Today’s Forecast

56º | Partly cloudy | 5% chance of precipitation | Sunrise 6:41 a.m. | Sunset 8:28 p.m.

Important Message

Great news for locals: Share good, local news with your neighbors on Nextdoor and be entered for a chance to win $500 cash. Now, through Monday, May 8, share a favorite story using the “Share on Nextdoor” icon online, and you’ll be entered to win. Learn more.

Government

What is a LEED certification?

Green leaves backdropped by a blurry building.

Everything from a house to an entire city can be LEED-certified. | Photo by Arun Thomas from Pexels

City officials recently announced that Lexington — along with 12 other cities — has been selected to participate in the LEED for Cities Certification. So, what exactly does that mean? We won’t leed you on — here’s everything you need to know.

What is LEED?

LEED — which stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” — is an international green building system developed by the US Green Building Council (UGBC). The certification encourages more efficient buildings and communities through all phases of development, from new builds to maintenance.

Businesses and residences in Lexington will not be required to become LEED certified for the city to obtain this certification. Rather, the program as a whole will help the city create initiatives to improve sustainability thanks to UGBC resources + support.

Intrigued? Learn more about UGBC’s mission.

What are the levels?

A project earns its LEED certification through points. Points are awarded through 20+ categories which address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environmental quality.

The more points a project earns, the higher its certification level. The four levels are:

Certified: 40-49 points
Silver: 50-59 points
Gold: 60-79 points
Platinum: 80+ points

Looking for local LEED-certified projects? Search the database to find certified projects, organizations, communities, and people.

Jada Griggs, a Senior Program Manager in the Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works, will lead the charge in Lexington. With guidance from the USGBC, she will —

Help set goals for reducing energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Develop GHG reduction targets
Collect the required data
Apply for the certification

Events

Tuesday, May 2

Late Nights at Red Mile | Tuesday, May 2-Monday, Oct. 2 | 11 p.m. | Red Mile Gaming & Racing, 1101 Winbak Way, Lexington | Free | Don’t miss Late Night Breakfast with $5 food, late night drawings, live music + more.*

Wednesday, May 3

Armchair Vacationer: A Tour of Amazing Art Collections with Virtual Reality | Wednesday, May 3 | 2-3 p.m. | Tates Creek Branch, 3628 Walden Dr., Lexington | Free | Virtual reality will transport you to the Vatican, the Louvre, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art — without ever leaving town.
Pottery Class | Wednesday, May. 3 | 5-7 p.m. | The Void Sake, 949 National Ave., Ste. 190, Lexington | $35 | You’ll be kiln the game at this instructional class that guides you through the entire process of creating a functional pinch pot mug.

Thursday, May 4

Build a 3D Printed Lightsaber | Thursday, May 4 | 4-5 p.m. | Northside Branch, 1733 Russell Cave Rd., Lexington | Free | Feel the force within you by 3D-printing your own lightsaber to celebrate Star Wars Day.
May the Fourth Star Wars Celebration | Thursday, May 4 | 6-8 p.m. | McConnell Springs Park, 416 Rebmann Ln., Lexington | Free | Celebrate Star Wars with themed-printmaking activities, food trucks, a photo booth, music + more.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Number

$34.5 million. That’s how much UK’s College of Engineering received from alumni Stanley Pigman + his wife Karen. This marks the largest single gift in UK’s history and will be put towards funding scholarships, an expansion of the Funkhouser building + more. (UKNOW)

Sports

Congrats are in order for the three UK football players chosen during the 2023 NFL Draft. Quarterback Will Levis will go to the Tennessee Titans, running back Chris Rodriguez to the Washington Commanders, and Carrington Valentine will spend his first professional year with the Green Bay Packers. (The Courier-Journal)

Plan Ahead

The Burl has announced its first ever Burl County Fair, an event that merges music festivals with nostalgic county fairs. From Friday, September 8 to Sunday to September 10, residents can enjoy games, rides, petting zoos + more. Keep an eye out for when the live music lineup drops Tuesday, May 9.

Community

Last week, the City unveiled a new “Positivity Bench” at Charles Young Park. The bench comes from a partnership with The Links, Incorporated — a nonprofit dedicated to volunteer work that nurtures inclusive environments, supports the efforts of Black women, and creates a safe space for victims of various issues.
Whether you’re headed to the Kentucky Derby this Saturday or watching the sporting event from home, keep your eye out for the famed “Garland of Roses.” Since 1987, Kroger has crafted the winning-thoroughbred prize, which contains 400+ roses and weighs 40 pounds. See how the Derby icon is made.*

Holiday

How to win Mother’s Day? Send the mother figure in your life iconic meals and desserts from across the country with Goldbelly. Think: Ina Garten’s coconut cake, a New York bagel brunch kit, and a chef’s steak dinner for four. Yup, it’s all on Goldbelly.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Aayat

From the editor

As I’ve been researching international grocery stores around Lexington, a sign teasing a new Korean street food restaurant caught my eye at Dong Yang Market. This comes over a year after the closing of Seki, the former restaurant that sat in the back of the store. We’ll keep you updated whenever we hear more.

Missed yesterday's newsletter?

Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY