Inside this Issue: Lexington Wins Grant for Green Business Competition

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Crawfish Festival Coming to the Red Mile

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New Parks Director Named

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Gem of the District 3

Clooneys Host South Pacific

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Garden Chemistry 4

Birding Festival 5

May 2, 2014

Bullet Points of Interest:

138th Edition

Details for the District

5th District Newsletter News and announcements from

around our community

The Tates Creek Sidewalk Project is nearing comple-tion. The concrete work is finished and the remaining asphalt work should be wrapped up today. Striping operations also start today and will continue into next week. Also next week, sig-nal work will take place at Mt. Tabor Road. Crews laying sod have experi-enced some issues with those materials and will continue to monitor the sod, replacing it if neces-sary.

The Arboretum’s Spring Plant Exchange will take place on Saturday, May 10th. Plants are to be deliv-ered beginning at 9:00 a.m. The exchange begins promptly at 10:00 a.m. The cost is $2/Friends Free.

D ear Derby Neighbors! As it was a fifth Tuesday this

week there was no regular work session. Instead we had a Council of the Whole meeting to deal with broad budget themes in the Mayor’s Proposed Budget. While there were good questions all around, my comments tended to be more cautionary. As with previous economic cycles that effect our local economy, both this pro-posed and last year’s adopted budget rely on increased revenue based on increased job growth. As jobs are added or enhanced the “payroll” tax that earners pay in-creases too. I have no qualm with budget making based on solid defensible projections, but as we evaluate the plan before us I want to make sure we don’t fall into old habits. Before we authorize more debt or new jobs I want to make sure those long term assumptions of payment are both wise and that we truly can afford what we decide to do. As we delve into policy and specifics I’ll update you here. As part of the stakeholder group work-ing to formalize a program to present to Council for affordable housing and home-lessness, our first meeting this week was plenary indeed. The group will meet every other week trying to bring a report with recommendations to the full Council for July 1st. The work may not be finished then but giving the Council a framework to consider over the summer recess is the goal for now. It promises to be an interest-ing discussion with outcomes relative to us all in one way or another. Background and detail work continues on the new Senior Citizens Center, and the design phase is soon to be wrapped up. The 32,923 square-foot building will be bid inclusive of all furnishings, window

treatments and the like to both cut down on cost and provide a cohesive experience. Plans for a bus stop at the facility are being discussed as well as sidewalks and/or trails that the neighborhood can use to access the bus stop. The neighborhood has also been assured that it will have a space for meet-ings in the center as well. The Council Clerk’s Office has identi-fied FY14 funding for restoration and re-pair of several historic mayoral portraits held in our Records Center and Archives. Portraits of former mayors Edward W. Dowden and James J. O’Brien will be sent to Wiebold Studios in Cincinnati for exten-sive restoration work, and portraits of James E. Davis, Jerry T. Frazer, William T. Congleton and E. Reed Wilson will be cleaned and restored locally. These por-traits had formerly been loaned to and dis-played at the Lexington History Museum. The goal is to identify display space within the Government Center following their re-turn, and also to provide biographical infor-mation on each of the mayors to go along with their portraits. Some of you may remember that last year we updated part of the Council Cham-ber and added four portraits to the room at that time. This follow up project helps us realize more about our past with beautiful artwork to enjoy it. For me, it’s Wicked Strong this Derby. One of my oldest friends is from New Eng-land and we wager each year—even if just in words—so as this beautiful horse honors Boston and its bombing victims, I find my-self drawn to it. On the first Saturday in May everyone’s a Kentuckian with glass in hand and song in heart. Here's to a win for you! My best, Bill

Finishing the Week Wicked Strong

Details for the District Page 2 138th Edition

O n Tuesday, Mayor Jim Gray named Brad Chambers, who has extensive experience in parks management and has worked as a consultant to parks around the country, director

of the Division of Parks and Recreation. “Our parks are very popular, but there’s lots of room to improve and build upon what we have,” Gray said. “Brad’s experience and expertise in growing public-private partnerships around parks projects is going to help us take our parks operation to the next level.” General Services Commissioner Geoff Reed, who supervises the Division of Parks and Recrea-tion, said there were over 100 applicants for the position. “Brad’s broad experience and national reputation in the Recreation field made him an excellent choice to move our system forward,” Reed said. In addition to his consulting work, Chambers, a retired Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves, has directed Parks operations in Georgia, Missouri and Tennessee. “I can’t wait to get started. I’m honored that Mayor Gray and Commissioner Reed have the confidence in my experience to have chosen me. Lexington has had a great sys-tem for a long time and I want to do everything possible to take us to the next level,” Chambers said. Chambers holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University and a bache-lor’s degree from the University of Tennessee. Lexington’s award-winning, nationally accredited parks attract well over 300,000 visitors each year and offer programming for all ages. Chambers succeeds Jerry Hancock, who retired last November.

Mayor Names New Director of Parks

L exington has been selected to receive $20,000 in sup-port of a local green business competition. ICLEI–

Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI USA) and Office Depot, Inc. announced the award today. The support includes in-kind contributions, software and techni-cal assistance to help enhance an existing green business competition, the LiveGreenLexington Games, now in its third year. The LiveGreenLexington Games is a friendly competition among local businesses to see who can have the most positive impact on the environment. The addi-tional resources will allow the city to improve current ef-forts and enhance the competition. Lexington was selected through a competitive call for applications that attracted interest from communities of all sizes from across the country. Lexington joins Houston, Texas, Cupertino, California, and West Palm Beach, Flor-ida as the only communities across America selected to re-ceive a $20,000 grant this year. Businesses in Lexington will complete the current LiveGreenLexington Games con-test this summer. The enhanced green business competition will be launched in the fall using the additional support from ICLEI and Office Depot, Inc. For more information on the current LiveGreenLexing-ton Games competition click here. Businesses will be able to sign up for the new competition on the same website once the competition is launched this fall.

Lexington to Ramp Up Green Business Challenge

B ourbon n’ Toulouse, Bayou Bluegrass Ca-

tering and Regard Law Group are joining forces to throw the 2nd Annual Kentucky Crawfish Festi-val on May 10th at The Red Mile Race Track. Bayou Bluegrass Catering will be boiling 5,000 pounds of live crawfish and serving Fried Catfish & Alligator Tails. Bourbon n’ Toulouse will be dishing up Jambalaya, Chicken Étouffée, Chicken Sauce Piquant and Black Beans & Corn. There will be other food vendors on site as well. Live music will be performed by The Tall Boys, Keith Hubbard and the Hubcats and Rebel Without a Cause. West Sixth Brewing will craft a “Crawfish Fest Ale” that will be available exclusively at the Kentucky Crawfish Festival on May 10th. Proof Fitness will be hosting a “fun run” on the one mile race track at The Red Mile. Race starts at 3:00 p.m. C o n t a c t P r o o f F i t n e s s t o r e g i s t e r (www.prooffitness.com). You can pre-order your crawfish and get more information by clicking here.

Crawfish Festival Enters Its Second Year

Gem of the District Page 3 138th Edition

T his week’s Gem of the District is a “sweet” addi-tion to the Chevy Chase area in every sense of

the word. From the white chocolate and coconut cookies to the hand-finished petit fours or caramel-frosted donuts, Donut Days gives a “hole” new rea-son to make a trip down Euclid Avenue. This week, we sat down with Charlene Olup and asked her how the bakery rolls. This is what she had to say. Q. First of all, tell us who you are and what you do. A. Our logo says it all: fresh, local, and iconic. Forty years ago, Neill Day transformed a Donut King into Donut Days, changing the original sign to include a pun on his last name. Over the years, the business expanded into a full-fledged bakery. Committed to crafting only the highest quality baked goods, Day and his family have fostered relation-ships with several generations of Lex-ingtonians. In 2010, Fred and Marie Wohlstein purchased the store from Day and in keeping with Day’s ideals, remains family-owned and intends to stay that way. Q. What are some of the specialties you create that we can expect when we walk in the door at Donut Days? Do you have any favorites? A. We make our donuts fresh daily, while most chains mass-produce and freeze their products. Each confection is painstakingly crafted by expert bakers with decades of experience. In addition to cakes, donuts, and pastries, we also are one of the only local bakeries who still make salt-rising bread, an Appalachian heirloom with a hearty bite. If you don’t know what to try first, our Chevy Chase staff wholeheartedly recommends the caramel-frosted yeast donut.

Q. You have part-nered with Argo Sons Coffee to pro-vide your coffee. Tell us about what makes this brew spe-cial. A. Based out of Louisville, Argo Sons Coffee is a craft roastery operat-ing in a music ware-house. All of their

beans are roasted in small batches daily, and at only ten pounds at a time, whereas most cof-fee producers roast in batches in the thou-sands. Argo Sons’ ex-acting standards pro-duce a distinctly flavor-ful cup with a full-bodied mouth-feel. Dedicated to keeping their operation ethical as well as delicious, Argo Sons only offers coffees of single-nation origin to ensure fair trade status.

They’re also selective about their partners; the Euclid Donut Days is currently the only establishment in Lexington that serves their beans and will soon be selling our own Donut Days House Blend for folks to take home and enjoy. Be sure to taste their current seasonal, the Campfire blend, a dark roast with a robust finish perfectly suited for dunking. Q. What made you decide to open

up shop in Chevy Chase and what invitation would you like to extend to your new patrons? A. After serving the Southland Drive community for 40 years, we have decided to share our rich bounty of baked goods with a broader audience and Euclid was the perfect Avenue to reach both the Chevy Chase locals and the University of Kentucky community. Our message is simple: Let’s build quality relationships around relationships, tradition, and good, quality baked goods. Q. Do you have any questions or concerns for Lex-ington? A. Glazed? Chocolate-frosted? Powdered? Dark roast? Medium roast?...Mind sharing?

Donut Days Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Donut Days opened for business on Monday.

Donut Days is located at 814 Euclid Avenue. Call (859) 269-8223 to order in advance.

Gem’s Days Are Glazed in Chevy Chase

138th Edition

The 5th District Newsletter is distrib-uted via e-mail to any Lexington resi-dent. I encourage leaders of the 31 ac-tive neighborhood associations in the 5th District to provide input for the newslet-ter and to distribute the newsletter to their members. Any-one wishing to re-ceive the newsletter may contact the 5th District Council of-fice via e-mail at bfarmer@lexingtonky.gov. If you wish to unsubscribe to the newsletter, e-mail jgies@lexingtonky.gov.

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5th District Council Member Lexington-Fayette Urban

County Council 200 East Main Street Lexington, KY 40507

Phone: (859) 258-3213 Fax: (859) 258-3838

E-mail: bfarmer@lexingtonky.gov

FROM THE OFFICE OF 5TH DISTRICT

COUNCILMEMBER BILL FARMER, JR.

Details for the District

F ollowing just over two months of renovation, the Kentucky Theatre will host a Re-Opening Celebration on Wednesday,

May 21st, featuring a free movie screening and popcorn. Special guests Nick and Nina Clooney will serve as host and hostess for the evening. All are welcome to attend. The Clooneys’ first date was at the Kentucky Theatre to see the classic movie, South Pacific. In celebration of the re-opening, The Friends of the Kentucky (The Friends) invited the Clooneys to attend and asked them to select the film for the evening. For sentimental reasons, South Pacific was their choice. The free event will begin at 7:00 p.m. with welcoming remarks from Nick Clooney. Seating will be available on a first come, first served basis. Patrons may “visit” their sponsored seat(s), but there is no guarantee that they can sit in their sponsored seat for this event. Free popcorn will also be served to all attend-ing. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Advance tickets can be picked up after 2:00 p.m., Sunday, May 18th, and after 5:00 p.m. Monday, May 19th, and Tuesday, May 20th. The day of the event, tickets can be picked up after 3:00 p.m. Patrons will be allowed to pick up two (2) tickets.

J oin the Living Arts & Science Center

for an evening of hands-on chemistry as you discover colors and aromas of the sum-mer garden. University of Kentucky chemistry professor, Anne Frances Miller will teach and demonstrate the way plants use the colors and perfumes of their flowers and fruits to attract pollinators and animals that can spread their seeds. There will be hands-on activities to re-veal plant pigments and concentrate fra-grances. You will also compare these with some common artificial dyes and fragrances, and even make some molecules to take home. Click here for more information.

Chemistry In Your Garden

Clooneys to Host South Pacific At the Kentucky Theatre

http://www.bluegrassbirdingfestival.com