FEMA’s National Preparedness Month Spotlights the Importance of Understanding and Managing Risk

by Member News
SERVPRO disaster mitigation specialists in the New Albany-area urge residents to create a disaster management and recovery plan before the unexpected happens

New Albany, IN (Grassroots Newswire) August 20, 2021 – September is National Preparedness Month, part of the ongoing “Ready”1 initiative of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). According to FEMA’s “Are You Ready”2 guide, the first step in effective disaster preparedness is to understand your specific risks – first by identifying the hazards that could possibly affect you and then by evaluating your actual vulnerability to those sources of danger.

“Once you understand your risks, you can effectively plan to mitigate them by decreasing your vulnerability and then manage their consequences quickly and effectively if the worst does happen,” say the disaster mitigation specialists with SERVPRO® in the New Albany area. “Of course, individual home or business owners’ risks vary depending on their location, but regardless of where you live or work, FEMA’s guide has some basic steps that everyone can take to prepare for the unexpected.”

  1. Create a family communication and shelter plan.
  2. Sign up for emergency alerts, including FEMA alerts3.
  3. Build your savings if possible and keep a small emergency fund of cash on-hand at home.
  4. Create an Emergency Financial First Aid Kit4: Gather and safeguard critical documents like deeds, medical information, insurance policies, and a list of your household belongings.
  5. Create an emergency kit5 with basic tools and enough food and water to last 72 hours and keep the contents fresh and up to date.

In addition to the planning tools and checklists provided by FEMA, businesses like SERVPRO that specialize in disaster mitigation and restoration offer free tools that make disaster recovery easier. The free SERVPRO READY app6 allows home and business owners to store essential contact and property information electronically where it can be accessed in seconds with a mobile device. New Albany-area business owners who designate their local SERVPRO franchise as their disaster mitigation and restoration provider benefit from a no-cost assessment of their facility along with help completing a comprehensive Emergency READY Profile® (ERP) to be stored in the READY app.

“The uncomfortable truth is that no amount of preparedness will prevent disasters from striking, but preparedness can help disaster victims survive and then recover,” says Rick Isaacson, CEO of Servpro Industries, LLC. “When disaster strikes, sometimes it’s difficult to even know where to start picking up the pieces. Having critical documents and details at your fingertips helps, but so does having access to professionals who know how to help you return to normal, ‘Like it never even happened.’ The disaster remediation specialists at SERVPRO know what to do when you don’t know which way to turn. They are there to help when you need them.”

For more information on SERVPRO® and the SERVPRO Emergency READY Program, please visit https://ready.servpro.com. For more information on SERVPRO in the New Albany area, please contact one of the local business owners below.

* For SERVPRO®, of Clark County, please contact Jason Wilson who can be reached at (812) 949-2201 or jasonwilson.servpro@gmail.com.
* For SERVPRO®, of Floyd County, please contact Jason Wilson who can be reached at (812) 949-2294 or jasonwilson.servpro@gmail.com.
* For SERVPRO®, of Harrison, Perry, Crawford, Orange, Washington, Scott, please contact Jason Wilson who can be reached at 812-952-3444 or jasonwilson.servpro@gmail.com.

1 https://www.ready.gov/calendar
2 https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/are-you-ready-guide.pdf
3 https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-app-text-messages
4 https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/ready_emergency-financial-first-aid-toolkit.pdf
5 https://www.ready.gov/kit
6 https://ready.servpro.com/home/mobileapp

About SERVPRO
For more than 50 years, SERVPRO has been a trusted leader in fire and water cleanup and restoration services, mold mitigation, and biohazard and pathogen remediation. SERVPRO’s professional services network of more than 1,900 individually owned and operated franchises spans the United States and Canada, responding to property damage emergencies large and small – from million-square-foot commercial facilities to individual homes. When disaster strikes, homeowners, business owners, and major insurance companies alike rely on SERVPRO to make it “Like it never even happened.”

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Zotec Foundation Awards Grant to Youth Link Southern Indiana

by Member News

The Zotec Foundation, the corporate foundation and philanthropic arm of Zotec Partners, grant will provide students with access to school-based therapy during a challenging year.

For immediate release (08/12/2021)
Misty Ronau
Youth Link Southern Indiana
Development and Communications Manager
(502) 387-6617
mronau@cisclark.org

Thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Zotec Foundation, the corporate foundation and philanthropic arm of Zotec Partners, Youth Link Southern Indiana (formerly Communities In Schools of Clark County) will continue their partnership with Centerstone to provide school-based mental health therapy to students in Clark County.

Youth Link Southern Indiana Executive Director, Tabitha Underwood said “school-based therapies are the services provided by our organization that are rated most in demand among school administrators. Partnering with clinicians to provide school-based therapy eliminates barriers for families needing to access services, including the inability to pay, lack of available clinicians in the community, or missing time from school to attend treatment.”

Youth Link Southern Indiana is excited for the 2021-22 academic year and the return to the consistent schedule, and providing access to services that families depend upon. To learn more about Youth Link Southern Indiana and the many ways they support students and families in Clark County, visit www.cisofclark.org

Northwest Ordinance Distilling Announces Nearly $49 Million Expansion Plan

by 1si News1si Press ReleaseEconomic Development

Expansion projected to bring up to 50 new jobs to area

NEW ALBANY, IND. (August 13, 2021) Northwest Ordinance Distilling, a distilled spirits bottling facility, announced its intention to again expand its production facility in New Albany, Ind.  The facility, located at 707 Pillsbury Lane, was purchased in June of 2018 and is the former General Mills Pillsbury plant, which closed in 2016.

The $48.7 million expansion will include $9.3 million in building improvements and $39.4 million in four new processing and bottling lines.  The expansion will better allow the company to meet market demand and will result in the addition of 50 full time employees over three years.   This latest expansion follows a $39.5 million expansion in 2020 that resulted in the addition of 50 full time employees.

“We’re thrilled to be growing Northwest Ordinance Distilling yet again,” said Jeff Conder, vice president of manufacturing. “The New Albany facility is ideally positioned for investment and job creation to address production growth and meet demand.  The State of Indiana, the City of New Albany, and One Southern Indiana continue to be invaluable partners in cultivating a business-friendly environment.  We’re excited to once again increase our manufacturing footprint and our workforce with steady, good paying jobs, with wages at or above the Floyd County average.”

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered Sazerac of Indiana LLC (parent of Northwest Ordinance Distilling) up to $525,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired.

“Today’s announcement is another encouraging sign of positive economic momentum in Indiana,” said Jim Staton, SVP and chief business development officer for the IEDC. “We are encouraged by Northwest Ordinance Distilling’s accelerated growth and grateful for their commitment to providing quality career opportunities for Hoosiers in southern Indiana.”

The company will be seeking real and personal property tax abatements, which allow it to phase in its increased property taxes over time.  The tax abatements offer the company an estimated savings of $2.8 million over the next 10 years.  The New Albany City Council is scheduled to vote on final approval of the company’s local incentives next week, with the project contingent upon the council’s approval.

“Since their reopening of the General Mills facility in 2018, Northwest Ordinance Distilling has proven to be a tremendous partner for the City of New Albany.  They now employ more than 150 workers at a pay averaging nearly 20 percent above the Floyd County average, and this new announcement follows on the heels of another significant expansion just over a year ago,” said New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan, “I am excited about the potential of this new expansion and look forward to many years of continued success and growth for our friends at Northwest Ordinance Distilling.”

Last year, Northwest Ordinance Distilling stepped up in the fight against COVID-19 producing hand sanitizer for some of the world’s largest organizations in the healthcare, government, military, retail, distribution, airline, pharmacy and banking industries.  In addition, the company played a part in the donation of thousands of N95 respirator masks for frontline healthcare workers.

Wendy Dant Chesser, President and CEO of One Southern Indiana said, “Northwest Ordinance Distilling locating its new facility in New Albany was the biggest local business news of 2018. Their 2020 expansion demonstrated continued confidence in our workforce, government and community.  Their decision to expand here yet again, and so quickly, is another vote of confidence for Southern Indiana and another significant step forward as we emerge from the economic crisis.  Northwest Ordinance Distilling’s prestige and continued success are a significant addition to the portfolio of industries in the area.  As always, 1si stands ready to assist them in any way we can.”

About Northwest Ordinance Distilling
Northwest Ordinance Distilling is part of the Sazerac family, one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in the United States in Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, California, and global operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, India, Australia and Canada.

About One Southern Indiana
One Southern Indiana (1si) was formed in July of 2006 as the economic development organization and chamber of commerce serving Clark and Floyd counties. 1si’s mission is to provide the connections, resources and services that help businesses innovate and thrive in the Southern Indiana / Louisville metro area.

Since its inception, the organization has taken a three-pronged approach to serving its members and investors. Business Resources, as the chamber side of the organization, encompasses membership, signature events and programs which support and encourage business growth; Economic Development works to grow the regional economy through the attraction of new commerce and assists with retention and expansion of existing businesses; Advocacy supports businesses at the government level by engaging in the initiatives to preserve, protect and promote a business-friendly environment free of obstacles to growth and development of commerce. For more information on One Southern Indiana, visit www.1si.org.

Contact:

Allen Howie
Marketing and Communications
allenh@1si.org
502-644-8920

Amy Preske
PR Manager
Northwest Ordinance Distilling
apreske@sazerac.com

Small_Business_Equity_Program_Promotion

Louisville Water Offers Small Business Equity (SBE) Program

by Member News

Louisville Water wants to give small businesses a greater opportunity to work with us. As we deliver water to our customers every day, we create jobs for hundreds of large and small businesses. We are looking for suppliers and contractors who can deliver great quality work. If you are a small business, we want to work with you.

We encourage small businesses to apply to be a qualified Louisville Water Small Business Equity (SBE) program member. Only Louisville Water SBE program members can bid on certain Louisville Water projects, and Louisville Water will determine what those projects are. Our SBE program generally includes bidding on construction, professional services, or general services contracts for more than $30,000 but less than $250,000.  We are offering workshops on the requirements and the application process, please sign up for a work shop by clicking here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/117404166021.

Visit LouisvilleWater.com/procurement-sbe for benefits of the program, how to apply, FAQs, and information on training sessions.

Economic Update | Upbeat Jobs Report

by 1si NewsEconomic Development
Job openings continue to rise–labor scarcity will drive innovation

By Dr. Uric Dufrene, Sanders Chair in Business and Professor of Finance, Indiana University Southeast

Last Friday’s national employment report showed very favorable job gains.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the economy grew by 943,000 jobs during July.  This was higher than most estimates and was the highest since August 2020.   The first half of the year was marked by several payroll misses with monthly numbers coming in much lower than expected.   One of the reasons was due to supply-side issues, specifically the availability of labor.  Last week’s report showed the growth in employment increased at a much higher level than the labor force.   Consequently, the nation’s unemployment rate dropped by ½ of a percent to 5.4%.

The largest gain occurred in the leisure and hospitality sector, adding 380,000 jobs.   In the past three months, leisure and hospitality has been the largest contributor of job growth.   More than 1 million jobs have been added in leisure and hospitality, more than double the jobs added in the second highest producing government sector.  The strong growth in leisure and hospitality is to be expected.  Last year, and early this year, consumers spent heavily on goods, driven by government stimulus and the difficulty in pursuing services, particularly leisure and hospitality.   The growth in leisure and hospitality simply reflects re-openings and pent-up demand for experiences.

At a national average hourly rate of $18.55 an hour, leisure and hospitality is the lowest paid sector.   Despite being the leading driver of job growth last month, average hourly earnings increased by 11 cents an hour to $30.54.    This is no small increase!    Since February 2020, average hourly earnings have increased by about $2 an hour.    As a comparison, the average hourly rate increased by about 41 cents a year after the Great Recession.     For my data source, FactSet, average hourly earnings data only go back to 2006, but the recent changes in hourly earnings far exceed anything since that time.    In a recent One Weekly column, we also wrote about the record-breaking increases in average weekly wages for Southern Indiana.

What are the implications for these significant changes in average hourly wages?   Does it mean that these costs will be passed along to business and consumers, and inflation will be the result?   Or as some Federal Reserve officials and others believe that current inflation is only transitory, once we get through some of these supply chain issues, including labor availability.  Here is my view.   The combination of higher wages and a scarce labor pool will motivate a more rapid transition to automation.    In a quest to meet demand, companies have no choice but to figure innovative changes to production, which could include the adoption of more efficient processes, either through automation or just pure creativity.  This applies to both goods and services.  Higher wages will be justified due to gains in productivity because of the adoption of innovative business and production processes.  Productivity gains will serve as a headwind to sustained inflation.

Let’s look at the data on job changes and GDP.  Back in the 1970s and 80s, an increase in GDP, that occurs when the economy is exiting the recession, was accompanied by an increase in payrolls.   That is, an increase in GDP also occurred with an increase in jobs.    Since 1990 and for every recession since, a positive increase in GDP occurred without the nation fully recovering jobs lost.    That means that the economy was able to produce more, but with fewer workers.    In the most recent recession, the economy is now at a market level of goods and services that exceeds the level that existed in February 2020 but is still down close to 6 million payrolls.    We are observing a more productive economy in action.    The nation is producing a significantly higher GDP than February 2020, but with less labor.

One year after the Great Recession, GDP was about 2% higher than the start of the recession.   This 2% gain to GDP was accomplished with payrolls being down 5% from the start of the recession.  With the most recent Covid recession, GDP is now 6% higher than the recession beginning date and payrolls are down about 4%.    Compared to the Great Recession, the percentage change to GDP is about 3 times higher with the Covid recession, but the percentage drop in payrolls is only 1 percentage point higher.

The most recent Job Openings and Labor Turnover report shows that labor scarcity is not improving.   On Monday, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that job openings increased again in June, rising to above 10 million.   This is the highest on record.   As a comparison, the number of job openings a year after the Great Recession stood at about 3 million.  If employers can’t rely on labor, some will have no choice but to invest in a machine.

Data sources:  BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, FactSet, BLS Employment Situation.

LifeSpring Health Systems Announces New President/CEO

by Member News

(JEFFERSONVILLE, IN)—LifeSpring Health Systems announced the selection of their new President/CEO, Beth Keeney, DrPH. Current President/CEO, Dr. Terry Stawar, is set to retire at the end of the year.

Dr. Keeney currently serves as Executive Vice President of Community Health Initiatives and has been with LifeSpring since 2008. She was instrumental in the process of LifeSpring becoming certified as a Federally Qualified Health Center and the continued expansion of primary care services in Southern Indiana.

Dr. Keeney’s goals for the agency include the expansion of community health programming in rural areas and the development of strategic partnerships in order to continue the expansion of affordable healthcare. Dr. Keeney stated, “Access to behavioral health, addiction treatment, and primary care services, is a human rights issue. We are going to continue our efforts to grow our service delivery models to ensure patients have access to the services they need, when they need them, regardless of their ability to pay. No one should be
without necessary healthcare.”

Said Randy Dennison, Chairman of the LifeSpring Board of Directors, “Throughout her many years of service to LifeSpring, Beth has demonstrated an unyielding commitment to ensuring the availability of quality, comprehensive, integrated services to every individual in every community across LifeSpring’s service area.”

Dr. Keeney is a lifelong resident of Clark County and received her Bachelor’s degree in Business and Master’s degree in Business Administration at Indiana University Southeast. She received her Doctorate in Public Health from the Fairbanks School of Public Health at Indiana University. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Indiana Primary Health Care Association and serves on various committees for the National Association of Community Health Centers, the Indiana Council for Community Mental Health Centers, and the Indiana Rural Health Association.

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LifeSpring Health Systems is the state designated community mental health center in Clark, Crawford, Dubois, Floyd, Harrison, Jefferson, Orange, Perry, Scott, Spencer, and Washington counties and a Federally Qualified Health Center. LifeSpring serves more than 12,000 clients annually by providing a comprehensive spectrum of behavioral health and primary care services. To learn more, visit LifeSpring’s website at www.lifespringhealthsystems.org.

Thank You for Renewing Your Membership | July 2021

by 1si NewsThank Your for Renewing Your Membership

One Southern Indiana would like the thank the following members for renewing their membership during the month of July 2021.

Quarter Century Club (25 Years or More) Member Since
Bachman Auto Group 1976
Clark County REMC 1976
E. M. Coots’ Sons Funeral Home 1976
First Savings Bank 1976
Geo. Pfau’s Sons Company, Inc. 1976
L. Thorn Company, Inc. 1976
Lehigh Cement 1976
Cornerstone Group 1977
Radisson Louisville North Hotel 1985
The Marketing Company 1985
Southern Indiana Works 1988
New Hope Services, Inc. 1989
Hosparus Health Southern Indiana & Grief Counseling Center 1990
Southern Indiana Rehabilitation Hospital 1993
Nimlok Kentucky 1994
Pro Laminators 1995
Ten to 24 Years
The Stemler Corporation 2001
Radiology Associates, Inc. 2002
Callistus Smith Agency, Inc. 2004
NYX New Albany 2004
Proforma double dog dare 2004
Frannet of of Kentucky & Southern Indiana 2007
Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana 2008
Home of the Innocents 2008
M & M Office Products 2008
S & J Precision Inc. 2009
Timmel Associates, LLC 2009
YMCA of Greater Louisville, Inc. 2009
HJI Supply Chain Solutions 2010
U.S. Bank 2011
Five to Nine Years
Flexible Materials, Inc. 2012
Heritage Engineering, LLC 2012
Brinly-Hardy Co. 2013
Discount Labels, Inc. 2013
ProMedia Group, LLC 2013
Rudy and Associates 2013
The Villages at Historic Silvercrest Trilogy Health Services 2013
Clark Dietz, Inc. 2014
Coast to Coast Signs 2014
Culver’s of Jeffersonville 2014
Estes Waste Solutions, LLC 2014
HWC Engineering 2014
Expedia Cruises, New Albany 2015
HR Alliance 2015
Taylor Siefker Williams Design Group 2015
Big O Tires – Jeffersonville, IN 2016
Church, Langdon, Lopp, Banet Law 2016
Cornell Harbison Excavating, Inc. 2016
Habitat for Humanity Clark & Floyd Indiana 2016
Infinite Solutions, LLC 2016
River Valley Resources 2016
WHAS11 2016
Two to Four Years
Branham Corporation 2017
KFC 2017
Montgomery Farms 2017
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 2017
Excel Services Inc. 2018
Executive Elevator 2018
Hartman Dental Associates 2018
Mission BBQ 2018
Taylor’s Cajun Meat Company 2018
Visiting Angels of New Albany 2018
Element 502 2019
Fisher & Phillips 2019
KCC Manufacturing 2019
MPI Printing 2019
The Louisville Chocolate Fountain 2019
Traditions At Hunter Station 2019
Vision First Eye Care 2019
One Year
Sutton Leasing 2020
OneSource Marketing, LLC 2020

Economic Update | Past the Peak, but Still Pretty Strong

by 1si NewsEconomic Development

By Dr. Uric Dufrene, Sanders Chair in Business and Professor of Finance, Indiana University Southeast

The past couple of weeks or so, the narrative has been changing to include use of the phrase “peak growth”.   Several indicators suggest that the nation’s economy will be entering a phase of slower growth, as measured by GDP.    This is not surprising and is to be expected. As we move past the pent-up demand phase, and consumers exhaust savings and resume normal consumer behavioral activity, growth is bound to slow down.

Last week, the economy saw an unexpected significant increase in new claims for unemployment. Additionally, the 10-year yield continues to trade under 1.3%, not a strong signal for robust growth ahead.   There was also a report that showed consumer sentiment had softened.  However, we should ask the basic question of “slower growth” compared to what?  For the first quarter of 2021, real GDP growth was 6.4%.   The preceding quarter was 4.3%.  A rate of 6.4% is the highest since 2003.  Even the slower rate of 4.3% exceeds most quarters, except for a couple coming out of the Great Recession, and one in 2014 that registered 5.5%.  FactSet estimates annual growth of 6.5% for 2021, and 4.1% for 2022.  Estimates have growth declining to 2.3% in 2023, which is more in line with trend growth.  As a comparison, the U.S. saw 4.1% annual growth for a quarter in 2015, and 2004 with a rate of 4.3%.   So, we are indeed moving past “peak growth”, but strong growth relative to trend, is still in the cards for the rest of this year and into next.

The increase in national unemployment claims prompts a closer look at components of the regional labor market.   Continuing unemployment claims across Indiana have been dropping since June 26, when claims stood at 41,504.    The most recent continuing claims level in Indiana now stands at 12,955, lower than continuing claims of 19,854 during the last week of February 2020.  Indiana initial claims saw a spike in July, from 6,018 to 49,719.    Some of this was attributed to manufacturing, with claims running about 3 times the level observed in prior weeks.

Closer to Southern Indiana, employment across the Louisville metro market has been steadily increasing since the first of the year, after mostly moving sideways during the last quarter of 2020 and into 2021.  Employment is now about 20,000 under the early 2020 level.   Unemployment across the metro area is now comparable to early 2020, just prior to the massive layoffs of the pandemic.   While still down by approximately 20,000 from early 2020, the metro labor force has been on an upward trend since early 2021, increasing by roughly 7,000.

We get a glimpse of hiring by observing Burning Glass job postings data for Louisville Metro.  Over the past 30 days, the number of job postings across the metro area is lower by about 2,000, compared to February 2020.   Compared to a year ago, postings are running about the same.    For the entire metro area, registered nurses consistently ranked first with respect to the number of job openings.  This was true for both Southern Indiana and Louisville Metro in early 2020.  During the depths of the pandemic, truck drivers surpassed registered nurses across Southern Indiana as well as laborers, freight, stock, and material movers.   The most recent job postings data show that registered nurses hold the top spot again across Southern Indiana, with a noticeable decline in the number of truck driver postings.   In fact, truck driver positions do not even rank in the top 10.   Laborers, freight, stock and material movers have also declined, falling to 5th.   Holding three of the top five positions include customer service representatives, retail salespersons, and first line supervisors of retail salespersons.   Except for the decline in truck driver positions, the most recent job openings picture is more comparable to the job market that existed prior to the pandemic.   One interpretation of this is that hiring is beginning to normalize with respect to the types of positions in demand.

With some progress in labor force growth, employment is expected to continue the upswing.   Since the start of the year, Louisville Metro has added about 9,000 jobs.  This number should begin to accelerate in the 2nd half of the year, especially if labor force growth is sustained.

The Falls of the Ohio announces LightFall

by Member News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information:
Kenton Wooden
Executive Director, Falls of the Ohio Foundation
kenton@fallsoftheohio.org
812.283.4999

The Falls of the Ohio announces LightFall
Former Louisvillian Annie Mitchell to create meditative light and sound experience

(Clarksville, Ind. – July 22, 2021) – Louisville and Southern Indiana residents will see the Falls of the Ohio in a new light thanks to LightFall, an event showcasing a Sept. 5-8 art installation that will transform the iconic natural landmark.

The art installation, Aleuria, will be a meditative, immersive light and sound experience, created by Louisville-born artist, Annie Mitchell. The name Aleuria comes from a brightly colored edible fungus found in Indiana and reflects Mitchell’s focus on natural landscapes.

The Falls of the Ohio Foundation, teamed with River Heritage Conservancy, and SoIN Tourism, to develop the first annual LightFall event. It will be open to the public 9 p.m. to midnight September 6-8, with a special night for donors of the Falls of the Ohio Foundation and River Heritage Conservancy, who are partnering on the event.

“LightFall was developed to engage people in our landscape in a completely new way,” said Kenton Wooden, executive director of Falls of the Ohio Foundation. “We wanted to bring a new energy to this place and remind people of the incredible outdoor spaces that we all share along the Ohio River. We are thankful for the support of the Bales Foundation, River Heritage Conservancy, SoIN Tourism and Louisville Public Media for their partnership on this unique event.”

Artist Annie Mitchell
Annie Mitchell is a light and sound artist who creates site-specific land sculptures that combine light and sound with the natural environment. She uses handcrafted fiber optics and rhythmic soundscapes and employs “brainwave entrainment,” a method that induces the brain’s frequency following response. Designed to be therapeutic, her work often results in meditative or even trance-like states.

Leveraging a 20-year career in design, Mitchell directed her training in technology and behavioral sciences to create immersive sound and light experiences that slows the tempo of the surrounding world. Her art helps people disconnect with the frenetic pace of the modern world. By slowing the tempo of both the natural world and the audience, she aims to create a meaningful connection between the two.

“Shaping how we encounter darkness, light, sound, and land, Annie creates wonder in unexpected places,” said Scott Martin, executive director of River Heritage Conservancy. “Her work elevates the power of natural landscapes on the human soul.”

Mitchell’s installations have been seen across in the globe in Alaska, Belgium, Finland, and the Netherlands. Locally, her work The Forest Rises was installed in Kentucky at the Big Four Bridge in March of 2015.

The Falls of the Ohio Foundation and River Heritage Conservancy will host an invitation only event September 5 for organization supporters. Tickets for the general public will be available in August for September 6-8. To best experience it, LightFall will be a timed, ticketed event. Patrons will be encouraged to attend the event without a cell phone in hand. No flash photography will be allowed during the walk through.

For more information, visit LightFallEvent.com or call Kenton Wooden at 812.283.4999. For more information on Annie Mitchell and her work, visit AnnieM.me.

About the Falls of the Ohio Foundation
The mission of The Falls of the Ohio Foundation is to raise funds and support in order to preserve and interpret the scientific, historical, and cultural heritage of the Falls of the Ohio and to promote educational initiatives for a better understanding of this unique natural resource. For more information visit www.fallsoftheohio.org.

About River Heritage Conservancy
The globe’s greatest communities are defined by great public park systems.  The Conservancy was created by local business and philanthropic leaders to bring a great public park system to the North Shore of the Ohio River, the first element is ORIGIN Park.  For more information visit riverheritageconservancy.org.

 

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Peggy's Place

Peggy’s Place Dedicates Memorial Funds to Beautify Outdoor Space

by Member News

At Peggy’s Place Adult Life Center, we are strong advocates for our participant s and our community, we believe in giving back when we can. Recently a beloved and long- time participant passed away. His family asked  that donations  be made  to T he Center in  his name. In response to the many, very generous donations we created a memorial fund. The purpose of the memorial fund is to provide additional exciting and enriching activities for our participants, or friends as we call them.

After careful consideration, Peggy’s Place has decided the use the memorial funds to beautify our outdoor space.  Our  hope  is  that all of our  friends  will enjoy spending more  time outdoors in a safe, comfortable, and colorful environment. We have added new raised flower beds to ease in the participation of caring for our small garden, a  sun sail which  provides  much  needed shade, and new seating to accommodate more of our friends.

We saved the best for last! Peggy’s Place Adult Life Center partnered with the youth at Open Door Your Services in New Albany to create an amazing, beautiful mural on the rear of our building. The youth from Open Door worked with our staff and friends to create this mural to brighten up the space year-round. Our adult and senior friends enjoyed working together with the teens who painted the mural, and we look forward to future collaborations.

Only a moment you stayed, but what an imprint you left on our hearts.

-Dorothy Ferguson

Submitted by Tracy Diers, President, Peggy’s Place

www.PeggysPlacein.com