Let's go Twittering and observe how Jeff Gahan and Mike Moore differ in their seasonal greeting approaches.

Festivus is ongoing.

It's widely understood that the cities of New Albany and Jeffersonville outsource their social media feeds to an autonomous contractor, ProMedia.

The exact amounts of their expenditure remains hidden, but wouldn't you like to know how much daily propaganda actually costs these days?

This said, observe the appearance on Twitter of holiday glad-handing by the two cities. The posts appeared one minute apart. In New Albany, Jeff Gahan can't say "happy holidays" often enough.

Happy TIF Zones!

Meanwhile in Jeffersonville, Mike Moore apparently has zero diversity enhancement f*cks to give, and instead grows straight for the Christian jugular.

I thought it might be instructive to take a look at Charlestown's feed at Twitter.

That's right. The most recent post was October 18. Did Bob Hall take the password with him as he was clearing out his desk?

"No official development plan has been submitted," but obviously there's a new restaurant coming to this vacant lot in Jeffersonville.

Hanson Bar & Grill?

Just curious here.

Does the News and Tribune actively seek to connect headlines to the content below them, or is it just blind editor's bluff?

For instance, this story. The header trumpets a restaurant in the works for a recently rezoned vacant lot.

But the story by reporter John Boyle mentions a rumored restaurant in only one paragraph, then offers an excellent account of transparency and planning issues in downtown Jeffersonville.

How does this story have anything to do with a headline touting a restaurant that the writer himself acknowledges is a rumor and absolutely nothing more?

How is the headline even remotely accurate -- unless it wasn't intended to be accurate, and was purposefully floated because any article about food draws more clicks than the ones about zoning changes?

Is anyone in charge at our local chain newspaper?

New restaurant in the works near Jeffersonville's Big Four Station Park

JEFFERSONVILLE — One of Jeffersonville's booming areas could see another addition in the coming years.

Last week, the Jeffersonville City Council approved the rezoning of a property at 300 W. Maple St., where Maple and Mulberry streets converge. The lot, which sits at the northwest corner of Big Four Station Park, has been a vacant strip of grass for years.

Though it hasn't been occupied in any permanent capacity, some city officials recall it being used as parking for Thunder Over Louisville and similar festivals. That could change now that the property has been sold, with a new project currently in the works.

No official development plan has been submitted, though early talks refer to the project as a sit-down restaurant and bar.

Resch, Sprigler, Bass and Donaldson present plans for Union Restaurant & GameYard, a new downtown Jeffersonville entertainment center.

Not quite the resonance of CSN&Y, but give them time. Also not to be confused with Pints&union, mind you.

Back in August we had a look-see.

Steve Resch plans a new entertainment venue in Jeffersonville.

Unnoticed Ironies, Volume 3,465: While everyone loses their minds about parking for this new venue, (a) considerable housing is being erected nearby within walking distance, and (b) the prime force "driving" folks to downtown Jeffersonville continues to be the Big Four pedestrian/bicycling bridge.

Plans surface for new downtown Jeffersonville entertainment venue, by John Boyle (Bill Hanson's Tom May's Pulpit)

JEFFERSONVILLE — The vision for a new downtown entertainment venue is becoming more clear now that the proprietors have released their plans.

At Tuesday's Jeffersonville Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commission meeting, developers Steve Resch and Chad Sprigler revealed plans for a project that will sit near the corner of Pearl and West Chestnut streets, directly adjacent to Parlour.

"What we're bringing to the table is an asset to Jeff," Resch said. "It's going to be a destination to bring people downtown. You can tell by the drawings that we've put a lot of thought, time and effort into it. We're going to throw the right amount of money at it to make it a good project."

The sprawling layout for Union Restaurant & GameYard will comprise two houses sitting on West Chestnut St., the parking lot that separates them and an empty yard behind one of the houses.

The parking lot will be transformed into a green space that will be lined with astroturf. In place of the grassy void will be a 3,922 square foot structure, which will serve as the main dining and gaming area for the venture.

"It's not a nightspot," Resch said. "It's a family-oriented, communal-type restaurant. We want to be user-friendly to everybody. There are games, food. It's different than a typical bar or restaurant."

Though Resch and Sprigler own the buildings, Bobby Bass of Southern Hospitality is partnering with Levi Donaldson as the owner of the concept being brought to the location. Bass and his wife are behind other popular operations in the area, including MESA in New Albany ...

Jeffersonville, Schmeffersonville: A jealous Gahan commissions "Hymn to Myself."

That's right, Jeffersonville has its own hymn.

This no doubt comes as a relief to the homeless population and those scraping through below the poverty line. They'll be whistling the tune while they visit the food kitchen.

But we can always count on the local chain newspaper to (a) swallow self-glorifying press releases whole, and (b) entirely miss the irony therein.

Progressing On: New Jeffersonville hymn, artwork revealed, by Tara Schmelz (Hanson's Folly)

JEFFERSONVILLE — Jeffersonville High School senior Zachery Abrams observed the crowd that gathered along Riverside Drive on Monday afternoon from his location down at the Ohio River bank.

He felt nerves, but took a deep breath to relax as he prepared his baritone to play the new hymn of Jeffersonville.

"Once you see the drum major counting off, you go into professional mode and play with your heart and soul for the band and for the community," Abrams said.

Community members filled the chairs and bleachers along Riverside Drive, sweating in the September heat, to be among the first to hear the first official hymn of Jeffersonville, titled "Progression." More than 100 students in the JHS marching band played the seven-plus minute song from the riverbank following the formal dedication of a new sculpture, called "Circum."

Steve Resch plans a new entertainment venue in Jeffersonville.

An old satellite image. 

And all they can think about is their cars.

Last week the Jeffersonville newspaper broke a Jeffersonville story. Given that today most readers are bedazzled or engraged by visiting oligarchy, let's revisit.

New entertainment venue to replace downtown Jeffersonville parking lot, by John Boyle (Tom May Content Multiplier)

Developer Steve Resch, owner of Resch Construction, is planning to open the venue near the corner of Pearl and West Chestnut streets, just behind Parlour. Right now, Resch said not many details are available, as he is still in the planning stages, having hired architects to do landscape and structural work on the properties.

If Jeffersonville is anything like New Albany, there is ample parking in reality, if not in the perception of people who'll drive to the end of a fifty-foot driveway to pick up the snail mail.

I don't know Rita Fleming, but her words here should be inscribed on John Rosenbarger's forehead.

One of the buildings was sold to Resch by Rita Fleming, president of the Jeffersonville Main Street board of directors. Though recognizing that parking is indeed an issue, Fleming said that the city is walkable and pedestrian-friendly — attributes it should continue to focus on as more developments pop up.

“When you think of downtown in any city, there’s always a question of parking," Fleming said. "When you put it in perspective, downtown people expect to walk 10 feet to the doors of where they're going. If you’re in a mall during holiday season, you’re going to walk a lot farther than that, and people don’t complain. Certainly for individuals who have trouble going longer distances, it’s an issue. We’re a very walkable community. We’re pedestrian friendly. Maybe we should start thinking about how we can make our community more bike and pedestrian friendly so people will come to our area without undue hardship, even as our city continues to flourish."

Gahan's ears are afire.

Perhaps the only predictable parking problem shared by both cities is the propensity of business owners and their employees to use customer spaces for their own vehicles.

Resch noted that from his perspective, the lot is mostly used by Parlour employees and some of its patrons. Once everything is all said and done, he doesn't believe its absence will cause any problems. “It is a good project," Resch said. "It’ll be an asset and a destination for downtown Jeff.”

Best wishes to Steve, Jacob and their great crew.

River City Winery's sly Facebook tease about a move to Jeffersonville.

I blame it entirely on Mike Moore.

Conversely, RCW provides no further information apart from the revised logo, and these things take time.

May 8, 2019

River City Winery news flash: "We're selling our Pearl Street properties."

April 3, 2019

BZA tables winery production request, so the latest news about River City Winery's future isn't much clearer than the last update.

February 27, 2019

River City Winery: "We are exploring the relocation of our entire operation to another part of Southern Indiana."

Same but different: "Come Back Inn in Jeffersonville opened last week as Town, a neighborhood pub and restaurant."

We've been fans of Jeffersonville's Come Back Inn almost from the beginning, and tremendously admire the individuality and perseverance of Chris and London Smith (both of whom I recall from substitute teaching at Floyd Central, a fact that dates us all).

I know heads are being scratched about the seemingly abrupt metamorphosis into Town, but it's important to understand that gradual reinvention in a restaurant or bar is constant, anyway. There comes a time to go for the gusto, and they have. It will remain a special place, and they'll be fine.

Can't wait to get up there and try the new menu.

Why this well-known restaurant is changing concepts, rebranding, by Bridgett Weaver (Louisville Business First)

A local restaurant is rebranding and revamping its menu after 17 years.

After more than 17 years of serving the same (well-known and well-liked) food, a Louisville-area restaurant is shaking things up.

Come Back Inn in Jeffersonville opened last week as Town, a neighborhood pub and restaurant. Co-owner Chris Smith said it was time to try something new.

"When you are serving the same thing, the same food — it's not that it’s not good — it's just nice to be able to have a more creative side and be proud of what you're doing," Smith said. "That creativity starts to dwindle a bit after 17 years."

Smith originally opened the Jeffersonville restaurant in a partnership with the owners of Louisville's Come Back Inn on Swan Street. After splitting up three years later, he entered a licensing agreement with the Louisville Come Back Inn to continue operating under the name and using the same recipes.

"It was just time to separate and move on," he said. The restaurant is "less Italian-centric than we used to be. It was time to move on and do new things."

Since the licensing agreement was dissolved as part of the rebranding to Town, the menu and recipes changed, too.

"Every single recipe is totally different," Smith said.

But he said the atmosphere won't change, and the entire staff will remain on board ...

BEER WITH A SOCIALIST: "Upscale microbrew pub franchise" comes to Jeffersonville.

Courtesy of Franchise Gator.

Long live the indies!

Whenever I hear the words "upscale microbrew pub franchise," I reach for Franchise Gator to learn how much it costs to buy into someone else's ideas.

It's not my preference in beer or life, and the older I get, the more often I shrug and yawn, BUT to each his or her own.

As an aside, when Growler USA's corporate HQ speaks of "certified brew specialists," are we to imagine they mean Cicerones? I googled the term, and the only hits I got were from Growler USA.

Growler USA opened in Jeffersonville on Dec. 6.

Craft beer bar and restaurant Growler USA officially opened Thursday, Dec. 6, at 3010 Gottbrath Parkway in Jeffersonville.

The restaurant features more than 100 beers on tap and menu items, including a fried chicken sandwich, skillet mac and cheese with bacon and the Bromance Burger, a burger topped with carnitas, barbecue sauce, bacon and crispy onion.

The Jeffersonville location of the Colorado-based franchise is owned and operated by couple Greg and Laura Brown.

Greg Brown told Insider previously that, despite being a franchise, the design of Growler USA will be customized to fit the region in look. It also will serve about a dozen specialty menu items not found at other stores.

The 4,000-square-foot restaurant seats 150 inside and another 60 on the patio around two fire pits. -- Caitlin Bowling

Mike Moore is running up the score on our hapless City Hall team.

From 2016.

In one week's time, the mayors of Jeffersonville and New Albany each made a marquee announcement. These bookends are tremendously revealing in terms of fundamental political differences in the two communities.

Mayor Mike Moore aimed high with his "Jeffersonville’s Promise," described by the newspaper as "a program that will offer qualified Jeff High students a full-tuition scholarship to attend Ivy Tech in Sellersburg."

Indeed, the devil lurks in dozens of details, and yet Moore's program is revolutionary by Southern Indiana standards. Instead of producing bright, shiny objects for the adoration of a demographic just like his, Moore seeks to use economic development funds for the purpose of developing PEOPLE -- economically.

As Bluegill observed: "Investing TIF dollars in people. What a concept." For the newspaper's positive assessment of Moore's vision, go here: Promise will improve lives and workforce.

Meanwhile, New Albany mayor Jeff Gahan busily touted a redevelopment department expenditure to fund an Indianapolis law firm's (and frequent campaign donor's) participation in another recreational project -- in essence, hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a two-mile path straight out of the city, all the while refusing to discuss the utility of connecting this next greatest panacea to the existing Greenway.

Last week's ON THE AVENUES column has the story: "That's why I voted no," explains Scott Stewart, pausing to duck rocks feebly lobbed by Team Gahan's propaganda pygmies.

As Bluegill again correctly noted:

In which Scott Stewart starts thinking publicly and is immediately singled out and ostracized. For those of you still insisting on silly party-based scorekeeping, that’s two days in a row that a Southern Indiana Republican has made New Albany Mayor Gahan and mostly Democratic minions look like the mouth-breathers they are.

How very true ... and how very, very sad.

"But we're building a new city hall for inhumanely housed government workers," says Team Gahan in response to bicycle sharing in Jeffersonville.

There is little doubt Jeffersonville is lapping New Albany when it comes to downtown innovation. The only question: how many laps it is at this point? Two? Three?

For more on LouVelo: LINKING LOCAL LOUISVILLE.

LouVelo takes bike sharing across the Ohio River, by Mark R. Long (Insider Louisville)

Metro Louisville’s bicycle-share service LouVelo will soon be available in Jeffersonville, with three docking stations opening across the Ohio River in early December.

The stations will be located at the Indiana base of the Big Four bridge, at the corner of Spring Street and Riverside Drive and farther west on Riverside near the Sheraton hotel on what Jeffersonville’s head of long-range planning, Chad Reischl, called restaurant row.

The total cost of the three stations was just under $100,000, and will be paid for with taxes collected under Jeffersonville’s Urban Enterprise Zone system, which allows businesses to earmark a certain portion of their tax outlay for nearby improvements, Reischl said.

“There’s over a million people crossing the (Big Four) bridge every year,” Reischl said. Before, people using the LouVelo bikes would have no place to dock across the river. Having the stations “allows them the opportunity to stay a little longer, to go to a restaurant, to see what Jeffersonville has to offer” ...

Anna Murray's amazing post-election statement.

Trying to decide what to do next? Municipal election cycles are underway for 2019. Not all of Anna Murray's issues and principles pertain to mayors and city council persons, but a good number of them do, and these are the grassroots where change must begin if it is to occur.

I find her statement fascinating on multiple levels. Maybe mayor of Jeffersonville?

---

I suppose it's about time for me to make a statement about the election. I've actually been fairly busy taking down signs, getting back to some cases, and so forth, but also needed a little time to process my emotions.

Honestly, it's a bit of a relief that I didn't win because going up to Indianapolis all the time was going to be a huge hassle and take a lot more time away from my family. Now I will have many fewer worries and obligations than I would have if I won. On top of all that, I knew that I wouldn't realistically be able to accomplish much in Indianapolis, especially since we only won one other seat in the Senate. I may have had a slight impact, but there is still an overwhelming Republican super majority, so all of the additional effort for me to be in Indianapolis would ultimately not create much real change. So there is definitely a silver lining to losing. Freedom.

I am very happy with the race that I ran. I am so thankful to everyone who helped me along the way. It has been a great experience meeting so many new friends, and I have definitely learned a lot about myself, about politics, and about people.

On the flip side, I am bitter about Ron's win because I do not believe he ran a better race. He spent a lot of money spreading outrageous lies about alleged plans which I not only did not have, but could not possibly have had, since Medicare is handled federally and I was running for a state position. So I do not respect his approach of lying and fear mongering to try and defeat me. And honestly, I don't think he won this race through his efforts. Republicans, generally, won this race. He won because of the party that he is affiliated with. Ron did not conduct himself as a gentleman, at one point knocking my materials off of a table onto the floor. But his "nice guy" image remained solid in everyone's minds. In reality, he's just a part of the good ol' boy network which has dominated politics forever and needs to be changed. I learned other things about him during this campaign which I will not share. But I'm not going to pretend like there are no hard feelings. I am an honest person and a human being, and that's just how I feel.

I am frustrated because I do not believe Ron will make the effort to bring the change that this state and this district needs, and I highly doubt he will have plans to run for a 4th term as he nears 80, so I do not believe there will be anything to make him feel accountable to his constituents. He will pander to his friends and leave those with food insecurity and who are homeless to fend for themselves.

I do hope that the strength of this progressive campaign sends a message to all Republicans throughout this state. That you cannot continue making it a crime to use medicine that helps you. That more poor-paying jobs are not going to fix poverty, nor are good-paying jobs that are inaccessible to people with limitations of many types. Poverty leads to poor education, child abuse and neglect, homelessness, untreated mental and physical illnesses. Stop maintaining a poverty class and allow everyone to live in dignity with a decent standard of living. That substance use disorder is a medical condition that needs to be treated medically. We don't throw people with medical conditions in jail. If they commit a crime like theft or DUI, sure. Make sure our insurance companies have to cover treatment, and if you need to bill somebody, send it to big pharma. They made a killing- figuratively and literally- on opioids and were a major contributor to our problem. If you need even more money for education or treatment, just fully legalize cannabis. We'll make millions in tax revenue and stop spending so much on jailing people for something that is safer than alcohol. Then we could fix our roads, too.

Beyond Ron, I am frustrated with our country as a whole. As we sit here being divided and fear mongering about poor people or people of color or people who aren't born here, or people with a different religion, we are letting the true risks- of climate change, pollinator endangerment, exposure to hazardous chemicals, and plain old hate; and the true villians- those wealthy beneficiaries of the status quo who continue to perpetuate these problems for profit, which those in power are ignoring or even covering up, and we don't have time to keep twiddling our thumbs and complaining about fake news. We are on the precipice of a planetary disaster. Our economy is on the verge of a rapid and dramatic change as a result of automation. Our healthcare system causes people to go bankrupt and become homeless or go without treatment and die while the insurance companies pay their CEOs tens of millions of dollars a year and spend hundreds of millions of dollars lobbying legislators to keep it that way. And yet so many people think that the reason they are struggling financially is because poor people are lazy. God forbid we tax those billionaires a little more to help our Veterans, seniors, disabled or hungry children. Stop taxing the wealthy and cut the benefits of those slackers instead! The wealthy need more boats and bigger houses so that we can have jobs cleaning them for less than a living wage! Don't regulate those big companies just to protect your drinking water or keep your children from getting asthma- it will tank corporate profits!

I am not giving up because these problems are not going away. These problems affect us all. It is time for us to find our common humanity and stop separating ourselves into different groups which we can then dehumanize, denigrate and ignore. It is time for us to listen to science- you know, that thing that lets you fly through the air and go up an elevator into a skyscraper. Remember science? It's quite reliable and we trust our lives with it all the time. Well it's telling us that it's time for change or the consequences may be quite dramatic for our and every other species. If you only respond to fear, then start paying attention to what the world's climate scientists are telling you. Start looking at the harm that OUR policies are causing our own people. Start looking inside of yourself. Are you making this world better for everyone, or are you full of hate and fear and allowing that to blind you to your humanity? Or are you just so well off that you don't feel inclined to pay attention? Very common, and an understandable position to take, but the epitome of privilege.

People are actively suppressing their ability to feel compassion- making fun of it by calling us snowflakes. Responding to expressions of genuine concern with hateful name-calling. Well what some perceive as our greatest weakness is actually our greatest strength. It's that thing that makes us human and differentiates us from machines. The ability to care and love and spread joy and to be able to acknowledge the suffering of others is what makes life worth living. We are more than consumers and there is more to life than just hoarding your wealth and buying new things. We are people and it's time for us to start living with respect for each other and respect for the planet.

I am still trying to decide what I want to do next. I don't know if I have the patience for any more of this politics business, nor if we have the time. I have to say my current mood is somewhat more on the revolutionary side of things. That's all for now..

Mike Moore banishes Papa John Schnatter as an amazed Deaf Gahan keeps both eyes on the money.

Cry me a river. John Schnatter has those millions to keep him warm. Still, I'm surprised at the speed by which Mike Moore distanced the city from the pizza mogul.

You can't even imagine Deaf Gahan displaying resolution like this, can you?

By the way, can someone remind Gahan that his signature human rights commission remains in the down-low garage, up on blocks, and as moribund as the New Albany mayor's summer reading list?

Verily, there's a better chance of locating an edible Papa John's pizza than Gahan's pulse when it comes to real-world civil rights: "Dixiecrat ingredients, Dixiecrat governance: Papa Jeff's."

Papa John's hometown takes his name off gym after he admits racial slur, by Morgan Watkins (Louisville Courier Journal)

The mayor of John Schnatter's hometown removed the Papa John's founder's name from the city's basketball gym Wednesday after he admitted using a racial slur.

"The city of Jeffersonville represents a very diverse community," said Mayor Mike Moore, who added that he knew Schnatter when they were both growing up and considers him a friend. "It was a tough decision, but I believe it was the right decision."

Forbes reported Wednesday morning that Schnatter used the N-word during a May conference call with a firm that had been hired to help him avoid public relations problems. Schnatter had previously been criticized for comments he made about NFL players who were taking a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice ...

LIVE TO EAT: The News and Tribune really likes A.S.S.

Now THAT's a great multinational beer list.

Allow me to make an observation, but before I do, kindly note that my point is not directed at the establishment known as A.S.S. -- or, American Smokehouse Stadium, which is located somewhere in Jeffersonville, slightly removed from my usual migratory route.

Mundane beer list aside, I have nothing whatever against the establishment, and what's more, I don't know anyone involved with it -- and by the way, A.S.S. is not a dig; it's purely intentional on the part of ownership (see logo above).

May they live long and prosper.

Rather, I find it fascinating that today's News and Tribune article about A.S.S. is the third one since September last year, and the second to be tagged as a "feature."

The first article previewed the restaurant, the second surveyed its progress, and the third (today's) offered insights into a recent ownership shuffle and menu reboot by a new chef.

In short, the sort of routine things that occur fairly regularly in the restaurant business.

 

Am I missing something?

Is it normal for one restaurant of many to be given this much attention?

How many local restaurants have had three separate News and Tribune stories in a seven-month period?

Does Bill Hanson's nephew work at A.S.S.?

Is the restaurant paying to play, given all this coverage?

Or, is A.S.S. the one cowering in terror behind the cabinetry -- "please, no, not another article; coverage from the Tom May Gazette is the kiss of death."

With the newspaper two reporters down (Morris on leave and nary a replacement for the departed Beilman), New Albanians already know which areas of coverage will be cut first.

Perhaps there are two asses, not just one.

Mike Moore has a Jeff Boat dream ... we have a JeffBot luxury dog park.

River Ridge, the Clark Maritime Center, potential redevelopment at the soon to be vacated Jeff Boat property, and the South Clarksville/Colgate project.

All of it stops at Silver Creek. And what are our Floyd County Democratic Party leaders doing?

That's right. They're attempting to slime a Republican councilman with bogus charges of lying.

Is this really all they have to do with their time on the clock? Isn't it true that if YOU wasted time in this fashion at work, you'd get fired?

Mayor envisions retail, residences for Jeffboat property in lieu of shipyard, by Danielle Grady (Tom May Gazette)

JEFFERSONVILLE — Jeffboat’s location along the Ohio River is ideal for a barge manufacturer, but good for more than that.

Now that the shipyard is closing after 80 years in business, Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore has ambitious dreams for the 65-acre riverfront property.

In a statement Monday, Jeffboat’s parent company, American Commercial Lines, said only that it is reviewing the best alternative for the shipyard, which is expected to close in May. But Moore says that Jeffboat Vice President Mike Poindexter called him to say that the company has already ruled out opening or selling to another shipyard.

Moore had originally hoped that another shipyard could take Jeffboat’s place. Now, he’s thinking of the next best thing: retailers and residences — boosted by the property’s proximity to the river and to Louisville. Moore said he’s already been contacted by business people interested in the idea ...

THE BEER BEAT: There's one small problem with the Growler USA franchise coming to Jeffersonville, Indiana.

So far this week, I've learned that Louisville City FC's new stadium might include a brewpub (but why wouldn't it be Falls City?); Goodwood has decided not to feature Colin Kaepernick on its cans; and Dave Bailey of the Hardknott Brewery in West Cumbria gets it:

With apologies to all beer historians. I am not a beer historian. I am not sure if I understand where beer history truth ends and myth begins. I do care, but just haven't got the time to keep myself properly informed on such matters.

Exactly. Let's get back to storytelling, shall we?

Meanwhile, the News and Tribune informs us there'll be a new beer business down the road in Jeffersonville. The header says it's a brewpub, but I think not.

Brew pub, senior living facility planned for Jeffersonville's Bridgepointe Commons, by Danielle Grady (News and Tribune)

JEFFERSONVILLE — A chain microbrew pub new to Indiana and a 103-unit assisted living facility are the first confirmed tenants of Denton Floyd Real Estate’s 70-acre Bridgepointe Commons project along Ind. 62, north of the roundabouts.

Growler USA, which specializes in beer-infused food and craft beverages, including beer, kombucha tea, draft wine, hard cider and mead, plans to open a 19th location at Bridgepointe Commons. The location is the restaurant’s first in Indiana, Kentucky or Illinois. The chain was started in Eugene, Oregon and has 11 other locations “coming soon” to different states, according to the company’s website.

Brandon Denton, co-owner of Denton Floyd, said the restaurant will have a large patio and fire pits for gatherings.

“It’s going to be really nice,” he said. “A great place, like I said, for the community to go and have a beer or have a nice meal or sit down and watch the game.”

Construction has already started on the restaurant, and Denton expects for it to open this summer.

Recall that a brew pub brews its own beer on the premises, but Growler USA isn't one of these. Rather, the reporter Grady gets it right, because Growler USA is a "chain microbrew pub" with a profusion of taps.

Growler USA: America's Microbrew Pub

PRIME TERRITORIES AVAILABLE

Craft beer is the fastest growing retail product in America. Growler USA is a craft beer franchise poised to lead the nation. Good food. Simple operations

The ever helpful Franchise Gator explains that you can have one for yourself for less than $700,000 up front (an amount that all but precludes a brewing system), so what exactly is Growler USA?

What happens when you take the basic concept of a growler refill station and decide to take it national? Well, what happens is, you get something like Growler USA.

But let's hope the Jeffersonville franchisee isn't planning on pouring beer into actual growlers for off-premise sales, because doing so currently remains illegal in Indiana unless the beers are brewed in-house.

In short, if a Growler USA franchise eventually arrives in Jeffersonville, the beers on tap will be for in-house consumption only.

Of course, a fire pit -- now there's a game-changer.

Looking back on 2017, Gahan screams "I'm Moore perfect than Mike, indeed I am!"

The walls of the Down Low Bunker must have been all aquiver. I wouldn't want to the the Domino's delivery man or the meter reader in times like this.

How can there be two mayors so close together, neither of whom without a single mistake in six years?

Jeffersonville's Moore looks back on 2017, ahead to more growth, by Aprile Rickert (Obviously Jeffersonville Gazette)

JEFFERSONVILLE — In the past year, Jeffersonville has seen the start of new retail growth, housing opportunities and major infrastructure improvements that Mayor Mike Moore say will carry the city into a brighter future for decades to come ... “If you sat down and tried to create a perfect scenario for a community to grow and prosper, Jeffersonville is the perfect example of it.”

The Green Mouse says he received this rebuttal scrawled on the back of a discarded promise to public housing residents, then stuffed into one of David Duggins' old piggie banks.

"I don't know what you mean by 'glory,' " Alice said.

Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. "Of course you don't—till I tell you. I meant 'there's a nice knock-down argument for you!' "

"But 'glory' doesn't mean 'a nice knock-down argument'," Alice objected.

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less."

"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."

"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master—that's all."

Alice was too much puzzled to say anything, so after a minute Humpty Dumpty began again.

"They've a temper, some of them—particularly verbs, they're the proudest—adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs—however, I can manage the whole lot! Impenetrability! That's what I say!"

On second thought, this doesn't sound at all like Jeff Gahan. Too much wordplay for a C-minus student, but boy, that Mike Hall's getting cleverer and cleverer, isn't he?

By 2020, he might be ready to challenge Ed Clere.

Jeffersonville's call to artistic creativity is a sad mirror held to New Albany's anchor-bound cult of personality.

It's so very telling that in Jeffersonville, artists are ASKED.

In New Albany, artists first must conform to Dear Leader's vision of dogs playing poker on every street corner -- and a Velvet Gahan above every hearth.

#FireGahan2019

THE STORY OF US: Jeffersonville asks artists to submit ideas for riverfront signage, by Jenna Esarey (That Jeffersonville Newspaper)

 ... During reconstruction of the downtown marina, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a memorandum of agreement stipulating details like trees to be planted, among other things. “One of the stipulations called for the installation of interpretive signage,” said Dawn Spyker, Public Art Administrator for the city.

“I thought, could this actually be a piece of art? Let’s make it a sculptural interpretive sign. This could work,” she said.

On Dec. 22 the city issued a call to artists to create a sculptural piece to celebrate and interpret the city’s river heritag ...

Gahan could have told Moore how to handle these pesky sewer-tap-in waiver requests.

Jeff Gahan and Mike Moore have something in common, as both mayors inhabit the chieftains's chair at their own sewer boards, self-appointed and salaried.

In Jeffersonville, Emperor Mayor Moore is being asked for a dispensation.

New Hope in Jeffersonville asks for city sewer credits, by Elizabeth Beilman (Hanson's Folly)

JEFFERSONVILLE — A local nonprofit organization building affordable housing is asking Jeffersonville officials to credit its sewer fees.

New Hope Services Inc., which is in the middle of building M. Fine on Spring Street, made its request at a city sewer board meeting on Thursday.

Moore is having none of it.

But Mayor Mike Moore, president of the sewer board, didn't seem open to changing the terms of the agreement.

"I wouldn't expect because of policy changes, months after you and I have reached an agreement, I'm not going to go back and start changing all old contracts because the city's changed directions," Moore said.

Surely Moore would have benefited from texting Gahan for the wording of Dear Leader's 1st Commandment of sewage-based subsidies:

NO SEWER TAP-IN WAIVERS EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES UNLESS IT'S LUXURY HOUSING, AWARDED TO DEVELOPERS WHO DON'T NEED THEM.

Lesson: Focus on luxury at the expense of affordability, Mike.

You're a Republican, for chrissakes, and can do this sort of thing without being a hypocrite.

A half-century after Sgt. Pepper, Abbey Road on the River is underway in Jeffersonville.

From George Martin all the way to Mike Moore ...

Yesterday I was delighted to help out for a few hours at the Clark-Floyd Counties Convention Tourism Bureau's information booth, situated by the Pearl Street entrance to Abbey Road on the River.

The Big Four Bridge is open for transit, with the ramp descending to street level adjacent to the fest gate. If you decide to walk, Budweiser wants you to keep moving.

Presumably no listening, either.

The festival takes up the whole rectangular expanse of the park built around the bridge. There'll always be first-year jitters, but yesterday it appeared that the fest's infrastructure had been well-planned.

As always in autocentric America, parking stands to be the biggest issue, thought there are hotel shuttles to help with out-of-town guests. Use the damn walking bridge, Louisvillians.

Of course, me being me, the biggest question is how much the city of Jeffersonville is budgeting for five days of Beatlemania. Recalling the reluctance of City Hall in New Albany to openly discuss how much Harvest Homecoming actually costs, it's an answer I'm unlikely to receive.

But just imagine being able to house all of Harvest Homecoming inside the expanse the size of Big Four Station, engineered precisely for this purpose (and others). No merchant would be blocked, and the independent businesses nearby would be in a position to enjoy the best of both worlds.

A boy can dream. Thanks to the bureau for having me -- and by the way, it's fazed, not phased.

Abbey Road on the River starts off cloudy, but recovers, by Danielle Grady (All Things Bright and Jeffersonville)

JEFFERSONVILLE — The first day of Abbey Road on the River’s first year in Jeffersonville didn’t start out perfectly.

Rain the day before pushed back the gate opening for The Beatles festival from noon to 4 p.m.

By late-afternoon on Thursday, however, temperatures had risen into the 60s and a small crowd of Abbey Road-die hards had gathered at the foot of the Big Four Bridge awaiting the five-day festival’s beginning.

Suzie Atkins, a six-years-or-so veteran, was among the not-phased.

“There’s always bad weather the first day and things get pushed back,” she said.

Abbey Road on the River, which was previously held in Louisville for 12 years, moved across the river to downtown Jeffersonville for 2017 after the festival founder decided to look for a different spot.

Impossible in New Gahania: "Jeffersonville seeks public input for arts district."

To this very day, Team Gahan insists that one simply cannot paint crosswalks, and yet the 2015 photo accompanying this article clearly shows volunteers in Jeffersonville ... painting a crosswalk.

But how could it be, Dugout?

It's savvy on the part of Mike Moore to realize that not EVERY act of civic engagement must (a) bear his personal stamp, and (b) be capable of monetization into campaign finance.

Not only that, but "input from the community" is guaranteed to rankle New Gahania's pale (though enriched) bunker dwellers.

You can imagine the likes of Bob Caesar recoiling in terror from those words, as though he were a vampire and you were wearing a fashionable (and utilitarian) garlic necklace.

I've never seen him eating Hungarian food, either.

A COLORFUL FUTURE: Jeffersonville seeks public input for arts district, by Aprile Rickert (They Might Be Hansons)

JEFFERSONVILLE — As Jeffersonville nears the start of its first major projects in the arts and cultural district, the City seeks input from the community to help shape its future.

The first of three community gatherings, hosted by the city of Jeffersonville, the Jeffersonville Public Art Commission, and Redevelopment Commission, will be held Thursday, June 1, from 6 to 7 p.m. at 628 Michigan Ave., to help provide information on and gather feedback on the district.

A 20-minute presentation, including identifying what the arts and cultural district is and what it could be, research-based benefits and recommendations from other similar communities and renderings of potential space usage will be followed by time for discussion and input.