Jeffersontown Magazine June 2023

Mural Man

CHRIS CHAPPELL BRINGS BEAUTY TO JEFFERSONTOWN THROUGH MURAL ART

TOWERING ACCOMPLISHMENT

Restoration Project Continues for Louisville Water Tower

THE WONDERS OF WILDLIFE

Second Chances Wildlife Center

Fosters Conservation and Environmental Stewardship TownePost.com

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DR. AARON BERGER WITH HIS WIFE RACHEAL AND THEIR CHILDREN.

SERVICE TO COMMUNITY GIVES TRUE SENSE OF PURPOSE

A few weeks ago, I lost a longtime friend and colleague, Ron Powell, who served alongside me as a Jeffersontown City Councilmember for many years.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Ron truly demonstrated the heart and commitment of a public servant and a dedicated City of Jeffersontown supporter — through his service on the City Council as well as by operating an ambulance company that came to the aid of so many Jeffersontown residents through the years.

To learn more about Ron’s life and service to Jeffersontown, please see the article written by Jeffersontown Historical Museum Director Beth Wilder on the next page.

In the wake of Ron’s passing, I hope that the legacy he leaves behind will inspire others to find

JEFFERSONTOWN SET TO LAUNCH NEW NIGHTTIME EVENT ON JUNE 17

The first ever Jeffersontown Night Market will be held Saturday, June 17, from 6 to 9 p.m.

The event will be held at the Jeffersontown Farmers Market Pavilion, 10434 Watterson Trail.

Local artists and craftspeople will be selling their creations while live music adds a festive atmosphere. Multiple food trucks will be on hand.

ways to serve their community and discover how fulfilling it is to make a positive difference in others’ lives.

I feel privileged to have served the City of Jeffersontown for more than 40 years — and I am delighted to be serving as your Mayor. I would not have continued in public service if it did not give me a strong sense of purpose.

That said, Jeffersontown’s City Councilmembers and I are working hard to ensure our city meets the needs of our residents.

We are focused on providing services as well as family friendly activities such as Jeffersontown’s upcoming SummerFest on June 30 and the Night Market on June 17. (See more information on those events in the items below.)

I hope to see you there!

The weekly Jeffersontown Farmers Market will have its regular hours from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on June 17 as well.

Don’t miss this chance to experience a fun nighttime market under the stars — and explore the other entertainment options in Jeffersontown’s Historic Gaslight Square!

Date: Friday, June 30

Location: Veterans Memorial Park, 10707 Taylorsville Road

Time: 6 to 10 p.m.

Cost: Admission is free

Music: The Soul Circus

Activities: Face painters, Kids Zone with slides and bouncy houses

Refreshments: Variety of food trucks

Fireworks show before 10 p.m. Bring chairs and blankets

Mayor Carol Pike

REMEMBERING RON POWELL

LONGTIME COUNCILMAN SERVED CITY WITH HONOR

April 15, 2023 marked the passing of one of Jeffersontown’s truly outstanding citizens, Councilman Ron Powell.

Randal “Ron” Ray Powell was born in Louisville to Everett Powell, Jr. and Catherine Thornhill Powell, who moved to a small farm in Jeffersontown when Ron was twelve years old.

Powell graduated from Eastern High School in 1967, then decided to attend the University of Kentucky.

After a year, he decided that college studies were not what he wanted, so he joined the Navy instead, where he became a nuclear engineer, serving in San Francisco, Idaho, Connecticut, South Carolina, and even Italy.

that serviced not only Jeffersontown, but also Bullitt, Fayette, Henry, Oldham, and Trimble counties in Kentucky, as well as Floyd and Scott counties in Indiana.

In 1989, Mayor Daniel Ruckriegel appointed Powell to fill a vacancy on the Jeffersontown City Council. He succeeded in his following bids for re-election, eventually stepping down in 1994, feeling that he “better served his community through Commonwealth Ambulance Service than as a city council member.”

Powell

Powell felt obligated to his chosen profession as an EMT and paramedic, and he continued to work for Commonwealth Ambulance until his retirement in 1999.

HOMEOWNERS CAN HELP MANAGE URBAN RUNOFF

The City of Jeffersontown participates in the national MS4 water management program that aims to improve water quality and minimize negative impacts on the environment.

Here’s how homeowners can help Jeffersontown reach its goals:

After six years in the military, Powell was discharged and moved back to Kentucky. He sold medical equipment for a time, but in 1981, he and his family started Commonwealth Ambulance Service with two vehicles they bought from Carrithers Ambulance in Jeffersontown, which was closing.

Powell and other family members went to school to become EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians), and in early 1982, he established the Jeffersontown EMS (Emergency Medical Services), which cut response time down from 12 to 4 minutes.

A year later, Commonwealth became the first private EMS in the state certified with Advanced Life Support systems, which gave Jeffersontown the best EMS available.

Ultimately, Commonwealth Ambulance grew to a fleet of 40 ambulances

Powell could not stay away from the City Council for long, though. In 2012 he was once again appointed to fill a vacancy on the town council –this time to take the place of his dear friend, Daniel Ruckriegel, who had recently passed away.

At the time, he stated, “I’ve lived in Jeffersontown most of my life, and I’ve gotten so much out of it. It’s time again that I give back to the city.”

Powell gave the city much throughout the course of his life –both in his chosen profession as an EMT, and perhaps more so as a City Councilman, who worked ceaselessly to make sure Jeffersontown lived up to his exacting standards, becoming all it could be, while providing the best life possible for all its residents.

Ron Powell brought life to Jeffersontown in far more ways than one.

— By Beth Wilder

• Use porous pavement materials for driveways and sidewalks to reduce water runoff.

• Use fertilizers sparingly.

MS4

• Native vegetation and mulch can replace high maintenance grass lawns.

• Sweep driveways and sidewalks and pick up debris instead of using a hose to wash debris into storm sewers.

• Instead of disposing of yard waste, use it in a compost pile.

• Prevent polluted runoff by picking up after pets.

• Check cars for leaks of motor oil and antifreeze to prevent those chemicals from washing into storm sewers.

Councilman Ron

TOWERING ACCOMPLISHMENT

RESTORATION PROJECT CONTINUES FOR LOUISVILLE WATER TOWER

Writer / Makenna B. Hall

Photography Provided

from deteriorating,” says Channa Newman, Louisville Water Company’s education and outreach manager. “That’s obviously a huge part of the reason why we’re doing all of this.”

Though many changes are happening to update the building, Newman is hoping that the appearance will not shock familiar residents.

Keeping the historic landmark title is important for the water company, so they are ensuring they follow any landmark stipulations, like using similar types of materials and matching to the original state.

“The best thing that we hope comes from this, and what should come from this, is it looks very much like it always has, but just much more cleaned up and sturdy and sound,” Newman says. “It’s just a refreshed and refurbished look to that history that we want to

The water company began planning for the restoration project beginning with an investigation in 2020 by K. Norman Berry Associates, a Louisville-based architecture firm.

The investigation followed the discovery of extensive insect damage, rot, and moisture damage in the tower. Along with the cosmetic changes to the park, the restoration includes adding a ventilation system to fix moisture buildup in the tower.

Another important piece of the restoration puzzle is returning the 10 statues that typically adorn the water tower’s circular balustrade. The statues were removed by a crane in 2020 to be driven to EverGreene

Architectural Arts in Washington D.C.

A group of four to six people at EverGreene, a

company that specializes in historic restoration and conservation, spent a year with the statues before sending them back to Louisville.

Today’s sculptures are not the original 10 but are rather replacements, with nine of them made in 1899 after a tornado and another in 1980 after a thunderstorm. The statues include Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Mercury, Neptune, Hebe, Danaide, Flora, and Indian Hunter and Dog.

EverGreene confirmed through metal composition analyses that the 19th-century statues are made of zinc. Zinc’s composition as a softer metal, along with the age of the statues, meant that EverGreene needed to rebuild the armature, or inside support frame.

“The sculpture is hollow and inside there’ll be different beams depending on the shape that’s needed,” says Silvia Callegari, an EverGreene conservator. “Also, [the armature] helps to attach it to a roof or wherever it may potentially be installed.”

Flora, the statue recreated in the 1980s, was made of aluminum and did not require work to be done on the armature.

The EverGreene team also cleaned the structures and removed soiling, repaired and patched deteriorating parts, and also repainted.

In the case of the Indian Hunter and Dog statue, more had to go into the restoration. “His arm was actually separated from the rest of the sculpture, so it had to be reattached,” Callegari says. “The repair was also done successfully.”

The statues have been crated and shipped back to Louisville, where they await the completion of the park’s restoration before being reinstalled.

EverGreene sent the statues back with maintenance recommendations to ensure they stay in pristine condition in the future.

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“THE BEST THING THAT WE HOPE COMES FROM THIS, AND WHAT SHOULD COME FROM THIS, IS IT LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE IT ALWAYS HAS, BUT JUST MUCH MORE CLEANED UP AND STURDY AND SOUND.”

—CHANNA NEWMAN

“The paint coatings over time are going to potentially deteriorate,” Callegari says. “They’re white. They’re going to get soiled, so just regular general cleaning can help to kind of lessen that deterioration. If it does eventually get to a point where there’s flaking or the coating is not intact anymore, they should be repainted, but that won’t be for some time. As long as another tornado or a storm doesn’t come through, hopefully they’ll weather well.”

Pumping Station No. 1 has not provided Louisville residents with water since 1910. Though fresh water is no longer a product of the park, it still offers a variety of services to the public from tours to space rentals.

With this restoration project, Louisville Water is also looking to improve the setting for events by refurbishing the pumping station. The building will have updated windows and doors, configured landscape to address drainage issues, and a fresh coat of paint on the outside. Panels will also be added inside the high-ceilinged building to improve acoustics by creating a sound buffer.

“With it being also a rental facility, [it is] able to have meetings and events, weddings and things in that space, able to optimize the experience for people using the facility,” Newman says.

Kentucky Humane Society

on the Waterfront

Sunday, June 4, 2023 • Noon – 4 p.m. • Waterfront Park’s Festival Plaza

Louisville’s favorite dog-friendly family festival! Enjoy face painting and puppy cuddles for the kids, craft brews and food trucks for adults and canine tattoos for the pooch! Proceeds benefit KHS shelter animals.

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$15 Adults

$5 Children 12 and under

Scan now to learn more or visit kyhumane.org/waggintail

The pumping station is a popular venue for weddings and outdoor events. According to Newman, the water park is one of the most photographed places in Louisville, where people come to take prom and wedding photos.

“It’s really important that we help to maintain that and keep that in the forefront of what we do, that those facilities help us tell our story,” Newman says. “They’re the beginning of everything we do in water and they still are today, so we want to make sure that we maintain that history.”

Louisville Water regained use of the pumping station in 2014 to open the museum on the history of the company. Schools and other groups are able to tour the facilities and learn about how water is supplied to the city.

Displays of videos, photographs, memorabilia and special exhibits fill the museum, and share the story of Louisville Water and its contribution to the innovation of safe drinking water.

“There’s a lot of great history to learn about how Louisville Water kind of grew up along with the City of Louisville,” Newman says. “The museum follows a timeline from our very beginnings in 1860, and some of the new pieces we’re adding will really bring it into the present day.”

When the museum reopens there will be new exhibit spaces, updating the company’s historic timeline and including more information on the people that make water possible.

The walking tour gives visitors a look into the park grounds, around the pumping station and inside the water tower. Visitors will once again be able to walk into the water tower after construction is complete.

In September all events scheduled at the park for 2023 were canceled, due to longer-than-expected renovations.

“With any building that is over 160 years old there’s going to be some challenges, and the timeline did get pushed a little bit,” Newman says.

By pushing the timeline and taking care of the issues, Louisville Water leaders wanted to make sure that any events hosted would be done in a safe structure.

Newman says that as of now, they are on track to hopefully reopen in some capacity at the end of 2023. For more info, go to louisvillewater.com.

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THE WONDERS OF WILDLIFE

SECOND CHANCES WILDLIFE CENTER FOSTERS CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

It all started with baby opossums. Brigette Brouillard was camping with family when, out hiking, they came upon orphaned baby opossums. Worried for their safety, she reached out to shelters and humane societies only to learn that their services did not extend to the preserving of wildlife. It was in the finding of those animals that Brouillard and a handful of knowledgeable and erstwhile volunteers began the facility known as Second Chances Wildlife Center.

Spread across 23 acres, the Second Chances mission is to foster compassion, conservation and environmental stewardship through education and wildlife rehabilitation. Their mission is accomplished in two waysfirst, environmental education programs, which not only teach facts, but also foster compassion and excitement for nature and environmental sustainability, and second, the rescue, rehabilitation and safe release of orphaned, injured or displaced native wildlife.

The educational component of the wildlife center helps to connect humans to the needs of the wildlife that surround us each day. Brouillard shares that the soonest we can share our knowledge and experience with young people, the better the chances they

will be good stewards of our environment, including wildlife.

Having been a school teacher for 18 years and also worked with the Louisville Zoo for 20, Brouillard and her trained volunteers often travel within a two-hour radius within Kentucky and southern Indiana with classes such as “While You Were Sleeping,” “Wildlife and Waterways” and “Awesome Opossums.” If you are looking for a more robust educational experience, Second Chances also offers a compendium of classes that can take place over the course of weeks, or you can choose to bundle the five courses in the same week. All materials are included with the classes, and oftentimes an ambassador animal will accompany the teacher.

Ambassador animal? Yes, Second Chances has a select group of animals that serve as program ambassadors. You may have the

opportunity to get to know one of the four opossums that have residency at the sanctuary - Peaches, Cinnamon, Nutmeg or Clove. Have you ever wanted to see a bat up close? Currently there are 17 brown bats, 10 Egyptian fruit bats, and two eastern red bats named Pumpkin and Pepperoni, who reside at the compound and very well might accompany the instructors for a session.

Speaking of Pepperoni the bat, she has a book written about her, “Pepperoni: The One Winged Bat.” As if Brouillard was not busy enough, she wrote an adorable true story about Pepperoni’s journey to the sanctuary, and how she learned to adapt to her new way of life. With illustrations by Lori Sargent, the book is dedicated to Brouillard’s children, Kyle and Molly, and can be found on Amazon.

Besides bats and opossums that take up permanent residency, there are other animals on site including Juan Carlos and Blackjack the raccoons, one groundhog who goes by the name of Major, Apache and Rocket the African sulcata tortoises, Blu and Amelia the flying squirrels, Rawlings the red fox, Livia and Spartacus the box turtles, Danica, Rudy and Brooks the skunks, and Bougie the beaver.

Writer / Annette Skaggs Photography Provided

When asked why these animals are on permanent residency, Brouillard shares that for many of them, injuries and inability to survive in the wild precludes them from being released.

“I have an outstanding group of volunteers from all kinds of different walks of life - vet techs, nurses, teachers, techno wizards, bankers, public servants, etcetera,” Brouillard says. “These dedicated folks travel as far as Cincinnati, Fort Knox and Goshen to help care for and nurture these animals, as well as assist with the curricula. Some of my volunteers have been with me for as long as nine to 11 years. We ask a lot of our team in that they must commit four hours a day, and we offer various shifts to accommodate those schedules. These invaluable people are here to assist with animal intake, cleaning and maintaining the habitats and/or cages, feeding and watering the animals, allowing the animals recreation and assimilation, and serve as docents for on- and off-campus classes. I’d be delighted to have 20 more.”

And what about those enclosures - are they natural? Man-made? “With conservation of these animals, we try to get their surroundings as close to what their natural habitat would be,” Brouillard says. “Our outside enclosures are rather large, 18’x20’, and we include tree limbs, rocks and other woodland accoutrements that you’d expect in the outdoors. We also have animals that reside indoors and that could be for medical or rehabilitation reasons.”

Of course, Brouillard and her team did not go into this endeavor blindly. It is a rigorous and painstaking process to run a facility such as Second Chances. “There are a lot of courses and certification processes that need to take place before we can

Care that Comes to You

legally operate,” Brouillard says. “Through the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife there is a gauntlet of class clinics, labor works, homework and tests that one has to go through to be licensed. Our sanctuary goes through the same procedure as the Louisville Zoo does. We have an annual inspection that includes lengthy and detailed accounting of all animals that have arrived and been let go of at the sanctuary. Our permanent residential animals are licensed, just like the animals at the Zoo. So, we absolutely have the passion and drive to serve the wildlife in and around our area.”

ACROSS 23 ACRES, THE SECOND

What about the upkeep of the animals and the property? “Second Chances is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, where we receive 80% of our operating costs from individual funding,” Brouillard says. “Recently we participated in the Community Foundation of Louisville’s Give for Good campaign and did well, but we absolutely rely on donations and class fees. For example, it costs $231 for a bucket of baby formula that we feed to our babies.”

“We also spend a small fortune in other foods too, such as cat and dog food, fruits and vegetables, yogurt, fish, jarred baby food, mealworms and mice,” Brouillard continues. “We also go through so many paper towels and baby wipes, like you would not believe. Of course, there are the other things such as vet bills, utilities, property upkeep, and medicines and vaccinations. We make sure that all our animals are vaccinated against diseases such as parvo and rabies, as is required by law.”

What does one do upon coming across an animal that may be in need? “Like I had encountered before I began Second Chances, many well-meaning and kind people do not have an inkling of the resources that may be out there to take care of wildlife that may be in need,” Brouillard says. “There are often calls to the shelters, animal hospitals and pet stores, but luckily many of these places know to direct calls regarding wildlife to sanctuaries like mine now, and we do the same if it relates to an animal beyond our abilities to assist. It is not uncommon that our office receives 50 calls a day regarding any array of animals. I believe we have received about 3,000 so far this year. The months of March through October seem to be the busiest for us, as those are prime baby months. Things seem to slow down just a hair in the winter, but we are still busy.”

Along with Brouillard’s talent for treating animals as well as teaching about the animals

themselves and conservancy, she adores having the ability to reach out and experience conservancy in person. Recently she and a small group of environmentalists traveled to Belize and the Galápagos Islands, where they assisted in the tracking of endangered sea turtles. “Having the opportunity to watch these turtles come to the beach, dig out a nest that many of us were able to assist with, watch as this mother turtle lays hundreds of eggs, covers them and goes back out to sea, is life changing,” she says with a smile, adding that she is currently planning for another trip soon.

If you are interested in any of the programs offered by Second Chances, or would like to volunteer or donate, please feel free to go to secondchanceswildlife.org. There you will find a robust website filled with information about their classes and programs. Second Chances is a pathway to help those animals in need, and teach us how to be better to ourselves and our wildlife friends.

JUNE CROSSWORD PUZZLE

1. Bed problem

2. Clan members

3. Made known

4. Face-off

5. Experienced one

6. First name of two U.S. presidents

7. Act like a chicken?

8. Explorers’ destinations

9. Allies opponent

10. Small change

11. On bended ___

19. Den denizen

20. Collect slowly

21. Blacksmith’s implement

22. Choral voice

24. Grig, when grown

26. Back in?

28. Boxing

29. “___ bitten, twice shy”

30. Picks up the check

32. An eye for the poetic?

34. Canter, for example

37. It’s a bore

39. Complete

___ Dame 42. Blueprint 43. Some parasites 44. Soprano Gluck

46. Classroom drilling 48. Make a choice 50. By way of

Wing it?

CHOOSING CHANGE

ADRIA JOHNSON OF METRO UNITED WAY LOOKS TO BRING ABOUT LASTING LOCAL IMPACTS

Acommon theme has emerged in Adria Johnson’s nearly three-decade-long career - her ability to build community support. This skill has served her well in her new role as chief executive officer at Metro United Way.

Johnson took over as CEO of Metro United Way in August of 2021. Since that time she has continued to lead the transformation of the 105-year old nonprofit from a fundraising organization to a community pillar that inspires change.

“We’re continuing to lean in with the intent of being very focused in the ways of supporting the community, of bringing about greater transformational and lasting changes,” Johnson says. “We’re really pushing to support those things that bring about equity, and to start to get into some of the systemic issues that shape our state of affairs as we all navigate this world.”

Prior to her role as CEO, Johnson was the organization’s chief impact officer for three years. She worked with community leaders from the seven counties served by Metro United Way.

A native of Louisville, Johnson earned a degree in accounting from Ball State University and later completed Master of Business Administration courses at the University of Louisville. Her career has spanned the private, public and nonprofit sectors.

She began her career in various accounting roles at Humana as well as Louisville Gas and Electric. She then served as an analyst and finance manager at Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation, before joining Louisville Metro Government as a capital planning analyst.

“I had a really rewarding career in the private sector,” she says. “It allowed me to widen my expertise and skill set. I wanted to find a way to fill the passion for what fuels me as an individual, for what feels like purpose on this planet.”

When she stepped into city government, she realized she had the opportunity to impact lives more directly.

Later at Louisville Metro Government, she held several executive positions in the Department of Housing and Family

Services (later named the Department of Community Services and Revitalization).

“All along the way I was learning and honing my leadership skill set,” she says. “I was able to take those talents, skills and abilities to understand how to effectively lead an organization.”

Her executive experience later led her to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, where she served as deputy commissioner from 2012 to 2015 and later as commissioner from 2015 to 2018. As commissioner, she led a staff of 4,600 and an operating budget of approximately $1 billion. While there, Johnson led the formation and implementation of a comprehensive child welfare reform initiative.

“I’ve been very fortunate to work with a variety of stakeholders,” Johnson says. “I’ve been able to develop meaningful relationships and work collaboratively with people across aisles, demographics, and from varying philosophies and stances. We worked together for the greater good we are all striving for, to solve the community’s greatest challenges.”

She serves on the boards and advisory councils of numerous area charities and nonprofits including Kosair Charities, Coalition for the Homeless, Social Current, Community Foundation of Louisville, Evolve502, Center for Nonprofit Excellence,

Writer / Jessica Able Photography Provided

Adria Johnson

University of Louisville’s Project on Positive Leadership, and Fifth Street Baptist Church.

She also took part in Leadership Louisville in 2022 and will complete Leadership Southern Indiana in 2023.

Metro United Way began in 1917 as a volunteer-driven organization primarily to solicit donations to address the social needs of the day. Throughout the years, the organization became synonymous with its annual fundraising campaign that supported numerous community foundations and charities. Today it serves Bullitt, Jefferson, Oldham and Shelby counties in Kentucky, and Clark, Floyd and Harrison counties in Indiana.

While in her role as chief impact officer

at Metro United Way, Johnson led the Community Impact department. In that role she studied the overall approach and strategy for implementing programs and addressing disparities across the health, education and economic sectors.

“When we look at the history of Metro United Way, we know that it has supported a wide variety of community organizations,” she says. “It’s a fierce fundraising engine.”

What is taking place now, Johnson says, is

“WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THOSE WHO STRUGGLE WITH FOOD INSECURITY, TRANSPORTATION AND MENTAL HEALTH.” —ADRIA JOHNSON

a monumental shift from viewing Metro United Way as simply a “community-chest pass through” to an organization intent on investing in solutions

“We can’t be everything to everybody,” she says. “We began looking around across the seven counties and were not seeing improvement in certain areas the way we would like. We began to ask, ‘What are the greater needs? What are the roots of these challenges? How can we bring about change in the communities we so desperately want to see?’”

The organization asked its constituents, donors and community partners what needs were most pressing, and if they saw Metro United Way taking an active role in solving those challenges.

A couple of common themes that came from these discussions, Johnson says, was a lack of educational and economic success.

“We’re just not seeing the level of educational success we’d like to see across various ages and grades,” she says. “We also began to hear we’re lagging in terms of the ability people have to prosper economically, to amass wealth to break the cycles of poverty.”

While Metro United Way will continue to play a vital role in meeting the basic needs of the local community, it also seeks to address the root causes of bigger systemic issues.

“We will continue to support those organizations that serve those who struggle with food insecurity, transportation and mental health,” Johnson says. “Everyone deserves to have those needs - basic needs, basic human rights - met. All that aside, we are focused on investing in solutions.”

Johnson says she draws inspiration from two things - her own personal experiences and her family.

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“I experienced poverty growing up, and I know the pain and the shame that often come along with the struggle, along with what it takes to lift out,” she says. “That personal experience offers tremendous inspiration to use my time, talent and treasure to help others.”

When she’s not on the job, Johnson enjoys spending time with her two grown children, two grandchildren, and her goddaughter. She also enjoys reading, dining at Mojitos Tapas and, when time permits, hot yoga.

For more info on Metro United Way, visit metrounitedway.org.

CULTURAL PASS

Writer / Julie Engelhardt Photography Provided

Summer is here, which means the kids are out of school. The thought of not living by the alarm clock’s constant warning or stressing out about homework sounds delightful, but then this question comes to mind: How do I keep my children happy, as well as engaged, for the next couple of months?

There are family vacations, but those only last a week or so, and then there are day camps, visits to the pool or taking trips to local amusement parks…but soon these little outings can start costing a whole lot of money.

Fortunately, there is an ingenious way that parents and caregivers can keep their children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews active during the summer, and the best part is, it doesn’t cost participants a single dime.

It’s the Cultural Pass.

This is an admission-free program for young people, ages 0 to 21, that supports and encourages summer learning by providing access to more than 40 arts and cultural institutions across Louisville and Southern Indiana. The program kicks off June 1 and concludes August 6, when public and private schools return to regular session. The program is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

“The Cultural Pass started as a collaboration between the city (of Louisville), the library, the Fund for the Arts, and the Arts & Cultural Alliance,” Tory Parker says, Director of Marketing and Communications/Fund for the Arts.

“This is a program that runs alongside the library’s summer reading program,” she says. “It’s quite unique. Nowhere else in the country has a program this robust, and certainly not this old, that has as many venues participating for no cost.”

These important city entities make certain that obtaining a Cultural Pass is as easy as visiting your local library. Participating locations are the Louisville Free Public Library and Bullitt County Library in Kentucky; the Jeffersonville Township Public Library, Charlestown-Clark County Public Library, the Floyd County Library, and Harrison County Public Library in Indiana. Participants do need to register for a library card to obtain a pass.

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“As of right now it’s a physical pass, like a passport, that you take to the cultural venue,” Parker says. “It’s really just a program to help get people out and about into the community to places that they might not be able to visit due to cost or that they might not be able to visit during the school year.”

Parker says that the Cultural Pass has been wildly successful, and the committee is excited about this year’s programming.

“We had over 40,000 passes given out last year, and over 56,000 visits to our venues,” she says. “We also had over 168 zip codes from Kentucky and Indiana represented.”

Parker explains that the passes are registered under each child’s name and one adult is welcome to accompany each child.

To be selected as a Cultural Pass location, venues first go through an application process.

“It’s open to any 501 (c) (3) that wants to participate that is in an arts and cultural institution,” Parker says. “We have an open registration period. They need to meet the qualifications and determine what they will offer and when they will be offering it. If it’s a first-time venue and if they have never completed the registration before or aren’t necessarily sure what they would do for Cultural Pass, we will work with them to help them establish what their programming can be, so that we can make sure that we have as many diverse experiences on the passport as possible.”

Kentucky Shakespeare

Louisville Zoo

21C MUSEUM HOTEL

Good for ages 13 and older. Visitors will be able to explore the art of the 21st Century with “Fragile Figures: Beings and Time,” and permanent exhibits at 21c Museum Hotel, Louisville! Catch the falling letters in “Text Rain,” see what objects you can find in the swirling “Wheel of Fortune,” enjoy the billowing rings from “Cloud Rings,” and lose yourself in a glowing landscape wallpaper by Virgil Marti. Learn more at www.21clouisville.com

ART FM, INC

Good for all ages. Guests can visit the WXOX broadcast studio to learn how things work behind the scenes at an FM radio station. You will learn how to use a microphone, cue up records, and send shout outs to your friends and fans!

ARTS COUNCIL OF SOUTHERN INDIANA DBA ARTS ALLIANCE OF SOUTHERN INDIANA

Good for all ages. Explore galleries of local art and create your own masterpiece via the craft corner. Explore the monarch educational gardens and learn about the beautiful monarch butterfly and its migration. Local workshops are offered all summer long, and you can enjoy a special surprise at the end of your visit!

FRAZIER HISTORY MUSEUM

Good for all ages. Enjoy a variety of hands-on exhibits. tours, screenings of KentuckyShow! and more! Learn about 500 million years of Kentucky history in “The Commonwealth: Divided we Fall,” take the trail with Lewis and Clark, or explore teamwork and healthy competition (and Pop-a-Shot!) in the Kentucky Rivalries exhibit.

KENTUCKY DERBY MUSEUM

Good for ages 3 and older. Programming will include thoroughbred care, creating traditions, horse tales, and Derby Fashion. Enjoy museum exhibits, the 360-degree film, “The Greatest Race,” and a guided track visit at Churchill Downs. Visit the website for more information about Cultural Passspecific programs: www.DerbyMuseum. org/CulturalPass.

HISTORIC LOCUST GROVE

Good for ages 6 and older. Explore the stories and skills of all who lived and labored at Locust Grove, both free and enslaved. Learn about cooking over a fire in our hearth kitchen, playing historic games, and about the important connection between Locust Grove and Mammoth Cave through the eyes of Stephen Bishop, a famed enslaved guide at the cave.

THE LOUISVILLE LEOPARD PERCUSSIONISTS

Good for ages 5 and older. Learn basic techniques and patterns on hand drums and auxiliary percussion instruments from drumming professionals as well as Louisville Leopard Students! All experience levels are welcome to explore and experiment with new sounds without fear of judgement.

MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER

Good for ages 8 and older. Explore Muhammad Ali’s legendary life with the Ali Center’s interactive and multimedia exhibits and discover the six core principles that Muhammad Ali embraced throughout his life.

SPEED ART MUSEUM

Good for ages 8 and older. Enjoy free admission to the Museum and special exhibitions Rounding the Circle: The Mary and Al Shands Collection and Louisville's Black Avant-Garde: Robert L. Douglas (opening June 30). Admission includes access to Art Sparks, Speed’s interactive hands-on gallery, and a fun gallery scavenger hunt for all ages.

YEW DELL BOTANICAL GARDENS

Good for all ages. In addition to beautiful flowers and trees, visit highlights include a Castle, a Fairy Forest, a Gnome Adventure on the Woodland Trails, and a greenhouse filled with plants. Pick up a scavenger hunt at check-in or use your phone for a QR-code tour of our gardens and grounds.

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“A friend knows the song in your heart and sings it to you when you’ve forgotten the words.”

Redline

LOUISVILLE NIMBLE THIMBLES REMAINS A WELL-CRAFTED GUILD ORGANIZATION

Chances are that you have a quilt laying across your bed or on the back of your couch at this very moment. Maybe you inherited it from your great-grandparent or perhaps found it at a bargain-basement sale. No matter how you may have obtained your quilt, there was a tremendous amount of time and talent that was devoted towards its creation.

While many believe that the art of quilting is a one-person operation, nothing can be further from the truth. There are many opportunities for those who enjoy the craft to sew and stitch alongside others in likeminded artistry.

Susan Wolfe serves as the president of Louisville Nimble Thimbles (LNT), a

quilting guild located in Jeffersontown.

Founded in 1979, LNT is the oldest guild in Louisville and still going strong. While one may think that LNT is like a quilting bee, Wolfe says the group is “not quite like that. If you are looking for a group to hang around, drink wine and gossip with an occasional quilt making, we are not going to be your cup of tea. However, if you enjoy the art, and learning new and creative ways to make your craft better, then I welcome all to the circle.”

The Thimbles meet twice a month, on the first Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and the third Thursday at 10 a.m. “We have a mix of members whose schedules vary around times that they can meet, so we wanted

to be accommodating to their want to participate as a member,” Wolfe says. “At this time we are averaging around 50-55 members, and have men and women and a range of age from 40s to 80s.”

When asked what the LNTs focus on as part of their foundational mission, Wolfe beams with pride. “While our meetings have a more educational bent to them, such as learning and demonstrating new techniques, different concepts, designs, materials and products, the meetings are a step towards fulfilling our missions, such as with our main charity, Norton Children’s Hospital’s Cuddle Care program.”

While there are many different iterations of Cuddle Care throughout the United

Writer / Annette Skaggs Photography Provided

Cuddle Care at Quilted Joy

States and beyond, LNT members share their talents by providing cuddle quilts for the patients at the hospital, much like the Project Linus project that provides blankets and stuffed animals to children who are experiencing something traumatic or are sick. Wolfe says the quilts are “quite substantial, averaging 40’x40’, and some smaller for the neonatal unit. They are made with all cotton and no holes or embellishments, and are comfortable. In 2022 we were able to donate over 500 quilts to the project. We try to change the design and look of the quilts each year and this year we are planning on doing a Scottie dog design.”

“Because of our attention to the Cuddle Care mission, we schedule four sessions each year dedicated to the creation and finishing of these quilts,” Wolfe adds. “One of these sessions is held at a local American Professional Quilting Store (APQS), which fortunately is owned by one of the guild members. While we are at the APQS, she allows us to use her floor models so that we can quilt several quilts in a day, that we have affectionately called Quilta-thon, which is typically held in July. The following week we have a binding party and once that step is completed, we can deliver the quilts.”

“While Cuddle Care is our largest charity, we also create tote bags that are used by the residents of Maryhurst, an agency for children across Kentuckiana suffering

from neglect and abuse,” she says. “From what I’ve been told, the ladies have to earn their tote bags and they become a prized possession.”

It is quite evident that LNT is a benevolent and giving organization, but they do not stop there. While they are not part of an organization known as Quilts of Valor, they have established their own quilts-forservice program, named Patriot Quilts. When implementing this program, the local American Legion assists with the selection of a recipient and the Jeffersontown Legion Post helps to provide a location. It is a major event when the quilt is finished and presented, in a ceremony that calls upon the public, city officials, guild members, family and friends to attend.

When asked if the guild members were involved in the myriad of quilt and art shows within the area, Wolfe laughs. “Yes indeed,” she says. “In fact, it has been long thought that our guild would have a heavy concentration on presenting quilting shows as a means to promote the quilting arts, but over time we have turned our collective energies to serving those in the community with needs.”

“As to quilting shows, about five years ago Louisville Nimble Thimbles began sponsoring a kids quilt show, a show that consists of quilts made by kids but not necessarily for kids,” she continues. “The show is open to any youth under the age of 17. No themes or judging or entry fee. While we give out participation ribbons, the real win is in the pride and joy of making a

quilt and being allowed to show it off. The event is open and free to the public.”

“While we are not the only quilting guild in the area, we do participate in some of the same events that are synonymous with the art of quilting, such as Quilters’ Day Out - ‘Gathering of the Guilds,’” Wolfe says. “The day is used as an opportunity to share with other quilters the kind of learning opportunities our guild provides. Additionally, we use the day as a fundraiser to set up a boutique where donated items such as books, notions, fabrics, and supplies are made available to fellow quilters for a suggested cash donation. The funds that we raise are then used to support future classes, our charities and other guild-sponsored expenses. Recently our boutique has raised as much as $3,000.”

While the Jeffersonian has been a great place to meet over the years, field trips are always welcome. Wolfe shares that in addition to regular meetings and a scheduled Quilt-aThon at the local APQS, the organization has occasional carpools to visit the Filson Historical Society for programs and then have lunch. They also occasionally visit Amish county to check out their quilt shops, along with a must-do visit to the Amish Grocery Store.

When asked where she feels her strength in quilting is, she smiles and laughs. “I have been doing this for about 15 years and I am still working on the eye in designing and color blocking,” she says. “Also, I am not a big fan of binding, but love to create the quilt top.”

While many believe that a quilting hobby is expensive and time consuming, that is not necessarily the case. Yes, some quilting machines can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, but most home quilters use machines that are but a few hundred dollars. While they are not capable of the varied stitches that the more expensive machines can do, the smaller machines can do the tried-and-true basics like straight and zigzag.

Wolfe laments the loss of some local and regional quilt shops that have closed over the years, causing some challenges for the avid and devoted quilters in the community, but she is grateful for those that are still around, especially for their willingness to participate and educate.

When asked how LNT adapted to the pandemic, Wolfe beams. “We were able to do many teaching and sew-a-long sessions via Zoom, and kept both Cuddle Care and Maryhurst programs going by scheduling quarterly drop-off/pickup events where members could drop off quilt tops needing to be quilted, quilted pieces that needed binding, and completed quilts and bags that were ready for delivery,” she says. “Because of these endeavors our members kept busy and involved. You could see those smiles through their masks.”

If you’d like more information about meetings and are interested in participating and/or joining LNT, you are welcome to send an inquiry through their website, nimblethimbles.com, or their Facebook page @LouisvilleNimbleThimbles.

Mural Man

Photography Provided

Artist Chris Chappell beautifies Louisville and the surrounding areas one mural at a time. Chappell took to drawing at a young age, recreating Disney and cartoon characters by hand. As he progressed through high school, his art started taking on a more serious role. It wasn’t until a class at Jefferson Community College (JCC) in 1998 that he was introduced to mural artwork.

“I was in a program at JCC and I finished a painting for it, and the teacher suggested we do a mural of the painting in the hallway on the elevators,” Chappell says. “The entire class helped me. It was the first mural that wasn’t me as a kid messing around with spray paint.”

Chappell says his first creative job was at Architectural Glass Art (AGA) in the Louisville Glassworks building. He worked there from 2007 to 2013. He says it was the best job he’d ever had because of the creative environment, great people and atmosphere.

“When AGA went under in 2013, I didn’t want to go back to anything less than what

I had experienced there,” Chappell says. “That’s when I was forced to take a leap of faith with my mural artwork. So that’s when I really chose to make it a career.”

Since then, Chappell has designed and painted over 100 murals throughout Louisville and the surrounding suburbs, on homes, businesses and public spaces. Mural artwork is at the height of popularity right now, Chappell says. He says he’s honored to help beautiful local areas.

“Mural artwork is very hot right now and there is a huge demand for it,” Chappell says. “More and more businesses want mural artwork on their buildings to draw attention to their business. When it comes to mural artwork in public spaces, I’m creating public art, which makes the community more vibrant and it makes members of the community proud of where they live. That’s super important to me.”

Chappell’s medium is spray paint and whatever blank space he can find, including garage doors, concrete, brick or any other porous surface. He says spray paint can cover just about anything, and

the technology behind it has improved tremendously in the last few years.

“Spray paint is the go-to for mural artwork for a few different reasons,” Chappell says. “It covers quickly, allowing me to create a large piece rapidly. It’s affordable, which is important to the clients. I do work within my client’s budget, and I can get the mural done promptly.”

When a potential client approaches Chappell about investing in a mural, he says they sit together to discuss ideas. Sometimes the client comes with an idea in mind, and sometimes they allow Chappell full creative reign.

“A lot of times the client will come to me with an idea already in mind, but I do have a huge portfolio or sketchbook full of my own ideas,” Chappell says. “I just listen to each individual and then put my own twist on it. I try to incorporate my style but still aim to please the customer.”

One such mural in Jeffersontown is a combined effort of three local businesses. Pet Wants, Sweet Savannah’s Frozen Yogurt and WTR Computer Sales approached

Writer / Renee Larr

CHRIS CHAPPELL BRINGS BEAUTY TO JEFFERSONTOWN THROUGH MURAL ART

Chappell, wanting a mural depicting all three companies on a blank wall on the side of WTR Computer Sales.

“For that mural, I went back and forth with all three owners making sure each one was represented equally,” Chappell says. “I also wanted to include some J-town landmarks, if you will, and a beautiful sky. The result was a colorful mural, visible from the street, that brought attention to these businesses. It also brings some credibility to J-town with the younger crowd. J-town has some great businesses without having to go all the way downtown.”

JoAnn Wakeland, the owner of Sweet Savannah’s Frozen Yogurt, says the three businesses chose Chappell because of his extensive work throughout Louisville. According to Wakeland they received three proposals, and Chappell’s was by far the best. She says they were impressed by the fact that Chappell does his mural artwork freehand.

“Customers take selfies and then share, so in turn we get exposure,” Wakeland says. “We wanted it to be fun. We get many positive comments from people. Our thoughts were if other businesses saw this, they would join the mural train and make J-town a bit more hip. The finished product is very pleasing.”

Bill Reeves, owner of WTR Computer Sales, says the mural has attracted a lot of attention and comments from his customers. “It has greatly enhanced our building appearance and has caused people to be aware that three small businesses in the heart of J-own want to invest to make our community look good. It brings our 60-year-old building back to life again.”

Chappell mostly does the work himself but sometimes employs friends to help, depending on the mural size. He created a 3,000-square-foot mural in Doc’s Cantina, painting about 15 walls inside the restaurant.

“That was definitely the largest mural I’ve

done so far,” Chappell says. “I worked with an interior designer in New York to develop an idea with a street vibe, but adding in some nature aspects. We ended up with something we all loved.”

Chappell has even collaborated with the Portland Investment Initiative to reinterpret local band My Morning Jacket’s album cover into a mural. They employed five different artists throughout the country to create five murals. He says he wanted to go big - over 80’ high. He says it was scary, and was the biggest of the four other murals.

Chappell says he loves when his clients trust him and let him do his own thing. Those types of murals are his favorite. He says the mural on Artist & Craftsman Supply Louisville is an excellent example of him having creative control. However, he says the public’s favorite mural seems to be the one at Hilltop Tavern.

Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality

is a spiritual retreat center in Floyd County, Indiana. Chappell worked with Friar Vincent Peterson, who is also an artist, to bring a sketch of his idea to life on the side of the art building.

“Mount Saint Francis is such a beautiful place and embraces the arts, so on the side of the art studios they wanted a mural,” Chappell says. “I met with Friar Vince. He had a very loose sketch and I had to bring that to life. The Franciscans are really into nature, everything being connected and caring for the planet, so this mural represents all creatures being equal and connected to the one. ‘Laudato Si’ translates to ‘Praise Be.’”

Chappell says he takes inspiration from everything he sees in the world on a daily basis. He says he wants to draw everything, and when doing that, he’s constantly wondering what his sketch would look like on a blank wall. His vision for his future is to continue producing mural art for as long as possible.

“I’d like to keep my artwork a business for as long as possible,” Chappell says. “Every artist’s dream is to create their own art and get paid for it. It’s a true form of selfexpression. I just want to keep bringing more color and beautifying neighborhoods all over. It would be awesome to be a traveling artist.”

For more information, visit chappellmurals.com.

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