Mentelle Neighborhood Association

Selmas Catering, which is owned by Mentelle Neighborhood resident Selma Owens, will be offering Mother’s Day brunch and dinner packages   For all the details go to selmascatering.com or call (859) 971-2763.

City officials announced Friday that they plan to restart curbside recycling for residences and businesses, as well as dumpster service, next week. Recycling pickup was stopped April 13 because of an equipment breakdown at the recycling center.

 Acceptable items are:

• Aluminum and steel cans
• Plastic screw-top bottles and jugs
• Dry corrugated cardboard with packing material removed
• Glass bottles and jars, both colored and clear.

Never bag recyclables. They should be put in the blue cart or recycling dumpster loose.

Residents can still take clean paper — newspapers, office paper, paper mail, magazines and catalogs — to one of the yellow recycling bins. The closest bin to Mentelle Neighborhood is in the parking lot behind the Herald-Leader building off Midland Avenue near Short Street.

The Fayette County Conservation District is offering 50 percent matching funds of up to $200 for approved yard conservation projects. Click here for the district’s most recent newsletter, which has more information.

Mayor Linda Gorton’s office issued this press release today about another special yard waste pickup:

The City is once again planning to provide curbside residential yard waste pickup this month to its waste management customers.

On Wednesday, May 13, crews will pick up yard waste for everyone who has City garbage pickup on Mondays and Tuesdays. Residents who have city collections on Thursdays and Fridays will have their yard waste picked up on Wednesday, May 20.

The City temporarily halted curbside residential yard waste pickup on March 23 to protect City Waste Management employees, who also pick up garbage, a service that is critical to the community.

“We have reviewed our supply of personal protective equipment and are happy to let residents know that we have adequate inventory to schedule a second yard waste pickup this spring,” says Nancy Albright, commissioner of the Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works. “We appreciate that, over the years, many citizens have taken to heart the program that diverts yard waste from the landfill. To the extent that we can support that program while protecting our Waste Management employees from COVID-19, we are pleased to continue to offer collection services.

Until routine yard waste collections resume, residents have several disposal options:

• Hold material until collection resumes.
• Grass clippings can be left on your lawn and late-falling leaves can be mulched with a mower and left on the ground. Both grass and mulched leaves help naturally fertilize your lawn.
• Start a compost pile. It’s probably easier than you think. The same materials that would go in your yard waste bin are great for compost piles. You can even add plant-based food scraps like coffee grounds, banana peels and apple cores. (No meat, cheeses or fatty foods.)
• Take the material to the Haley Pike Waste Management Facility at 4216 Hedger Lane. Hours for Haley Pike are 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. No limit and no charge for Fayette Co. residents during the collection suspension. ID required.
• Put material in your green trash cart. Make sure to limit the material — the lid to your trash cart should close when you set it out for collection.

Here are some government resources and reliable news sources you may find useful as we all cope with the coronavirus pandemic. (Many news organizations with pay walls on their websites are lifting them for some or all coverage related to COVID-19.)

Remember to maintain social distance as you take walks to enjoy our neighborhood’s beautiful spring blooms. Stay safe. Be kind. Look after your neighbors.

Lexington COVID-19 resource page.

CivicLex COVID-19 Community Info Hub.

Kentucky COVID-19 resource page.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Lexington Herald-Leader/Kentucky.com

Kentucky Educational Television

WEKU-FM

WUKY-FM

WLEX-TV

WKYT-TV

WTVQ-TV

The New York Times

Washington Post (free live coronavirus updates).

Wall Street Journal (free resources).

 

 

News from The Warehouse Block Business Association:

Dear Neighbors,

Spring has sprung and Easter is just around the corner!  Since you can’t go and see the Easter Bunny, the Warehouse Block Business Association would like to bring the Bunny to you.  On Saturday, April 11th, the Easter Bunny will board his special Egg-mobile and begin his tour of the Mentelle and Kenwick neighborhoods.  Starting inside the Warehouse Block around 11 o’clock, the Bunny will begin his loop.  He plans on driving down as many streets as possible inside both neighborhoods, so be patient and make spotting the Bunny a game unto itself.

The Bunny will be accompanied by a photographer who will snap lots of pictures, then will post those photos on Facebook and Instagram where you will be able to hunt for your pictures like a “virtual” egg hunt.  Participants will have chances to win gift cards from one of the Warehouse Block businesses, and every child that tags himself/herself in the post will receive an invite to a secret Pizza Party (once things have returned to normal.)

To ensure the ABSOLUTE safety of our neighbors, and the Easter Bunny, any photos of the Bunny should be conducted at a safe distance.  If you would like the Bunny to stop for a picture, the Bunny will gladly accommodate.  He will only go as far as the sidewalk, and you can take pics of your kiddo from the porch or yard.  If anyone approaches too close, the Bunny will hop immediately away till next year, so please be respectful of our only rule.

We really miss all of you.  Our neighbors keep us motivated through their strength and perseverance.  This is our way of spreading a little sunshine to say: “thank you.”

On April 11th, plan on finding a comfy spot in your yard or front porch and wait for the Easter Bunny to race through your neighborhood.

PS: Feel free to create chalk art on the sidewalks. The Easter bunny loves colorful decorations.

Dear Neighbors,

While speaking with Mentelle Neighborhood Association President Ann Olliges last week, she recommended that I write an update on the current state of the Warehouse Block.  The challenges posed by COVID-19 have made continuing business difficult for some and impossible for others.  Fortunately, our tight-knit business community has rallied to ensure the Block will persevere.

Here are a few stories about how creative businesses have been these past few weeks.  Mike with Seasons Catering was responsible for creating several heart-shaped ice sculptures with the words “we are all in this together” written on the face, and placing them around town, gaining the attention of several news organizations.  Natalie with Decorators Warehouse has been posting  “virtual shopping” videos for those looking to satisfy the shopping bug while confined at home. And Varsity Print is still cranking out their wares.  Its newest design: “I was social distancing before it was cool.”

Page at Etchison Company continues to create new floral designs daily.  Graves + Graves Construction is busy finishing two new projects, in Hamburg and downtown.  And Mirror Twin Brewing is still, well, brewing.  I am working on completing a listing of businesses still in operation and their hours and will try to post them on the Warehouse Block’s facebook page once completed.

I am truly astounded by the support that Lexington has offered to its struggling and sometimes shuttered businesses.   Mentelle has always been a good neighbor and our biggest supporter.  I appreciate your concern and, on behalf of all the businesses inside the Warehouse Block, thank you for your support.  If any corner of Lexington can pull through this tough time, it is us.  I hope this letter finds you all well, and I hope you are all staying in your pajamas a little longer each day.  If I can be of assistance in any capacity please don’t hesitate to call.

Sincerely,

Chad T. Walker

(859) 227-0774