“Mayor Betty” Receives Clean Air Award
On Nov. 14, the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District presented a Clean Air Champion Award to 81-year-old Sacred Heart Village resident Betty Shelton. Known as “Mayor Betty,” Shelton is the former mayor of Parkway Village, a sixth-class city within Louisville. She is also the head grounds keeper of Billy Goat Hill Community Garden, 2004 Payne St., in the Clifton neighborhood.

“Shelton spends many, many volunteer hours cutting the grass with an all-electric/battery-powered riding lawn mower, which we call the ‘Electric Goat,’” says Mike O’Leary, board chairman for Billy Goat Hill Community Garden. “It’s amazing to watch Mayor Betty maneuver the Electric Goat around the 42 designated raised garden beds and other obstacles within the garden.”

According to O’Leary, the mower was purchased in June 2011 from Ron Zipp of Southern Indiana Equipment, with a grant from Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh.  At that time, Billy Goat Hill Community Garden was the first in Jefferson County – and the second in the state of Kentucky – to have such a mower. Zipp attended the recent award presentation and, afterward, donated some battery-powered equipment to the garden: a weed eater, shrub trimmer and leaf blower.

Billy Goat Hill Community Garden’s purpose is to build community understanding and support through operating community vegetable and flower gardens or other environmental projects using sustainable practices to improve the environment. For more information about the organization‘s activities, visit www.billygoatgarden.com.

APH Accepting 2013 Hall of Fame Nominations
The American Printing House for the Blind, 1839 Frankfort Ave., is accepting nominations for the 2013 Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field. Nominees must have made significant contributions to improve the lives of those who are blind or visually impaired.

There are currently 50 inductees in the Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field. The nomination process for 2013 will close Friday, March 29, 2013. For nomination details and criteria, visit www.aph.org/hall_fame/nominate or contact Hall of Fame Curator Bob Brasher at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Macy’s Believe Campaign
Macy’s Department Stores at Oxmoor Center, 7900 Shelbyville Road, and Jefferson Mall, 4809 Outer Loop, are making a $1 donation (up to $1 million) to Make-A-Wish Foundation for every letter deposited at their letter-writing “Believe Stations.” This is the fifth year Macy‘s has held this nostalgic holiday campaign, inspired by the New York Sun’s famous 1897 editorial “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”

Believers of all ages have until Christmas Eve to prepare their stamped letters addressed to Santa at the North Pole and drop them into Santa’s special letter box at Macy‘s. Funds raised by letters delivered in Louisville directly support wishes granted to children in the Kentuckiana region.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. During the fiscal year ending in August of 2011, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana granted 863 wishes – the most wishes granted by any chapter in the organization’s history.

Writing campaigns at schools, churches and community organizations are encouraged. For more information and to track the number of letters received by Macy‘s, visit www.macys.com/believe. Visit www.wish.org for more information about Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Shift Your Shopping this Season with LIBA
For one lucky person, shopping locally this holiday season will yield more than just that warm, fuzzy feeling of supporting the local economy. The Louisville Independent Business Alliance has launched its annual Shift Your Shopping Contest, and this year it’s even easier to be eligible to win.  

The rules are simple: collect receipts from five member businesses by Jan. 7, 2013, mail in or present the receipts for review at Highland Cleaners or Feeders Supply locations; you’ll be entered into a drawing to win $1,000 in gift certificates to LIBA businesses. (Once receipts are verified, they are returned to the owner.)

The drawing for the winner will be broadcast on WAVE 3 Listens Live, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, at 12:30 p.m. The winner may choose from over 500 LIBA businesses where they can spend their $1,000. Secondary prizes will also be awarded, including gifts from A Taste of Kentucky, Babyology, Barkstown Road, Consider Boutique, eyedia, Grasshoppers Distribution, Heine Brothers’ Coffee, Lexie’s Trading Post, Twisted Chocolat, and Jacqueline Saltsman, LMT.

Contest details and a list of participating businesses can be found at www.keeplouisvilleweird.com.

Cave Hill Announces Photography Winners
The Cave Hill Heritage Foundation has announced the winners of its third annual photography contest, The Views of Cave Hill Cemetery. The winners were: Howard Keesy of New Haven, Ky.; and Gertrude Hudson, George H. Jones, Carmen Carter, Lisa Mohr, Dara Cross, Sonya Tucker, Millie Farmer and Jessica Knecht of Louisville. Winners each received gift certificates and other prizes.

The winning photographs are featured in a 2013 calendar, available for $15 at Cave Hill Cemetery, 701 Baxter Ave., and at local businesses. Winning photos may also be viewed at the Image Gallery, www.cavehillcemetery.com.

Calendar sponsors include K.T.’s Restaurant & Bar, Murphy’s Camera, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, the Louisville Bats, Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, The Comfy Cow, and Historic Locust Grove. Businesses interested in sponsoring the photography contest next year may call Michael Higgs at (502) 451-5630.

Girl Scouts, Bellarmine Look at Media Messages
What role, if any, do the media messages girls see and hear play in how they think and act? This is the question Girl Scouts and Bellarmine Activities Council recently teamed up to answer. On Nov. 7, about 200 community members gathered to watch “Miss Representation,” a 90-minute documentary exposing how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges what it sees as the media’s limited and often disapproving portrayals of women and girls.     

After the film, a panel of media and community leaders, moderated by educator, world-class athlete and Spalding University President Tori Murden McClure, discussed topics that included parental responsibilities as well as how advertising dollars affect what we see in the media.

The film and panel discussion were part of a series the Girls Scouts is launching called Conversations of Consequence.

During the discussion, panelist Dawne Gee, WAVE 3 news anchor, questioned how many of the issues discussed are due to the media and how many come from family. “Where are the parents and family members?” she asked. “We must all be aware of what we allow our children to watch, wear, say and be exposed to.” On the subject of bullying and abuse, she added, “I don’t ever let anybody make me feel bad about me.”

For information about Girl Scouting or future Conversations of Consequence events, call (502) 716-7232 or visit gskentuckiana.org.

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