West St. Catherine Neighborhood Association

Thanks to Rhonda and Michael for hosting a productive neighborhood meeting. (Numbers were small but the energy was great.)

I'd like to see our funding request focus on education about the neighborhood. (e.g. partnering with a local church or community group and holding workshops, festivals, etc. that have as their theme ''Limerick: than and now'' or something that would unite the community and stimulate all the people who live here to take more pride in their neighborhood whether they are owners or renters.

great idea, Nefertiti!

That sounds like a first rate idea! Where we might start for educational information is with Father O'Brien at St. Louis Bertrand. I remember from when we organized the church tour in '97 that St Louis Bertrand had a wealth of information on Limerick and particular history of the neighborhood.
Filson Club, too: I believe they published a late 19th century account of the Irish Catholic population in the area not long ago, and I'll bet Blaine Hudson at the university has a lot of material about Limerick's African-American community of the late 19th century. It's a place to start for ''then'', as your note suggested.

Thanks,

Michael

thanks, Nefertiti



I, too, would love to see the neighborhood get involved with a project like the one you suggest--''Limerick:then and now''--as it is one subject applicable to each and every one of us, regardless of homeownership status. Obviously, most homeowners care deeply about the neighborhood; however, the fact that renters can be just as caring is not recognized enough. For example, my next door neighbors are renters, and the contribution they make to the welfare of this neighborhood is invaluable. One of those neighbors, Rob Gootee, is a long time resident of West Saint Catherine Street and truly an exceptional neighbor. Rob picks up litter around the property, sees that the grass is cut, and has even planted a tree in the backyard. Most importantly, Rob's generous community spirit includes keeping a sharp eye to the safety of persons and their property. Another resident in the same apartment building, is my sister, Sandy McCann. Sandy has only recently relocated to Louisville (a year ago), but has already become a huge asset to the community. Sandy is our neighborhood association's treasurer, and has even joined our ''litterati'' group that scours the neighborhood for litter and debris weekly.

Conceivably, if we have 2 such persons in 1 apartment house, there could be many more renters in our neighborhood who would, with an invitation from us, join in our efforts at cleanliness and beautification. Let's all make our presence felt by being physically on our streets and talking to our neighbors. I hope to see us reach out and educate, through various festivals and programs, all of our neighbors regarding the rich heritage of our unique historic district. Hopefully, through such activities, we will all be reminded that this neighborhood's history of diversity is one of its great strengths.