Get your yoga on: Supreme Peace Yoga sponsors free community class

Yoga is the world's oldest spiritual discipline and has recently exploded in popularity all over the United States. It is an activity that has been practiced for thousands of years, and it is something that has evolved and changed over time. Different factions of yoga have developed since its conception, and today's Yoga aims to manage stress, stretch, and strengthen the body through various poses.

In Louisville, yoga studios were mostly confined to east side neighborhoods until 2011.

On February 23, Supreme Peace Yoga celebrated its second anniversary in the Beechmont neighborhood. Southwest Louisville's only yoga studio, Supreme Peace welcomes both newcomers and veterans by offering classes at all levels.

This Saturday, March 2nd, Supreme Peace Yoga will hold a FREE Community Yoga Class in the basement of the Iroquois branch of the Louisville Free Public Library from 11am to 12pm. You can click HERE for the event's Facebook listing to RSVP.

For more information on Supreme Peace Yoga, visit their website HERE or call 502-644-5796. You can also drop by the studio, located at 808 W. Ashland Avenue.

Thanks for supporting this unique and locally-owned business in our end of town.

“Coffee with your Councilman” this Saturday

Councilman Rick Blackwell will host the next “Coffee with your Councilman” for residents of District 12 on Saturday, March 2^nd. 

The event is a chance for residents to meet with their Councilman. 
            
 It will take place at Sister Beans Coffeehouse, 5225 New Cut Road from 10:00am to 12:00pm. There is no formal program and no need to sign up, just stop by and talk with the Councilman about any issue or concern you may have for the district.

For more information about the March “Coffee with your Councilman”, contact Councilman Blackwell’s office at 574-1112.

Councilman Yates talks about new SW library

Metro Councilman David Yates (D-25) has issued a statement on the new SW Regional Library scheduled for construction this year. His remarks are included below. To see what the library will look like, click HERE.

On Monday, February 4th, Mayor Greg Fischer, Library Director Craig Buthod, and the design team celebrated the unveiling of the design for the new Southwest Regional Library. This 40,000 square foot state-of-the-art Southwest Regional Library will be located in the 9900 block of Dixie Highway next to Meijer.

Groundbreaking will occur in May and the grand opening will be Summer 2014.

At more than twice the size of the current branch, this new resource library will enhance service for nearly 100,000 people in southwestern Jefferson County. Filled with new books and cutting edge technology, the library will also be a community anchor where librarians will help families, children and adults access tools to improve their lives.  It will be a destination where community members gather to share ideas.  It will be a place that encourages learning and inspires the imagination. Here are just a few of the exciting features you asked for the in new Southwest Library:

• Community Meeting Rooms-A central meeting room accommodating groups as large as 100, a smaller meeting area for groups up to 45 people.

• Glass-enclosed study rooms.

• A large Children’s Library

• More Books-100,000 more then current SW Branch location.

• “Green “ Eco-friendly design, with State-of –the-art technology-More computers for all ages, 

• Touch-screen and self-check out.

• A dedicated teen library, and plenty of, cozy places to read.

It's back: Free VITA tax service resumes at Sun Valley

It is a program that has returned millions of dollars to thousands of low income families in Metro Louisville and this Thursday, January 31^th the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program will return to the Sun Valley Community Center.
 
“For five years now, VITA has been a free and valuable service to many area families,” says Councilwoman Cindi Fowler (D-14). “As we begin this sixth year, the goal is to help as many people maximize their returns, including the Earned Income Tax Credit.”
            
The purpose of the V.I.T.A. program is to offer free tax preparation to persons making $50,000 or less. Over the years, volunteers have been able to find deductions to help families receive better tax returns when filing their federal income taxes, returning much needed money back into the area.
            
 The V.I.T.A. operation at the Sun Valley Community Center will begin on Thursday. The Community Center will offer the assistance Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturday until April 13^th, 2013. 

The Hours of operations are as follows:
Tuesdays 9:30am to 4:00pm
Wednesdays 9:30am to 7:00pm
Thursdays 9:30am to 7:00pm
Saturdays 10:30am to 1:30pm

Participants need to make sure they bring all pertinent tax information as well as a Social Security card and photo ID.

The Louisville Asset Building Coalition has offered VITA at the Sun Valley Community Center since 2008. Every year the number of volunteers and those taking advantage of the service continues to grow.
    
“Many families are still struggling as the economy continues to slowly improve. Everyone can use some extra help from time to time and in this case it’s free,” says Fowler.
           
The Sun Valley Community Center is located at 6505 Bethany Lane.
            
For more information about the V.I.T.A. programs, contact Councilwoman Fowler’s office at 574-1114 or call 292-6230.

SW Louisville well represented on council committees

The Louisville Metro Council's committee assignments for 2013 are now complete, and Southwest Louisville is well represented. Of 18 regular and ad-hoc committees, eight are chaired or co-chaired by a representative from the southwest.

Newly elected Councilwoman Cindi Fowler (D-14) has been appointed co-chair of the Community Affairs committee and landed spots on the Public Works, Bridges and Transportation Committee and the Committee on Sustainability.

David Yates (D-25) is now chairperson of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee and co-chair of Public Safety. Yates also will serve on the Planning/Zoning committee.

Vicki Welch (D-13) is chairperson of the Committee on Health, Education and Housing.

Of the 11 members of the Budget Committee, four are from the south or southwest area.

To see the complete listing of committees and members, click HERE.

Register now for Neighborhood Institute Spring 2013

The Center For Neighborhoods has launched the Neighborhood Institute for Spring 2013.

It will be held at New Directions Housing Corp. (1000 East Liberty Street) January 29th - April 16th. The Institute is held every Tuesday for 12 consecutive weeks from 6:00-8:30pm and dinner is provided each week. 

The Neighborhood Institute Spring 2013 is open to all neighborhoods, Metro Council Districts and the whole community. 

To register for the 12-week program, contact Lisa at 502.589.0343 or lisad@centerforneighborhoods.org. 

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About The Neighborhood Institute:

Begun in 1987, the Neighborhood Institute is a comprehensive leadership program designed to provide neighborhood leaders with the skills and understandings necessary to lead effective neighborhood organizations.  The Institute is conducted as a twelve-week seminar twice each year.   

The Center For Neighborhoods (formerly the Louisville Community Design Center) envisions a community driven by an array of lively civic institutions working in partnership with local government and one another to create sound neighborhoods and community. The purpose is to empower citizens and citizen-based institutions to have an effective role in making their neighborhoods good, decent, and attractive places to live. Continuing 33 years of work, the Center For Neighborhoods pursues its mission and fundamental purpose through leadership education, through community planning, and by assisting neighborhood-based development and improvement.