2011 Labor Day Weekend events: What to do, what to avoid

The coming weekend brings with it the worker's holiday, Labor Day, and there are many events happening around town. Here is a list of events you should consider. Please choose wisely, and remember the holiday for what it really is.

Respect hard work. Celebrate Labor Day.

- 12th Annual Labor Day Picnic & Car Show, sponsored by Greater Louisville United Labor. For union members and their families. Louisville Zoo. Monday, September 5th. Always well attended and always a great time. Celebrate the true meaning of Labor Day with your fellow union members at the Louisville Zoo and enjoy food, music and a car show all for a low price. Click the link to view the official flyer for this year's event (pdf). Contains admission and important parking information.

- Belle of Louisville Labor Day cruise. 4th Street Wharf. Monday, September 5th.

- WorldFest 2011 on the Belvedere. Friday, September 2nd through Sunday, September 4th.

There are a few other events being held this week and on Labor Day Weekend that do not deserve your consideration for various reasons. Here are the ones to avoid completely:

- Grand Opening of Vendors' Village Flea Market. Thursday, September 1st. Abandon all hope, ye who enter here...BOYCOTT THIS DUMP.

- Mayor's Hike, Bike & Paddle. Monday, September 5th. Tell the Mayor to end the practice of holding these events on important holiday weekends. Memorial Day belongs to our lost veterans. Labor Day belongs to workers. Pick another time or end them all together. 

 - The Kentucky Flea Market, Friday, September 2nd through Monday, September 5th. Kentucky Fair and Expo Center. Save yourself the $8 parking fee and find something worthwhile to do. Didn't they get enough of your money for parking during the State Fair? Dixie Highway is a Flea Market paradise full of free parking. Besides, don't you have enough of that junk already?

The Southwest Center : A community jewel, uncovered

Thank God for people like Dana Slucher.

Dana, a registered nurse, is Executive Director and the driving force behind the Southwest Center, located at 8009 Terry Road in Southwest Louisville.

If you have traveled Terry Road, odds are you have driven past the Southwest Center. What you may not know about it seems to be the best-kept secret in town.

But what do they do?

The Southwest Center is a non-profit organization that exists to provide support, work and independence to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Begun by a group of parents and caregivers in 1982, the Center has grown steadily and has positively affected the lives of its clients and the community at large. Some of the founders are still deeply involved with the Center.

Mark Lynch and I visited the Southwest Center on Monday to speak with Ms. Slucher about helping to promote their service to the community and got more than we had bargained for. The experience is one I wish each of you could enjoy for yourselves, because it speaks to all that is good and right with our part of town and puts on display the type of values for which Louisville should be known.

Dana and her professional, long-serving staff are upbeat, excited, friendly and compassionate. They believe in what they do. They probably accomplish more in one day at the Center than most of us accomplish in a lifetime, and they do it all with smiles.
And hope.

The Southwest Center brings independence to our friends and family with intellectual disabilities by offering the following services:

• On Site Employment: Clients are offered the opportunity to earn an income through contracts with local businesses as well as through the Center-owned "Handi-Craft Ceramics". Other opportunities include employment through the job shop which provides job development skills and job placement with on-going support to insure success. Several clients have obtained gainful employment at a fastener company in Riverport through an arrangement with the Center. Also offered: Bulk mail services, "goodie bags" and cleaning services.
• Handi-Craft Ceramics: This unique and wonderful retail ceramics shop is one of only a handful still operating in Louisville and features over 4000 designs. Handi-Craft Ceramics is located on site and is open to the community. See below for more information on how you can help.
• Transportation: The Southwest Center offers transportation to and from the facility and to medical appointments via a small fleet of specialized, accessible vehicles.
• Residential Services: Gives individuals the chance to live on their own with the assistance and supervision of highly trained staff.
• Adult Day Training: Allows clients to reach new levels of independence through learning daily living activities. The Adult Day Training program staff teaches skills like cooking, cleaning, money management and decision making through use of a mock apartment, complete with a functional kitchen. Individuals in the group are out traveling the community several days a week, accessing resources such as fitness and entertainment.
• Rental Hall: A competitively priced rental hall is ready to fill your needs for parties, receptions or business meetings for up to 200 people. The rental hall also gives the Center's clients the opportunity to learn how to set up for and clean up after events.

Although the majority of the Southwest Center's clients are from Southwest Louisville, individuals from all over town come to gain skills and enjoy the Center's many programs.

Fun fact: That toy or item encased in a plastic bubble you purchased from a vending machine may have been assembled at the Southwest Center.

Heather, a client at the Center, assisted us as "tour guide". She is a phenomenal success story and proves just what the Center can accomplish for someone with special needs. Vibrant and unique, she led the way in a joyful spirit not found in many other individuals you may encounter on a day-to-day basis. She currently lives in one of the Center's residential properties and has become quite independent. Heather was a real treat for us, and she warmed our hearts. Special thanks to you, Heather!

Throughout the Center, the walls are adorned with artwork produced by some of the Center's clients and the halls are full of genuinely happy people. In my line of work, you do not see that very often. I was struck by the generosity and pleasantness of everyone there and was genuinely moved by the experience. Therefore, I am asking each of you, to the extent possible, to help this charitable organization in every way you can.

A BBB-Accredited charity, the Southwest Center should be at the top of any community-conscious person's list when it comes time to donate to a great cause. But there are other ways to help as well.

If you have a business that has staffing needs, you can contact the Center. They will be glad to assist you, and you will be providing more than just a job to someone. You will be assisting someone seeking to improve their life and gain independence.

If you are a vendor looking for a way to give back, check into the Center's on-site ceramic shop (florists welcome) or inquire about the sub-assembly of toys or other items in the plastic bubbles for your vending machines, or inquire about the Center's bulk mailing or cleaning services

If you enjoy ceramics, there are many unique and beautiful pieces at Handi-Craft Ceramics. The entrance to the retail shop is in the rear of the Center and is open the following hours: Tuesday from 6pm to 9pm, Wednesday from 9am to 3pm, and Friday from 10am to 5pm. These are breathtaking items and are very reasonably priced. Please visit the shop and tell us what you think.

Funding for the Center comes through revenue generated from these sources as well as donations, fundraising, grants and Medicaid Waiver programs.

In all, the Southwest Center is a Louisville jewel, one we can all be proud of having and supporting.

You can tell a lot about our society by looking at the way we treat our most vulnerable. After our visit to the Southwest Center, I can say without reservation that Southwest Louisville is unmatched in it's dedication to our basic core principles: Compassion, dedication, charity, love, respect.


Check back with the Valley Report often for updates and special events happening at the Center in the coming months. You will not want to miss the annual car show on October 15th.Info on the car show can be obtained by contacting Linda Kepple at 502-937-0216.

You can find out more about the Southwest Center by calling 502-935-1848 or by visiting the soon-to-be launched website: www.swcky.org

If we had 10 more like Dana, our world would be a much better place to live.

*Photos of our visit are now live on the Valley Report Facebook page. Special thanks to Mark Lynch of Valley Station for accompanying me to the Center and taking photos.

This is a big deal: Southwest Greenways Public Meeting

Southwest Greenways Public Meeting this Tuesday!

When: August 30, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Fairdale Playtorium- 10616 West Manslick Road
What: Metro Parks is creating a master plan for a new trail system for southwestern Louisville called the Southwest Greenways. These trails will provide connections to existing and future segments of the Louisville Loop and offer area residents a healthier alternative for travel between neighborhoods, parks, shopping, schools and work. This system will accommodate pedestrians and cyclists while exploring new opportunities for equestrians, paddlers, and mountain bikers.

Your input is needed in this collaborative process! Please join us to learn about the status of this project and to provide ideas and feedback on potential routes. Join in the fun of planning your own community!
Questions? Please contact our office, or Carolyn Cromer, Project Manager at 456-8100.

*Thanks to CW Vicki Welch for providing this info

Weekend Events for August 26-28

The Kentucky State Fair is still going on, but if you're looking for something else, here are a few things to do in the southwest this weekend:

- Come on out tomorrow, Saturday Aug. 27, to Iroquois Park for the Sixth Annual Walk Away from Colon Cancer & 5K Run. Register online now for the early registration fee of $20! The event is a fundraiser for the Colon Cancer Prevention Project, a non-profit on a mission to end preventable colon cancer deaths and suffering.

- Also tomorrow, Southwest Community Ministries presents "FUN FEST" between 4:00 – 8:00pm at Incarnation Catholic Church – located at 2229 Lower Hunters Trace. This family event offers games, food, inflatables, entertainment, raffles and more. There will also be an auction and spaghetti dinner - $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children under 10 years old.

For additional information, you may call SWCM at 935-0310 for event details or to purchase dinner tickets in advance.

- Don't forget, the 2011 Southwest Community Festival will be soon upon us. Click the link for information on how to get involved, reserve a booth or just come out for a day of fun.

- On Sunday, a "Valley Station Get-Together" is being held at Sun Valley Park and gets underway at noon. You can RSVP by clicking HERE.

Group plans to "bombard" local eatery with customers

Wednesday, August 24th beginning at 7:00pm, you can take part in a unique and satisfying event that helps your locally-owned businesses and improves your community. 

In a series known as "Random Bombardment Night", a local group will be flooding selected local businesses with customers willing to spend a little money and have a good time. 

This week's choice is Nana's Country Kitchen at Lower Hunters Trace and Cane Run Road. HERE is a map.


The Facebook group "I AM Dixie Highway" has created "Random Bombardment Nights" in order to get people together and help out a south end business. That is a noble cause and one for which we can all be proud.


You may RSVP to this event by clicking HERE.

To learn more about the group or to join, please visit the link above to see the group's Facebook page. You don't have to join to take part in the event, and there are no mandatory fees or dues. You just need a willingness to participate in a good civic action and a desire to have fun.


It is recommended you RSVP through the event page so the staff at Nana's can accommodate what hopefully shall be an enormous crowd.


The group's first event at Valley Dairy Freeze attracted nearly 60 people and included three representatives of Louisville's Metro Council.


Hope to see you there.

Auburndale Neighborhood Association Supports Troops from LMPD

On Tuesday evening, August 23rd, the Auburndale Neighborhood Association will be collecting goods for LMPD officers who are deployed overseas. ANA will arrange transport of all items collected starting at 7PM at Kenwood Elementary School. Suggested items to donate include:

• Laundry Detergent (powder is the one that can be shipped)

•Gallon Size Resealable Plastic Bags

•Air Fresheners (no liquid or aerosols can be shipped)

•Coffee • Sweetened drink mixes

•Toaster pastries (Cherry and Strawberry)

•Oatmeal (Peaches and Cream/Apple Cinnamon)

•Mac n Cheese (instant ones that you only add hot water)

•Chewing gum 

•Chips

•Canned Cheese (again no aerosols) 

•Ramen or Cup of Noodles

•Summer Sausage and/or Slim Jims

•DVD movies and/or Music CD’s

•Sunflower Seeds, Trail Mix (remember the heat, chocolate will melt)

•New Magazines 

•Board/Travel Games

•Toothbrushes and/or Toothpaste (plastic tubes best for shipping) 

•Mouth Sprays/Breath Strips

•Granola Bars and/or Protein Bars

•Ear Swabs

•Pillows

UPDATED: Let us hope this is not our destiny. But it probably is.

The first video is a classic in local television commercial stupidity. Straight out of Alabama:



If that was not enough for you, check out this next entry. Straight out of Valley Station. The ultimate in embarrassing idiocy. May the Lord have mercy on us.

District 12 sponsors annual "Back to School Pool Party"

As a way to kick off a new school year, Councilman Rick Blackwell is hosting District 12’s Sixth Annual Back to School Pool Party on Friday, August 26th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Southwest YMCA.

“With a new school year just beginning, our pool party has been one way to let kids and their parents have some fun as we say good bye to summer,” says Blackwell.

The Southwest YMCA will open its doors for free swimming and there will be free pizza, drinks, swimming, bouncies, cookies and mad science. Drinks will be donated by Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market and cookies from Kellogg’s Snacks Louisville.

The Southwest YMCA is located at 2800 Fordhaven Road.

“While we want everyone to have some fun and enjoy themselves, this will also be a good time to find out about the many programs the YMCA has to offer for children and adults in the area,” says Blackwell.

For more information about District 12’s Annual Back to School Pool Party, contact Councilman Blackwell’s office at 574-1112. To learn more about the Southwest YMCA, call 502-933-9622.

Midweek headlines for SW Louisville

Photo by Mark Lynch

- There are now pictures of last night's "District 12 Dialogue" posted on our Facebook fan page. Special thanks to Mark Lynch of Valley Station for taking the photos.

- The animated classic “Toy Story 3” will be this week’s feature film for the District 5 Friday Night Outdoor Family Film Festival at Shawnee Park. The series will wrap up this year’s run with “Jumping the Broom” on Friday, August 26th

The film series provides free movies on Friday nights throughout the month of August.

“I am pleased with the turn out we have seen from the community with our films and we think these two features will be great fun for young and old alike,” says Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5) who is sponsoring the series.

Admission is free. The movies will be shown at the Shawnee Park Sports Complex beginning at dusk. The ball fields are located at Southwestern Parkway and West Market Street.

“You can bring a lawn chair or a blanket and then sit back in a nice surrounding and have some fun,” says Hamilton. “This is a chance to enjoy the last bit of summer.”

- The CJ has a nice story about actor and Valley High School alum Conrad Bachmann. Read it HERE.

- American Synthetic Rubber Corporation (ASRC) in Rubbertown has applied for a permit that would allow the company to eliminate use of the chemical toluene in their manufacturing process. The company is proposing to replace toluene with a combination of two less hazardous chemicals.

The proposed permit and all related documents can be found HERE.

The public is encouraged to learn about this permit application and is urged to send comments.Comment letters will be accepted until 5 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District, 850 Barret Ave., Louisville, Ky., 40204.

District 25 "Treasure Finders" needed

Do you have Southwest Louisville connections? You might find yourself to be a great Treasure Finder.

Councilman David Yates (D-25) has partnered with Kentucky State Treasurer Todd Hollenbach to recover an estimated $3.7 million in unclaimed property that’s owed to District 25 residents, and we need volunteer Treasure Finders to help us on Thursday, August 18 from 1 until 4 p.m. at the Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Headquarters at 9500 Stonestreet Rd.

Volunteer Treasurer Finders will call District 25 residents who have been identified as having $100 or more in unclaimed property and provide details on how the property can be claimed.

Please e-mail Nicole Candler at Nicole.Candler@louisvilleky.gov if you’d like to volunteer. Training, phone and other information will be provided. You may also learn more about this program at http://treasury.ky.gov/Treasure+Finders.htm.

Sunday hours return for Louisville Free Public Libraries

- Sunday library hours are back! The Louiville Free Public Library has brought back Sunday hours for all participating branches. The Main Library, Bon Air, Iroquois, Okolona, St. Matthews, and Southwest branches will re-open Sundays from 1 - 5 p.m. The Shawnee Library will also be open Sundays after renovations are completed. [The Local Weekly]

- Redistricting Update: The August "District 12 Dialogue" will be held on Tuesday, August 16th beginning at 7:00pm. This month it will be at the Southwest Government Center, 7219 Dixie Highway. Councilman Blackwell says, “I will be happy to discuss what we are looking at and the guidelines we must follow in order to comply with federal law. This is the first time we will review the boundary lines for the 26 Metro Council districts since merged government began operating.”

There will also be representatives of Louisville Metro Police, the Division of Licensing and Permits and MSD to answer questions about programs. A representative of Congressman John Yarmuth's office will also be in attendance. For more information about the August District 12 Dialogue, contact Councilman Blackwell’s office at 574-1112.

- District 21's Dan Johnson asks, "GOT STORM DEBRIS?" Metro Government’s Solid Waste Management Services will pick up tree limbs and other storm remnants from trees/bushes as follows:

Call MetroCall 311 to report storm debris being placed out for collection.

Debris should be placed at regular weekly set out point for yard waste. If the amount of debris is beyond the yard waste collection guidelines Solid Waste crews will get to it in time. Solid Waste crews will pickup systematically through MetroCall reports.

Right-of-Ways (ROWs) blocked by the storm’s damage will be a priority. Right-of-ways should not be blocked when setting out your storm debris!

Please be patient with the collection of debris (and all other yard waste) that is set out for pickup and please share this information with your family, friends, and neighbors.

New Cut Road/Taylor Boulevard Corridor Design Workshop Sept. 10

A message from the Auburndale Neighborhood Group:

New Cut Road/Taylor Boulevard Corridor Design Workshop - Sept. 10

See The Possible!

We invite you to join us.

Together, we can build a brighter future for the residents and businesses along the New Cut Road/Taylor Boulevard Corridor. Council members Welch (D-13), Butler (D-15), Johnson (D-21), and Yates (D-25) represent the area along the Corridor. They firmly believe that people who get involved in civic work and strive to be good neighbors can move mountains. That’s why we made the commitment to help sponsor a Community Design Workshop — a public meeting that invites everybody to be a part of making our neighborhood a better place to live.

The Design Workshop welcomes and encourages every citizen to participate in this visual depiction of your ideas. We want you to help choose community priorities and then work together to make grassroots change that creates the future we all want.

The New Cut Road/Taylor Boulevard Corridor Design Workshop will be fun and collaborative. The workshop will be held Saturday, September 10th at 9 a.m. Lynnhurst United Church of Christ at 4401 Taylor Boulevard. Refreshments will be provided by Metro Council members.

Let’s put our heads together for a better future!

Valley High School Renovation Update

Photo by Mark Lynch for The Valley Report

Progress is being made as the planned renovation and improvements at Valley High School continue. Demolition of current buildings is complete and the project has entered the construction phase.

The plan calls for $26 million in improvements to accommodate the Health and Medical Career Magnet program. There will be a new 3,200 seat arena with a walking track constructed on the site.  The arena will be made available to students of Valley High School and other area schools as well as community use. It will be quite an asset to the school and the entire southwest area.

The plan also includes several high-profile and much needed improvements to the science labs.

There will also be other improvements concerning the general appearance and maintenance of the school.

Valley High School has a long standing tradition in Southwest Louisville and is something the community is proud of and pleased to support. Check back for updates as the renovation progresses.

Any questions? Feel free to call Metro Councilman Bob Henderson (D-14) at 502-574-1114.

2011 Southwest Community Festival, October 8th

It's already mid-August, and before we know it we will be smack-dab in the middle of fall. So it is surely time to start talking about our annual Southwest Festival.

The 2011 Festival is being held October 8th at Sun Valley Park and promises to be the best one yet. This event grows each year and has become one of the largest, most exciting community festivals in the metro area.Yearly events include the car/bike show, arts and crafts booths, "Kids City", "Toddler Town", senior's tent, a spelling bee, the balloon glow, a golf scramble and the greatest pancake breakfast in town.

This year's 26th annual installment of the Southwest Community Festival, with your help, shall be the biggest and will showcase what Southwest Louisville has to offer. It is a celebration of our unique culture, our common bonds and our diversity.

To help sponsor the event or to reserve a booth click here.

To help spread the word among family and friends, RSVP to the event through facebook by clicking here.

The schedule for the 2011 Southwest Festival and all related information can be found at the organization's website, www.southwestfestival.org

Dixie Sears Essentials returning to K-Mart roots.

The Sears Essentials store on Dixie Highway is holding a clearance sale in preparation of a "remodeling". The remodeling will once again turn the store into a K-Mart.

The store started as a K-Mart years ago, before being converted into the now-failed Sears Essentials.

A sign inside the store states the new K-Mart will be opening in November 2011 and will feature some of the same items currently being sold under the Sears name, including the popular Craftsman tools and Die-Hard lines of merchandise.

PRP Neighborhood Fair this Saturday

PRP Neighborhood Fair this Saturday

Join Councilman Yates (D-25) at the PRP Neighborhood Fair on Saturday, August 13 from 1 until 4 p.m. at Ridgewood Baptist Church at 6209 Greenwood Road. Ice cream will be available along with an opportuntity to meet your LMPD and Fire Department representatives as well as those from the Louisville Office of Aging and local business associations. There will also be a backpack giveaway, so please make plans to attend.

"Da Vinci: The Genius" at the Frazier: A must see

" Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art."

- Leonardo Da Vinci-

If you are looking for one last interesting thing to do before wrapping up your summer, there's plenty to do right here in Louisville. But time is of the essence.

The Frazier History Museum, 829 W. Main Street, contains a dazzling array of beautiful and historic artifacts. But more than that, the fine folks at the Frazier also have the story behind the items.

One of the most intriguing exhibits in Louisville today is "Da Vinci: The Genius", running now through September 18 at the museum.

The 10,000 square-foot exhibition is the most comprehensive and complete collection traveling the world on a man who is considered to be the greatest genius of all time.

Da Vinci's mind was purely and astoundingly mathematical. It is hard to tell how such a man would be viewed in modern times. Merely walking through the exhibit was quite an experience.

"Da Vinci: The Genius" features a large array of full-scale machine inventions taken directly from his personal notebooks and also includes reproductions of his most famous artwork. These full-scale machines, some of them interactive, are breathtaking when you consider the timeline - these notes and drawings were made 500 years ago.

Among the machines: A glider, helicopter,parachute, tank, machine gun, a model of "the ideal city", SCUBA gear, and a movie camera.

There is also the world-exclusive "Secrets of Mona Lisa" and a high-definition recreation of The Last Supper.

The staff at the Frazier is professional, world-class and extremely helpful. As citizens of Louisville, we should all be proud of the work taking place there. It is a genuine treasure.

The feeling you get is hard to translate into words. So, see it for yourself. And see it soon before it is too late. This one is definitely worth the trip downtown. Suitable for all ages.

Admission fees: 15 and older are $18.50, children 5-14 are $7, children under 4 are free. Frazier History Museum hours are Monday through Saturday, 9am to 5pm and Sunday noon to 5pm. For more information, visit www.fraziermuseum.org or call 502-753-5663.

End of summer SW Business roundup

It's been another tough year for Southwest Louisville business. We have seen several high-profile closings and the end of some long-time local favorites. Here are the latest items relating to our SW business community. If you have any to add, please contact us.

- The Old Louisville Coffeehouse, formerly located at 4th and Hill, is now open at it’s new location at 4956 Manslick Road (Sister Beans old location). Open 7days a week from 6am-9pm featuring free music on weekends.Café style setting with great free group meeting space accommodating up to 60 people.

Owners Pamela and Robert Campbell invite you to come see for yourself.

For more information please call 502-364-0053 or email at pscampbell93@bellsouth.net

*Thanks to Bob Henderson (D-14) for this info*

- PRP Pizza is now open in the space formerly occupied by the 19th Hole Pub on Greenwood Road.

- The Valley Station Sonic Drive-In restaurant is closed. Rumors of a "remodeling" seem to be greatly exaggerated.

-  The August meeting of the PRP Area Business Association will be held August 18 at the Shively Community Center. Event begins at 11:30am and will feature Mayor Greg Fisher.

"Jobs Not Cuts": Crowd calls for "New" New Deal

Several dozen protesters gathered at the federal courthouse at 6th & Broadway Wednesday to deliver a "Contract for the American Dream" to U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell. The "contract", written by over 125,000 Americans, is a plan to create jobs rather than destroy them through budget cuts.

After delivering the message -which will be ignored by McConnell- the protesters marched down to the state unemployment office chanting "Jobs not cuts!".

The event, staged by Move on.org, raised a good point. We should be focusing on job creation instead of slashing programs that help the middle class and poor people. This country asks nothing from its millionaires or corporations and places the burden squarely on the shoulders of those who can least afford it.

Much attention was given to the nation's crumbling infrastructure and the jobs that would be created by fixing it, but sadly, everyone seems to have forgotten about the WPA and the New Deal. Except these guys:

Have any money in the bank? It's FDIC insured, thanks to the New Deal. Ever get an FHA home loan? Is anyone in your family collecting Social Security? That's all New Deal territory.

Full employment is a goal we should set. A major result of full employment at high wages is a sharp, permanent decrease in the level of income inequality.

That's what created the middle class. And that's good for America.

Wednesday Update: Construction, coffee, council districts and cinema

- As most of you know, Valley Station Road has been closed at the railroad tracks for a few days due to rail repairs. The road is scheduled to reopen tomorrow, August 11th, and will once again allow access to Dixie Highway from Valley Station Road.

- Coffee With Your Councilwoman, this Saturday, August 13th will feature a guest from the Legal Aid Society answering questions and addressing concerns on foreclosure. From Councilwoman Welch:

Come join us at First String Family Sports Grill at 9AM this Saturday. Our special guest will be Andrea Hunt from the Legal Aid Society who can talk with you about foreclosures and general Legal Aid resources. Lots of fresh hot FREE coffee with breakfast available at a reasonable cost.

- Redistricting news: As a result of 2010 census, the 26 Louisville Metro Council districts must be redrawn. Councilman Rick Blackwell (D-12) chairs the redistricting committee. At Councilman Blackwell's next District 12 Dialogue, redistricting will be the main topic. Please join all four Southwest area Council members August 16th at 7PM at the Southwest Government Center to talk about this important issue.

- The Iroquois Amphitheater "Movies Under The Stars" series continues this Sunday, August 14th. "Shrek: Forever After" is FREE and begins at 8pm.

Southwest Community Ministries to celebrate new headquarters

Southwest Community Ministries will begin preparations for a new home on Monday, August 8th. The non-profit group will celebrate its purchase of property for a new headquarters on Terry Road.

Council Members Rick Blackwell (D-12), Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13), Bob Henderson (D-14) and David Yates (D-25) along with Charles Price President and CEO of Charah, Lynda Fortner-Evans of Evans Construction, Mill Creek Generating Station, CEMEX, (Kosmos Cement Company) and P&L Railroad will join SWCM officials for the event. Each of these organizations is playing a major role in fundraising for the purchase of the new headquarters.

The celebration will be at 10:30am at 8504 and 8506 Terry Road, formerly part of the Pleasure Ridge Park Fire District.

HOT! Booth spaces for 2011 Southwest Festival going fast!

Booth spaces are going fast for the 2011 Southwest Festival held on Saturday, Oct 8th at Sun Valley Park.

Applications are available at www.southwestfestival.org or by contacting Ray Crider, Booth Chairman at 502-368-1196.

Support our festival! Your participation keeps the event a continued success!

Weekend events in southwest Louisville

Iroquois Amphitheater Presents:

"Once upon a mattress"

A play written as an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale ‘The Princess and the Pea’.

August 5-7 & 11-13

8 p.m.

Tickets: $15 or $10 for Seniors and Students

Group Rates are available.

Seating is general admission.

Performance is acceptable for all ages.

Or order tickets by phone by calling Ticketfly at:

(877) 435-9849.

M-F 10am-9pm EST

Sat & Sun 1pm-9pm EST

(There is a $1 handling fee on phone orders)

Beechmont Open Air Market

Beechmont Open Air Market is a KY Proud Market

Saturday

8a.m.-Noon

Southern Parkway at Wellington

Iroquois Amphitheater’s Monday Free Movie Night

August 8th, 2011

8p.m.

Inception (PG-13)

* No food or drink is allowed to be brought to Movie Nights.

However, food and drink will be available at the concession stand. Cash Only.

Crime Alert:

Metropolitan Sewer District Thefts

MSD has been experiencing metal thefts from grates or basins in recent months; these are the grates that you find on the side of the road that capture the water running down the curb.
The only people that should be working on these grates or basins are uniformed MSD employees, most likely with a marked MSD vehicle.

The thefts for July alone have totaled $6,406 city-wide.

If a citizen has any question as to the legitimacy of a person’s activities, contact LMPD immediately or they may contact MSD at 587-0603 (24 hours a day). Their security staff is on-call and willing to respond if needed.

Southwest Community Ministries Fun Fest

Saturday, August 27th, 2011 from 4pm-8pm

Incarnation Catholic Church

2229 Lower Hunters Trace

Louisville, KY 40216

Join the Ministries for family fun, a spaghetti dinner, entertainment and lots of fun things to do including a Live & Silent Auction.

Your help is needed for both events. A cleanup of the new property is underway. If you would like to volunteer to paint, clean, hang drywall, install insulation or just help in anyway, please call 935-0310. We will put you to work!!!!

If you would like to help with the FUN FEST, we can use Gift Baskets for the auctions or a big item like a time share weekend or maybe Gift Certificates or other cool items that can be combined in the gift baskets. Please call 935-0310 or email at Collins.gayle@gmail.com