Mental Health Crisis Resources Near the Bon Air Neighborhood

On November 21, 2019, LMPD responded to a report of a suicide within the Bon Air Neighborhood. Other than it happening on Dean Drive, there is no other information and it is probably just as well for the privacy of the deceased, and the deceased's family.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (http://chapterland.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2018/06/Kentucky-State-Facts.pdf) suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in Kentucky in 2018 with 756 having people been determined to have taken their lives during last year.  The report of the suicide on Dean Drive brings it home that mental health problems do not just happen elsewhere, they happen in the Bon Air too.

With that in mind, it seemed appropriate to talk about the mental health resources available to the neighborhood.

Crisis Services Near Bon Air

If you are in finding that you or another person are in a mental health crisis and you or they do not feel safe you can do the following:

1) Call 911 and talk with a metro safe operator.  Depending on your situation a LMPD officer and/or EMS may come to your house and take you to a hospital for assessment.  LMPD has made special effort over the last 20 years to train officers on how to handle mental health crises. 

2) Call the Centerstone Crisis and Information Line 589-4313.  This is a phone service ran by the local public mental health agency, Centerstone (formerly called Seven Counties).

3) If you can get somewhere, go for an assessment at one of the following hospitals/medical centers near the neighborhood:

• U of L Peace Hospital (formerly Our Lady of Peace) 2020 Newburg Rd)
• The Brook Hospital Dupont 1405 Browns Lane
• Baptist Health 4000 Kresge Way
• U of L/Jewish Medical Center East 3920 Dutchman's Lane

As you can see from the map, all four are close to Bon Air:

• Peace Hospital is 3.2 miles away if you go west on Goldsmith Lane and then North on Newburg Rd.
• The Brook Dupont is 2.5 miles away if you go east on Taylorsville Rd, North on Breckinridge Ln and then East on Dutchman's Lane
• Baptist Health is also 2.5 miles away if you go east on Taylorsville Rd and then north on Breckinridge Ln. 
• Jewish Hospital Medical Center East is 1.8 miles away if you go east on Taylorsville Rd and then north on Breckinridge Ln. 

All of these facilities are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What to Expect in an Mental Health Assessment

Getting an assessment at Peace Hospital and the Brook are a similar experience given that they are "specialty" psychiatric hospitals.  You will go to the door and say that you are there for an assessment. You will fill out one or more registration forms.  You will then see a masters level clinician who conduct a structured assessment interview (they have a list of questions that they follow) 

U of L Peace Hospital's Assessment and Referral Center is on the north side of the hospital in the Assessment and Referral Center entrance. You (and any people with you) will have to go through a security screening that includes going through a metal detector. You will be taken to the hallway where you or your family member/friend will wait to be assessed.  Peace Hospital Clinicians type their answers into a computer.  The interview can take 30-60 minutes depending how much people have to say.  The clinician will then call a medical provider (usually a psychiatrist) to get direction on your case.

The Brook Dupont has you come in the designated entrance where you will wait to see a clinician. The Brook clinician fills out your answers on a worksheet and then will call a provider (usually a psychiatrist) and will get direction on your case.

Baptist Health and Jewish Medical Center are first and foremost medical emergency rooms and you will first get a medical clearance before you are assessed.  Baptist Health has an assessor who comes over from Behavioral Health Intake when called by the Emergency Department.  Jewish Medical Center will call for an U of L Peace Clinician to come to do the assessment. 

A note of caution: all of these locations are emergency rooms and they go in the order of arrival and may choose to triage and prioritize cases.  The wait for the assessment (sadly) can be hours, but you and/or your friend-family member will be safe; sometimes a lot of people come at the same time to be assessed and things just cannot go any faster (trust me--as an assessment clinician I have wished I could see people faster because I have felt bad that people have waited hours to be seen).

 Fighting the Stigma

For all intents and purposes in this post, I will define stigma as the embarrassment and shame  someone feels that they depressed and having suicidal thoughts.  When people feel this stigma there is the fear that the rest of the world will treat them like lepers, reject them, and avoid them forever. There can even be the emotional sense that your depression and suicidal thoughts will be the headline on the next day's edition of The Courier Journal.  

Stigma is the reason why people do not come in to seek help. 

In my 22 years of working in Mental Health, I have came to see that stigma is typically fueled by usually one dysfunctional family member who makes stupid, judgmental and insensitive comments.  Well, the rest of the world is not like your insensitive relative, and your seeking mental health assessment and treatment is a private matter that is by law held in a private, confidential manner. .  You will be treated with dignity in your assessment; you will not be mocked or laughed at because you or your loved one is having these issues.   

I will note that I have not talked about addiction resources near Bon Air but I may do a post in the future. 

I hope that you never need this information in your own life.  If you have questions to ask, you can post questions in the comment section or on Facebook.  I will be happy to take questions at the next Bon Air Neighborhood Association meeting tomorrow night (Monday), December 9, 2019 in the Bon Air Library Community room which starts at 6:30 pm. 

Bon Air Crime Analysis for November 2019. Up from October but not as High as September, and They were at the Edges.

This is an analysis for November, 2019 based on data posted by the Louisville Metro Police Department at https://data.louisvilleky.gov/dataset/crime-reports/resource/6d81fdf8-27e7-41ac-9ae4-1bfd8730f002 

It is a Microsoft Excel file that requires just a touch of manipulation and sorting

As usual it includes the crimes reported within the boundaries of the historical Bon Air Neighborhood as defined:
1) Bardstown Road on the West  
2) Hikes Lane on the South
3) Furman Blvd on the East and
4) Taylorsville Rd and the Watterson Expressway on the North. 

The Analysis reflects events that happen on the lines and so some of the reports reflect what has happened just on the line and outside the geopolitical boundary of the neighborhood. 

There was one police report of a suicide on Dean Drive.  It was a tragedy but not a crime. 

There were 38 crime reports between November 1 and November 30.  There were 32 reports for the 40218 area and six reports for 40220.   Of course it was up from the 21 reports for the area in October but certainly less than the 54 reports in September. 

To cut to the chase about the 40220 section the six reports will be listed: 

• 2800 BLOCK FLORA AVE           MISSING PERSONS                                          
• 3100 BLOCK RADIANCE RD       KNOWING WANTON/RECKLESS EXPLOIT OF ADULT                   
• 3500 BLOCK BROCKTON LN     TBUT OR DISP FIREARM                                         
• 3500 BLOCK GOLDSMITH LN    VEHICLE BREAK-IN/THEFT PARKING LOT / GARAGE
• 3500 BLOCK GOLDSMITH LN    TBUT OR DISP FROM BUILDING < $500                
• 3500 BLOCK GOLDSMITH LN   MISSING PERSONS         

For the 40218 section 

Right off of the top, it will be noted that there were seven reports at 2300 Goldsmith Lane. Six of them were missing children reports and one cold check charge.  I presume that the missing children were at Boys and Girls Haven.

The 3300 block of Bardstown Rd had five police reports.  Three of the complaints were at a hotel/motel that included two harassment charges and a theft incident. The other two were possession of a forged instrument and a harassment complaint with physical contact.

The most type of crime report in the 40218 area for the month was "Theft/Larceny."  They appeared to happen at the edges of the neighborhood and not within the center.

• 2200 BLOCK BASHFORD MANOR LN                               
• 2200 BLOCK HIKES LN                                        
• 2200 BLOCK HIKES LN                                        
• 2200 BLOCK HIKES LN                                        
• 2200 BLOCK LIVERPOOL LN                                    
• 3700 BLOCK BARDSTOWN RD                                    
• 3700 BLOCK BARDSTOWN RD                                                                 

There were three vehicle break-ins.  Two were at a service station in the 2300 and 2800 blocks of Hikes Lane.  The third break-in was in one of the parking lots in the 2200 block of Heather Lane.

There were three assault reports.  Two of them appeared to be at a single event in the 2300 Block of Terrier Court, which is a set of apartment houses.   The third was at 3500 Meadow Court 

There were two burglaries.  One burglary was at a church in the 2800 block of Hikes lane. The other was an apartment in the 2300 block of Hikes Lane. 

There were three fraud reports in the 2900 block of Hikes Lane, 3500 block of Lisbon Lane, and 3600 block of Bardstown Rd.   The Lisbon Lane incident appeared to be someone reporting identity theft. 

There were two categories with only one report.  There was one vandalism report at the 2300 Block of Hikes Lane at a business. There was one domestic violence report in the 2200 block of Gerald Court. 

Overall, if there was a particular theme, the crime reports in the 40218 section were mainly at the south and west edges of the neighborhood and not so much within the neighborhood.  

It remains to be said that the crime prevention techniques that Bon Air residents are using are effective.  Getting a door camera or a smart doorbell does deter would-be thieves.  As I walk the neighborhood making the next distribution of our membership letter, I note that many households have made the investment. 

Also, consider joining a block watch.  The Bon Air Neighborhood Association continues to endorse participation in block watches.  Given Chief Steve Conrad's recent statement that the LMPD budget woes will lead to between 75 to 100 fewer police officers in the next fiscal year, block watches seem all the more to be a viable citizen response to make our community safer.

If you are interested in Block Watch participation, please come to the next Bon Air Neighborhood Association meeting Monday, December 9, 2019 at 6:30 pm in the community room of the
Bon Air Neighborhood. 

Improving Bon Air participation in Next Door. Verifying People and maybe doing a Micro Merger?

I got an email tonight from Next Door asking me to verify some people in my neighborhood (I am on the Del Rio to Furman group) .  I looked at the list and it had people who had applied to be on Nextdoor back in September 2017.

With a little bit of examination, a number of them were renters and not the names of the property owners on the Jefferson  PVA roster.

I am interested in improving participation in Nextdoor in the Bon Air Neighborhood.  There are actually three groups within the historical Bon Air Neighborhood boundaries as described on page 103 of the Encyclopedia of Louisville.

(Encyclopedia of Louisville p.103 Google Books)

1) Bon Air estates with 174 members
2) Bon Air with 1006 members.
3) Del Rio to Furman with 786 members.

I am interested in making a point to get people verified who moved in and want to be in the groups.
I plan on knocking on some doors in the next few days to verify people in the Del Rio to Furman group and see if they are still interested in joining.

If you are a Bon Air, Bon Air Estates or Del Rio to Furman resident and are interested in getting verified on Next Door, I am very interested in helping you get you connected with the lead within your current group boundaries.  I will respect their privacy, but I know who the leads are of the three groups and how to get you in contact with them to get you verified

I am also pitching here the radical idea: merging the three Next Door Groups into one Bon Air group that coincides with the historical Bon Air boundaries so we can share information and advocate together as one voice so we can accomplish more together.  If we can merge together it would be a Next Door group with close to 2000 members.  Consider it cyber micro-consolidation.

 Next Door has potential to be a neighborhood asset to Bon Air  . . . more than it is now, and we can make it that way.

Can We Redeem This Grotesque Monstrosity?

So, I am driving west on Goldsmith Lane last week and I look over and see this huge metal edifice butting up against Boys and Girls Haven. Then it struck me . . . this is the Go-Store-It facility.

For the longest time, all I saw was this sign . . .

This is the storage facility on the site of the old Rose Bowl that is now proving to be a reality.  This is the view from Bardstown Rd just north of Thorntons.

You can see the profile of the building from the north side of the Watterson over the freeway.

This is what it looks like from Goldsmith Lane.

I must say that when I recognized what it was I was shocked.  I was imagining that it was going to be a storage facility that had one level and  not be a three or more story building.   This facility really sticks out like a grotesque sore thumb especially in the somewhat pastoral appearance of Boys and Girls Haven.

Of course I think I would rather have the storage facility rather than a medium-price-point hotel/motel that could be a site at risk for human trafficking . . . its appearance is still ghastly. .

When I thought about the grotesqueness of this building I was mindful of the story about the Eiffel Tower.  It was actually built for 1889 World's Fair.  It was considered to be an eyesore although Eiffel could show how it was beautiful in a mathematical fashion.  It was supposed to be torn down after the world's fair, but it was kept and it attracts millions of people every year.

My proposal is that the owner of the building paint the sides of the buildings in a grand fashion of some kind of equestrian scene.  If we have to look at it we should have something good to look at like this

I also think that the artwork could be an attraction for customers to actually use this given that there are a plethora of storage facilities (previously discussed in this blog  click here to see the post) up and down the Bardstown Rd corridor down to Watterson Trail.

Can we we redeem this grotesque monstrosity? Short of tearing it down,  making it artistic is a way of redemption.


.

I am Thankful that I am Alive Today.

I submitted this to a "why I am thankful" content at my employer about five years ago.  Facebook reminded me of it. I thought I would share it here. 

When I look through all of the different medical problems me and my family members have had, I am thankful that God has blessed physicians with knowledge and ability to save our lives from removing brain tumors to conducting heart catherizations, to creating safe blood clotting factor. Even decades ago I am sure that myself and my family members would not be alive without this technology.

God has blessed me to live in one of the safest times and in the safest country in of all human history. We have clean water and great public sanitation that helps protect us from many diseases. While I still have to lock my door at night, my family and me are blessed to live in a democratic republic that values civility and social order. Strangers take turns at stop signs and hold the door for each other. Even with our political differences the vast majority of us are committed to making our communities safe places to live.

I live in one of the most prosperous times. While I would like a better house, I have a simple house with electricity, running water, heat, and air conditioning that 90 percent of the world would consider a mansion.

There will be times of dissatisfaction. There will always be times where my problems will seem bigger than other times. There is always the temptation for me to dwell on what I think is wrong with this world and this country today. There will be times where I do not think things are fair. There will be times where I would like to have some of the luxuries that richer people have. But I realize that I have a choice . . . realizing that today I live at a great time and in a good place in human history and for that I am thankful.

The Plan for the Meeting of November 11, 2019

As I was going to the special event on November 4 to the meet and greet U of L President Neeli Benapudi as the hospital where I work is now under new ownership and new colors, the business development person said, we're good for next Monday in Lexington?   I had forgotten about it. Yep, so for this meeting, I am going to miss it because I will be at:

When I am not working and doing neighborhood association things, I do a number of "Peace for Parents" presentations for my employer, U of L Peace Hospital (formerly Our Lady of Peace).  I do a presentation on ADHD, Anxiety, Preparation for Middle School, and Social Media, which is this week's presentation in Lexington.

It was actually challenging and fun presentation to put together because I read things that I would have never read in my normal life. While in the preparation for this, it struck me that emotional and behavioral problems related to social media happen in Africa, Asia, and Europe and not just here in the United States.   On a lighter note, I do have the question whether this slide will make it into the

presentation version that I had given business development, because on the one hand it may be too edgy, but on the other hand some parents need to see it because anger is a very impulsive emotion that makes people do and say things they regret.   People indeed publish things on social media in impulsive anger and as a result, besides criminal charges have,

• Had their posts pulled off of Next Door,
• Lost jobs, 
• Failed to get jobs,
• Gotten suspended from school,
• and even gotten admitted against their will to the hospital where I work.

Nonetheless, despite my being called to the Bluegrass, thankfully, Charlaine, the very capable treasurer and former president will oversee the meeting this Monday, November 11, 2019 in the community room of the Bon Air Library at 6:30.  The main objective I have is distribution of membership letters to houses in the neighborhood.  We are seeking to boost our actual membership and interest of board membership for the health of the organization.  (You can scroll back and see the letter a few previous posts ago from 9/11/19).  I hope you can come. 

Bon Air Crime Analysis For October 2019: Down By 61.1 Percent!

This is an analysis for October, 2019 based on data posted by the Louisville Metro Police Department at https://data.louisvilleky.gov/dataset/crime-reports/resource/6d81fdf8-27e7-41ac-9ae4-1bfd8730f002 

It is a Microsoft Excel file that requires just a touch of manipulation and sorting

As usual it includes the crimes reported within the boundaries of the historical Bon Air Neighborhood as defined:
1) Bardstown Road on the West  
2) Hikes Lane on the South
3) Furman Blvd on the East and
4) Taylorsville Rd and the Watterson Expressway on the North. 

The Analysis reflects events that happen on the lines and so some of the reports reflect what has happened just on the line and outside the geopolitical boundary of the neighborhood. 

I had to resort the file because I could not believe the initial results.  There were only 21 police reports the area between October 1 and October 31. The total number of police reports in September was 54, and this means that there was a decline by 61.1 percent. 

There were 18 reports in the 40218 portion of the area and 3 reports in the 40220 part. 

To make it easy: here were the three police situations in the 40220 area. 

10/3/2019   BURGLARY - 3RD DEGREE  BURGLARY          3000 BLOCK HIKES LN                                        

10/9/2019   VEHICLE BREAK-IN/THEFT                                2800 BLOCK DEL RIO PL                                      

10/21/2019  ROBBERY - 1ST DEGREE     ROBBERY             3500 BLOCK BROCKTON LN                                    

The Robbery appeared to be at an apartment house. The Burglary was at a church--Probably St. Michael's Orthodox, but the vehicle break-in appears to be by the Bon Air Manor Shopping Center. 

In the 40218 area, the 3300 Block of Bardstown Rd had the most reports with six and they were as follows:

10/6/2019 14	HARASSMENT (NO PHYSICAL CONTACT)
10/5/2019 1:04	POSS CONT SUB-1ST DEGREE-2ND  OFFENSE-HEROIN
10/5/2019 1:04	DRUG PARAPHERNALIA - BUY/POSSESS
10/26/2019 17:00	FORGED INSTRUMENT-2ND DEGREE-IDENTIFY
10/20/2019 18:20	ROBBERY - 1ST DEGREE
10/17/2019 7:58	TBUT OR DISP FROM BUILDING < $500

The second location of note was the 2300 Block of Goldsmith with four reports.  Three of the reports were missing person reports and one was a sex crimes (Sodomy 1st degree) investigation.  Out of respect for Boys and Girls Haven I will say nothing more.

That leaves 11 reports: 

• Two of the events were on Proctor Knott 18 days apart.  First there was a car break-in on 10/2/19 and on 10/20/19 there was a burglary. 
• There was a 2-for-1 drug bust at I-264 and Bardstown Rd on 10/4/19  where there were two charges for possession of substance and paraphernalia.   The possession appeared to be someone with pills that were not prescribed to them.
•  Someone got a license plate stolen off of their car on Terrier CT on 10/4/19
• A car was stolen on Gerald Ct on 10/8
• There was an assault at the 2500 block of Meadow Drive on 10/18
• There was a shoplifting report at the 2900 block of Hikes Lane. 

You, the residents of Bon Air deserve the credit for the improvement in the crime rate.  The prevention measures work. 

There is always the chance that crimes will increase.  There will continue to be people stealing to finance drug use or just because they can and do.  

I believe that we can continue to improve on the results by block watches and more people getting doorbell cameras, burglar alarms and making sure their cars are locked.  Therefore, the Bon Air Neighborhood Association will continue to support the formation of block watches in light of the budget cuts in the Louisville Metro Police Department.  

But for now, a 61.1 percent decrease in the reported crimes over a one month time is something to celebrate. 

Neighborhood Watches: A Viable and Practical Citizen Response to LMPD Cut Backs

For the past several days different media outlets have been covering LMPD Chief Steve Conrad's plans for cut backs due to the Metro budget cuts.

My thoughts have gone in different directions about the politics, but making any statement of judgment either way towards Mayor Fischer, Chief Conrad or the Metro Council is not productive and likely to be divisive.  In terms of Marsha Leninhan Ph.D--the creator of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, I am practicing radical acceptance: "It is what it is."

Otherwise we will see again in May and June of 2020 in the next budgeting cycle what city leaders do in terms of balancing service needs and raising tax revenues.   However, for now the question is: what is useful and practical?

I think that the practical move for local neighborhoods, especially for us in Bon Air is to increase the number of Neighborhood Watches.  When we are out there cooperating in how we watch,  we discourage a number of types of crimes.  When we discourage crimes through watching and other forms of prevention we allow the already over-worked officers of the LMPD to handle the higher priority incidents and crimes.

I hope that you consider being part of the Neighborhood Watches that the Bon Air Neighborhood Association will be facilitating over the next few months.  The time required is not much at all.

Cooperating in neighborhood watches is not a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or Green Party type of action--it is a concerned citizen action regardless of party label. In the end, government does not make our neighborhood what it is . . . we do. 

GRATITUDE FOR THOSE WHO PICK UP THE LITTER

As I was driving down Goldsmith Lane a few weeks ago I saw at least what was one of three people I have seen picking up litter.

No one asked them to do it. They just did it. I am grateful that they are doing it.

How clean houses look and how clean streets look are reflective of the attitude of the neighborhood.  The attitude of pride is

Litter is a function of modern times with all of the "consumables" that we have.  Motorists throw it out of cars. It blows out of trash cans and people simply drop it.

Litter can accumulate in unbelievable amounts.  When I have done Operation Brightside with the effervescent Maile Fowler in the median on Bardstown Rd between Bashford Manor and Hikes Lane, I have been amazed at what was embedded under the talk grass.  Sometimes I get a wild hair to go down by the wall and pick up trash on Brockton and I am disheartened when I reflect on how some people will just fling stuff out of their cars.

In walking on the band of the green space on Brockton, I was reminded that the people who throw stuff on the Watterson affects us as evidenced by this accumulation of cigarette butts washed up like a glacial till.

Operation Brightside is a local effort where at least twice a year there is a concentrated effort by many Louisvillians to spend a few hours cleaning up litter from parks, medians and roadsides. If everyone picked up the trash on their curbs, in their yards and in their streets, I think it would make a difference in how clean Bon Air is maintained.

Otherwise, for those few who are out their taking their walks and picking up trash on Goldsmith Lane and other main streets of our neighborhood, I am grateful.

While it is nice outside and you may want to go for a walk, consider taking along a plastic bag and pick up stuff that looks safe to pick up, If you are motivated get some disposable gloves from one of the discount stores to pick up the questionable items.

For now, I am going to walk outside and see whether or not I need to pick up litter around my house.

Minutes from Bon Air Neighborhood Association's September 30, 2019 meeting

The following are the minutes from BANA's September 30,2019 meeting.  Our next board meeting, which is open to the public is tomorrow night, October 14, 2019, 6:30 at the Bon Air Library. 

BON AIR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION (BANA), Inc. 

“5th Monday” Neighborhood Meeting Minutes

September 30, 2019, 6:30pm

Buechel Park Baptist Church

Attendees — 36 people named on Sign-In sheet

Meeting called to order about 6:30pm by President David Houvenagle.  Senior Pastor Erica Whitaker was introduced & she welcomed all during her remarks.

Minutes of Aug 12 & Sep 9 — Copies available for distribution by Secretary Lois Judd; also made available via email & social media postings prior to Sep 30 mtg.  One Sep 9 typo noted (Lisbon Ln misspelled); motion made, seconded & approved to accept minutes with no other corrections.

Treasurer’s Report — Charlaine Reynolds explained what $20 annual dues help cover (liability insurance, signs, PO Box, etc.) & noted that dues paid now will cover calendar year 2020 per 2019 By-Laws revisions.

Report by President David Houvenagle — 

• Commented on trend of decline in the neighborhood as businesses moved out of Bon Air Manor shopping center; spoke about “new urbanism” strategy to improve public areas & privately-owned neighborhood areas like the shopping center & to link to larger surrounding Metro economy; neighborhood needs to continue to improve
• Arts development strategy includes an art hall at the library, statuary & sculptures in the area, & stage at Farnsley Park; stage to be used for both community performances & private groups; to be funded through public-private partnerships; Q&A followed
• Jeff Noble, Legislative Liaison to Brent Ackerson, spoke about 2 meetings with Metro Parks who wants to work with current building on site & focus on Wedgewood Way entrance to park; wants stage be part of current building & not a separate structure; wants to improve restrooms & concession stands; soccer program currently rents space/field with a lease & currently uses field; parking would be on surrounding streets just as for Shakespeare in Central Park

Metro Councilman Brent Ackerson, District 26 —

• Accessible sidewalks & purpose of Farnsley Park improvements over past 10 yrs has been to attract neighborhood folks & thus deter troublemakers & “bad elements”
• Q&A about sidewalks (new & repairs to existing); garbage collection for constituents on Monday schedule; crosswalk for Liverpool Ln & Paris Dr pedestrians crossing Bardstown Rd to shopping center; car break-ins & lack of street lights (Brent’s discretionary funds helping to pay LMPD for OT officers to help address this problem); state help sought but no money available; introduced KY District 40 State Representative Nima Kulkarni, visitor to meeting; lack of state money to address engineering & synchronization of traffic light issues & continuous complaints (Bashford Manor Ln to Hikes Ln & Shepherdsville Rd to Old Bardstown Rd); one Bon Air resident (an engineer) offered to get statistics & contact appropriate state agencies for follow-up
• Follow-up announcements re: crime — David Cotton spoke about Ring camera’s presence, may lower homeowner’s insurance rate by 5%;  David Houvenagle announced his Bon Air Blog posts crime data among other things 

Block Watch Organization — Introduced Richard Pickren.; coordinating “Leave a Light On” campaign & offered battery-powered LED tea lights to make the point; promoting block watch formation among all area neighborhood associations (Bon Air, Bon Air Estates, Fureen area et al.); wants to bring people together via some event, e.g. a pancake social; can contact him at rpickren83@gmail.com.

LMPD 6th Division Resource Officer George McMillan (& Bon Air resident) — 

• Explained new chapter of Pedestrian Safety Ordinance, with formal enforcement to begin Nov 1; can cite violators if seen.
• Provided updates about recent incidents in the 1900 block of Goldsmith Ln & related shootings on Lisbon Ln & Sharon Circle; recovered shell casings & video available from neighbors helped lead to the arrest of 3 teens (2 of whom were juveniles); a home invasion was a separate incident; otherwise, Bon Air had not had a lot of violent crime.
• Officer McMillan stayed for some time after adjournment to answer questions & talk with neighbors.

Announced availability of copies of membership letter & form to encourage BANA participation; dues $20 per calendar year; monthly meetings held on the 2nd Monday each month at 6:30pm at the Bon Air Library.

Meeting adjourned pre-8pm.

Bon Air Crime Analysis for September 2019

This is an analysis for September, 2019 based on data posted by the Louisville Metro Police Department at https://data.louisvilleky.gov/dataset/crime-reports/resource/6d81fdf8-27e7-41ac-9ae4-1bfd8730f002 

It is a Microsoft Excel file that requires just a touch of manipulation and sorting

As usual it includes the crimes reported within the boundaries of the historical Bon Air Neighborhood as defined:
1) Bardstown Road on the West  
2) Hikes Lane on the South
3) Furman Blvd on the East and
4) Taylorsville Rd and the Watterson Expressway on the North. 

A disclaimer is that the analysis is not like the old games of four-square or shuffleboard as "lines are in" and not out.  What this means is that reports at locations on the borders may have actually happened in the Bashford Manor, West Buechel, Buechel/Hikes Point and Melbourne Heights sections.  

Crime was down by about 14 percent over August.  There were 54 total police reports as a whole within these boundaries. . 

• There were 31 reports in the 40218 portion and
• There were 23 reports in the 40220 section. 

What was interesting was that there were three locations that had six police reports. 

• 3300 Bardstown Rd. (this location is usually up there)
• 2300 Goldsmith Lane (to be discussed in a moment)
• 3100 Doreen Way (to be discussed in a moment)

In terms of breakdowns, the most common crimes/police reports in the neighborhood for the month were:

• Assaults =15
• Theft/Laceny=11
• Missing Person = 6
• Vandalism =6
• Fraud=4.
• Drug=3
• Vehicle Break-ins =2

When looking at the assaults, five of them happened at the 3100 block of Doreen Way.  This appears to an ongoing drama where someone continues to violate an Emergency Protective Order/Domestic Violence Order. Otherwise the other 10 were mostly along Bardstown Rd or isolated occurrences throughout the neighborhood. 

When looking at the Theft/Larceny cases, six of them were in businesses and four of them were spread out in the neighborhood in residences on Rosedale Blvd, Hikes Lane, Stratford Avenue, and Dell Brooke Avenue. 

I have not really commented much on the missing person cases in previous posts, but 99 percent of them are at 2300 Goldsmith Lane or Boys and Girls Haven.  Being a social worker I have sympathy for the situation.  To me, it does not reflect the work done at this agency.  It reflects on the clientele that they serve.  You would think that all these adolescents would have the sense to be grateful to have a place to stay and the common sense to stay put and finish their high school diploma . . . but not all of them do and some of them run for a number of emotional\behavioral reasons, which means the staff at Boys and Girls Haven have to file missing person reports.  

I think it is worth continuing to follow what happens at Boys and Girls Haven because the kids that run are the kids vulnerable to human trafficking and exploitation, which I am sure will be talked about again around Derby.   If you are interested in volunteering with Boys and Girls Haven to try and reach out to these kids, I am positive they can find something for you to do to help these kids.

There were otherwise four  areas of concern to me in the numbers : 

• 3500 block of Lisbon Lane,
• 2800 block of Dell Brooke Avenue
• 2800 block of Del Rio Place, and 
• 3200 block of Stratford Avnue

Lisbon Lane had three different cases of a burglary, a weapons charge, and a domestic abuse case.  My understanding is that the police have arrested relevant parties and one particular property owner on that street is picking up and leading the charge for a block watch and I think things will be better if they are not already improved. 

The 2800 block of Dell Brooke had two distinct theft-type crimes on different days. One was a theft and one was a car break in 10 days apart from each other.  

Del Rio Place is the Bon Air Manor and it seemed to have a little more action this month than normal.   There appeared to be three police calls on different but five different reports that include a robbery in the parking lot, two thefts, and two cases of vandalism. 

The last area of concern was Stratford Avenue where there were two different reports two days in a row.  One was the apparent theft of a firearm (literally TBUT OR DISP FIREARM in the database)
and criminal mischief.

Otherwise, in terms of incidentals, there was 

• One motor vehicle theft on the 2300 Block of Meadow and
• One report of Sexual Abuse made at Goldsmith Elementary. 

I will say that I conclude that the Goldsmith Elementary matter was a child disclosing sexual abuse and not actual abuse.  When there is often disclosure of sexual abuse of a child a Crimes Against Children Unit report is made.  I met Dr Jeremy Renner, the prinipal of Goldsmith when my children went to school there and had numerous conversations with him and I would say there is not a better elementary school principal (and actual fun guy), and Goldsmith Elementary is a safe place for children to go and learn,

Much crime is preventable and I would encourage you to consider joining the block watches that are forming, getting one of the doorbell cameras, leaving your outside light on at night to keep your street lit up, and make sure your cars are locked.  We still have a very safe area compared to what is out there in Louisville and we can keep it that way. 

Come Talk with Your Metro Council Representative and LMPD at the BANA General Membership Meeting, Tomorrow, September 30

Q and A with Brent Ackerson-District 26 Rep and Officer George McMillian-LMPD are featured agenda items of the General Membership Meeting of the Bon Air Neighborhood Association, Monday, September 30, 2019 at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall of Buechel Park Baptist Church at 2403 Hikes Lane.

Enter at the the side door on the west side of the building:

The planned agenda is:

I. Call to order (6:30 pm).

II. Reports

        A. Treasurer

        B. President's report

III. Old business:

       A. Membership Letter

    

IV  New Business

      A. Brent Ackerson statement and Q and A.

      B. Discussion of organization of Block Watches

      C. Officer McMillian

 V. Adjournment




Hope to see you there. 

Minutes from BANA Sept 9, 2019 Meeting for the record.

BANA (Bon Air Neighborhood Association, Inc.)

Meeting Minutes

Sept 9, 2019, 6:30 - 7:28pm

Bon Air Library

Dave Houvenagle opened the meeting at 6:30 pm, September 9, 2019.

Minutes were accepted as presented with no changes or additions. 

Charlaine presented Treasurer's report —

* Balance:  $626.08 as of 9/9/19
* Income:  $80.00 in membership dues
* Expenses:  insurance $47.50

Guest Richard P  is trying to start a Neighborhood Watch in the area. He reported he had seven people from Nextdoor that indicated interest; however these persons were not in attendance at the meeting. Mr. P passed out informational brochures on the LMPD "Leave a Light On" program. Dave H. thanked him for coming and stated the board would consider adding a dedicated board member for these neighborhood watch efforts should the right person be identified as the person. Will need both community organizing and people skills. Charlaine mentioned that the BANA board will be seeking candidates to run for various offices. Dave also invited Mr. P  to have some time on the agenda at the Sept. 30th meeting to publicize his Neighborhood Watch effort. 

Suggestions were taken on snacks to be provided at the September 30th general membership meeting at Buechel Park Baptist Church: water, sweets, savories such as pinwheels. Charlaine will pick up some items from Costco. 

Dave passed out copies of the current membership appeal letter and noted suggestions to update. Dave will send proposed letter to board for proofreading before posting on Bon Air FaceBook page.The goal is to have the updated letter in time for the Sept. 30th general membership meeting.

There was discussion on the recent crimes on Lisbon and Liverpool. Several attendees complained about the no trash pick-up during “Monday holiday" weeks. There was a question regarding who is responsible for tree limbs and branches that stick out over sidewalks. 

J M and J F renewed their household membership.

Charlaine made a motion to adjourn, Maile seconded. 

Meeting was adjourned at 7:28 pm.

Minutes prepared by Charlaine Reynolds, BANA Treasurer