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(05/07/10 3:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>You don’t have to be Buddhist to benefit from the Dalai Lama.When he visits the Conseco Fieldhouse in May, both the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center in Bloomington and the Interfaith Hunger Initiative will share proceeds to help benefit their organizations and programs.Dave Miner, volunteer executive director of the IHI, said his group is ecstatic about the upcoming visit.“We are very pleased to be a part of this,” Miner said. “Having His Holiness here is not a common thing, and we’re glad to be a part of it.”In fall 2007, Jim Morris, sports and entertainment president of the Indiana Pacers and former director of the World Food Program, proposed the IHI. He challenged various religious groups to come together for a common cause, Miner said. The group now has more than two dozen congregations. The IHI is particularly excited because this is the first large-scale event the group has taken part in, Miner said. The organization plans to use the money it raises for its student lunch program in Kenya, as well as to assist food banks and lunch programs near Indianapolis. Currently, the IHI helps more than 2,700 Kenyan children get a free meal while in school, Miner said. With the money generated from the Dalai Lama’s speech, it hopes to expand the program so the schools can be comfortably self-sufficient.“It’s disturbing to think that food is not available to everyone,” Miner said. “One of the girls said to us, ‘Thank you, I hope you can keep helping us. If you don’t, we will probably all disappear.’” Miner said there are about 18,000 students in the Indianapolis area on a free-lunch plan, and the donations from the event could help expand the program to the summer months.Only one in every six students receiving free lunches in Indianapolis can access food provided by a summer food program, he said. The IHI’s goal is to find out why these students are not getting to any of the more than 120 locations across Marion County where the food is available.Miner said he’s heard many stories that demonstrate how hard life is for some of the children.“A kid last year got a good citizen award,” he said. “Sometime later, he was in line for a lunch and got in a fight with another student.”The fight occurred because he hadn’t eaten all weekend and wanted to be first in line.Hunger has become an increasing problem since the recession, Miner said.Requests to Connect2Help, an organization that offers emergency services regarding food assistance, increased by 41 percent in 2008 and increased again in 2009.The TMBCC also has projects of its own that could be furthered with its share of the funding.TMBCC director Arjia Rinpoche said it has plans to start a children’s cancer hospital in Mongolia, a refugee camp in India and a Tibetan and Mongolian summer camp at the center.“His visit will be a wonderful support for our projects,” Rinpoche said.The good news for the IHI and the TMBCC is that the revenue from the Dalai Lama visit is expected to be very high.According to Lisa Morrison, the event’s marketing director, His Holiness’s visit to IU’s Assembly Hall in 2007 was a sellout. More than $100,000 was raised on merchandise alone.Ticket sales are expected to raise more than $250,000 by the time of the event, she said.In 2003, the City of Bloomington made about $1.4 million as a result of tourism from the event and saw more than this total in 2007, she said.Rinpoche said he’s very excited to see His Holiness again and that he thinks the event will be insightful for the community, as well as all of those who attend.“He’s a great person, role model and mentor,” Rinpoche said. “No matter the situation, he always says ‘never give up’ and is always searching for a positive way.”
(04/28/10 4:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Many Bloomington businesses boom during Little 500 weekend – but the marked increase in sales does not come without its costs. Denny’s general manager Richard Frank said that every year he sees an increase in sales close to 30 percent at his restaurant, but the increase has come with its share of problems.Two years ago, Frank said, a person pulled into his parking lot at 4 a.m. on the day of the men’s race and threw a party. The party lasted over an hour and filled Denny’s parking lot with people and cars.“My security couldn’t handle all the people,” Frank said. “I had to call the Bloomington police to come shut down everything down.”Frank said that the party had originally been at a house, but the police broke up the party for disorderly conduct.Over the eight years Frank has managed the 17th Street Denny’s, he has seen many cases of out of control people around Little 500. He said he has had his fair share of public indecency, broken tables and people becoming belligerent.“I have the Bloomington police on speed dial when something comes up,” Frank said. “I have to protect my staff and my establishment.”Frank said that this year was pretty calm in comparison to most years and attributes that to various regulations that have been implemented since he started working. Frank has increased security around the diner, cut traffic to one lane and put strict capacity regulations to keep the large crowds to a minimum.Despite the disturbances, Frank keeps a positive attitude about his job.“It’s just life in a college town,” Frank said. “I’m sure you’d see the same thing at Purdue or anywhere else. Ninety-five percent of the time it’s fun, but every once in a while you’ll get a jerk.”President of Big Red Liquor Wade Shanower said his company opens for extended hours in the morning the week of Little 500, but it is not worth the potential problems to extend hours into the night.“If they are coming in at two in the morning there’s a higher probability they’re intoxicated,” Shenower said. “It’s not worth the few additional dollars to stay open.”Shanower said Little 500 is their busiest time of the year and all their staff is required to work during it.“You have a never-ending line of customers,” he said. “If you’re a beer guy, it’s a lot of heavy lifting; you may need to lift 100 kegs in your shift.”Shanower said this year they saw a 70 percent increase in sales from an average weekend and a six percent increase from last year.Manager of the Circle K on 17th Street, Jason Gram, said his store hasn’t had any major horror stories during the years, but does see sales triple every Little 500 weekend. “From Friday morning, and sometimes Thursday night, it’s jam-packed full of people until everyone’s gone Sunday,” Gram said. Gram said he usually orders all of their stock in surplus a week in advance and staffs accordingly. Now that the Little 500 storm has passed, Gram said he can enjoy a normal work week.“I’m just glad when it’s all over every year,” Gram said, laughing.
(04/23/10 2:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>According to the American Cancer Society, about 500,000 people lost their lives to cancer and more than 1.4 million new cases were found across the U.S. in 2009. In Indiana alone, the death toll was more than 12,000, with 30,000 new cases.“Every single person will be in some way affected by cancer,” Dr. Demetrius Patton said.Recently, Patton, an IU graduate, partnered with Dr. James Topolgus after a dinner conversation and opened an office in January.“He called me up and asked me to have dinner with him and his family,” Patton said. “By the end of the night, he said, ‘I like you. Would you like to be my partner?’ That’s literally what happened.”In order to promote cancer awareness, Patton and the Monroe County Hospital will be offering free cancer screenings from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday free of charge. The primary focus of the screenings will be breast, prostate and skin cancer, which are some of the most common cancer sites found in patients, Patton said.Patton said it has been his dream to open a premier cancer center in Bloomington ever since he started practicing eight years ago. “This is home for me,” Patton said. “I want to do everything I can to make Bloomington a hub for cancer in the state of Indiana.”
(04/22/10 2:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Last year, the Shalom Community Center gave out more than 7,000 individual bus passes and about 50 monthly passes to Bloomington community members.Executive Director Joel Rekas said the organization spent about $5,000 on the passes.The Shalom Center works primarily with people below the poverty line who are trying to get back on their feet, Rekas said, adding that transportation is a major concern for many of them.“Transportation is a barrier that keeps people from accomplishing some of the things they want accomplished,” he said. “Many of the people we work with are diligently looking for work, but they need to get around.”Bloomington Transit offers individual bus passes for half price to nonprofit organizations, which saves the center more than $3,000 a year.The passes are part of the Shalom Center’s homeless prevention fund, which cost more than $20,000 last year. The fund pays utilities, rent and other expenses that people facing eviction or foreclosure might have.“It is far better to prevent homelessness rather than letting someone become homeless,” Rekas said. “Financial costs are always much higher, but also the social and emotional costs are higher as well.”In recent years, Monroe County has ranked among the top three counties with the highest poverty rates, Rekas said. Oddly enough, the county’s unemployment levels are 3 percent lower than the state average, he said.Most likely, the poverty rate is high because of the expensive cost of housing and the fact that many Bloomington people work service jobs, such as waiting tables or providing hospitality assistance, Rekas said.“You would think that people are in poverty because they are not working,” he said. “But a significant number of our people are working. It’s just their wages do not add up to the cost of housing.”As a result, the Shalom Center has seen steady increases in the number of people coming to their kitchens. In 2009, they served 17.5 percent more than the year before, totaling more than 81,000 meals served throughout the year.Luckily, every year, various food banks and distributors donate nearly $188,000 of food to the agency.More than 600 volunteers, nearly half of which are IU students, give their time to the center each year.“Many dorms and fraternities will have fundraisers for us, and we are certainly grateful,” Rekas said.Many other volunteers are church members and community workers.Elaine Mellencamp, wife of musician and Bloomington resident John Mellencamp, said she’s glad to donate her time to the center.“There’s a time when people need services,” she said. “Whether it’s finding a job, finding a place to sleep, a hot meal. ... They provide a pretty well-rounded environment.”Usually, Mellencamp is accompanied by her sons.“We try to do things we find personally rewarding, and it’s a good place to get involved,” she said.
(04/12/10 11:29pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Want to get a book published? Unless your last name is Rowling or Grisham, good luck.For many authors, the process of traditional publishing can be a daunting task. Local novelist Jennifer Bohrnstedt said it’s almost impossible for newcomers to get their foot in the door.“(The publishers) are publishing less and less,” she said. “Most publishers are overwhelmed with the idea that every book can meet the Harry Potter standards. Smaller books are often overlooked.”Bohrnstedt said the process is very time consuming, sometimes taking months to finally hear a decision from publishers. Even if the author is approved, she said, there is no guarantee the book will be distributed in a timely fashion.Luckily, there is an alternative to the traditional route, and Bloomington residents don’t have to go too far to find it.For almost 14 years, Author Solutions, a Bloomington-based company, has offered book publishing and distribution to authors on an individual basis through companies such as Amazon, Borders and Barnes & Noble.According to public relations manager and IU graduate Kevin Gray, books are printed as they are ordered, which saves space and trees.“Printed-on-demand eliminates the waste of having thousands and thousands of books in a warehouse somewhere,” he said, “and it’s more environmentally friendly.”Gray said 91 percent of all authors in America sell less than 1,000 copies of their books, so printing large quantities all at once is an inefficient practice.Author Solutions pays royalty rates of 20 percent, as opposed to the 5 percent given by traditional publishers, Gray said. Author Solutions also allows authors to keep ownership of their book, which paid off handsomely for former client Amanda Brown, writer of “Legally Blonde.”“We published the book ‘Legally Blonde’ around the beginning of the decade, and that author owned all the rights to the book and was able to sell the film rights,” Gray said. “For that author, it paid off big.”Many other authors have received attention from traditional publishers through Author Solutions and have landed pretty extensive contracts.Former client Lisa Genova made a deal with Simon & Schuster for her book “Still Alice” that debuted at number four on the New York Times Best Seller list.Author Solutions has seen steady increases in the amount of titles it has published over the years. It jumped from nearly 14,000 titles in 2007 to more than 24,000 in 2009. It now has authors from more than 100 different countries.Gray said he thinks their way of publishing will continue to become more popular.“Since the downturn in the economy, traditional publishers have struggled,” he said, adding that Author Solutions has published more than 120,000 different book titles.
(04/05/10 1:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This summer, Fairview Elementary School will be demolishing part of its building and constructing a new location for its students in the fall. Unfortunately, the section included a 90-year-old chimney that has been a popular nesting site for chimney swifts, birds known for making their homes in the tall brick structures.Member of the Sassafras Audubon Society and former IU professor Bob Dodd said after his group was informed of the building project concerns for the bird arose immediately.“More and more of the old chimneys are being torn down in Bloomington and around the country,” Dodd said. “The numbers of chimney swifts are at a bit of a decline. That’s why we decided to take action.”Dodd said the birds are important because they feast on large amounts of mosquitoes and pests.SAS had a meeting with the school and decided the best solution would be to screen the old structure before the swifts returned and erect another hollow structure where they could nest during the summer months. Dodd said he was surprised by how supportive Fairview was of the project.“The school has really embraced the idea,” he said. “The children have learned the history of the swifts and the kids have even drawn them in art class. It’s really been a bit of an educational tool.”Fairview teacher Jeremy Brown said his class started to study the birds after his colleague, Lee Heffernan, suggested the idea to him.“Lee is just a master teacher,” Brown said. “When she first presented the idea, everyone was so excited. It was a completely different topic than I would have done on a typical day.”The class read biographies of environmentalists John James Audubon and Rachel Carson, studied migration patterns of the birds and wrote letters from the point of view of the swifts thanking their school for the nesting site.“The project really brings the natural world into the classroom,” Brown said. “Kids will go to the park and make that connection of migration and how far the birds traveled.”There have been several success stories in Indiana dealing with bird conservation in recent years. According to Dodd, birds such as the peregrine falcon and the bald eagle have been endangered in the area but are now becoming more prominent.“A few years ago the eagle was on the verge of extinction,” he said. “Now, I can almost guarantee you I can show you an eagle almost any day of the week.”SAS President Jeff Riegel has partaken in a study involving ecosystems in southern Indiana’s forests for the past five years. He said the biggest concern with animal species is habitat destruction.Riegel said there has been no significant research on deforestation, specifically logging, in Indiana. This is a concern because today only a sixth of southern Indiana is forest, whereas 150 years ago it was almost entirely covered.“We don’t know what logging’s role is,” he said. “We might find out that we should never cut another tree, but maybe it might be we should be cutting more trees. We just don’t know.”Riegel said he has been surprised how cooperative all the logging companies have been with his extensive demands.“I cannot tell you how many phone calls I got during the harvesting process,” he said. “They’ve bent over backwards to do what we’ve asked them to do.”Both Dodd and Riegel said they remain optimistic about the future of Indiana’s forests and wildlife as well as the environmental issues worldwide.“As more and more people get informed, we will head more in the direction of doing what’s right,” Riegel said.
(03/25/10 2:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Last week, more than 100 staff members and associates of Bloomington Hospital gathered in the hospital’s Wegmiller Auditorium with high hopes that the American Nurses Credentialing Center would recognize them with nursing’s top honor, the Magnet designation.Vice President of Patient Care Services, Ruth Ann Morris, said everyone had their fingers crossed when the phone call came.Their excitement turned to joy when the speaker announced Bloomington Hospital’s designation as a Magnet hospital.“The crowd erupted,” Morris said. “We had streamers and confetti and dancing in the aisles. We were thrilled.”Mary McNamara of the American Nursing Association said the Magnet designation evaluates nursing programs on 14 different qualities of excellence they term “Forces of Magnetism.” As a result, only 4 to 6 percent of hospitals in the United States receive the Magnet designation, McNamara said. Morris said the hospital displayed excellence on each of the three days different surveyors came to write reports for the designation.Despite what might seem like slim odds, Morris said she did not have any doubts that Bloomington Hospital would eventually achieve its goal.“We always believed we would do it. We just didn’t know how long it would take,” she said. “This is a hospital that is able to recruit very good nurses, keep good nurses and support those nurses.”Lindsey Williams, a registered nurse, said she believes Bloomington Hospital’s knack for keeping good nurses is key to its success.“I have worked at other hospitals and have never seen the rate of retention as is demonstrated at Bloomington Hospital,” Williams said. “If the staff is satisfied, often, the patients will receive better care.”Currently, Bloomington Hospital employs more than 700 nurses. A significant amount of those employees are IU graduates and student nurses gaining clinical experience. Morris said the designation could be of great benefit for these students.“They give an excellent education at IU,” she said. “Adding that they received experience from a Magnet hospital can only help them.”The Magnet designation lasts for four years. Once the time period has ended, the hospital can reapply for the acknowledgment, but the standards of the achievement are raised.Morris said this will not stop Bloomington Hospital’s nursing program from applying in the future.“Right now we’re a week into our celebration,” she said. “But by next week we’re probably going to have to roll up our sleeves and go back to work so in four years we’re ready to do it again.”
(03/11/10 2:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The co-owners of John Edward Hair Salon and Les Champs Elysees Day Spa are putting the scissors and massage oils aside for their new business, Bloom Zum! This time, Margarete Disque and her mother, Donna, are focusing on the dance exercise known as Zumba.Margarete said the dance exercise is a “hypnotic Latino” dance style designed to burn calories at a rapid rate — in her case, 600 to 700 calories per hour.“It’s so boring to go to the gym and do the same thing with the same equipment,” Margarete said. “It’s nice to come to a place where you can just shake it.”Donna, 54, said she and her 72-year-old mother — the grandmother of Margarete — both participate in the exercise.“Zumba is starting to sweep the nation,” Donna said. “It is a really nice program that everyone can do.”Indiana is currently one of the most obese states in the country, Donna said, adding that she hopes her business can help Hoosiers become more fit. The Bloom Zum! facility covers about 6,000 square feet, which is enough to accommodate about 100 dancers at a time. The size, Margarete said, ensures that there will be available space for everyone.“If you plan your evening to the point where you’re going to go and work out and then you have to be turned away,” Margarete said, “that is like the total downer.”Bloom Zum! unofficially opened its doors Monday, but the business’s marketing consultant, Lisa Morrison, said there’s definitely a “buzz” around the new business.“They already have multiple instructors and an encouraging amount of people for classes,” Morrison said. “My hat’s off to them in opening Bloom Zum!”Margarete said she currently has six instructors and is seeing about 30 people a day. Later, she expects to see more people, but for the time being, she’s more than satisfied with the clientele while she and her mother “work out the kinks.”The official opening and ribbon-cutting is March 27. The event will be celebrated with Zumba demonstrations and a visit from Mayor Mark Kruzan.Margarete said she hopes to see everyone, including the mayor, participate.Despite the success of their salons, life for the mother-daughter duo wasn’t always manicures and new dance trends. When Margarete was growing up, her parents owned a pig farm. Donna said Margarete had the world’s largest hog at the state fair.But, Donna said, she thinks their agricultural roots got them to where they are today.“It made us realize you really have to work hard to make things happen,” Donna said. “We’ve really been a great team.”
(03/09/10 2:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>About a decade ago, Steve Kitchin was riding in a colleague’s Cadillac during a North Carolina business trip. The leisurely cruise took a turn for the worse when the car slid off the road and crashed into a tree. Kitchin suffered a spinal cord injury, paralyzing him from the waist down.Kitchin said he considered himself very active and was disappointed after he was diagnosed.“It’s emasculating,” he said. “I can’t protect my wife, I can’t protect my kids. If someone takes off with one of them, what can I do?”Kitchin said he was caught off-guard when he learned the only handicap-compatible vehicle he could operate was a minivan, which he found degrading and unfit for Indiana weather.“I was happy I was mobile, but I really wanted something that could get me around in weather,” Kitchin said. “I’m not a soccer mom.”Early last year, Kitchin needed to buy a new car, but he didn’t want another minivan. He asked some friends if they could help him design a handicap-accessible lift for a pickup truck.Kitchin’s family was skeptical but supportive when they heard his plans.“When he came up with this idea I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s going to happen,’” Kitchin’s daughter, Kylie, said sarcastically. “A few months later, here he is driving around in his truck,” she added earnestly. “It’s exciting.”Last fall, Kylie, an IU freshman, called her dad after her car broke down in Bloomington. Kylie said he seemed happy to make the long drive from Fort Wayne. The trip was the first time Kitchin used the truck, and he refers to it as his “maiden voyage.” Kitchin said he remembers he couldn’t stop smiling.“It was fun to drive again,” he said. “It was like I had part of my life back.”When winter came around, Kitchin decided it was time to turn his invention into a business, so he paid a visit to Fort Wayne car dealer and IU alumnus Tom Kelley.Kelley said he was excited to work with Kitchin.“Here’s a guy in a wheelchair who decided to not only do something with his life, but he’s making jobs and bringing enjoyment to thousands of people,” Kelley said. “It really just warms your heart.”Kelley said he often receives letters from people asking about the project.Ride-Away, one of the country’s largest handicap-accessible car dealers, has already placed an order of 15 trucks per month.Both Kelley and Kitchin said they think this might only be the beginning.“Currently, he has close to nine employees, but in the near future that could go as high as 30 to 40,” Kelley said of Kitchin’s business. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see the number of employees get into the hundreds.”More than 10,000 people in the U.S. suffer spinal cord injuries a year, and 82 percent are males between the ages of 18 and 25, Kitchin said. Each year, 40,000 wheelchair-accessible minivans are sold.“Of all the guys I’ve talked to, none of them have wanted to drive a minivan,” Kitchin said.Kitchin said he just wants to make people in his situation smile.“I’m proud of the feeling I get when driving this car and knowing I can give that feeling to a bunch of people given a pretty tough blow,” Kitchin said.
(03/05/10 3:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Close to 25 Marsh Supermarkets and 150 Kroger Grocery Stores across Indiana and parts of Illinois are now carrying Scholar’s Inn granola.The Sysco Corporation even helped Scholar’s Inn send granola to the Colts players during the Super Bowl.The Blue Door Café in Greencastle, Ind., reopened its doors last month, this time with a new line of baked goods supplied by Scholar’s Inn. After closing last summer to change locations, Blue Door owner Dennis Furr decided it was time to cut overhead by ordering breads and pastries from an outside company. “We were losing money,” Furr said. “We were trying to bake it all ourselves; it was just a lot of work and a lot of stock.”Furr talked to family in Bloomington and many of his former customers in Greencastle before choosing to buy from Scholar’s Inn Bakehouse.“There’s nowhere like Scholar’s Inn around here,” Furr said. “Customers would tell me, ‘They have the best bagels. We could use a place to get a good bagel.’ So, I got in contact with them.”The Blue Door is not the only place that has turned to Scholar’s Inn for baking needs. Omni Hotel and Clarian Hospital in Indianapolis both have made deals with Scholar’s Inn. Greg Berke, IU alumnus and president of Scholar’s Inn said a lot has been going on with the company and they’re adding new accounts all the time.“The sky’s the limit with our wholesale,” Berke said. “We’re having a lot of fun as we continue to grow.”The Indianapolis Business Journal recently interviewed Berke for its article on local businesses that are thriving during the recession.Berke believes the reason for the recent success is that consumers are starting to lean toward more wholesome and natural foods.“You don’t need a chemistry book to read our ingredients,” he said.With the recent success, there have been minor discussions within management for possible expansion, but nothing has been put in motion for the time being, Berke said.Though the majority of the sales increases have been through wholesale, Scholar’s Inn Bakehouse manager Tony Fishburn has seen a steady flow of customers in retail as well.Fishburn said the combination of good food and good location has continued the company’s success.“The locals love us,” Fishburn said. “A lot of people work downtown, so it’s real close for them to come here, and the food is awesome.” As the Blue Door Café enters its third week of business since the move, Furr said the people of Greencastle are starting to fall in love with their Scholar’s Inn food, too.“There’s probably cheaper ways to get our baked goods, but we’d never get the same quality we have now,” Furr said. “It’s taken off.”Scholar’s Inn currently owns and operates five locations within Bloomington’s city limits and a wine café in downtown Indianapolis. The company employs more than 120 people. Scholar’s Inn is currently trying to perfect its own granola bar, which should be introduced to retailers in the next few months.“I’ve eaten here constantly for three years now, and I still haven’t got sick of it,” Fishburn said.
(03/03/10 2:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Office of Research awarded a grant close to $50,000 to conduct a study on the ratio of alcohol outlets and violence.IU criminologist William Pridemore and IU geographer Tony Grubesic recently conducted a study on the relationship between alcohol sales and assault in communities. The duo combined information from alcohol licensing boards and police reports in Cincinnati, Ohio, for their research. The data focused on several groups, termed “block groups,” of close to 1,000 people living near locations containing bars, restaurants and convenient stores that sell alcohol.Results showed the block groups that contained convenient stores or outlets where consumers could purchase carry-out alcohol showed an increase of 2.3 simple assaults and 0.6 aggravated assaults per square mile. On the other hand, areas near bars only showed an increase of 1.4 simple assaults with no change in the amount of aggravated assaults.Pridemore has yet to test the reasons why this seems to occur but said he thinks “social control” might be a factor.“Bars usually have management, bouncers and bystanders that can step in before anything too serious happens,” Pridemore said. “Off-site outlets don’t have that.”Pridemore and Grubesic currently have a graduate student looking into various characteristics of the places studied so they can further understand their findings. Pridemore said they have considered variables such as poverty, unemployment and percent of young males in a “block group.”The two professors conducted the study for their own scientific benefit, but they said other groups could take interest in their findings.According to the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, the number of alcohol sales licenses issued are based on population of the area. Pridemore and Grubesic said they plan to conduct similar studies to see if there are similar trends in other cities.Interim Chief of the IU Police Department Jerry Minger said he found the study interesting but did not see anything in Bloomington to lead him to the same conclusion.“The demographic and economic strata of Cincinnati is totally different than Bloomington,” Minger said. “I haven’t seen anything that would make me to believe one way or the other.”Minger said alcohol can affect people’s decision making, but it’s not the only thing causing the action.“There are so many factors that are involved in violence,” Minger said. “It could be something like a domestic problem or a hate crime and have not anything to do with alcohol.”
(02/23/10 2:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Last summer, local street musician Alex Mysliwicz spent his nights sleeping in a tent behind his friend’s house. Mysliwicz said he sacrificed a comfortable living arrangement to do what he truly loves: perform.Mysliwicz said he tries to perform his music for people as much as possible, whether it’s in a venue or on the sidewalk of Kirkwood Avenue.“I think everyone should be able to do what they want,” Mysliwicz said. “This is like our playground; our adult playground.”Kirkwood Avenue has a tendency to attract street performers and merchants, Mysliwicz said.He said he thinks the venders and artists add to the “bohemian” culture of Bloomington. “What we’re doing is really edgy, and no one is going to stop us,” Mysliwicz said. “It’s beautiful.”A local painter, who wished to be referred to only as Tom, agreed with Mysliwicz. He said he fears this culture might be fading.Tom said a lot of the sitting places near Kirkwood Avenue have been removed, which has limited opportunities for socializing and places for merchants to go.“There has been a big shift toward luxury in recent years,” Tom said. “Many of the grassroots have disappeared.”Street merchants have had problems with law enforcement and shop owners asking them to move away from the area, Tom said.IU senior Kathleen Clark experienced these problems firsthand while running the Urban Market at People’s Park.Despite having a permit, Clark said she was approached several times by police officers due to complaints.“I felt heckled because they kept coming, even though they knew I had a permit,” she said. “But they were at least friendly to me.”Tom said he once had his art displayed near Kirkwood Avenue when a property owner questioned him because one of his tenants complained, but the landlord seemed to support what he was doing.Marybeth Kelsey, owner of Moon Stones Jewelry, said she’s supportive of the street merchants but can understand why some shop owners might feel uneasy about their presence.“I have to pay rent and employees, but they can sit out there and sell things without fixed cost,” she said. “I think it really adds charm to the city, though.”TD’s CDs and LPs manager Michael Anderson said he thinks some of the less-talented performers are a little annoying. Other than that, he doesn’t have a problem with them, he said.“It’s good that kids are out writing and practicing,” Anderson said. “I think sometime down the road they’ll look back and be slightly embarrassed.”Anderson said the vendors and performers make the street seem more lively, which can be good for business.Like Mysliwicz, the artists and vendors on Kirkwood Avenue take pride in their work and enjoy being able to share what they love with everyone.“It just brightens my day,” Clark said. “All the people who are out on the street showing who they are, I just love it.”
(02/18/10 3:09am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The City of Bloomington promotes some unusual business ideas. Where else can someone hail a bicycle rickshaw to their belly dancing lessons? And how many establishments sell square donuts?John McGuire, IU graduate and owner of Campus Costume, said he believes that odd businesses result from odd markets.“People need all sorts of strange things,” McGuire said. “They’ll come in sometimes because they need a mullet wig.”Costume shops are a bit of a niche in Bloomington as a result of the University, McGuire said. Between campus events, costume parties and dressing up for sporting events, the demand for novelty attire has allowed for three year-round costume shops to stay in business.McGuire said he takes pride in seeing people plan events with his store in mind but isn’t sure how the interest in costumes started.“It’s like the chicken and the egg (argument),” he said. “Did the costume party come first or the costume store?”Donna Carlton, IU graduate and proprietor of All About Bellydance, is also no stranger to exuberant clothing.For more than 20 years, Carlton has made a living planning, performing and teaching belly dancing. Since opening her business, Carlton also began creating outfits and accessories for local workshops and her performers.Carlton started her business after a group of women asked her to teach them the art of belly dancing. She said she began instructing a group of three women, but now her classes have blossomed into groups of 20 or more.“Most people come for fun and exercise,” she said. “Once they hear the music and learn a few moves, they’re hooked.” Carlton’s dancers have performed everything from halftime shows at IU sporting events to small venues to parties for local celebrities.“I got a call from a company throwing a party. It turned out to be for John and Elaine Mellencamp,” she said. “I helped arrange the dance talent for that. It was really fun.”Currently, Carlton’s students’ ages vary, from teenagers to adults well into their seventies.But sometimes being odd doesn’t mean being exotic.Square Donuts, a franchise that began in Terre Haute, made its mark by simply changing shape.Bloomington’s Square Donuts co-owner, Nikki Johnson, said the shape is both practical and interesting.“If people haven’t seen a square donut before, they’ll at least take a look,” Johnson said. “It’s something different. It takes less dough and it fits in boxes better.”Johnson said the shape also gives the company identity. It provides many tourists with a good photo opportunity, she said.“Lots of people will stop by and take pictures with our sign,” Johnson said. “If you search around you can find these pictures on people’s Twitter pages.”McGuire said he thinks the businesses are able to maintain sales because of strong support from the community.“There’s a lot more local businesses here than in most cities,” he said. “We really try to keep the money here.”
(02/17/10 3:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The southern Indiana limestone industry has taken a significant hit in the down-turned economy.B.G. Hoadley President David Fell said sales decreased 30 percent last year due to a slow construction market.Evans Limestone Co. in Bedford didn’t release percentages, but Frank Ira, the company’s general manager, called the decrease “noticeable.”“We are suppliers to the construction industry and if construction is down, naturally we would be, too,” Ira said. “There’s always peaks and valleys. We’re just at a valley right now.”Lennie Strauser, vice president and co-owner of Strauser Construction Co., said his company is only experiencing a slight drop in sales, but he said he can see why other construction companies are having more difficulty.“There’s a lack of projects to bid on,” Strauser said. “Even in Bloomington there’s been some outside competition that‘s had an effect.”According to Fell, 90 percent of B.G. Hoadley’s stone is being shipped to Canada for masonry work. Fell said a lot of homes in the Ontario area have given the quarry some business.Evans Limestone Co. has done work outside of the United States as well. Ira said the company has shipped limestone as far as Istanbul.The Indiana Limestone Institute of America’s Web site claims limestone quarries began popping up in Indiana as early as 1827, most of which are in the Bloomington area.According to Ken Pickett, CEO of American Limestone in Gosport, Ind., 80 percent of all U.S. limestone used in construction comes from Monroe and Lawrence counties.IU geologist Brian Keith said a large portion of the limestone used in architecture across the world is called “Salem” or “Bedford” limestone, named for the two Indiana cities from which it came.“Salem is very soft and easy to cut and shape,” Keith said. “That is why so many builders are attracted to it.”The massive amount of limestone in the Bloomington area has provided job opportunities for years. Ira said many generations of families have been in the business since the quarries opened.“I myself am fifth generation in the limestone business,” Ira said. “Limestone is something that has attracted many people to settle and live in this area.”Fell said he’s confident there will be an upswing in the market in the near future.“We’ve been bidding more work thus far,” Fell said. “We’re up from last year’s first quarter pace by about 30 percent.”Strauser said he hopes to see an increase in the construction market, but he thinks change will be a bit more gradual.“I don’t expect it to happen real soon,” he said, “but I really hope to see it better by the end of 2010.”
(02/17/10 2:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The southern Indiana limestone industry has taken a significant hit in the down-turned economy. B.G. Hoadley President David Fell said sales decreased 30 percent last year due to a slow construction market.Evans Limestone Co. in Bedford didn’t release percentages, but Frank Ira, the company’s general manager, called the decrease “noticeable.”“We are suppliers to the construction industry and if construction is down, naturally we would be, too,” Ira said. “There’s always peaks and valleys. We’re just at a valley right now.”Lennie Strauser, vice president and co-owner of Strauser Construction Co., said his company is only experiencing a slight drop in sales, but he said he can see why other construction companies are having more difficulty.“There’s a lack of projects to bid on,” Strauser said. “Even in Bloomington there’s been some outside competition that‘s had an effect.” According to Fell, 90 percent of B.G. Hoadley’s stone is being shipped to Canada for masonry work. Fell said a lot of homes in the Ontario area have given the quarry some business. Evans Limestone Co. has done work outside of the United States as well. Ira said the company has shipped limestone as far as Istanbul.The Indiana Limestone Institute of America’s Web site claims limestone quarries began popping up in Indiana as early as 1827, most of which are in the Bloomington area. According to Ken Pickett, CEO of American Limestone in Gosport, Ind., 80 percent of all U.S. limestone used in construction comes from Monroe and Lawrence counties.IU geologist Brian Keith said a large portion of the limestone used in architecture across the world is called “Salem” or “Bedford” limestone, named for the two Indiana cities from which it came.“Salem is very soft and easy to cut and shape,” Keith said. “That is why so many builders are attracted to it.”The massive amount of limestone in the Bloomington area has provided job opportunities for years. Ira said many generations of families have been in the business since the quarries opened.“I myself am fifth generation in the limestone business,” Ira said. “Limestone is something that has attracted many people to settle and live in this area.”Fell said he’s confident there will be an upswing in the market in the near future.“We’ve been bidding more work thus far,” Fell said. “We’re up from last year’s first quarter pace by about 30 percent.”Strauser said he hopes to see an increase in the construction market, but he thinks change will be a bit more gradual.“I don’t expect it to happen real soon,” he said, “but I really hope to see it better by the end of 2010.”
(02/10/10 9:17pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Kilroy’s Sports Bar has once again been named one of the top 40 best bars in the country by Nightclub & Bar magazine.This year, Kilroy’s Sports Bar placed 39th, which was a slight drop from last year’s 36th position.IU alumna and CEO of the Kilroy’s franchise Linda Prall said she feels this is still a great accomplishment, considering Sports was under construction for three months in 2009.“Sports was almost shutdown,” Prall said. “During the remodeling, we probably only did a half to a third of our typical business.”Sports was ranked the highest of any bar in Indiana and was one of only six bars in the Midwest to place in the top 50. Piere’s in Fort Wayne ranked 56th and was the only other bar in Indiana to make the list.On an average Saturday, Sports brings in about 2,500 people, Prall said. This number tends to be more than 3,000 if IU has a home football game.Last year, more than 200,000 people visited Sports, which brought the bar more than $4 million in gross, Prall estimated.Prall said she believes the Bloomington community plays a factor in their success. Bloomington’s bars and restaurants tend to help each other out, Prall said.“We’re all very close. Nick’s (English Hut) might even run over and say, ‘Oh my god, do you have a case of ketchup?’ and we’ll give it to them,” Prall said. “We all work well together.”The fact that the staff at Sports doesn’t focus on their local competitors helps them succeed, Prall said.“We don’t compete with the bars in town. We compete with ourselves,” Prall said. “We always want to beat last year.”Some Kilroy’s staff members have their own theories on why Sports has done so well through the years.Bartender Steve McPherson said he believes the building’s size plays a major part in Sports’ success.“The huge capacity is out of control, and when it’s wall-to-wall, it gets crazy,” McPherson said.IU graduate and Sports Manager Paul Miller said he thinks celebrity appearances make the bar unique.“It’s really cool seeing all the big names,” Miller said. “Tracy Porter used to come here, Ryan Howard was here a few months ago. Once, Mark Cuban bought everyone at the bar a drink.”Sports tries to cater to a large variety of people, Miller said, but students definitely play a major part in the bar’s success.“Our bread and butter is always the students. They’re the ones that come out 1,000 strong,” Miller said. “If we were just relying on non-students, we couldn’t be this big.”In order to keep pushing the limits of the Kilroy’s franchise, Prall sends members of her staff outside of Indiana to see what works in other parts of the country.“We try to see what the trends are before they ever make it out here,” she said. “What are you going to learn from an average bar in the Midwest?”
(02/08/10 1:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The rusting front door of Aver’s Pizza broke at the hinges two years ago during the second quarter of the Super Bowl. No one knows whether the door broke from age or from the high number of delivery drivers rushing in and out of the restaurant with orders.Super Bowl Sunday is one of the most profitable days of the year for bars and delivery-based restaurants, but the order overflow can drive both assistant managers and front doors into early retirement.“You could say the door went and sat on the bench,” said general manager Chris Wolf.Wolf said a glass specialist, who was already under the influence, was driven to the restaurant to fix the door.“(They) were there in a heartbeat,” Wolf said. “After an hour, the door was fixed and I got back in time to see the Giants’ last drive to beat the Patriots.”Last time the Indianapolis Colts were in the Super Bowl, Pizza X, then known as Pizza Express, had its own troubles.Manager Brad Kale said that by 5 p.m. the place was so busy the assistant manager quit.“He had a bad day and wasn’t too motivated, so he just dropped it,” Kale said.Pizza’s not the only thing that draws in profits from the Super Bowl – chicken wings are also a major seller.Wings Xtreme manager Francis Bearch said on the day of the Super Bowl, the company does not take phone calls because it has reached maximum capacity solely from pre-orders.“I come in at 4 a.m. and blanch all the wings we have,” Bearch said. “We get a few orders of 800 wings at a time.”An IU fraternity once ordered 1,200 wings, the largest order Wings Xtreme has ever received, he said.Wings Xtreme receives so many requests that they don’t accept pre-orders under $75 the week before the game.Aside from delivery services, bars also have their fair share of customers.Joana Glasscott, general manager of Yogi’s Grill and Bar, has already seen a major increase in sales this year since the playoffs started.During the AFC Championship Game, Yogi’s made more than $12,000 on food and drink sales, a 60 percent increase from the $7,500 on a typical NFL Sunday and a 300 percent increase from the average $4,000 on a non-NFL Sunday.“We will be completely full,” Glasscott said. “A few years ago when the Colts were in, we had a line out the door at 1 o’clock for a 6 o’clock game.” Despite all the people, bartender Mike Glasscott said the customers do not usually get out of hand. “Every once in a while someone will drop a glass or something, but it’s really not that bad,” he said.Last time the Colts were in the Super Bowl, however, Mike Glasscott admits there was a man who threw a beer bottle at one of the TV screens.“Everyone acts different because its not their house,” Glasscott said. “Why don‘t you throw a beer bottle at your own TV?”
(02/04/10 4:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Week of Chocolate has inspired dozens of Bloomington restaurants, bakeries and retailers to chip in with creations to benefit Options Community Services and Employment Services.So far, the Week of Chocolate has raised an estimated $24,000, exceeding the last two years’ totals of $15,000 and $20,000, respectively.Lisa Morrison, marketing manager for the events, said the coming together of local businesses has been the driving force of the week.“The businesses make this event possible. They’ve given their time, donated for the auctions, given artwork. It’s really just been wonderful,” Morrison said.John Bailey, managing partner of Malibu Grill, said he feels events like the Week of Chocolate help solidify that businesses are part of the community.“I feel like the culinary community its more like a kinship; you always have respect for those who do well,” Bailey said.But competition never goes away entirely, he said.“There’s healthy competition,” Bailey said. “You always like looking at what everyone else is doing.”In any case, Mark Brethauer, owner of Angel B’s Galleria of Cakes, said he thought participants try to produce the best product, whether it’s a traditional cake or cookie, or something more exotic, like Malibu’s Chocolate Martini.“Everyone likes to show off a little, but there are definitely no egos,” Brethauer said.Brethauer seemed to enjoy the idea of competition and even volunteered to help with a professional culinary competition in the future.Not all restaurant owners are onboard with the idea of competition.Candace Finch, managing member of Finch’s Brasserie, said she didn’t think her restaurant was competing with others in the community, even outside of the events.“Everyone always comes out with their best wishes forward,” Finch said. “This community is more about taking care of its own.”Though the main purpose of the Week of Chocolate is to benefit charitable organizations, businesses have begun to receive increased recognition.“The first year we attended everyone was like ‘Who are you?’” Finch said. “But now most people recognize us. The exposure is great.”Though the amount of preparation that goes into the events can be tiresome, Brethauer said he would do it again in a heartbeat.“I’ll always do work for Options and WonderLab,” he said. “They’re two great organizations.”The Week of Chocolate consists of unique and interesting Bloomington events. For this reason, some business owners say the Week of Chocolate could potentially become an even bigger hit.“I think the event is one of the coolest things people don’t know about,” Bailey said. “We’ve only scratched the surface of its potential.”Morrison continues to express her gratitude for the commitment of the Bloomington community and said she’s touched that so much can be given despite hard times.“We’re in a downturn economy and yet we still have exceeded our expectations,” Morrison said. “To me that’s a victory.”
(01/27/10 4:09am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Wine is typically not something that is associated with Indiana, but since its public opening in 1972, Oliver Winery has fought that misconception.Every year, close to 500,000 visitors flock to Bloomington’s Oliver Winery to enjoy great history, hospitality and over 30 different styles of wine.“People like to try all the different wine possibilities,” said tasting team leader Kathy Bodle-Perez. “We have about every single thing you can think of.”Oliver Winery is the oldest and largest winery in Indiana.It produces over 800,000 gallons of wine each year, said Pamela Bonin, the winery’s hospitality director.The grapes used to make about 40,000 gallons of that wine come from the winery’s local 35-acre vineyard.Oliver currently owns over 100 acres of land and plans to increase their vineyard from 35 acres to 50 by the end of 2010, Bonin said. The other 50 acres are currently vacant.Oliver Winery and its Creekbend Vineyard were created by William Oliver, a former IU law professor, Bonin said.Oliver got the idea for a winery after seeing the grape fields in Ithaca, New York while teaching at Cornell University, Bonin said.“Professor Oliver said, ‘Gosh, if you can grow grapes out here in New York, then you can do that in Indiana,’” Bonin said.Oliver first began making wine in his basement using grapes he had purchased from local markets. In 1971, Oliver wrote the Indiana Small Winery Act, which allowed Hoosiers to operate wine-tasting facilities, produce wine and sell it on Sundays. This, in turn, helped pave the way for the nearly 50 wineries throughout Indiana.Today, Oliver Winery has over 80 staff members. About 20 of these employees are associated with IU, Bonin said.The winery sells to companies across the Midwest, Colorado, Florida and Virginia.“Our distributor works really hard and has been able to get our wines in Kroger, Marsh, Meijer and a lot of mom and pop shops that have been really important to us,” Bonin said.Former IU student Jessica Choate and her boyfriend Bill Sylvester, were in Bloomington celebrating Bill’s 29th birthday when they decided to stop by.Choate said her friends told her they enjoyed a previous tour and thought it would be a fun and unique experience.“The scenery is really great and there’s a very friendly staff,” Choate said.Hospitality is something Bonin says that current owner and Indiana graduate Bill Oliver has always stressed.“His visions of making our winery a hospitality mecca has made us such a gem in Bloomington,” Bonin said. “We try to take care of all of our customers, from the wine novice to the connoisseur.”
(01/26/10 5:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From Super Mario to stylistic lettering, the back wall of Rhino’s Youth Center is a place for local graffiti artists to display their artistic visions to the world.Graffiti brings up a few concerns for local business owners, such as the safety of the artists, the cost of removal and its aesthetic value.Brad Wilhelm, director of Rhino’s Youth Center, said he feels some graffiti displays spectacular creativity and ability but in many cases still is vandalism.Since 1996, Rhino’s has provided an outlet for graffiti artists to display their talents in a legal way, Wilhelm said.“Some of the stuff is amazing work, things I can’t even imagine doing. And it’s all done with a spray can,” Wilhelm said. “But it needs to be done in a respectful manner.”But not everyone agrees with Wilhelm’s view.“I know there’s a place for art, but I think people would be singing a different tune if the backside of their building or house had graffiti all over it,” said Jesica Pillar, the general manager of Grazie! Italian Eatery.The top story of Grazie! has been a hot spot for these high-risk tags, which is a major concern for Pillar. She said she has seen people on the restaurant’s surveillance camera climbing on trash bins to get to the spot.“Safety is one of our biggest concerns,” Pillar said. “If someone falls off tagging the building, who pays for that? We do.”Maarten Bout, marketing director of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, also expressed concern for the liability issues that arise because of the artists’ perilous works.“Besides tagging the building, people are risking their lives to get to places people can’t usually get to,” Bout said.JD Boruff, the Park & Facilities operations supervisor of Bloomington Parks and Recreation, said safety is also an issue when it comes to the removal process.Boruff said some of the chemicals used are caustic, which could cause harm to both skin and eyes. Also, pressure washing can stir up debris that could become harmful.Boruff said he believes people feel unsafe in areas with high amounts of graffiti.“People tend to think of what other crimes might be going on,” Boruff said, adding that graffiti makes places look “run-down and unattended.”Graffiti removal is a time-consuming and expensive process, which leaves privately owned businesses like Grazie! paying out of their pockets every time a tag is removed. Pillar said the average tag removal costs about $600.For the time being, Bloomington Parks and Recreation reports of new graffiti are very low, Boruff said. The winter weather greatly reduces the amount of graffiti, but as spring and summer roll around, the reports skyrocket, he said.“On average we have custodians clean graffiti probably two days a week,” Boruff said. “In the summer months, we are out there every day.”In the end, Bout said he believes that businesses, particularly the Buskirk, influence the community more by their work rather than what is being sprayed on the building.“I think people feel for us,” Bout said. “I really don’t think it affects us in a business sense.”