Louisville's Butchertown Book Release!

The eagerly awaited pictoral history of Butchertown is being released February 8th to stores near you. Local author Edna Kubala gathered photos from several sources to bring this neighborhood to life, with many never before seen pictures of the neighborhood.  Join us in celebrating Butchertown! 

Book Signings:
Saturday, February 13, 2010 , Noon - 4 pm   Edison Birthday Party with light bulb cake!
Thomas Edison House Museum, 729-31 E. Washington St. (Museum admission applies: $5 adult, $3 for  18 and under) 

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 , 6 - 8 pm
The Eye Care Institute, 1536 Story Avenue

Saturday, February 20, 2010 , 2 - 4 pm
Barnes and Nobles, 801 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy.

Saturday, February 27, 2010, 3 p.m.
Miss Cs' Kitchen and Pantry, 1319 Story Ave

Friday, March 05, 2010 , 12 - 1:30 pm
Borders, 400 S. 4th Street

March 05, 2010, 6-8pm
Urban Design Studio, 507 South 3rd Street

April 30, 2010, "Derby" Frankfort Avenue Trolley Hop

Kaviar Forge Gallery,  1718 Frankfort Avenue

More Information and signings at: http://historicbutchertown.com/
and Louisville’s Butchertown facebook fan site
Check out Consuming Louisville for a shout out to local attractions!

Pre-order a book from the author at butchertown.contest@gmail.com and enter to win a $25 Louisville Originals gift card. 

Better Meat Needs Better Butchers

Below is an excerpt from GOOD Magazine, highlighting how once booming small scale family businesses have turned into a full blown INDUSTRY. Take a couple minutes and have a look back at how things once operated in Butchertown.

LINK TO GOOD MAGAZINE

"Forty years ago, smaller, family-owned slaughterhouses existed throughout the United States. The number of these “very small plants” has declined over the last 10 years, according to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the industry consolidated into a very, very efficient system. In her book Raising Steaks, Betty Fussell writes that all but a very small percentage of the 30 millions cows harvested annually in United States are turned into meat by one of three major packers. And industry beef producers don’t make money on rib eye steaks. They make money on the parts no one wants—value-added offals like pink slime."
- GOOD Magazine, 2010


(photo from Flickr)

Kenton Place Lost Olmsted Park

WHAS recently did a piece on the lost Kenton Place park that was once on East Market Street in the heart of Butchertown. The BNA had proposed to JBS Swift that the mitigating factor funds from the BOZA hearing should be used towards making the park a reality. Click Here for the Full Story.

pic provided by Bingham Fellows

Beargrass Creek Fundraising Party

Kentucky Waterways Alliance is hosting a fundraising party at the Garner-Furnish Art Studio celebrating the history and heritage of Beargrass Creek in Louisville. Benefits will go toward future clean-up work on the creek. The studio is located at 642 E Market Streets. The event will be on Friday, October 23, from 6:00 to 10:00pm. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Any question you may have can be directed to jennifer@kwalliance.org.
For more information on how you can get involved with this project and others, please follow the link to KWA's website.

(1873 map of the area, pre-rerouting of the creek)

Skipping Fish Boat School

Kimberly Hillerich's Butchertown school and business is presenting a new angle on connecting people with Kentucky's waterways. The founder of the Skipping Fish Boat School is providing a hands on experience, for youth and adults alike, to learn how to build their own kayaks, and how to safely enjoy our local waterways. Located across the street from Creation Gardens on Washington Street, the shop had at least 15 boats in various stages of the building process when I visited it last week. Kimberly was most welcoming, and let me tool around the shop, snap a few pictures, and inquire about the beautiful boats they were making.



Each boat has custom size that depends on the paddler- typically the width is measured at the builder's hips, plus to fists for wiggle room. The length is roughly 3ft long for every foot tall the paddler is (ie- a 6ft tall paddler's boat would be 18ft long). The construction method they use is called the "Frame and Skin" which involves making the lightweight frame and stretching a skin over it to make it watertight. Traditionally this was done with seal skins, but that method has been replaced with nylon which is lighter and more durable.



If you are a current paddler, or just looking for more information on how to get involved, follow the link above!

Link to the LEO

Here is a link to a great story by Editor Stephen George of the Leo Weekly. A must read for the surrounding communities.
http://www.leoweekly.com/editor%E2%80%99s-note/new-development

Tandy support's Butchertown!!

Hello everyone, I hope you had an enjoyable holiday. Please take a look at the statement that I received this afternoon ahead of tomorrow's BOZA hearing about the illegal JBS Swift expansion. Council President David Tandy, a strong supporter of Butchertown, is backing the Butchertown Neighborhood Plan which calls for the relocation of JBS Swift. Stay tuned for an update on what happens at the hearing!

- Andy Cornelius (painting by Lynn Dubar- great site!!)



On behalf of President Tandy-

Dear BOZA Members and all interested parties:

I am writing today with regard to the JBS Swift plant in the Butchertown Neighborhood, which is located in the Fourth Metro Council District and the matter currently involving the facility that is before your board.

Let me begin by stating that it must be recognized that JBS Swift, like many other employers located here in Louisville, serves an important role in the current and future economic vitality of our community by employing approximately 1,300 individuals at their Louisville plant.

In light of the current economic conditions, we in this community and around the country face, job retention and creation is critical to our city's long term development and growth.

As such, I am committed to working to retain JBS Swift and the jobs it currently provides and will create in the future in Louisville Metro for many years to come.

With that being said, I am strongly in favor, however, of developing a plan that would move Swift out of the Historic Butchertown Neighborhood in the near future and into a suitable location within Jefferson County that will provide the space needed for its continued service to this community as a viable business, while at the same time amicably coexisting with the environment around it.

As for the issue before you tomorrow regarding the expansion of JBS Swift, while I understand this issue is under your authority as a board and respect your final decision, I am disappointed with the way this matter has been handled. In my opinion the neighborhood association and BOZA were not involved or notified in an appropriate manner.
I respectfully ask that as the Board moves forward with this matter that the thoughts and opinions of the citizens that call Butchertown home be given your full attention and consideration.

Thanks for your continued work on behalf of the residents of our community.

Very truly yours,
David W. Tandy
President, Louisville Metro Council
Fourth District Councilman

Get Your Garden Space Now!!!

Hello Butchertown-

I am pleased to be announcing new gardening and local food options to the Butchertown and surrounding communities!!! The good folks up at the Green Building on Market St have recently acquired raised garden beds that will be for rent to the public. Many Butchertown residents are renters or deal with a lot of shade, which isn't always conducive growing edibles, but your solution is here! Go in with a friend or neighbor and for $25 per year you can have your own garden. The plots are 4x8 feet, and water is available on site- just gather your favorite seedlings and watch your fresh, local food supply flourish. Questions on how you can have your own plot of paradise can be directed to Eric Burnette, his email address is easy- eric.burnette@gmail.com.

This is a great way to enjoy fresh foods, meet new people, and become active in the community. Hope to see you there!



(Photo from Scout Regalia)