The Downtown Evansville riverfront will be buzzing with activity this Saturday, July 13, as Clean Evansville volunteers pick-up litter in parks along the Ohio River and nearby neighborhoods from 8 to 9:30 a.m., then gather at the Four Freedoms Monument at 10 a.m. to participate in a community video coordinated by the grassroots group We Are Evansville.

Mayor Lloyd Winnecke encourages as many people as possible to participate in both community projects. “The Clean Evansville litter pick-up and the We Are Evansville community video are great ways to show your community pride while beautifying our parks and some of the oldest areas of the city,” Winnecke said. “It doesn’t cost money to pick-up trash, and it’s gratifying to see how much better neighborhoods looks when everyone pitches in to help.”

Clean Team volunteers will gather on city property near the Pagoda for a wrap-up ceremony at 9:45 a.m. After the wrap-up, volunteers will converge on Riverside Drive in front of the Four Freedoms Monument to shoot a community pride video. The video and photos from the public will be incorporated into a community video that will be posted online at www.YouTube.com/lloydwinnecke. Photographs are still being accepted and should be emailed to: weareevansville@gmail.com.

“We need approximately 400 people to spell out ‘Evansville,’ ” said Pam Hight, an organizer with the We Are Evansville movement. “If you don’t have one of the #WeAreEvv T-shirt, any brightly-colored shirt will do. Just be at the riverfront by 10 a.m. and be ready to show your community spirit.”

Approximately 50 #WeAreEvv T-shirts are still available at the Department of Parks & Recreation, 100 E. Walnut St. The shirts cost $5-$7 dollars, depending on the size, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Evansville Parks Foundation.
TEAM 1

Team Leader: Mayor Winnecke, Kelly Coures

MEET- Parking lot, Sunrise Park

ROUTE- Do Sunrise Park, to include Kid’s Kingdom

TEAM 2

Team Leader: Dona Bergman

MEET- Parking lot, Sunset Park

ROUTE- Do Sunset Park

TEAM 3

Team Leader: Darren Stearns,

MEET- Intersection of Parrett and Washington. Tyler Interior’s parking lot.

ROUTE- Do area bounded by Washington/Parrett east on Washington to Judson

Judson to Chandler

Chandler to 2nd

2nd to Washington

TEAM 4

Team Leader: Mike Shopmeyer, Carol McClintock

MEET: Intersection of 2nd and Shawnee/Adams (Haynie’s Corner Fountain)

ROUTE: Do area bounded by Shawnee Dr. at 2nd to Sunset Ave.

Sunset Ave. to Veteran’s Memorial Parkway/Riverside

Veteran’s Memorial Parkway/Riverside to Oak

Oak to 2nd

2 nd to Chandler

Chandler to 1st

TEAM 5

Team Leader: Kathy Oxby, Timothy Weir

MEET: Vectren Parking Lot, Riverside and Vine, north of the building.

ROUTE- Do area bounded by Court to Riverside

Riverside to Cherry

Cherry to 2nd

2nd to Court

TEAM 6

Team Leader: Janet Heldt-Baas

MEET: Entrance to Riverfront Park

Route: Do Riverside Park and follow the Greenway to Chestnut

NOTES: Spread out your teams and do the boundaries as well as the side streets within.

Do not do the levee south of the Greenway- do the Greenway.

Not just one but three hard rock bands rattled the rafters in the historic Victory Theatre on Thursday night. Headliners Pop Evil returned to Evansville for the first time since appearing at the Ford Center as part of the Trespass America Festival last July, to the delight of the hardcore fans of this Detroit-based group. Pop Evil put on a high- energy show that kept up its head-thrasing intensity for well over an hour. Supporting act Candlelight Red gained some new fans with their adrenaline-fueled set, and local up-and-comers Sideshow Romance both brought in some of their most devoted followers and picked up some new fans of their own when they opened the show.
“It was good to see a new genre in Evansville’s Victory Theatre. There seemed to be a lot of new faces and I was excited to bring new people to the venue,” said Victory Theatre General Manager Ben Bolander.
The Victory Theatre continues an active summer and fall schedule with upcoming shows that include Tyler Farr (Summer Country Nights at the Victory series) July 12, “Weird Al” Yankovic – The Alpocalypse Tour July 27, Charlie Worsham (Summer Country Nights at the Victory series) August 15, No Justice (Summer Country Nights at the Victory series) September 13, Tommy Emmanuel September 20, and Don Williams October 17.

Mistache is a 1-year-old female cat with beautiful, unmistakable markings that are pretty hard to miss, given her name! She came up to a nice woman in Illinois’ house for help, because she was looking pretty rough from fending for herself outside. But she is a very sweet and loving cat who has done very well here at the shelter! She lives in the cageless cat room at the VHS, which means she’s used to having to share her space, food, and litterbox with other cats. Her adoption fee is $30, which includes her spay, vaccinations, microchip, and a bag of food.

Rep. Bucshon and Dr. Rich at the Subcommittee on Research and Technology hearing on July 10, 2013.

(Washington, DC) – On Wednesday, Representative Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Research and Technology, held a hearing on developing a strategic plan to guide economic policy decisions that affect American manufacturing competitiveness.

Specifically, the hearing focused on H.R. 2447, the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2013, legislation to create a coordinated plan that will streamline current government programs and foster research and development into new products, and promote advanced manufacturing jobs here in the United States.

“Manufacturing is a critical component of our state and national economies and a source of employment for many Americans,” said Bucshon. “It is absolutely necessary that we develop a clear strategy for improving manufacturing competitiveness without disadvantaging other sectors or putting the government in a position of picking winners and losers. If done correctly, a plan, like the one offered in H.R. 2447, can promote economic and employment growth in the manufacturing sector, support a skilled workforce, enable innovation and investment in manufacturing, and support national security. I am pleased that Dr. Rich was able to provide a valuable perspective to our discussion about this important issue.”

Bucshon tapped the Chairman and CEO of Berry Plastics Corporation in Evansville, IN, Dr. Jonathan Rich, to provide comments and recommendations to the Subcommittee.

“It was an honor to have the opportunity to provide testimony today before the House Subcommittee and to offer a business perspective on both the current and projected state of manufacturing in the United States,” said Jon Rich, Chairman and CEO of Berry Plastics Corporation. “As outlined in my testimony, HR 2447’s objective of promoting growth and sustainability, creating jobs, and strengthening the competitiveness of America’s manufacturing industry is vital to our national interests and to the stability and success of our local communities.”

Manufacturing represents approximately 11 percent of the American economy, with an output that has risen by 13 percent over the last several years. Manufacturing also has the greatest multiplier effect of any major sector in the American economy. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, each dollar spent in manufacturing generates an additional $1.35 in spending.

Indiana is home to over 9,600 manufacturers employing nearly 560,000 workers. Indiana ranks first in manufacturing employment and second in manufacturing as a gross state product in the country. The critical sector also makes up about 27percent of the state’s economy.

The 8th district of Indiana is home to many of these manufacturers, like Berry Plastics that pair with institutes for higher education like Ivy Tech, Vincennes University, the University of Evansville, and the University of Southern Indiana to offer degrees related to advanced manufacturing and work closely with these entities to develop a talented and well-trained workforce.

Bucshon’s full opening statement can be accessed here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwugBePfV1Q&list=PLIXJ2Mq-88lxo69oDjCZnnBdFJvR4TA8e&index=2.

Dr. Rich’s full opening statement can be accessed here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4NVWsY7cNw&list=PLIXJ2Mq-88lxo69oDjCZnnBdFJvR4TA8e&index=1.

H.R. 2447, the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2013

The proposed legislation would strike and replace an existing requirement for the National Science and Technology Council’s Committee on Technology to develop a 4-year strategic plan on advanced manufacturing research and development with a national manufacturing competitiveness strategic plan.

It calls on the Committee to conduct an analysis of factors that impact the competitiveness and growth of U.S. manufacturing, including: research and development; technology transfer; the manufacturing industrial base for national security; the workforce; trade and intellectual property policies; tax policies; emerging markets; and policies of our global competitors.

The goals of the required strategic plan are defined as: promoting growth of the U.S. manufacturing sector; supporting a skilled workforce; enabling innovation and investment in domestic manufacturing; and supporting national security. The strategic plan shall contain near and long-term objectives to meet the defined goals, including research and development, and describe the progress in achieving previous plans’ objectives. It shall also define the role of each agency as well as federally-supported advanced manufacturing activities to foster the technology transfer of research results into new products and processes. Additionally the plan shall describe federal programs to support the manufacturing workforce and small and medium-sized manufacturers.

The plan shall also consider input from a wide variety of stakeholders as well as the analysis of factors that impact U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.

H.R. 2447 also requires the President’s annual budget to include information regarding the consistency of the budget with the goals and recommendations included in the strategic plan.