2013's "Movies Under the Stars" series set for Iroquois Amphitheater's 75th anniversary

The Louisville Metro Council has once again passed legislation approving local dollars for activities at Iroquois Amphitheater, a Metro Parks facility. The funds appropriated through the Neighborhood Development Funds allow Metro Parks to put on an outstanding season to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the amphitheater.

The facility was constructed in 1938 with WPA labor and was renovated in 2001. It is considered one of the jewels of the Louisville Metro Parks system.

The funding makes it possible for the return of the popular "Movies Under the Stars" series at the amphitheater. The series gets underway May 11th.

“The amphitheater is part of the history of this area and within walking distance of many neighborhoods,” says Councilman Dan Johnson (D-21). “It is important that we continue supporting it.”

Council members Marianne Butler (D-15), Vicki Welch (D-13), Dan Johnson (D-21) and David Yates (D-25) are joined again this year as sponsors in a bi-partisan effort by Council members Attica Scott (D-1), Rick Blackwell (D-12), Mary C. Woolridge (D-3), David James (D-6), Tina Ward-Pugh (D-9), Cindi Fowler (D- 14), Kelly Downard (R- 16), Robin Engel (R-22), Stuart Benson (R-20), Brent Ackerson (D-26), Tom Owen (D-8) and Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5).

The schedule for “Movies Under the Stars” is as follows:

*All movies begin at 8:30pm*

May 11 –Wreck It Ralph 
June 8 – Lincoln 
July 13 – Skyfall 
Aug. 24 – Rise of the Guardians
Sept. 14 – A Christmas Story 2 

Additional free movies are shown every Monday evening in June and July.

Visit www.iroquoisamphitheater.com for a full list of activities.

He's back: Hawkins to battle Thieneman in 37th district primary

Like a bad rash that won't go away, former Metro Councilman Doug Hawkins is back on the ballot.

Hawkins joins fellow Republicans Chris Thieneman and John Yuen in filing for the State Senate's recently-redrawn 37th district - a political hot potato that is being thrown around in Franklin County Circuit Court.

Incumbent Senator Perry Clark was drawn out of the district, and therefore is unable to retain his seat.

On the Democratic side, challengers include 21st District Metro Councilman Dan Johnson, attorney Robert Walker II and Democratic Party insider Steve Bittenbender.

Analysis: This should be an interesting race should all the candidates remain on the ballot. One item of particular interest is Chris Thieneman's current address. On the filing paperwork he submitted to the Secretary of State, Thieneman listed his address as 7650 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY 40258.

7650 Dixie Highway is the address for Fort Locks, a self-storage business of which Thieneman is listed as "manager".

Either Thieneman lives in a storage locker or something is wrong here.

Tan, rested and ready, Doug Hawkins tries to revive a dead political career by running in a race he's already lost. Hawkins was beaten by Perry Clark in a special election in 2006. The special election was ordered after it had been revealed the Republican winner had lied about her address.

The office of State Senate, like other state offices, has a residency requirement. For the Senate: "At the time of election, [the candidate] must be at least 30 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, resided in the State 6 years next preceding his election, and the last year thereof in the district for which he may be chosen."

There will be more on this contest next week as the new, extended filing deadline approaches and as more information on the candidates becomes available.

Dan Johnson's annual Town Hall meeting set for October 24

Councilman Dan Johnson is issuing the call to residents of District 21 that his annual Town Hall Meeting will be Monday, October 24th at 6:00 PM at the Olmsted North Academy in the Auditorium.

“My town hall meeting is a chance for everyone in the district to come out and let us know what your concerns are and if there is any other issue we need to know about,” says Johnson.

The Councilman will have MSD representatives on hand to discuss drainage issues in the district. Representatives of Louisville Metro Police will also be available to answer questions about criminal activity in the area. LMPD will also be able to take any complaints or concerns. Other areas of Metro Government have been invited to attend including Metro Parks, Public Works and IPL.

The Olmsted Academy North is located at 4530 Bellevue Avenue.

“I want to encourage residents of the district to come out and let us know what you are concerned about,” says Johnson. “There are many things government can do but sometimes we don’t always immediately know about a problem.”

For more information about the District 21 Town Hall meeting, contact Councilman Johnson’s office at 574-1121.

Valley Farms restarts construction; CM Johnson hunting for volunteers

- After the original owners lost the Valley Farms development to foreclosure in 2010, the new owners have obviously restarted the construction process. Photos are now posted on our Facebook page. Read the story of Renaissance Development's problems in 2010 at Insider Louisville. Valley Farms was supposed to be a mix of single-family homes, patio homes and apartments on several acres near the Valley Station Road /Deering Road intersection.

- Councilman Dan Johnson is looking for District 21 Volunteers for South Louisville Community Ministries. Are you free from 8:30am-12:30pm on Fridays? Do you like helping people, answering questions & speaking on the phone? Join SLCM’s crew of dedicated volunteer receptionists!

Or maybe you are interested in some weight-bearing exercises and have a heart for volunteering. South Louisville Community Ministries could use you either Monday mornings to restock shelves from 10am-11am or on the second Thursday of each month to unload the Dare to Care truck from 9:30am-11am.

If you are interested, call Kate at 361-7763.

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

The New Cut Road/Taylor Boulevard Corridor Design Workshop will be a fun and collaborative neighborhood event. 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.

From the Auburndale Neighborhood Group:

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.

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.

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!

Folk festival alert: It's Kentucky Music Weekend time

For the 36th consecutive year, this Friday and Saturday the Kentucky Music Weekend festival brings together some of the finest folk musicians and Kentucky traditions to the Iroquois Amphitheater and the tree-lined area nearby. Voted into law as Kentucky’s “Premier Folk Festival”, KMW continues to be one of the top folk festivals in the region.

Kentucky Music Weekend celebrates the rich musical traditions of our Commonwealth, keeping our folk heritage alive for future generations in the beautiful rolling hills of Iroquois Park.

No fee is charged for the festival, however, musicians are paid through donations made at the gate for the evening performances. Although there is a suggested donation of $10 for each evening concert, those who are unable to pay are still welcome.

What: Kentucky Music Weekend

Where: Amphitheater in Iroquois Park

When: Small stage events all day until 4:30PM Friday July 28 and Saturday July 30. Main stage concerts each night at 7:00PM in the Amphitheater

For more information visit www.kentuckymusicweekend.com

District 21 plans pickup of flood damaged items

From the office of Councilman Dan Johnson (D-21):

We have arranged for a special pick-up for flood damaged items from flooded basements. This collection will be only for flood damaged items and only on streets where residents have reported basement flooding to this office.
 
The special collection will be on Saturday July 2nd and is only for flood damaged items.

Have your items at your regular pick up location by 7:00AM Saturday morning. (If there is more than can be collected on Saturday the crews will return on Sunday to finish.)

Again, this Saturday’s collection is only for flood damaged items. If you have other junk items they will have to be set out with your regularly scheduled junk pick-up which is coming up in July or August in the Beechmont and Iroquois neighborhoods.

Information sought from District 21 residents on flooding

21st District Metro Councilman Dan Johnson's office is requesting information from residents on flooding in the wake of Wednesday's storms. Please reply with your answers to ray.manley@louisvilleky.gov

Frightening weather Wednesday evening resulted in numerous incidents of street and basement flooding. We are gathering information on the flooding to determine the extent of the problem. Please reply to this email and answer the following questions.

Please include your address so we can track the problem locations.

1. Did your street flood June 22nd?

2. If your street flooded how deep was it?

3. Did your basement flood June 22nd?

4. If your basement flooded how deep was the water in your basement?

5. If your basement flooded, was it because of surface water running in a door or window?

6. If your basement flooded was it because of water seeping in through your foundation?

7. If your basement flooded was it because of a sewer backing-up?

8. Do you have a MSD installed back-flow prevention valve?

9. Do you have a “sewer back-up” rider on your homeowners insurance policy?

Your answers will help us evaluate the level of flooding in District 21. Thanks for your cooperation.

Ray Manley

Legislative Assistant District 21

574-1121

Meet & Greet for new LMPD 3rd Division Commander

Councilman Dan Johnson invites you to a "Meet & Greet" for LMPD 3rd Division Commander, Major Kelly Jones:

Friday, Jan 14, 2011

9a.m.-10a.m.

SISTER BEAN’S Coffee House

5225 New Cut Road

Have a cup of coffee on Dan & welcome Major Jones to the neighborhood.

Dan Johnson holds coffee event for 21st District

Editor's note: Every metro council district in Southwest Louisville now holds monthly events for constituents except districts 14 and 25.

Metro Councilman Dan Johnson is once again inviting residents of District 21 to come out and join him for a cup of coffee on Saturday, October 30th beginning at 8:30am.

“Our last coffee get together saw very good turnout for those folks who would like to talk with me about a problem or concern,” says Johnson. “I said then we would continue to have this informal meeting as away to bring government to the people.”

The Councilman has invited members of the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Third Division to the gathering. It will be a chance to get to know the officers who patrol the District and learn more about crime prevention.

The event will take place at Sister Beans Coffee House at 5225 New Cut Rd.

“If you are a resident of District 21 the coffee is free,” says Johnson. “I want to encourage everyone to come by and if nothing else just say hi.”

For more information about the event, contact Councilman Johnson’s Office at 574-1121.

Friday Updates

- TRAFFIC ALERT: The Ironman Triathlon STREET CLOSING SCHEDULE - Southern Parkway will be CLOSED SUNDAY AUGUST 29TH from 12:30p.m. – 1:00a.m.

- The Beechmont Open Air Market will be open Saturday, August 28, 2010 8a.m.- 12noon at Southern Parkway & Wellington

- With summer winding down and school back in session, Councilman Rick Blackwell is offering residents of District 12 the chance to come out, have a cup of coffee and talk issues on Saturday, September 4th. This month’s event is being held at Starbucks, 6731 Dixie Highway just for September. The event begins at 10:00am. For more information, call 574-1112.

- State Senators Dan Seum and David Williams want to put Frankfort lawmakers in charge of Jefferson County's public schools. The same bunch that couldn't pass a budget now wants make rules for our schools. Just say no. Local control is where it's at. [CJ]