley Hop will show people who may not come out to this area that we have some great attractions.” Metro Council members are providing the funding for the program.

Joining Welch and Johnson as sponsors are Rick Blackwell (D-12), Bob Henderson (D-14), Marianne Butler (D-15) and David Yates (D-25).

While the July Trolley Hop is being held in conjunction with the Kentucky Music Festival, in August the Trolley Hop will run in conjunction with "H.M.S. Pinafore," the classic Gilbert and Sullivan musical that will have a six-night run at the Amphitheater.

September's Hop will feature the Fairdale Community Fair.

October will highlight the Mayor's Healthy Hometown Hike at the Jefferson Memorial forest.

“This is another example of the Southwest members of the Metro Council working together and, in this case, promoting a growing area that is special and unique to us,” says Yates. 

For more information about the kickoff of the New Cut Road Trolley Hop, click HERE.

Yates and fellow SW Councilmembers invite residents out to discuss Dixie Highway Corridor Study

Councilman David Yates (D-25) is encouraging business owners along Dixie Highway and residents throughout South Louisville to come to a special public meeting on Monday, July 16th at the Southwest Government Center.

Council members Rick Blackwell (D-12) and Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13) are working with Yates to actively encourage residents of southwest Louisville to attend the meeting which seeks public comment as the Dixie Highway Corridor Study moves into its final phase.

The meeting is also an opportunity to see how the project is moving forward. “We have now arrived at the point where the consultants will soon begin finalizing their recommendations for the full length of this project, “says Yates. “We need to hear from the people who live, work and drive along Dixie Highway to ensure all hopes and concerns are addressed.”

Yates secured $52,000 in the 2011- 2012 budget to fund the planning initiative.

HNTB is the consultant firm on the project.

The Dixie Highway Corridor Study is an effort to revitalize one of the area’s busiest thoroughfares and continue to seek improvements for traffic flow, economic development and sustainability. “This study is critical if this area plans keep pace with others areas of Jefferson County,” says Blackwell. “We cannot neglect Dixie Highway if there is a way to improve it in the future.”

Joining Southwest Metro Council members at the meeting to answer questions will be Mayor Greg Fischer, State Representatives Joni Jenkins, Charles Miller, Dennis Horlander, Mike Nemes and State Senators Perry Clark and Dan Seum and Louisville Free Library Director Craig Buthod.

“It is crucial to this community to bring Dixie Highway into the 21st Century,” says Yates. “If anyone has a thought or idea on how to achieve that goal, they should attend this meeting.” The Southwest Government Center is located at 7219 Dixie Highway For more information, call Councilman Yates’ office at 574-1125

Free summer movies continue at Iroquois Amphitheater

“Moneyball” is this weekend’s free featured film at the Iroquois Amphitheater.

“We have a great film for the whole family and now that the heat has broken it will be a fabulous weekend to get out and enjoy a summer evening,” says Councilwoman Marianne Butler (D-15).

The 2011 film stars Brad Pitt and Phillip Seymour Hoffman in the story of the 2002 Oakland Athletics and how the team took a different approach to winning and broke an American League winning streak record.

The film begins at 8:30pm and is free to the public thanks to funding by several members of the Louisville Metro Council. Joining Butler as sponsors this year are Dan Johnson (D-21), Rick Blackwell (D-12), Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13), Mary C. Woolridge (D-3), David James (D-6), Jim King (D-10), Bob Henderson (D-14), Kelly Downard (R-16), Jon Ackerson (R-18) Robin Engel (R-22), David Yates (D-25) and Brent Ackerson (D-26).

“This is turning out to be a great year for the Amphitheater and Iroquois Park,” says Butler. “The community has given us a very positive response to this program and other events that are ongoing here.”

Here is the schedule of Free Summer Movies for the remainder of the summer:

July
Sat. July 14 Moneyball PG-13
Mon. July 16 The Magnificent Seven NR
Mon. July 23 The Secret Life of Bees PG-13
Mon. July 30 Raiders of the Lost Ark PG

August
Mon. Aug 6 The Princess Bride PG
Sat. Aug 11 Cars 2 G

September
Sat. Sept 8 Zookeeper PG

Concessions will be available. The Iroquois Amphitheater is located at 1080 Amphitheater Road, off New Cut Road. To learn more about events at the Iroquois Amphitheater go to: http://www.louisvilleky.gov/MetroParks/IroquoisAmphitheater/2012iroquoisamphitheaterschedule.htm

Neighborhood update- Summer solstice edition

- Dixie Highway Corridor Meeting: This meeting will be an opportunity for the public to see the process involved behind the development of the Dixie Highway Corridor Masterplan. All Southwest Louisville residents are invited to attend on Monday, July 16, 2012 6 p.m.at the Southwest Government Center, 7219 Dixie Highway.

- Crime alerts: In an effort to bring you the most up to date and graphically clear maps, LMPD has implemented a new mapping system to view crime in your neighborhood. Click here to view Division 3 Crime Maps and click here to view Division 7 Crime Maps. You can save these links in your favorites to view crime anytime – the maps are updated daily. Use the Quickfind tool to put your address in and subscribe to crime trends, alerts and block watch reports for your particular police beat.

- "Black Jacket Symphony Performs Led Zeppelin", concert at Iroquois Amphitheater, tickets $15, $25 and $30. June 23, 8pm.

 - Guided Hike at Waverly Park. Meet in playground parking lot. Free. June 29th 9am to noon.

Community Meeting to feature information about Mayoral Appointments to Boards and Commissions

WHAT: Dialogue on Appointments 

WHERE: Southwest Government Center 7219 Dixie Highway. 

WHEN: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 7 p.m.

Lori Hatton, Mayor's Office Director for Boards and Commissions, will be on hand to talk about the Appointment process and to give information to Southwest Residents about what traits and skills Mayor Fischer is looking for when making an appointment.

The Metro Boards and Commissions are vital pieces of our City government. The Southwest Members of the Metro Council are taking a more active role in recruiting applicants from the Southwest to serve.

Representatives from LMPD, IPL, MSD, and Congressman John Yarmuth's office will also be on hand to answer residents questions.

Guest Commentary on SW library noise

Robyn Clark-Burns of Valley Station has written to me about a subject that has been on her mind lately. I have edited it for clarity and am posting it here with her permission. If you would like to write a guest commentary, please contact me.

As recently as Saturday May 16, 2012, I spent a good part of my day at the local SW library by Wal-Mart and Radio Shack on Dixie Hwy. My air conditioning went out at home, so I decided to take advantage of some "free" cool air at the Library as well as reading a book and futzing around with my new Kindle Fire - and the Library offers "Free Wi-Fi" .. So a  few "Freebies" I latched onto while visiting.

Since I am not a "regular" library hanger outer.. I usually run in.. check the cork boards to see what is going on locally and browse the New Book Arrival and check to see if there are any free library seminars coming up, I grab my book I put on a request - via the website the LFPL has. Then, I leave.

Saturday was different. I was there longer than my normal visit. I found a comfy chair near where the magazines and newspapers are in the front of the place. I dragged out my 1000 page novel I was trying to get going on and relaxed.

In the door comes a few "non library" types. I just observed. I am and a people watcher and can tell who is a reader and a library connoisseur and who is not.

Here is my bitch:  What happened to being quiet in libraries?  I was sitting there reading my book and two "street peeps" plop down their dirty-clothed behinds on the chairs next to me and crack up a conversation. Not a quiet one, but loud and rude. I understand folks with no air conditioning on a 90 degree day want to take advantage of the cool air as I was doing, but c'mon! Loud bar-room banter in a library is just plain "out there".

I shushed them and the look I got was one that they wanted to bitch slap me, so I moved to another location near the PC's.

It was worse. Cell phones ringing off, people talking in their Bluetooth devices like they were schizos, chattering about shit that should not be said or heard in the library at all. Funny, the kids on the PC's and in the book reading areas were quiet as church mice. It was the friggin adults!  What happened to quiet libraries and courtesy to others who are there for learning, reading, thinking and just plain taking in the scent of books old and new.

I remember when I was younger in the school library or the public one, if you made a peep the librarian shot fire from her eyeballs at you so you did not make a sound. EVER! It was like a mind meld from Dr. Spock -via the scary librarian. DO NOT MAKE A SOUND OR YOU DIE!

Don't get me wrong. I love technology. Cell phones, tablets, PC 's etc.. but please, when there is a posted sign in an institution such as a library, please wake up! Have some courtesy for others and TURN OFF THOSE BLASTED ARTIFICIAL BODY PARTS YOU CALL SMART PHONES. Do you really need to chat up with your buddies on the phone while being in the library, disturbing the tranquility of the environment and others folks peace of mind while visiting?

The Librarian was not even paying attention to the racket going on.. That is another disturbing thing I observed also. What ever happened to the fiery eyeballs?

Thanks for reading, Robyn Clark-Burns