2014 WATERFRONT HERITAGE WALKS FREE TO PUBLIC COURTESY OF EVAN WILLIAMS BOURBON EXPERIENCE
A sponsorship by Evan Williams Bourbon Experience has made it possible to once again offer a free summer series of Waterfront Heritage Walks in Waterfront Park. Local historian Rick Bell will lead the tours, which will be offered the last weekend of May, June, July and September. For each tour weekend, the Saturday morning walk will take place on the Big Four Bridge and the Sunday afternoon walk will explore Waterfront Park. Each tour is approximately 1.5 miles in length. The first weekend of tours is scheduled for Saturday, May 24th, 10:00-11:30 a.m., and Sunday, May 25th, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
The Saturday tours will feature Bell’s exploration of the history of the Big Four Bridge from its days as an important carrier of freight and passenger trains to its current incarnation as a pedestrian/bicycle path. The Saturday tours will start at the top of the ramp to the bridge, proceed across the bridge and back, for a total distance of approximately 1.5 miles. Please remember that pets are not allowed on the bridge.
Sunday tours will explore the history of Louisville’s riverfront and the development of today’s acclaimed Waterfront Park. The Sunday tours will begin at the Belle of Louisville’s landing at the Fourth Street wharf and end at the base of the Big Four Bridge, a round-trip distance of approximately 1.5 miles. Bell will describe the riverfront’s importance to the growth of Louisville from its founding during the American Revolution, through its glory days during the Steamboat Era, to its renaissance as one of the world’s most successful maritime recreational parks.
Remaining tour dates for the 2014 season are: June 28 & 29, July 26 & 27, and September 27 & 28. Saturday tours are from 10:00-11:30 a.m. and Sunday tours are from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes and bring drinking water and sunscreen. Paid parking is available in the Blue Lot (Wharf); parking in other parts of the park is free.
Sunday tour participants will have an opportunity to purchase Bell’s book from the Belle of Louisville gift shop and have it signed at the end of the tour. More details and a link to a park map are available at www.louisvillewaterfront.com/events.
Located on Louisville’s historic “Whiskey Row,” the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience features an artisanal distillery, tours, tastings, and more! Celebrating the legacy of Evan Williams, Kentucky’s first commercial distiller, this immersive experience brings to life the history and tradition of Kentucky’s native spirit.
An accomplished historian, lecturer and author, Rick Bell believes that history is best appreciated when shared. He shares his knowledge and experience by presenting illustrated lectures, guiding custom tours, and writing books and articles about Louisville history and heritage. He is the author of several books, including “The Great Flood of 1937” and “Louisville’s Waterfront Park: A Riverfront Renaissance,” available through Butler Books. For the past five summers, Bell has conducted monthly heritage walking tours for the Waterfront Development Corporation which examine the history of Waterfront Park and the Big Four Bridge.
High School Student Up for National Award for Humanitarian Work
Emma Rider, a junior at Sussex Tech High School in Delaware, is a finalist for the national Lead 360 Challenge for her tireless work to support WaterStep, a nonprofit organization that works to save lives with safe water around the world. Emma has collected more than 80,000 pairs of shoes over the last 3 ½ years through Quenching Soles, the teenager’s expanding Shoes for Water project. The funds from the sale of these shoes have generated enough money to purchase 40 WaterStep chlorinators, bringing safe water to more than 400,000 people.
Once the used shoes are donated to WaterStep, they are sold to an exporter and repurposed so that people in developing countries can have affordable shoes that protect their feet from foot abrasions, parasites and mites. WaterStep uses the funds from the sale of the shoes to provide safe drinking water purification systems to third world communities and disaster areas worldwide. In addition to installing the purification systems, WaterStep works to train the local people on how to diagnose their water problems, how to operate the purification systems and repair broken hand pumps, and how to implement effective health and hygiene practices. WaterStep collects on average 30,000 pounds of shoes each month, so that’s 30,000 pounds of waste that is kept from going into our landfills.
Emma’s work with WaterStep has already earned her the Governor’s Youth Service Award and the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. The public can help her win the Lead 360 Challenge by voting for her Quenching Soles project, now through May 21st, at https://lead360.jeffersonawards.org/challenge/quenching-souls.
Lead 360 Challenge is sponsored by the Jefferson Awards. Judges will choose the top five winners from across the nation by counting votes from the general public. The winning project will go to the Super Bowl in 2015. The second place winner will go on a two-week mission trip somewhere around the world such as Costa Rica, India, Thailand or Fiji. Emma would love to win first place in order to bring awareness to the world’s water crisis.
For more information, call 502.568.6342 or visit www.waterstep.org.
The Cabbage Patch offers golfers the last opportunity to play Valhalla in a charity event before the 2014 PGA championship
On Monday, July 7 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Cabbage Patch Settlement House will host its annual invitational golf tournament benefiting Louisville’s at-risk children and families. The 2014 Cabbage Patch Invitational Golf Tournament offers a chance for golfers to play the scenic Valhalla Golf Club before the venue hosts the 2014 PGA Championship in August. Player fees for the tournament range from $1,625 for one player to $6,500 for a team of four, and dinner and cocktails are included. All but $500 of the fee paid is tax deductible. The tournament is limited to 32 teams, so reserve your spot early! Players can sign up at http://cabbagepatch.org/special-events/golf/.
Proceeds from the event will benefit The Patch’s Educational Opportunities and Recreation/Youth Development Programs where at-risk children receive:
Structured educational programs designed to help students achieve their highest academic potential.
Supervised Homework Helper, tutoring, computer training, scholarships and college visits.
Athletics, camps and dozens of other recreational programs, year-round.
For those who cannot participate in the 2014 Cabbage Patch Invitational Golf Tournament but would like to support our mission, volunteer and donation opportunities are detailed at www.cabbagepatch.org.
Consistent sponsors of this event include: CMTA Inc., Fishmarket Seafoods, Inc., Independent II, LLC, KFI Seating, Papercone Corporation, Premier Packaging and System Parking.
Food Network Star Damaris Phillips to Judge Cooking Competition at Buy Local Fair
Damaris Phillips, Food Network Star and southern spitfire from Louisville, will join Anthony Lamas of Seviche, Coby Ming of Harvest, and Foodie Girl herself Lindsey McClave as a judge of the 2014 Buy Local Fair Cooking Competition. Defending champion Joe Benet from RYE on Market will take on Rising Star Award winner Annie Petry from Decca in this year’s Iron Chef-style cooking competition. The two restaurants will have a live cook-off and present a panel of judges with their creation on Sunday, May 18th at 4:00p at the Louisville Water Tower, 3005 River Road.
The Louisville Independent Business Alliance (LIBA) will host the 6th Annual Buy Local Fair on Sunday, May 18th at The Water Tower Park, 3005 River Road, from 12:00pm – 6:00pm.Admission is free and parking is $5 per vehicle, or free for bicycle parking.
This year’s fair has expanded to include over 170 booths showcasing goods and services from a variety of local businesses, artists, community organizations, and farmers. The event will also feature a craft beer tent sponsored by ValuMarket featuring beers from the Kentucky Guild of Brewers, a raffle area, a farmers market, many creative artisans, an H2O Kids Zone sponsored by Louisville Water, and live entertainment from area Zumba instructors and bands including Bookshelf, Karston Nelson, Small Time Napoleon, and Field of Kings.
The mission of the Buy Local Fair is to provide a venue that fosters cooperation, cross-pollination and strength in numbers for locally-owned, independent entities. By bringing together customers of various businesses, farms, craftspeople and bands unique to the Louisville-area, we expose a variety of endeavors to new audiences and increase business for all.
The 2014 Buy Local Fair Sponsors are Louisville Metro Council, Amish Hills Furniture, Eclipse Bank, Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Markets, Stock Yards Bank, Streamline Payment Processing, Carmichael’s Bookstore, Louisville Label, Dine Company, Heaven Hill Distilleries, VO2 Multisport, The Plant Kingdom, Louisville Stoneware, M2-Maximum Media, Scott of All Trades, Oak St. Production Group, ValuMarket, LEO Weekly, Louisville Water, Louisville Magazine, Louisville.com, Maloney Outdoor Advertising, and Louisville Public Media.
Iron Chef Style Cook-Off Will Highlight Rainbow Blossom’s Annual Farmers Market Celebration
Rainbow Blossom will host its Annual Farmers Market Celebration on Sunday, June 1 at the St Matthews Market, 3738 Lexington Rd. from 12 Noon to 4pm. Highlighting the event will be an Iron Chef style competition between Anthony Lamas from Seviche and Bobby Benjamin from LaCoop beginning at 3 p.m. with judging at 4 p.m. The chefs will prepare a meal using fresh, local ingredients purchased from the day’s market. The winning meal will be chosen based on taste, originality, healthiness, and the “can I make this at home?” factor.
This celebration event will mark the official launch of the 2014 Farmers Market held each Sunday at Rainbow Blossom St. Matthews which hosts local farmers and food artisans who bring the best in just-picked produce, pastured meats, fresh eggs, baked goods, preserves and ready to eat items. Local artisans also exhibit handmade jewelry, ceramics and more. In addition to the regular weekly vendors, the Farmer’s Market Celebration will include guest vendors from food trucks to artisans to educational opportunities to live music.
A Local Teen Wins National Science Award
Sanjana J. Rane, duPont Manual High School, Louisville, KY, won 2nd place awards at the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force sponsored 52nd National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), held April 23-27, 2014, in Washington, D.C.
Rane competed in the national symposium with a research project on Effects of the Environmental Pollutant Acrylic Aldehyde on Renal Fibrosis. He was awarded an $8,000 undergraduate, tuition scholarship in the category of Medicine & health. A tri-service panel of judges reviewed the students written papers and heard their oral presentations delivered at National JSHS. Winners were selected based upon the quality of their experimentation, understanding of the research, and contribution to the field. .
Rane progressed to the national symposium after competing in the Kentucky Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, sponsored by University of Louisville. Rane advanced to National JSHS competition among some 8,000 high school students nationwide and competed among the top 96 students representing each of the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the DoD Dependents Schools of Europe and the Pacific.
The National JSHS Program is a tri-service sponsored effort aimed at encouraging and recognizing the next generation of scientific talent. Sponsors include: Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics & Technology); Office of Naval Research, Arlington, VA; and Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Washington, DC., in cooperation with higher education.
The National Junior Science and Humanities Symposia (JSHS) Program is administered by the Academy of Applied Science, a non-profit educational organization located in Concord, New Hampshire. The military and university sponsorship of JSHS serves to support and encourage these talented youth to become our nation’s future scientific leaders and innovators through scholarships and recognition for outstanding achievement.
The LVAA’s Children’s Fine Art Classes program chosen as finalist for the 2014 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award
The Louisville Visual Art Association has been chosen for recognition as a 2014 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award (NAHYP) by The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, and its partners agencies, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The NAHYP reviewed 360 nominations from 47 states. The Children’s Fine Art Classes Program’s selection as one of the 50 Finalists distinguishes CFAC as one of the top arts- and humanities- based programs in the country.
According to Jackie Pallesen, Director of Education and Outreach, “Being a top finalist for the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award reflects the high quality of both the curriculum and instruction provided by LVAA’s 28 art educators serving over 900 elementary, middle and high school youth. Receiving this honor for the third time in four years parallels an Academy Award nomination. The LVAA shares this recognition with its community partners, donors, CFAC parents and students from 11 counties throughout Kentucky and southern Indiana.”
NAHYPA is the Nation’s highest honor for out-of-school arts and humanities programs that celebrate the creativity of America’s young people, particularly those from underserved communities. This award recognizes and supports excellence in programs that open new pathways to learning, self-discovery, and achievement. Each year, the NAHYPA recognize outstanding programs in the United States, from a wide range of urban and rural settings.
In June 2014, ten of the 50 award finalists will receive a $10,000 grant and the opportunity to visit the White House and accept the award from First Lady Michelle Obama. Awardees also receive a full year of capacity-building and communications support, designed to make their organizations stronger, beginning at the 7th Annual NAHYP Awardee Conference. In addition, 50 exceptional youth-focused arts and humanities programs across the United States receive a Finalist Certificate of Excellence and mention on the www. nahyp.org website.
The National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award is a signature initiative of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities™ in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services™ to showcase cultural excellence and enhance the availability of out-of-school arts and humanities programs to children and young people.
National Hearing Test Launches In Louisville, Free in May National To Celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month
Nearly half of adults over the age of 48 experience hearing loss, and yet very few actually seek help. Left untreated, hearing loss can lead to job loss and income reduction, social isolation, embarrassment, and significantly lower quality of life. Hearing loss is irreversible, but if caught early, steps can be taken to keep it from worsening.
This was the impetus for a new hearing test now available in Louisville and offered for free in May in recognition of Better Hearing and Speech Month. Developed by hearing scientists with funding from the National Institutes of Health, The National Hearing Test is a quick, accurate and low-cost hearing screening. The screening, which usually costs $8, can be conveniently taken over a telephone in the privacy of the home. It is provided as a public service and has no financial connection with any hearing products or services.
Communication Disorders Technology, Inc. launched the National Hearing Test, the country’s first widely available phone-based test to provide tens of millions of hearing-impaired Americans with a scientifically valid, affordable test to screen for hearing impairment. The test was launched in Louisville last month.The first test of its kind in the United States, the National Hearing Test overcomes many obstacles preventing people from being screened for hearing loss, including inconvenience and cost.
Most current hearing tests, many of which are offered by hearing aid companies require patients to make an appointment with an audiologist, which can lead to costs of up to $150. The National Hearing Test is a not-for-profit project available to anyone by phone.The National Hearing Test works by having callers listen to a series of spoken numbers that are presented with a noise background. When the caller enters a series of numbers correctly, the next numbers are presented at a lower, more difficult level. The user’s accuracy is measured in real time to determine the extent of hearing loss.“Research shows that early intervention in hearing loss leads to better quality of life and greater success with hearing aids,” said Dr. Charles Watson, chief scientist for the National Hearing Test in the U.S. and professor emeritus of speech and hearing sciences at Indiana University, Bloomington. “Consequently, it’s important for anyone who suspects they’ve suffered hearing loss to have their hearing tested, and that a low-cost, convenient test be made widely available.”
The National Hearing Test was developed by Bloomington, Indiana-basedCommunication Disorders Technology, Inc., in partnership with Indiana University and the VU Medical Center of Amsterdam and with grant funding from the National Institutes of Health.
Learn more about the National Hearing Test at www.nationalhearingtest.org.