Archive for January, 2010

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.

Last month I tried to warn our community about the Mayor taking over the county fire districts by stacking the boards of trustees.  Today, I learned Councilman Dan Johnson has taken the first steps to merge the city and suburban fire departments.  Johnson filed a resolution asking the state legislature to look at merging the city and county fire departments.  I strongly disagree and oppose this legislation.

Please call Councilman Johnson at 574-1121
and ask him to withdraw this resolution.

Recently, the Mayor ignored the outcome of a fire board election in Pleasure Ridge Park.  Instead of seating the winner of the election, the Mayor handpicked someone to serve on PRP’s Fire Board.  I warned that the Mayor was positioning his people so he would have more control over the suburban fire departments.

The county fire departments have millions of dollars that are collected from suburban property owners and that money should stay in their fire district. This is the first step in trying to grab the budgets of every suburban fire department.  This income stream can be bonded producing hundreds of millions of dollars, like a mortgage, which can be immediately spent.  The money, however, does not necessarily go toward fire equipment, as it should, but could go to Cordish Company or other less seemly projects; like was the mayor’s intention with the Library Tax.

Abramson decided years ago not to honor the contract of city fire fighters.  As a result, he lost a lawsuit, multiple times, and now has dumped the responsibility of paying the city fire fighters back pay on the next administration.

A merger of city and county fire districts means that taxes collected in the former county could be spent anywhere in the city.

A merger would also abolish volunteer fire departments and put the city in control of all operations of every fire department in Louisville.

You need look no further than the city fire departments’ condition of their stations and their equipment to know they are underfunded, unappreciated, and ill-equipped.

As always, I will continue the fight to keep our suburban fire departments running independently of the Mayor.

Our county fire departments do a fine job in protecting our community and efficiently utilize our tax dollars to best benefit the citizens.

The Wal-Mart gift card scam has apparently made its way to Kentucky. A local consumer contacted the BBB to inquire about a text message she received, advising her that she won a $200 Wal-Mart gift card. When she called the number in the text message (877-232-5149) she was told that in

Kentucky the gift card was for $180 and that she would need to pay $7.60 for shipping/handling fees. She was then asked to provide her credit or debit card number. Luckily, the inquirer was skeptical. She hung up the phone and decided to call the BBB before giving out any personal information.

Wal-Mart does award gift cards if you take part in a customer service survey found on your receipt. But a Wal-Mart spokesperson says the company tells consumers they’ve won through certified mail and a phone call. Wal-Mart will never ask for your personal or banking information.

These text messaging scams are getting more and more popular. It’s called “shmishing,” scams by short message services (SMS), or text. BBB advises consumers to be wary of random message sent to your phone, especially anything to do with finances. BBB suggests if you receive a message like this, do not reply to it, don’t call the number in the text, and don’t click on any hyperlinks. DELETE the message!  Also, report the message to the FCC, the FTC, and the BBB.  If you are still concerned over the text message, contact the company direct. Don’t rely on the text message. And, if you have to pay for text messaging, contact your provider as soon as possible to dispute the charge.

For more information on consumer tips and scams, go to www.bbb.org or call 1-800-388-2222.

Energy Management Workshops

Watch Video!

Project Warm’s “Do-It-Yourself” Workshops, made possible with funding from LG&E-E.ON U.S. and Metro Louisville Government, help families take more control of their LG&E usage.  Attendees leave with the knowledge & the supplies to take simple, effective energy-saving actions at home

• Learn quick and easy energy saving tips.
• Get a demo of how to install interior plastic storm window covers to seal out drafts and make your home more comfortable.
• Find out how to better manage your energy costs and stop losing money this winter.
• Get a FREE Weatherization Kit to seal-up all the air leaks in your home!

IMPORTANT:

• Workshops are free but registration is required.
• Register by calling host site BEFORE workshop: leave message with name & phone.  You will then be registered. You will only be called back if the schedule changes.
• Workshops start on time. Supplies will be distributed at end of workshop.
• Check for updates or cancellations here (www.projectwarm.org) or call us at 636-WARM (9276).

Interested in hosting a Energy Management Workshop?

Please download this registration packet and return to the Project Warm office.

If you have any questions, call us at (502) 636-9276 or e-mail frank@projectwarm.org.

Upcoming Workshops (more coming soon!)

JANUARY 2010		Time	Location	Address	Zip Code	Call to Register
MON	Jan. 11	6:00PM	Farnsley Community School	3400 Lees Lane	40216	448-9799
TUES	Jan. 12	6:30PM	Cochran Elementary School	500 W. Gaulbert Ave.	40203	485-8844
THURS	Jan. 14	6:30PM	Fairdale Community School	1001 Fairdale Road	40118	485-8100
FRI	Jan. 15	10:30AM	LG&E (E.On) LOBBY	820 W. Broadway	40202	636-9276
FRI	Jan. 15	12:15PM	LG&E (E.On) LOBBY	820 W. Broadway	40202	636-9276
WED	Jan. 20	6:00PM	Southwest Community Ministries	9800 Stonestreet Road	40272	935-0310
MON	Jan. 25	1:00PM	Rangeland Elementary FRC	1701 Rangeland Road	40219	485-8113
TUES	Jan. 26	6:30PM	Cane Run Elementary FRC	3951 Cane Run Road	40211	485-8193

In the wake of the earthquake disaster in Haiti, Americans are donating via text message more than ever before. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance advises donors that giving through text can be a safe and easy way to give—but you should still use caution.

Within days following the disaster in Haiti, it was widely reported that more than $3 million was donated through text message to such organizations as the Red Cross and others.

While it is a convenient way to donate, donors should still do their due diligence to make sure their money is going to trustworthy charities, not to scam artists. BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips on giving through text messages:

• Confirm the number directly with the source. This is an emerging method for donating. It is ripe for exploitation by scammers.
• Be aware that text donations are not immediate. Depending on the text message service used by the charity, text donations can take anywhere from 30-90 days to be transferred to the designated charity. If you would like the donation to be received immediately by the charity, you can give online through the charity Web site, by calling the charity directly or by sending a check in the mail.
• Review the fine print. When you give to a charity through text message, you might also be signing yourself up to receive text message updates from the charity in the future. A charity should include the details of its text campaign on its Web site so you can see what you’re signing up for and how you can opt out.
• Research the charity. Giving wisely to a charity isn’t just about making sure that the solicitation isn’t coming from scammers. Wise donors make sure their donations are going to charities that are best equipped to help in the relief efforts and will responsibly use the money for its intended purpose.

BBB Wise Giving Alliance has compiled a list of charities which are seeking to provide assistance in response to the earthquake in Haiti and meet BBB Standards for Accountability at http://www.bbb.org/us/haiti-earthquake-relief/.

As immediate relief needs are assessed in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, many Americans are looking for ways to help by donating to a charity. The BBB Wise Giving Alliance warns that, as occurred following the tsunami in 2004 and Katrina in 2005, fraudulent charities will likely emerge to try and scam donations from well-meaning Americans.

“Whenever a major disaster occurs, in the U.S. or abroad, scam artists come out of the woodwork,” says Reanna Smith-Hamblin, Vice President/Communications of the BBB. “Consumers need to be sure their money is going to legitimate relief organizations.”

BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips to help Consumers decide where to direct donations:

Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity. Be cautious when relying on third-party recommendations such as bloggers or other Web sites, as they might not have fully researched the listed relief organizations. The public can go to www.bbb.org/charity to research charities and relief organizations to verify that they are accredited by the BBB and meet the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Be wary of claims that 100 percent of donations will assist relief victims. Despite what an organization might claim, charities have fund raising and administrative costs. Even a credit card donation will involve, at a minimum, a processing fee. If a charity claims 100 percent of collected funds will be assisting earthquake victims, the truth is that the organization is still probably incurring fund raising and administrative expenses.  They may use some of their other funds to pay this, but the expenses will still be incurred.

Be cautious when giving online.

Be cautious about online giving, especially in response to spam messages and emails that claim to link to a relief organization. In response to the tsunami disaster in 2004, there were concerns raised about many Web sites and new organizations that were created overnight allegedly to help victims.

Find out if the charity has an on-the-ground presence in the impacted areas.

Unless the charity already has staff in the affected areas, it may be difficult to get new aid workers to quickly provide assistance.  See if the charity’s website clearly describes what they can do to address immediate needs.

Find out if the charity is providing direct aid or raising money for other groups.

Some charities may be raising money to pass along to relief organizations.  If so, you may want to consider “avoiding the middleman” and giving directly to charities that have a presence in the region. Or, at a minimum, check out the ultimate recipients of these donations to ensure the organizations are equipped to effectively provide aid.

Gifts of clothing, food or other in-kind donations.

In-kind drives for food and clothing—while well intentioned— may not necessarily be the quickest way to help those in need – unless the organization has the staff and infrastructure to be able to properly distribute such aid. Ask the charity about their transportation and distribution plans. Be wary of those who are not experienced in disaster relief assistance.

For more information on charities, go to www.bbb.org or call 1-800-388-2222.

Scholarship Applications

Valley Woman’s Club scholarship applications for high school seniors and second year students at JCTC have been sent to the school’s counselors.

This year the club will award $1,200 to four high school seniors and to one JCTC student.

REQUIREMENTS: Must live in the 40272 zip code, show a financial need and have a minimum of a 3.0 Grade Point Average.

Applications must be obtained from your school counselor.  Applications with all completed information, letter of recommendation, and a transcript MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN MARCH 15, 2010.

All necessary information can be found on the application.

Walmart Voucher Scam – The text message says you’ve won a $200 Walmart voucher and tells you to call an 877 number to claim your prize. When you call, the person says to get the voucher, they need your credit card information to pay for a $9.90 shipping fee. This is a scam! Walmart does award gift cards if you take part in a customer service survey found on your receipt, but consumers find out they have won through certified mail and a phone call. Walmart will never ask for personal or banking information.

‘Twilight’ Casting Call Scam – Scammers who are claiming to be casting “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” are targeting young fans through e-mails and fake casting call advertisements on fan sites. The e-mails implore those who are interested in walk-on parts to apply immediately with impending deadlines, promising that no experience is necessary and pay ranges from $80-250, depending on the role. If “Breaking Dawn” does start hiring extras, it will be widely advertised in the media. Also, there will be no need to pay to register at a Web site in order to find out casting details.

It’s TAX TIME! Choose a tax preparer wisely! BBB suggests before you hire a tax professional, you 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. Only use a tax preparer that signs your tax return and provides you with a copy of your records. Avoid anyone who asks you to sign a blank tax form. Remember, you are ultimately responsible for everything on your tax return. For more information go to www.bbb.org.

Peel, Inc. is an Internet company that sells a variety of home products under multiple names and Website addresses. The company has an F rating with the BBB due to over 2,200 complaints from across the country. Consumers allege undisclosed or unauthorized charges, lack of clearly disclosed shipping and/or membership fees, and deceptive advertising. According to its Website, Peel Inc. is currently not accepting new orders.

BBB Lottery Scam – Local residents are getting calls from scam artists who say they represent the Better Business Bureau and they have won a million dollars. Consumers say the phone number comes up as RESTRICTED on the caller ID. BBB is not giving away a million dollars!

Joining a gym? Verify membership terms before you make a commitment. Most common complaints to BBB on athletic clubs focus on contract disputes and billing issues. BBB recommends you learn how long the membership is, if there is automatic renewal, can you go month-to-month, what is included in the monthly fee, is there a sign-up fee, and what are your cancellation rights? Also, compare clubs and prices.  Always check with the BBB for a reliability report at www.bbb.org.

Microsoft/AOL Giveaway Scam – The claim: Internet users can receive a cash reward for forwarding messages to test a Microsoft/AOL e-mail tracking system. The truth: This is a long-running Internet hoax that has been circulating since 1997. The e-mail has changed companies and rewards over the years, but the con remains the same: fool Internet users to forwarding junk messages to friends. The pranksters get the last laugh.

Employment Scams – BBB urges job seekers to be cautious with online classified ads offering jobs. BBB often gets calls from job seekers who have been offered bogus employment opportunities online. The scammers try to obtain financial and personal information. While there are legitimate jobs posted on the sites, some of the scammers post these fake jobs on sites like Craigslist, Yahoo, Monster, and Career Builder.

Out of Work? Census jobs are available! Job hunters can apply for jobs now. Most hiring will take place in spring of 2010. Census workers usually work in their own communities, going door-to-door, conducting brief interviews. Census takers work about 20 to 40 hours per week, primarily in the evenings and on weekends. Job hunters can go to www.2010censusjobs.gov or call 1-866-861-2010 for more information.

Census Facts – U.S. Census workers will be going door-to-door from April to July 2010. To be sure you aren’t scammed, BBB offers these tips: A Census worker must present an ID that contains a Dept. of Commerce watermark and expiration date. The worker will provide you with a supervisor contact upon request and provide you with a letter from the Census Bureau. A Census worker will never ask for your social security number, bank account, or credit card numbers. Census workers also never solicit for donations and will never contact you via e-mail. For more information go to www.census.gov/2010census.

KYTC Crews Prepared to Battle Snow

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) road crews in the Louisville area are prepared for the snow that is predicted to fall across the region on Thursday morning.  Maintenance personnel have been watching the forecast and getting their trucks ready. State and contract crews will report to duty in advance of the winter storm.  Trucks will be dispatched to their routes and stand ready to treat the roadways when precipitation starts to fall.

District 5 personnel have the responsibility for clearing more than 2,400 miles of state-maintained highways in the counties of Bullitt, Franklin, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble.  Crews are prepared to work long hours clearing any accumulation from the roadways. 156 state and contract trucks are utilized to treat the roadways in these eight counties with 70 of these trucks concentrated on the interstates in Jefferson County.  Per an agreement with Louisville Metro government, the Metro Department of Public Works will be clearing snow and ice from all state routes in Jefferson County, excluding interstates.

The District 5 facilities combined have approximately 36,000 tons of salt and 140,000 gallons of liquid calcium chloride on hand to combat snow and ice this winter.

Motorists should always use extra caution when driving in winter weather and remember that bridges and overpasses typically freeze before surface-level roadways.

Motorists should remember these tips while driving in snow and ice:

• Make sure your vehicle is sufficiently winterized – check the battery, antifreeze level, heater, defroster, wipers and windshield washer.
• Dress warmly for the weather –in layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, in anticipation of unexpected emergencies.
• Try to keep your gas tank at least two-thirds full to prevent fuel line freezing and to prepare for possible lengthy delays on the roadway.
• Make sure a friend or relative is aware of your travel route.
• Carry a cell phone.
• Make sure your vehicle has an emergency care kit. It should include jumper cables, flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid, an ice scraper, blankets, nonperishable food, a first aid kit, and traction material.
• Check the forecast and call 511 or visit 511.ky.gov for the latest condition reports before traveling. Avoid nonessential travel if conditions are dangerous.
• Drive carefully. Allow plenty of time to get to your destination. Do not use cruise control.
• Remember that bridges and exit and entrance ramps can be icy when other areas are not.
• Stopping in snow requires more braking distance than stopping on dry pavement – up to four times more distance. Make sure to put plenty of distance between yourself and the vehicle ahead.
• Be visible. Dull, cloudy days will cut down on visibility, so drive using low-beam headlights.
• Steer into the skid. Stay calm and ease your foot off the gas while carefully steering in the direction you want the front of your vehicle to go.
• During significant winter weather events, the KYTC will provide media outlets with updated road condition reports throughout the day and night.

Road conditions are described as follows:

• Wet pavement – Ice could form as temperatures drop.
• Partly covered – Markings may be obscured by snow, slush or ice.
• Mostly covered by snow, slush or ice.
• Completely covered by snow, slush or ice.
• Impassable – Conditions unsuitable for all but emergency travel.

The Kentucky SAFE Patrol – Safety Assistance for Freeway Emergencies – operates seven days a week on Kentucky interstates and parkways. SAFE Patrol drivers are equipped with blankets, shovels, reflective cones, auto fluids and other equipment to get motorists back on the road safely. Motorists can request SAFE Patrol by calling 1-877-FOR-KYTC (1-877-367-5982).

For up-to-date traffic and travel information, inside Kentucky dial 511 and outside Kentucky call toll free at 1-866-737-3767.  Information can also be obtained by logging onto www.511.ky.gov.

Forest Hills Neighborhood Meeting has been Rescheduled

The Forest Hills Neighborhood Meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 7, 2010 at the Southwest Government Center has been canceled due to expected inclement weather.

A new meeting date has been rescheduled for  A new meeting date has been rescheduled for Wednesday, January 13 at 6:30 PM at the Southwest Government Center.

All residents wishing to form a Block Watch Program in Forest Hills Neighborhood are invited to attend this informational meeting.  The group is seeking residents who can volunteer their time as a Block Watch Captain for their street.  In addition, residents will discuss the possibility of reinstating their neighborhood as an association.

For more information, please call James Givens at 645-2213