Youth Opportunity Showcase

Saturday, February 13, 2010

10 am – 2 pm

Kentucky International Convention Center

221 Fourth Street

Cascade Ballroom “C” (Fourth and Market streets)

FREE PARKING: 4th Street Live garage, 425 S. Fifth Street

6th & Main garage, 120 S. 6th Street

Job Fair for Young Adults (ages 16 to 21)

Job training • Education • Internships • Community service

FREE TO JOB SEEKERS AND EMPLOYERS

Do you know a teenager who will need a summer job?

Invite them to attend the FREE Youth Opportunity Showcase on Saturday, February 13, 2010.

Please forward this information to all interested parties.

What is the Youth Opportunity Showcase?

Youth Opportunity Showcase is a one-stop-shop location where your teens can apply for and get information about:

• Summer Jobs
• Internships
• Volunteer opportunities
• Recreational opportunities
• College and Training opportunities

Over 1,000 jobs were available for applicants in 2009!

Who Should Attend?

All young adults ages 16 – 21

What to Bring:

Dress for Success!  Dress for an interview and bring identification, several copies of your resume and a reference list (list of 3-5 names who will be a reference for you with the contact’s address and phone number).

Computer Stations:

Computer stations will be available for online applications.

Youth Opportunity Showcase

Saturday, February 13, 2010

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Kentucky International Convention Center

221 Fourth Street, Cascade Ballroom “C” – enter near Market and Fourth Streets

FREE Parking:

• 4th Street Live garage, 425 S. Fifth Street
• 6th & Main garage, 120 S. 6th Street

Sponsored By:

KentuckianaWorks, Louisville Metro Office of Youth Development, Youth Opportunities Unlimited and the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training

For More Information:

Contact KentuckianaWorks at 574-2500 or visit www.kentuckianaworks.org

Charissa Acree, who volunteers in Councilman Hawkins’ office, is helping Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana by raising funds to make a difference in children’s lives.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is one of the most successful and established organizations that provides one-to-one mentoring to kids in the country. Charissa’s is participating in Bowl For Kids’ Sake and is seeking sponsors.  For more information, please click here to visit Charissa’s website.

Valley High School Alumni Association Alumni Social

Thursday, February 18, 2010

At Valley High School in the old gym

7:00 PM Alumni Social

(6:00 PM Brief Board Meeting)

For more information, please contact Earl Wilhelm at 935-6181 or  EWilhelmjr@aol.com

Metro Animal Services Waives Late Fees During February

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day Metro Animal Services (MAS) wants to help animal lover’s express their love by giving pets and their owners a gift. MAS is waiving the licensing late fees for cats, dogs and ferrets whose licenses have either lapsed or have never been purchased. Late fees can range from $47.50 for altered animals to $195.00 for unaltered animals. Waiving these fees will save pet owners a lot money and is an opportunity not to be missed! The fees will be waived from February 1 – 28, and will only be waived for individuals who license their animals using the online licensing tool available at www.louisvilleky.gov/animalservices. The online tool charges a $3 processing fee.  Licensing fees will not be waived for those licenses purchased by mail, walk-in or at veterinary offices.

The MAS online pet licensing application allows Louisville residents to go online and obtain a new or renewed animal license in a quick and secure online transaction. The application was developed in partnership with Louisville Metro Government and Kentucky Interactive, a Frankfort-based company which runs Kentucky.gov, the official website for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Maintaining a current pet license is one of the most basic responsibilities of owning a pet. “A license can be a pet’s only form of communication. It is one of the most obvious ways of telling someone who they belong to,” said Jackie Gulbe, assistant director for community relations. “It insures that if a pet were lost, it would be sheltered in a safe environment and its needs would be met until it was claimed by the owner. People should think of a license as a donation toward an insurance policy.”

FIVE-DAY CITIZENS TRIBUTE TO HONOR FALLEN VETERANS, LAW ENFORCEMENT & FIREFIGHTERS DURING MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

VOLUNTEERS & SPONSORS (Kid Friendly Event) NEEDED

THURSDAY, MAY 27, THROUGH MONDAY, MAY 31

Over a five-day period hundreds of Volunteers are needed to place 35,000 flags to honor our Fallen Heroes.  10,000 U.S. Flags will be placed in the Jefferson Square Flag Field, on the corner of Sixth and Jefferson, and 25,000 more flags will be used to create the letters “USA” on the Great Lawn at the Waterfront.  These Louisville Flags will go on to decorate the graves of U.S. Veterans around the World in all eleven countries.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN LOUISVILLE: ( Please Email or Call NOW )

Individuals & Groups may Volunteer between 9 AM and 7 PM

Flag Placers and Flag Tenders

On-Site Staff for Admin & Info Tent

Photographer & Videographer Needed

Volunteer Overnight Security for flags, 5 nights, 2 locations

SPONSORS NEEDED: ( Please Email or Call NOW )

Sponsor 1,000 Grave Flags for $1,000  (We need 35,000 Grave Flags)

Help feed our Volunteers, they will be downtown for five days

Overnight security for flags, 5 nights, 2 locations

JEFFERSON SQUARE EVENT Thursday, May 27 to Monday, May 31

To honor All Kentucky and Indiana Fallen Heroes. Flags4Vets Volunteers will start placing grave flags in Jefferson Square at 10 am on Thursday, May 27, and continue through Friday, until 10,000 flags have been placed.  These flags honor all Fallen Heroes from Kentucky, including Military, Law Enforcement, and Firefighters.  Volunteers are needed to place flags and to provide security for all of the flags and equipment.

WATERFRONT EVENT Saturday, May 29 through Monday, May 31

To honor All of America’s Living & Fallen Heroes. Volunteers will form the letters “USA” using 25,000 flags from Veterans’ graves.  When completed, the letters will each be 150 feet high and all three letters together will spread across one and a half football fields.  These 25,000 flags honor all of America’s Living & Fallen Heroes, from every State in the Union, including Military, Law Enforcement, and Firefighters.  This event will culminate with a Memorial Day Observance.  Volunteers are needed to place flags and to provide security for flags and equipment.

Email:  moore@theUSflag.com or  Call:  (502)-931-0374

Frederick Moore, MBA, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Flags4Vets

National Flags for Veterans’ Graves Program

(502) 931-0374

www.Flags4Vets.com

BBB Lottery Scam – Scam artists are posing as the BBB in order to steal tens of thousands of dollars from victims who are led to believe they have won a lottery. Consumers are contacted on the phone or by e-mail by someone claiming to be an employee of the BBB. They were told that they won a lottery and that they must wire money to get their prize. In some cases, the scammers used the names of real BBB employees, directing victims to legitimate bios and profiles on BBB’s Website. BBB does NOT run a lottery nor award prizes to consumers. If you receive a call or e-mail like this, contact your BBB.

Grandparent Scam – A local couple was scammed out of over $4,000 after they received a call from what they thought was a cop who said their granddaughter was in jail in Canada. The “cop” told the couple that the granddaughter needed money for bond and a lawyer, and asked them to wire the money. The “cop” even let them talk to their “granddaughter,” who told them not to tell anybody about what happened. Seniors across the country have lost thousands of dollars to this scam.

Cragslist Job Scam - Not all job postings are what they seem to be on Craigslist. BBB’s across the country are receiving inquiries on questionable job offers through the site. Some signs that the posting could be a scam: They fail to list a specific location for the job, they list a salary that seems too good to be true, They post a government job or “work from home” opportunity, misspellings, no job contact information, and asking for your personal information.

Credit Card Act – Circle February 22nd on your calendar. That’s the day new protections will kick in for cardholders across the U.S. BBB recommends all cardholders familiarize themselves with the new provisions. Some of the new regulations include: more notice for new interest rate changes, older age restrictions, new rules for monthly statements, over the limit opt-in, and more. For a breakdown of the Credit Card Act of 2009 go to creditcards.com.

IRS Scams – At this time of the year, scam artists take advantage of taxpayers. Whether it’s a phone call, an e-mail, or a text message, be wary if it claims to be from the IRS. The message may ask for you to provide personal information. This is a phishing attempt to steal your identity. The IRS will only contact you via the United States Postal Service.

Refund Anticipation Loans – BBB warns to use caution when dealing with refund anticipation loans, which are offered by some tax preparers. These loans give taxpayers an amount equal to their tax refund within 24 hours, but the fees and high interest rates associated with the loan could cost taxpayers in the end. BBB suggests that if it is absolutely necessary to have a refund immediately, shop around. RAL fees vary by tax preparer.

UBI Payment Services promises thousands of dollars in exchange for answering a simple math question and providing a signature. Consumers across the country are receiving letters that state a “guarantee to receive $5,000″ if they sign a document and solve a puzzle. The company has an “F” rating with the BBB. UBI Payment Services does business under at least 35 different names. Go to www.bbb.org for a list.

Text Messaging Scams – Scam artists are using text messaging more and more to steal your personal information. The text message purport to be from banks, credit unions, credit card companies, the IRS, and more. The urgent message warns the recipient that his or her account or identity has been compromised. A toll free number is provided for a response, and when it is called the consumer is asked to verify a credit card number or other form of identification. Delete these text messages!

‘809’ Area Code Scams – Be suspicious of e-mails, texts, or messages referring you to call a phone number with an 809 area code. The message often sounds like an emergency, and you are told to call the 809 number right away. When you call, you reach a pay-per-call number in the British Virgin Islands, and are billed $25 or more for dialing the number.

Looking for Love? Consumers spend hundreds of millions of dollars on dating services each year. Whether it’s a matchmaking service or online dating, BBB receives a large number of complaints on the industry. If you plan to use these services, be sure to check out the company with the BBB first, don’t fall for exaggerated advertising claims, and before you sign a contract be sure to read it carefully. Go to www.bbb.org for more information.

It’s time to start working on your taxes! If you plan to hire someone to do your taxes this year, BBB recommends you choose a preparer wisely. Tax payers are ultimately responsible for everything on their return, even if it is prepared by someone else.  Reputable tax preparers will ask tax payers several questions to determine whether expenses, deductions and other items qualify and remind clients that they need to keep careful and complete records in order to substantiate information on their tax return.

The BBB offers these tips when choosing a tax preparer:

• Check to see if the preparer has any questionable history with the Better Business Bureau, the state’s board of accountancy for Certified Public Accountants or the state’s bar association for attorneys. Find out if the preparer belongs to a professional organization that requires its members to pursue continuing education and also holds them accountable to a code of ethics.

• Ask family and friends for recommendations.

• Find out what the service fees are before the return is prepared. Avoid preparers who base their fee on a percentage of the amount of your refund or who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers.

• Only use a tax professional that signs your tax return and provides you with a copy for your records.

• Avoid tax preparers that ask you to sign a blank tax form.

• Determine if the preparer’s credentials meet your needs. Does your state have licensing or registration requirements for paid preparers? Is he or she an enrolled agent, CPA or attorney? If so, the preparer can represent taxpayers before the IRS on all matters, including audits, collections, and appeals. Other return preparers can represent taxpayers only in audits regarding a return signed as a preparer.

• Before you sign your tax return, review it and ask questions.

You’ll also want to avoid any tax scams. Remember, the IRS will not contact you by phone or email and ask for your personal information. They will contact you by mail, only. Go to www.irs.gov for more information on tax related scams. You can contact the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org or call 1-800-388-2222.

Doss High School Students Job Shadow AT&T Kentucky President and Employees in $100 Million Effort to Reduce School Drop-Out Rate

With 1.2 million American students dropping out of high school every year, AT&T * and Junior Achievement today announced the next phase of the AT&T / JA Worldwide Job Shadow Initiative. Approximately 60 students from Doss High School will participate in a local job shadowing session today with AT&T Kentucky President Mary Pat Regan and several other local employees.

The event is part of a multimillion dollar, multiyear job shadow program to help strengthen student success and workforce readiness. High school students “shadow” AT&T employees during their regular work day to see the educational background and skills they will need to succeed on the job.

“As a retired high school principal and vice chair of the House Education Committee, I know firsthand how important job shadowing is to our young people,” said State Rep. Charles Miller. “This partnership between our business, education and community leaders provides a great opportunity for learning and gives students a look into what it takes to make it in the workforce.”

“Doss High School is in my district and I want nothing more than to see these students succeed,” said Louisville Metro Councilman Doug Hawkins. “When students see how hard work in the classroom can pay off in the real world, it gives them added incentive to graduate and continue working toward their dreams.”

Recent findings from a report evaluating students who participated in the first year of the AT&T / JA Worldwide Job Shadow Initiative show the program is making an impact and changing attitudes about staying in school:

• All students felt that it is important to graduate from high school, and ninety-nine percent felt confident in their ability to do so months after participating in the program.
• Eighty-nine percent of students felt that participating in Job Shadow made them realize the importance of staying in school.
• Ninety-four percent indicated that they had improved their ability to set goals as a result of Job Shadow and 90 percent reported that they utilized this skill months after the program.
• Ninety-four percent agreed that their ability to identify occupations that interest them had improved as a result of Job Shadow and ninety-two percent had researched careers that interest them months after the program.

“We applaud Rep. Miller, Councilman Hawkins and Junior Achievement for all the work they do to help students succeed in the classroom and the workforce,” said Mary Pat Regan, president of AT&T Kentucky. “This is all about giving students more of the tools that they need to compete for good jobs.”

Jack E. Kosakowski, president of Junior Achievement USA, noted, “Job shadowing not only provides students with valuable workplace experience, it provides them with mentoring and role models. These experiences help prepare our young people to effectively compete with their peers from the U.S. and around the world as the global economy becomes increasingly interdependent and interconnected.”

“This opportunity to job shadow will help our students make career decisions and better prepare them for the workforce,” said Doss High School Principal Glenn Baete. “Job shadowing is a great way to learn and we are glad to have this opportunity available to our students.”

Many of the students dropping out of high school are dropping out despite the fact they have passing grades.  They simply don’t see the relevance of their school work today to their future life success.

That’s why the $5.5 million Job Shadow initiative is a key pillar of the AT&T Aspire program, one of the largest-ever corporate commitments to high school retention and workforce readiness. It provides a chance for students to explore potential future careers and connect classroom learning to real life opportunities.

The initiative is committed to reaching 100,000 high school students over five years. During the 2008-2009 school year, over 13,000 students in over 100 cities participated in the initiative.

For more information, contact:

Mike Marker

AT&T Public Affairs

317-989-7152

mm8963@att.com

Interactive Snow Map
You can find out which streets around you are cleared during a snow event and get live updates on street clearing progress from the comfort of your own home. Check progress in your area now.

If you have questions or would like to report an issue regarding snow removal, please call Metro Call at 311 or 574-5000.  After calling Metro Call, please call Councilman Hawkins at 574-1125 so that he may follow up with your request.

Questions about Snow and Ice Removal

How do I find out if my street is part of the snow plan? You will find a map on our website that allows you to type in the address of your home or business. You can then zoom in or out to find city snow routes in your neighborhood.

What roads are part of the Louisville Metro snow plan? Snow coordinators in Metro Government review the snow and ice removal plan each year. Some routes are added and others are subtracted, but the goal remains the same – to make sure our city keeps moving and our residents can get to school, work or the hospital. The city clears about one-third of the 3,000 miles of roads in this community, which includes major thoroughfares, school routes, hospital routes and arteries that feed major employers. Another third is cleared by the state, small cities and private contractors, and the remaining third is neighborhood streets that are not cleared. New this snow season: The city will maintain an additional 315 miles of state highways that have been incorporated into the snow plan. As part of a new agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Louisville crews now maintain most state roads and highways in Louisville. While the state will continue to clear interstates, the Louisville Snow Team will take over roads like Breckinridge Lane and Beulah Church Road.

What should I do if my street is not part of the snow plan? If your street is not part of the snow plan, check with your neighbors or homeowner’s association to see if a private contractor may be an option for your block. Generally, this is not an issue for most residents because ice and snow melt before crews can clear neighborhood streets.

Who’s in charge of snow removal? Louisville Metro’s snow-fighting team is comprised of Public Works, Solid Waste Management, Metro Parks and the Metropolitan Sewer District.

What are crews doing when they’re driving in the snow without their plows lowered? Many of our brine distributors and salt trucks are also equipped with plows. So, if you see our trucks in your neighborhood and the plow are not lowered, our crews are likely treating roads with salt or brine. Conditions on roadways can sometimes deteriorate if a snow-covered road is plowed – the pavement may become coated with a compacted layer of ice.

Who is responsible for clearing parking lots? City crews are responsible for clearing government-owned parking lots. Local business owners will require the services of a private contractor to clear their parking lots. The city asks that private contractors refrain from covering fire hydrants and depositing plowed snow in the streets.

National Weather Service Center Predicts Potential Winter Storm Friday and Friday Night For Louisville

A storm system is expected to develop across Texas Thursday and move across the Deep South Friday and Friday night.  Moisture riding over the top of this system will generate light to moderate snowfall starting early Friday morning and continuing into Saturday across our region.  The heaviest snows likely will fall in the period from 9 AM Friday morning to 10 PM Friday evening, with snow beginning as early as 5 AM Friday across south-central Kentucky.  The latest forecast calls for snow totals of up a half a foot possible across parts of far South-Central Kentucky and the Lake Cumberland areas.  Further north across the Louisville/Lexington corridor, totals around 1-3 inches are possible.

There is still large uncertainty in the exact track of the storm system moving by to our south.  A more southern track would mean less snowfall from the amounts given above.  Residents of and visitors to the region should stay tuned to the latest forecast updates on this developing winter storm.

Tips for Staying Warm & Dry from the Louisville Metro Health & Wellness

•             Wear layers of cotton and wool clothing to help insulate the body

•             Slacks are warmer than dresses or skirts.  Long socks and leotards will protect the legs.

•             Mittens will keep your hands warmer than gloves.

•             Don’t drink alcohol when outside during extreme cold temperatures.

•             Be careful shoveling snow.  Overexertion may lead to a heart attack.  The signs of a heart attack include chest or arm pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, pain, sweating, and dizziness.

•             Stock your vehicle with blankets, a flashlight, a tin of food that requires no cooking, jumper cables, and a sack of sand and make sure you have adequate fuel in your tank before the trip.

Tips from the Louisville Water Co to prevent water lines from freezing

•        Wrap exposed pipes with insulating material. Pipes under kitchen sinks and in crawl spaces, near windows or in unheated basements are prime areas for pipes to freeze.

•        Locate your inside water shut-off valve. If pipes burst during freezing conditions, you can save valuable time and prevent water damage if you can turn the water off inside the house. The shut-off valve may be located in the basement, under the kitchen sink, in a utility closet, near the hot water heater, or even under the house in the crawl space. If you cannot locate or do not have a shut-off valve, call a plumber.

•        If you think you’ve found the shut-off valve, and to be sure it’s the right one, try turning it off.  If all your faucets are without water, you’ve found the right one. If not, try again.

•        Once you locate the shut-off valve, place a waterproof tag over it, so it’s easy for you and your family members to find if there’s ever a problem. If you need a tag, call our Customer Service department at 583-6610.

•        If your house has a crawl space, cover outside vents to prevent winter winds from entering and freezing pipes.

•        If your house has a slab foundation, keep the garage door closed. Water pipes are often located under the concrete floors of the garage.

•        If you’ve had problems with frozen pipes in the past, try running a small steady stream of water from a cold water faucet in extremely cold weather. The cost of the water is small compared to dealing with the cost and inconvenience of frozen or burst pipes.  Make sure you run the water from a faucet children don’t use — they may inadvertently shut off the faucet after using it.

Concerns about black ice

City managers are concerned about the formation of black ice on roads.  Black ice is a thin glaze of ice that forms on streets and is nearly undetectable to drivers.  The ice often forms after snow melts and re-freezes, or after a period of freezing rain.  Motorist should increase the distance between them and the vehicle in front.