New Bicycle Factory Coming to Indiana

Seymour, IN (May 20, 2022) - Guardian Bikes announced it would build a highly automated factory to move production of its safety-focused kids’ bikes to the United States. Guardian has selected a site at the Freeman Field Industrial Park in Seymour, Indiana, where the company expects to invest nearly $7 million and employ around 100 workers by 2026.

 

Guardian Bikes mock up of first U.S. bike factory in Seymour, Indiana. Photo: Guardian Bikes

Guardian Bikes makes children’s bikes with a patented Sure Stop brake system that prevents head-over-handlebar accidents, and was featured on Season 8 of Shark Tank. According to the company, approximately 11 million kids’ bikes are purchased in the U.S. annually, and 10.5 million of them (96%) are imported from China.

“Guardian’s vision is to challenge this status quo in every way. We’ve said NO to disposable unsafe kids bikes, and instead, make the safest bikes, ones kids LOVE to ride, and soon will be built right here in the USA,” Brian Riley, CEO and Co-Founder, Guardian Bikes wrote in a company statement.

“By moving production of our bikes to the USA, and then fulfilling our bikes straight from our U.S. factory floor direct to your door, we begin to create a sustainable supply chain system, which allows us to not only be a Guardian for the kids in your family with the safest bikes available for them, but also be a Guardian for the future of the planet they will grow up on,” added Riley.



ABOUT: Guardian Bikes

Founded in Irvine, CA, Guardian moved to Austin, TX in 2020. The company’s transition to U.S. production will happen in several phases: Phase 1 will involve final assembly of parts and frames, which will begin in June of this year.



To support the Seymour, Indiana project, the Seymour Redevelopment Commission has approved a four-year $100,000 ECLIPSE loan. The Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation (JCIDC) developed the ECLIPSE program to provide a cash loan to help offset startup costs based on job creation. 

Loan proceeds come from tax increment finance or economic development income tax funds, and the amount of the loan is tied directly to the number of permanent, full-time jobs and wages. The Seymour City Council also approved a $275,000 tax abatement for Guardian’s initial investment for equipment and machinery.

SOURCE: Guardian Bikes  

Flower and Patio Show Goes Virtual

Indianapolis, IN (March 19, 2020) - The Indiana Flower + Patio Show will launch its new Virtual Showroom on March 20. While the Indiana Flower + Patio Show was cancelled at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, it will be available through a new online experience.

The Indiana Flower + Patio Show Virtual Showroom is a searchable hub that connects homeowners to create the home of their dreams. This year’s Virtual Showroom features 200-plus vendors, many of whom will offer exclusive show specials and discounts.

The Virtual Showroom will be available starting Saturday, March 20, giving those planning their next project and getting ready for Spring to search exhibitors any time right from their own homes.

In addition to exhibitor show specials there is an opportunity to enter to win a $500 VISA gift card with the Sweet Space Sweepstakes to help consumers get started on their next project.

Source: Indiana Flower And Patio Show

PayPal Opens Network to Cryptocurrency

Indianapolis, IN (October 21, 2020) - PayPal Holdings said on today it will allow customers to hold bitcoin and other virtual coins in its online wallet and shop using cryptocurrencies at the 26 million merchants on its network.  The new service makes PayPal one of the largest U.S. companies to provide consumers access to cryptocurrencies, which could help bitcoin and rival cryptocurrencies gain wider adoption as viable payment methods.

The San Jose, California-based company hopes the service will encourage global use of virtual coins and prepare its network for new digital currencies that central banks and companies may develop, President and Chief Executive Dan Schulman said in an interview. “We are working with central banks and thinking of all forms of digital currencies and how PayPal can play a role,” he said. 

U.S. account holders will be able to buy, sell and hold cryptocurrencies in their PayPal wallets over the coming weeks, the company said. PayPal plans to expand the service to its peer-to-peer payment app Venmo and some other countries in the first half of 2021. The ability to make payments with cryptocurrencies will be available from early next year, the company said.

Other mainstream fintech companies, such as mobile payments provider Square Inc SQ.N and stock trading app firm Robinhood Markets Inc, allow users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, but PayPal's launch is noteworthy given its size. The company has 346 million active accounts around the world and processed $222 billion in payments in the second quarter. PayPal’s shares were up 4% at 1418 GMT, set for their best day in a month.


Bitcoin and other virtual coins have struggled to become established as widely used forms of payment despite being around for more than a decade. Cryptocurrencies’ volatility is attractive for speculators, but poses risks for merchants and shoppers. Transactions are also slower and more costly than other mainstream payment systems.

PayPal believes its new system will address these issues as payments will be settled using traditional currencies, such as the U.S. dollar. This means PayPal will be managing the risk of price fluctuations and merchants will receive payments in virtual coins. “We are going about it in a fundamentally different way to make sure we provide the maximum amount of safety to our merchants,” Schulman said.

PayPal's service comes as some central banks have announced plans to develop digital versions of their currencies, following a Facebook-led FB.O cryptocurrency project Libra in 2019, which was met by strong regulatory pushback.. PayPal was among the founding members of this project but dropped out after a few months.

PayPal has secured the first conditional cryptocurrency licence from the New York State Department of Financial Services. The company will initially allow purchases of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies called ethereum ETH=BTSP, bitcoin cash BCH=BTSP and litecoin LTC=BTSP, it said.

PayPal is teaming up with cryptocurrency firm Paxos Trust Company to offer the service.

SOURCE: NBC News

Zip Line For Socially Distanced Halloween

Garden City, MI (September 24, 2020) - Woodworker Matt Thompson of Thompson Woodworks constructed a delightful contraption to help keep the trick-or-treat dream alive for his town. He built a social-distancing safe zip-line so he can hand out candy to kids who come by.

He used a cable and some pulleys to create a line that runs from his porch to a decorated pole near the sidewalk. That way kids can safely take some candy from the attached ghost without having to get close to the house.

But the best part is that this is not just a candy delivery service. It also includes a beer caddy so Thompson can send out some grownup treats too. He hauls it back in with a fishing reel, in a system we’d like to see used on every holiday.



This isn’t the first device someone has come up with to make Halloween 2020 possible. The Wicked Makers YouTube channel released a video for a DIY candy tube.

It’s been a long year, and no matter your age we can all use some treats this Halloween.

Fundraiser for Historic Gym in "Hoosiers" Movie

Indianapolis, IN (September 15, 2020) - The Indiana Broadcaster Association is hosting a special Thursday, September 17 screening of the movie Hoosiers at Tibbs Drive-In, 480 South Tibbs Avenue. Attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs and sit outside of their vehicle, but everyone must comply with social distancing guidelines put in place by Tibbs Drive-In.

All the proceeds from the special event will be donated to support the historic Hoosier Gym in Knightstown which has been deeply impacted by COVID-19. The Knightstown locale served as the home gym for the “Hickory Huskers” in the 1986 movie.

RELATED | Beech Grove competes in historic gym

Tickets to the Tibbs Drive-In event are $11 per person are available now for advance purchase through HelpHoosierGym.com. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. The screening will begin with sundown at 8:30 p.m.



Attendees will have the chance to win several door prizes including:

• An autographed Larry Bird basketball 
• Victor Oladip Indiana Pacers “Hickory Edition” Replica Jersey
• Indiana Pacers “Hickory Edition” shirts and hats
• A full-size Hoosiers movie poster signed by screenwriter Angelo Pizzo and director David Anspaugh 
• A Hoosiers Eleven Life Lessons from Hoosiers book signed by author and Hoosier Gym Event Coordinator Bob Garner and by Brad Long (who portrayed “Buddy” in the movie.)
• Or a Tivoli AM/FM Table Radio

SOURCE: Help Hoosier Gym

Kroger Launching eCommerce Marketplace

Indianapolis, IN (August 12, 2020) - The Kroger Company, America’s largest grocery retailer, announced Kroger Ship will expand to offer an extended ship-to-home assortment through a marketplace offering of third-party sellers powered by Mirakl, the leading software platform enabling B2C and B2B digital marketplaces.

“Our customers are increasingly turning to our e-commerce solutions provided at Kroger.com for their grocery and household essential needs. To better serve our customers, we’re continuing to invest in technology that enables us to expand our digital services to deliver anything, anytime, anywhere,” said Jody Kalmbach, Kroger’s group vice president of product experience. 

“Leveraging Mirakl’s best-in-class marketplace solution, we are broadening Kroger’s ship-to-home capabilities by offering more relevant products for our customers through exciting new partnerships with reputable third-party sellers.”

Kroger Ship, which launched in August 2018, will offer customers an extended aisle of products made available through marketplace partners. Initially, more than 50,000 additional items will be available to customers across multiple categories, including natural and organic, international food, specialty items, housewares and toys.

“Kroger has long been a retail giant, and by integrating an online marketplace into its leading eCommerce experience, Kroger is continuing to lead from the front,” said Adrien Nussenbaum, CEO and Co-founder of Mirakl. “It’s clearer than ever that digital marketplaces are the foundation of the next generation of commerce, and we look forward to supporting Kroger as it takes advantage of this opportunity.”

Kroger’s marketplace products are expected to launch this fall. Eligible Kroger.com orders earn loyalty rewards like fuel points.

“The expansion of our Kroger Ship platform will continue to bring together our industry-leading customer insights and merchandising data to offer our customers a digital shopping experience that includes staples available in our physical stores as well as products that are exclusive to Kroger.com,” said Stuart Aitken, Kroger’s senior vice president and chief merchant and marketing officer. “As part of our continuing transformation, we look forward to accelerating the development of our e-commerce platform and providing our customers with even more choices.”

Kroger’s strategic investments in e-commerce technology and channels over the past two and half years under Restock Kroger have positioned the company to more effectively respond to the sustained, increased demand of delivery, pickup and ship-to-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SOURCE: Kroger

New Technology To Fight Covid-19

Beech Grove, IN (August 12, 2020) - Purdue University and LED lighting manufacturer Energy Harness have announced a ceiling-mounted ultraviolet (UV) system called Active-Airflow that is intended to deactivate pathogens including the novel coronavirus. Energy Harness intends to have systems available for two Central Indiana school districts before classes restart.

The integration of UV-C sources in air-circulation systems has great promise, especially given the growing knowledge about the dangers of airborne spread of the coronavirus. One obvious possibility is installing UV-C systems in HVAC equipment, and Utility TVA is offering incentives for customers that install such systems. The Energy Harness approach is independent of the HVAC system, but still uses active air handling to draw room air into the unit.

“We have demonstrated and studies have shown the effectiveness of UV-C light in killing the COVID-2 family of pathogens,” said Patricio M. Daneri, managing director of Energy Harness’ Midwest division. “Our Active-Airflow unit provides the added advantage of safe usage during the school day in occupied classrooms. The unit has a fan system to draw in the air, where it is cleaned and then cycled back into the room.”

The LEDs in the unit radiate in the 260–280-nm range — wavelengths known to have germicidal efficacy. Ultimately, germicidal efficacy is based on UV-C dosage, which is a function of UV-C power per area multiplied by exposure time. So in this instance, the key factors would be the radiometric output of the UV-C LEDs (168W) and the airflow (116 CFM).

The company states the UV dosage to be 12,000 to 18,000. Energy Harness said that each unit can disinfect a 256-ft2 space. That would typically mean multiple units in each classroom in a school setting.

Beech Grove City Schools Install System

Beech Grove City Schools will have 15 units scattered throughout its five buildings—in the nurses’ stations and select classrooms, Director of Operations Tom Gearhart said. Beech Grove had worked with Energy Harness to replace its fluorescent lights in classrooms and hallways “and have been very satisfied with them as an organization.” So when Daneri told district officials about the UV-C fixture, they were interested.

The Active-Airflow system is being installed in schools that are part of the Beech Grove City Schools and Franklin Township Community Schools districts in Indiana. “We have had success working with the Energy Harness team before and are excited about this new technology product to help keep our community safe,” said Tom Gearhart, director of operations for the Beech Grove City Schools.

SOURCE: Energy Harness

Southport Police Blood Drive

Southport, IN (July 24, 2020) - Now is a good time to give blood if you have never done so. The Southport Police Department is holding its annual Fallen Officer Blood Drive tomorrow.

The police department blood drive is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the training room at the Southport Municipal Complex at 137 Worman Street. To schedule a time to donate, click here.

Press release regarding this Saturday’s, “Fallen Officer Blood Drive” in partnership with Virsiti Blood Center of Indiana.

Use the link below to schedule your appointment to donate ahead of Saturday. #SouthportStronghttps://t.co/sfGQ8YWcU2 pic.twitter.com/UnNoVmX5tx

— Southport Police (@SouthportPD) July 22, 2020

This an opportunity for you to “raise your sleeve” in memory of the Indiana police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Use the map below to find your way to the Blood Drive.



July 27 will mark three years since the department lost Lt. Aaron Allan, who was shot and killed in the line of duty. The goal of the blood drive is to give a little in honor of those who gave all.

Bodacious Bourbon Bread Pudding

Southport, IN (June 15, 2020) BGI - Most everyone knew Nana liked taking a nip or two of good bourbon whiskey on special occasions. When asked, she would make this for pot luck dinners and it was always a huge hit. But no worries with this recipe, as the alcohol burns off during the cooking phase.

Ingredients 

• 1 loaf french bread 
• 1 quart milk 
• 3 eggs 
• 1 1/2 cup sugar 
• 1 Ocean Spray craisins 
• 2 Tablespoons vanilla 
• 3 Tablespoons butter

Bourbon Sauce

• 1 stick of real butter 
• 1 cup of sugar 
• 1 egg, beaten 
• 3 Tablespoons bourbon whiskey

Directions

Tear bread in pieces and soak in milk for at least one hour. Beat eggs with sugar and vanilla. Add to bread mixture. Stir in raisins.

Melt 3 Tablespoons butter in oblong baking dish. Pour pudding into dish and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Let cool then cut into serving cubes and place in bowls. Top with Bourbon Sauce.

Bourbon Sauce: In a saucepan, mix 1 Cup Sugar, 1 Stick Butter, 1 egg beaten and 3 Tablespoons Bourbon. Cook on low heat until sugar has dissolved stirring constantly.

Quick Tip: This pudding is even better if the bread you use is a tad stale.

SOURCE: Nana

Beech Grove Buttermilk Pie

Beech Grove, IN (May 20, 2020) BGI - You don’t have to like buttermilk to like this great tasting custard like dessert. Beech Grove Buttermilk pie is great any time and so easy to make. You can’t go wrong with Nana's pie and she has never served it to anyone who didn’t like it.

This pie is wonderful for any occasion or event and you won’t bring any home. It keeps for several days in the refrigerator and is wonderful with coffee as a dessert or with milk for a snack.

How To Make Beech Grove Buttermilk Pie

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cup sugar 
• 1 stick unsalted butter (1/2 cup) room temp. 
• 3 large eggs 
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract 
• A pinch of salt 
• 3 tablespoons all purpose flour 
• 1 cup buttermilk 
• 1 9″ pie shell, unbaked

Instructions

Cream together the sugar and butter till well blended. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, until the mixture is nice and smooth. Add in the vanilla, salt and flour. Beat in the buttermilk until well combined. Place the pie shell on a baking sheet lined with foil (catches any overflow).

Fill the pie shell with the buttermilk mixture, just to the top of the shell. Pour any remaining into an ungreased custard cup. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let set until almost cooled before serving. Store covered in the fridge.

SOURCE: Nana

Be sure and "LIKE" us on Facebook at: Facebook.com/BeechGroveIndependent

White Castle Reveals Its Burger Casserole Recipe

Beech Grove, Indiana (May 5, 2020) - In honor of National Hamburger Month, the tiny burger specialist has released its simple to make Burger Casserole recipe.

Pictured: Hawaiian Castle Bake

White Castle burgers have long been heralded for their ability to be turned into a solid stuffing, but the brand wants people to know that your culinary creations don’t have to stop there.

So, if you are craving a meal that’s fun and unique, bring your cooking skills to the table with this recipe tutorial from White Castle’s culinary creative leader. Chef Phillip will help turn your White Castle Sliders into a tasty CASTLErole for lunch or dinner that everyone can enjoy.

If you want to see Chef Philip in action, White Castle says it'll be putting videos of him preparing these recipes up on its YouTube channel over the next few months. The White Castle Casserole Recipe below is already live to get you started.




SOURCE: White Castle

You Can Help Save The Bees

Greenwood, IN (April 28, 2020) — Threatened honey bees, endangered bumblebees, fading butterflies ... we hear alarms all the time about the global decline in pollinators, but does anybody really know how many are out there?

Starting May 1, there'll be a free app to try to answer that question as part of the first World Bee Count project, and all you need to participate is a smartphone and a willingness to snap photos, says beekeeper, farmer and computer science professor James Wilkes. "It's just, if you see a flower with a bug on it, then take the picture and send it in."

The project is designed to be as simple as possible, to build awareness of the critical role that pollinators play in our world, Wilkes said. Those "bugs" we pretty much ignore _ or run from _ every day are essential to our survival. "We're trying to build awareness about the various insects who pollinate our food and flowers and the importance to our food systems," he said.

That role is pretty crucial. "Some scientists estimate that one out of every three bites of food we eat exists because of animal pollinators like bees, butterflies and moths, birds and bats, and beetles and other insects," according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Ultimately, Wilkes hopes the data collected by the World Bee Count project can be used by researchers who want to study the photos and their location to better pinpoint the location of certain pollinators. That's why all the data will be held at the Appalachian State University Center for Analytics Research and Education in Boone, N.C., where Wilkes teaches. Wilkes is also CEO of Hive Tracks, a North Carolina company that makes software for beekeepers.

But the immediate goal is to get people engaged and create a map that shows the overall number of pollinators counted around the world, on the Beescount.org website. The map will be posted on May 20 — World Bee Day — but the plan is to keep gathering data and updating the map, Wilkes said.

Get buzzy with your phone! @thesundaytimes jumps on the bee bandwagon for the #beescount app launch this Friday: https://t.co/xeVdE6DNk9 @knowyourbees @appstate pic.twitter.com/QhTtCcL0zr

— BeesCount (@BeesCount) April 27, 2020

The project sponsor, Cedar Anderson, the co-owner of Australian-based Flow beehives, says he has a bigger vision.

"We aim to inspire people with the education piece, so they can maybe think, 'These pollinators are doing such an incredible job in my garden, perhaps I shouldn't spray with insecticides,'" said Anderson, a former Greenpeace worker who used to fly paragliders over jungles to track illegal burning before he became a business owner and dad. "And if we get enough participants, we might even find new species, pollinators that haven't been recorded yet.

We need to know more about pollinators because they're so incredibly important to our natural system. If we can map where they are, perhaps we can make better decisions about what's important and keep the whole system going."

For now, however, Wilkes wants to play up the ease of participation and its potential for fun. Pre-COVID-19, they had hoped to visit major metro areas to promote the project and maybe even stage competitions, but those plans have been pushed to the future.

So the least we can do is whip out phones and document where they are in photo. If you leave your email on the beescount.org website, they'll send you a link for the app when it's ready, and you might even get an early release of the app, although Wilkes said it's likely it won't be available before the May 1 deadline. "We'll make the launch date," he said, "but it's a challenge to create software on a deadline."

Mostly, Wilkes just wants to get as many people involved as possible, if only to better understand how critical they are to food production and the ecosystem.

"I don't think people understand what pollination is: It's the creation of more life," Wilkes said "If we have more pollinators, we're creating more life."

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
Be sure and "LIKE" us on Facebook at: Facebook.com/BeechGroveIndependent