Altrusa International of Evansville Prepares Books for Multicultural Library  
Today, April 2 – 12:30 p.m.
Lodge Community School Media Center

Altrusa International of Evansville last year donated funding for books at Caze Elementary for a Multicultural Library and now, they have done the same for Lodge Community School. Today, students and Altrusa members will be stamping the books donated in the Media Center at Lodge and getting them ready so that they may be used by students.

Contact at the Event or for more information:  Donna Feagley, Altrusa Member or Principal Robert Eberhart

ECHO Housing Corporation’s initiative Jacobsville Join In awards funds totaling $5,000 to implement early action projects in the Jacobsville neighborhood. Early actions are opportunities for small improvements to build neighborhood spirit by demonstrating progress to improve the neighborhood. Ten groups were awarded $250 up to $1,000 per project.

Project proposals were asked to incorporate four goals to benefit the neighborhood which comprise of, having an immediate impact on the quality of life in the neighborhood; involving a diverse representation of residents and stakeholders; building collaboration among neighborhood organizations and businesses; and building a foundation for future impact through the Jacobsville Join In process. The funded projects include:

• Jacobsville Area Community Corporation’s Christmas on North Main Parade banners

• Throw Your Worries Away and Engage “Flower Power” neighborhood event

• Jacobsville Neighborhood Improvement Association engagement activities to foster neighborhood relationships

• Jacobsville Join In Infrastructure & Parks Committee healthy living summer program

• Lucas Place Shining Stars Artz in the Park

• DiLegge’s Restaurant beautification and neighborhood clock dedication project

• Media Ministries Inc., Dream Center youth basketball program

• Delaware PTA Trixx Stix program

• Lucas Place II community garden

In 2013, ECHO Housing Corporation’s Jacobsville Join In awarded eight organizations funds totaling $5,071 to implement early action projects in the Jacobsville neighborhood. “We are excited to see the awesome ideas generated this year by neighborhood groups. Jacobsville residents and stakeholders have really taken ownership for small improvements to build neighborhood pride and spirit, while the neighborhood works on the large-scale planning project,” said Jennifer Mason, ECHO Housing Corporation’s JJI Community Mobilizer.

Over the last 12 months, residents and stakeholders have been working to develop goals for the neighborhood and create a plan to improve the quality of life in Jacobsville that can be used to leverage resources to implement the vision for the neighborhood. This planning process is based on a model that is being used successfully in other Indiana communities, but tailored to Jacobsville.

“The neighborhood is moving closer to finalizing the Jacobsville Quality of Life Plan, and should expect an announcement this spring,” said Mason.

EVANSVILLE ENJOYED AND NOW EXPECTS SMOKEFREE AIR

 

Smokefree Evansville, a new coalition of concerned health advocates, has called on local elected officials to bring back a smokefree air ordinance for the city of Evansville.  The group released the results of a recently conducted public opinion survey, commissioned by the Survey Research Center at Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI) on what would have been the two year anniversary of the city’s smokefree air ordinance.   Anne Mitchell, Interim Director at the Survey Research Center IUPUI, was on hand at a news conference held by Smokefree Evansville to release key findings of the survey.  Key findings include:

      There was widespread support for the law:   Seventy-five percent of Evansville adults indicated support for the law which was in place from April 1, 2012 up until February 11, 2014, and made most public places in Evansville, including workplaces, restaurants, bars, and private clubs smokefree.

People want a stronger law:  Sixty nine percent of residents favored amending the smokefree air ordinance to include the casino. Eighty-six percent of Evansville adults and 65 percent of smokers feel that all Evansville workers, including casino workers, should be protected from exposure to secondhand smoke in their workplaces.

People continued to support business:  A majority of residents (84 percent) went out as often as before or more frequently.

People were healthier:  Eighty-nine percent agreed that restaurants and bars were healthier for customers and employees when they were smokefree.  During the law, 26 percent of current smokers stated that they were smoking fewer cigarettes and 34 percent had thought about quitting smoking.

Smokefree Evansville is calling on Evansville’s elected officials to take note of the results of this survey,” said Cathy Engel, member of Smokefree Evansville, “and stand on the side of good public health policy for the future of our community by enacting a new smokefree air ordinance.”

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Smokefree Evansville is a coalition of concerned citizens that are fighting to protect the health and well-being of those who are affected by secondhand smoke in their workplace.

 

As a result, Smokefree Evansville’s coalition is encouraging city leaders to bring back a stronger smokefree indoor air ordinance than the one they passed in 2012, one that includes protection for every worker in Evansville.  

 

Smokefree Evansville strongly believes that no one, no matter where they work, should have to choose between their health and their paycheck.