Hello Tuesday.
April 23 2024 |
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On Tuesday afternoon, Lexington City Council Members approved Mayor Linda Gorton’s $473 million budget — the largest budget in city history — with a vote of 12-2. The budget will go into effect July 1 and is an 18% increase over the current budget of $401 million.
We know number crunching is not everyone’s cup of tea — so we’re bringing you a breakdown of some of the biggest numbers + important projects we can expect to see in the next year. |
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The city has allotted $15M to pave the roads in Lexington. | Photo by Madeline Mele |
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🤝 Community -
Council approved Extended Social Resource Grants for 36 social services agencies totaling $3.8 million in these key categories — Overnight Emergency Shelter, Community Wellness & Safety, Childhood & Youth Development, and Food Insecurity & Nutritional Access. View the full list.
- One Lexington, the city’s violence prevention program, received $375,000.
- Mayor Gorton allotted $260,000 for a new mobile food grocery store for neighborhoods that have limited access to food.
🏗️ Development - $3 million fund to give zero interest loans for developers to build infill projects
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Nonprofits have access to a $1 million program to turn abandoned property into affordable housing.
🏙️ Infrastructure -
We can rest assured that potholes won’t be a problem thanks to $15 million that can be spent on paving roads.
- Various infrastructure improvements will come to the Distillery District with the help of $750,000.
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$172,658 to improve safety with enhanced lighting around Tandy Park in downtown
📋 Council changes + additions -
Added a total of $13 million to the budget including — $2 million for paving, $5 million for additional pay to retain public safety employees, $2.5 million to study the Versailles Road corridor, and more.
Be sure to keep an eye on CivicLex’s budget resources page + feel free to dive deeper into each section of the Mayor’s Proposed Budget. |
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Click Here to have your event featured |
Today -
Trash to Treasure Workshop | Thurs., June 16 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Lou Johnson Park, 190 Prall St. | Free | Get creative at this hands-on workshop to upcycle dumpster-bound items. ♻️
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Beaumont Block Party | Thurs., June 16 | 4-8 p.m. | 3195-3197 Beaumont Centre Circle | Free | Spice up your summer with live music, vendors, inflatables + more.
Friday -
Wine + Painting: Goddess Night | Fri., June 17 | 6 p.m. | Kre8Now Makerspace, 305 Codell Dr. | $45 | Celebrate Goddess energy with meditation and guided painting. 🎨
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Club Emporio Debut | Fri., June 17 | 7-10 p.m. | Cafe Emporio, 808 N. Limestone | $100 | A special collaboration event with a live DJ, specialty cocktails, pastries + more.
Saturday -
Kentucky Wine & Vine Festival | Sat., June 18 | 1 p.m. | Jessamine County Fairgrounds, 100 Park Dr., Nicholasville | $5 | Sip, savor + enjoy Kentucky wines from all over the state while shopping from creative craft vendors, enjoying food trucks, and watching fireworks at dusk. 🍷
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Bikes, Bubbles, Brunch | Sat., June 18 | 12-2 p.m. | The Grove, 200 W. Main St. | Free | Stop to learn about the Fayette Alliance for mimosa + appetizers.🥂
Sunday -
Legends vs. Honey Hunters | Sun., June 19 | 6:35 p.m. | Wild Health Field, 207 Legends Ln. | $12+ | Watch the Lexington Legends continue their fight against the Gastonia Honey Hunters. ⚾
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Affrilachian Poets Literary Event | Sun., June 19 | 7 p.m. | Free | The Lyric Theatre, 300 E. Third St. | Don’t miss the talented work of Affrilachian poetry + newly inducted poets.
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We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends. |
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National Drink Up Week is July 25-31. | Photo by the LEXtoday |
Raise your glasses. This toast is dedicated to Lexington’s beverage industry, from morning iced lattes to afternoon power smoothies and evening specialty cocktails. We appreciate what makes our local drink scene unique.
And to kick off our National Drink Up Week, July 25-31, we want to partner with local coffee shops, wineries, bars, restaurants, distilleries + more to shine a spotlight on our local beverage tastemakers. Find out more below.
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Weather - 96º | Mostly sunny | 15% chance of rain
Opening -
The Summit at Fritz Farm announced it has signed leases with three new tenants — Sephora, Evereve, and Pandora. Sephora + jewelry retailer Pandora will open later this year next to Waxing the City and Madewell, respectively. Evereve boutique will be located by Bath & Body Works and open in early 2023. 🛍️ (LEX18)
Community -
At this year’s Pride Festival, scheduled for Sat., June 25 in downtown, WUKY will host the Voice of Pride karaoke contest. The show is open to singers of all ages + preliminary auditions will take place next week at Ole Hookers Bait and Tackle, Crossings of Lexington, and Old North Bar. Get the details. 🌈
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The city is looking for more floats for this year’s Fourth of July parade. And to help sweeten the deal, entries are free. Interested organizations, businesses, or groups should register here by Fri., June 24.
Eat -
Bagels + brisket — do we have your attention? The Great Bagel and Blue Door Smokehouse are teaming up to bring us a Father’s Day special, this weekend only. Stop by 396 Woodland Ave. or 3650 Boston Rd. for this delicious duo — any bagel featuring egg, brisket, and a spicy house hollandaise sauce. 🥯
Arts -
This Sat., June 18 at 11 a.m. will be the grand opening of Institute 193’s SUMMER SHOP. Stop by the nonprofit’s headquarters, 193 N. Limestone, and purchase a hat, book, record + more, to support its mission. The shop will be open during regular gallery hours through Sat., July 23.
Award -
UK’s Supplier Diversity Manager Marilyn Clark was named the recipient of the TriState Minority Supplier Development Council’s Impact of the Year Award. The honor is given to those who have shown extraordinary contributions + exclusive influence in connecting with diverse companies and minority businesses. Congratulations, Marilyn. (UK NOW)
Plan Ahead -
CYL Sauna, an infrared sauna spot in Lexington Green, is hosting a second-anniversary party on Sat., June 25. It will be partnering with a few to-be-announced businesses offering up goodies, champagne, and a chance for giveaways. There are also $10 sweat sessions available that whole weekend.
Shop -
Get your green thumbs ready. Sunshine Grow Shop at 306 Southland Dr. is hosting a summer sale with annuals, perennials, herbs + more on sale for 30% off. Stop by tonight at 7:30 p.m. for the DIY Potting Party. 🌼
Survey -
Lex Bike Walk needs community input to help create a plan for connecting the Brighton Trail in east Lexington to downtown. The plan aims to connect neighborhoods, businesses, parks + more through a continuous trail system. Take the survey before the deadline of June 30. 🚲
- Take the survey, win $1,000 cash. Take a brief survey to let us know what you think about the LEXtoday newsletter + be entered into a drawing to win cash.
Eat -
Skip the meal hassle with Sunbasket, a meal kit delivery service that makes healthy eating beyond easy. Sunbasket offers 10 different meal plans that work for those with dietary preferences and specific restrictions (think: paleo, gluten-free, veg, diabetes-friendly + more). Bonus: Sign up for $100 off your first four deliveries. 🫑*
A health message from our sponsor
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The Word: Hyperpigmentation, the extra melanin in our skin that creates dark spots. The good news? The appearance of these dark (and often age-related) spots can be drastically reduced with an easy, DIY home routine created by Dr. Steven Gundry.*
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Content marked with a * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free. |
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We have some berry delicious news to share with you — Copeland & Co. has released a new summer flavor — mixed berry pie. This sweet surprise is filled with a homemade mixed berry jam, featuring in-season strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, and topped with a cinnamon spiced crumble. Mixed Berry Pie will be available at various coffee shops until Fri., July 29, be sure to follow along to find out where you can find this berry bliss.
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Editor's pick: I'm so excited for Drink Up to kick off this summer so I can get my sip on at some of my favorite local establishments. Pro tip: We're looking for community partners. Send me your favorite place for a beverage (of any kind) so we can cheers together. 🥂
Missed yesterday's newsletter? Get the scoop on SoulFeast Week. |
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