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(11/10/08 9:47pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Barack Obama’s victory Tuesday night stood as the culmination of a struggle, not just of Obama’s campaign, but of generations of black Americans.“The way he’s been able to galvanize people – not just black people, but whites, Hispanics, Asians – that’s something amazing,” Evelyn Hamilton, a graduate student assistant at the NMBCC, said of Obama. “It’s just powerful.”The grand hall of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center was host to a cacophony of young voices, cheers and livetelevised election coverage Tuesday night as roughly 250 people gathered for the NMBCC’s election night watch party and food drive. Students sat around tables, some with laptops laid out in front of them and textbooks off to the side. Others leaned against the walls and watched as the presidential election results emerged as a victory for Obama, the clear favorite among those gathered. As state results were announced live throughout the evening, people cheered and applauded for Obama’s victories.“Students expressed such enthusiasm throughout this campaign, and I wanted to provide a venue for them to express their joy at what the election of Barack Obama means for our country,” said Audrey McCluskey, interim director of the NMBCC and professor of African American and African Diaspora Studies at IU.The watch party was co-sponsored by various black student organizations on campus and included a food drive on behalf of the Hoosier Hills Food Bank, dinner, breakfast at 11 a.m. and a “spotlight” segment to allow students to vocalize their feelings on the election. The event was open to everyone from the on-campus and off-campus community.“He has a perspective that very few, if any, presidents have ever had. That’s something that many people can relate to,” Hamilton said. “People who may have never worked together before have come together throughout his campaign.”The election has garnered considerable enthusiasm among Americans in general, but it has been especially important to the black student community at IU to witness the rise and triumph of Obama, McCluskey said. “For black students, there is particular resonance for them,” McCluskey said, explaining that many black students have grown up listening to their parents and grandparents recall times when blacks were prevented from voting, either through poll taxes, the enactment of grandfather clauses or through physical intimidation. “For the black experience, the enthusiasm is magnified by 10,” McCluskey said. “These students have heard stories from their parents and grandparents, and this event tonight unites them in the sense that this struggle has been meaningful.”A sense of pride pervaded the room as Obama’s victory became increasingly evident.“It’s been historic, It’s been restorative,” said Rafik Hasan, a first-year graduate student and graduate assistant at the NMBCC. “Today I voted, and it’s the first time I’m going to be proud to call myself an American, not just an African-American, but an American.”
(09/30/08 4:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Both Indiana 9th district congressional candidates, incumbent Democrat Baron Hill and Republican challenger Mike Sodrel, declared their opposition Monday to a failed $700 billion plan to rescue collapsing financial firms. The bailout bill was endorsed by President Bush, congressional leaders and presidential candidates Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama. But it was defeated Monday in the House of Representatives, 228-205, and Hill was among those who voted against it. In a press release, Hill cited Congress’ need for more time to evaluate the economic situation and the possible consequences of the proposed borrowing of such a large sum of money. “I voted against the measure because I believe Congress and the American public have not had the appropriate time to review this massive proposal,” he said. “My constituents need time to evaluate how this will affect their retirement and college savings.”In another statement, Hill suggested the need for Congressional investigation and alternative proposals to the “unprecedented bill” put forth by Bush and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. “Congress should have the opportunity to consider all the possible options, and take the time to understand the results of this large taxpayer investment,” Hill said. He also pointed out the need for more accountability on Wall Street. “I look forward to continuing our work on this proposal,” Hill said. “We need more accountability for the financial industry that led our country into this crisis. We need to restore actual confidence in the financial markets to prevent knee-jerk reactions.” In a statement, Sodrel was more pointed in his criticism of the rescue plan. “Government acquisition of private enterprises when it occurs by ballot is called socialism. ... When it occurs by bullets (it) is called communism,” Sodrel said in the statement. “There is little difference in the end result. The former is just less violent than the latter.” Sodrel said the bailout bill would threaten the Constitution if enacted, and it would place taxpayers into more than $10 trillion of debt. “The United States Constitution is a document designed to limit the power of our government,” he said. “To give virtually unlimited power to a cabinet secretary would have to create constitutional issues, not to mention poor judgment.”As an alternative, Sodrel said he supported “an immediate suspension of the Capital Gains Tax for a period of two years, an increase in Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation deposit insurance and suspension and/or modification of ‘mark to market’ accounting rules.” “I’m certainly open to discussing other options that do not require the taxpayer to borrow $700 billion,” Sodrel said. Meanwhile, Hill said he has yet to detect any consensus on the proposal among his constituents, which is why he plans to spend more time traveling around his district speaking with those he represents. “I have talked with everyone from bankers to neighbors,” Hill said in a statement, “and there is no one position that stands out amongst them all.” Hill said he will spend the next few days evaluating the needs of his constituents. One of his first stops will be today from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Bloomington City Hall Atrium, located at 401 N. Morton St. Hill will discuss the current economic crisis with residents and listen to concerns and suggestions about how to proceed.
(09/16/08 3:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Of the 65,929 people living in Bloomington, 41.6 percent of them live in poverty, up from 34.7 percent in 2006, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released in August.But the problem is not as bad as it seems, said Jerry Conover, director of the Indiana Business Research Center at the Kelley School of Business, adding that IU students distort those poverty figures.“It’s not unusual for college students to make under $10,000,” Conover said. The national poverty threshold for an individual in 2007 was $10,590, according to the Census Bureau. IU students account for a large percentage of Bloomington residents because the Census Bureau considers all full-time students at any university as residents of those cities, said Steve Laue, information specialist for the Chicago Regional Office of the Census Bureau.Monroe and Tippecanoe counties, home to IU-Bloomington and Purdue University, respectively, typically have the highest poverty rates in the state. “College towns tend to have very high poverty rates because they include all the people who live there,” Conover said.Conover said poverty is still an issue but that census statistics often don’t take into account the different lifestyles of the people surveyed.“I don’t mean to belittle the poverty rate,” he said. “There is no small amount of people living hand-to-mouth.”While IU students might be a major reason why nearly half of Bloomington’s population appear to live in poverty, a number of economic factors have contributed to the rising percentage. “The poverty rate seems to be increasing due to factors such as higher costs of fuel, food costs and increasing employment transition,” said Barry Lessow, director of the Monroe County United Way.Lessow said higher paying jobs with better benefits, such as those in the industrial sector, are departing while lower paying jobs in the service sector, such as retail and tourism, are increasing. He added that for some people who rely on multiple sources of income, those second or third sources of income are evaporating.“When we lose an employer, they tend to be the larger employers with higher wages,” Lessow said.Danny Lopez, director of communications for the Office of the Mayor, acknowledged that poverty is an issue as jobs in the manufacturing industry continue to leave the area. Bloomington has taken steps toward economic and physical growth, with efforts such as the Bloomington Technology Partnership and the Bloomington Life Sciences Partnership, Lopez said. But city officials aren’t ignorant to the problem.“It’s important that we understand we’re experiencing the effects of the recession that we are going through,” Lopez said.
(09/05/08 3:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Nestled in the basement of Read Residence Center since October 2007, El Bistro has exceeded expectations and appears to be going strong. “We thought it would start slowly at first,” said Sandra Fowler, dining director of Residential Programs and Services. “But it has been popular from the start.”El Bistro was constructed in the basement of Clark wing in place of McDonald’s, which left Read at the end of spring 2007. The Meal Plan Committee opted to replace the McDonald’s restaurant rather than renew its contract after the 2006-2007 school year.Senior Ediri Metitiri said she remembers McDonald’s from her freshman and sophomore years. McDonald’s “was nice and it was bad,” she said. “It was nice that you could get fries or a frosty right away. But the health part of it was what people didn’t like.”Fowler said El Bistro’s daily customer traffic is comparable to that of the Hoosier Café, a smaller self-service dining hall at the Read Center and McNutt Quad.The first day of classes was “very busy,” Fowler said. El Bistro tallied 1,297 customers. This was less than the 1,536 in traffic at the Hoosier Café upstairs, but more than the 1,190 at the McNutt Hoosier Café. With 950 to 1,080 in daily customer traffic in its final year, McDonald’s never came close to El Bistro’s traffic. El Bistro’s menu options include traditional breakfast food, burritos and deli sandwiches. During the 2006-2007 school year, the Meal Plan Committee conducted surveys to determine what menu items to offer. Fowler said the deli sandwich line was added without any taste-testing, and added it has been “very popular.”Sophomore Nathan Ferguson has lived in Forest Quad since his freshman year. Like Metitiri, he prefers El Bistro to McDonald’s, which he remembered during a visit before attending IU.He said the food at El Bistro “seems more like something you’d eat at home if you were cooking for yourself.”Freshman and Read resident Jake Esformes said he prefers El Bistro to places like the Wright Place Food Court. He said the large size and general layout of the dining area at Wright feels “kind of like high school.” In contrast, El Bistro has a dozen tables at most, with the added option of outdoor seating. “It’s much more relaxed than a dining hall,” said freshman and Read resident Andrew Olanoff. “It feels more like a café or something. It doesn’t feel like you’re on campus.”El Bistro will probably stick around for several years, but RPS might adjust the menu items in response to food trends and student feedback, Fowler said. Meanwhile, as the semester gears up, new staff and students might still need a couple weeks to get the hang of things. “I think having the food items prepared to order in front of students is very popular,” Fowler said. “It’s just a matter of our staff getting up to speed.”
(08/10/08 3:19pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“I am Spartacus” was the cry from the field and the stands alike as Phantom Regiment, the underdog of the season, finally earned gold and surpassed Blue Devils at Drum Corps International’s World Class Final Championship.With a score of 98.125, Phantom Regiment outranked Blue Devils by 0.025 points, one of the slimmest margins in DCI history. The Regiment’s only previous championship win was a tie with the Blue Devils in 1996. In addition, the Regiment took home caption awards for overall general ensemble and percussion during the past three days’ world class championship events. The Blue Devils scored 98.100 overall and earned caption awards for visual performance, best color guard, and brass.“It has been a really amazing summer. Tonight’s result was really a product of all the hard work we did,” said Phantom Regiment mellophone Patrick Phillips. “It’s all about the crowd. It’s not about the judges.”And win the crowd they did. As the Regiment marched onto the field, the color guard staggering along as slaves in chains, and the audience rose to their feet cheering.“I like the Phantom better than anything,” said Evan Kleve, who, since aging out of the Bluecoats in 2002, hasn’t missed a DCI final championship since. “It’s the strongest performance I’ve seen in all these years.”This was Phantom Regiment’s third season with its “Spartacus” program, which it presented in 1981 and 1982 and is inspired by the 1960 film starring Kirk Douglas. "This was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had,” said Phantom Regiment assistant conductor Koji Mori. This was his first season participating in drum corps. “I never imagined it would be like this,” he said.The crowd watched the now familiar drama intently. Before the Roman general, played by Mori, could utter the film’s unforgettable line, individuals throughout the stands bellowed the words, “I am Spartacus!” In a mad flourish, Mori plunged his spear into conductor Will Pitts and whipped around to lead the entire ensemble through its blasting coda as the audience screamed a standing ovation.After their second performance of their winning show, Phantom members were visibly shaken, sobbing in elation and beaming at their triumph.“Both corps were great,” said Myron Melnyk, who played baritone with the Devils in 1975. “Blue Devils lost by the slimmest of possible margins mathematically. They got beaten by a good corps. … In drum corps, sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t.”Blue Devils executive director David Gibbs admitted some among his corps were disappointed, but that within a week, the pain would subside and the season would be remembered. While they had “put everything on the line,” this season would surely be remembered as “the best part of their lives,” he said. Saturday night marked the Devils’ second event of the entire summer in which they did not place first. “I’m proud of their amazing talent, hard work and dedication,” Gibbs said. “I told them that once they do their part at the competition, it’s out of their hands.”“It was a good show. They deserve it,” said Ralph Nader, a snare with Blue Devils, about Regiment’s success. “I believe every corps deserves to win… At the end of the day it’s just a score.”“It’s pretty surreal,” said Mark Teal, front ensemble instructor for Phantom Regiment, as he tried to summarize the feeling of victory. “With this corps, year after year, we’ve been close to winning, and to finally do it, with such a show, and such an amazing group of kids – it’s been the most amazing experience of my life.”
(08/09/08 7:21pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Drum Corps International World Class Semifinals saw Phantom Regiment edge out The Cavaliers for second place Friday night.“(Overtaking) The Cavaliers hasn’t happened since 1996,” said corps member Daniel Allen. “It’s put us in a very good position to end the summer strong.”Meanwhile, Blue Devils maintained its first place lead with its colorful program “Constantly Risking Absurdity,” earning an overall score of 98.050. Phantom Regiment scored 97.675 total with their revival of their 1981 and 1982 program, “Spartacus.” The Cavaliers got 97.550 for their “Samurai” program, and Carolina Crown’s “Finis” show followed in fourth place with 96.700.The Cadets, Santa Clara Vanguard, Bluecoats, Blue Stars, Blue Knights, Boston Crusaders, Glassmen, and Madison Scouts will proceed into the finals Saturday evening.Members of Phantom Regiment emerged from IU Memorial Stadium satisfied with the evening’s events and excited for more.“Our section had a pretty fantastic show, and we know it’s going to be even better tomorrow,” Allen said. Phillip Martinez, 21, added, “It doesn’t matter to me what the score is. I just know we threw down, and the crowd loved us.”“It’s amazing,” said Lida Figueredo, whose son James plays snare in the Phantom Regiment. “They beat Carolina Crown last night, they beat The Cavaliers tonight. Now, they want to beat the Devils.”Jim Figueredo said, “They’re worked so hard all year. They keep perfecting their craft.”The Figueredos were struck by how the audience connected and responded to Phantom Regiment’s performance. One of the highlights of their show is when the corps shouts “I am Spartacus," a reference to one of the final scenes of the 60s film “Spartacus."This time, Lida said the cries of the “slaves” were stronger, and the music of the corps louder than usual. “The kids got more pumped," she said. "Today the audience just made them go crazy, and it got louder and louder.”Amy Garapic, a percussion performance major at Ohio State, has always appreciated Regiment’s traditionally classical focus. For one thing, she said it enhances their general image.“To me, the Regiment is always a class act,” Garapic said. “They’re very professional-looking. You never see them hyping it up or rocking out on the field. They’re just very tasteful and classy.”For Garapic her presence at this summer’s championships is bittersweet. She used to play in the front ensemble, but aged out after 2007.“It’s sad,” Garapic said. “I’m excited for them, but it’s hard to not be out there.”Because the Figueredos’ son James turned 21 this year, he’ll be too old to return. Jim and Lida said they were sad about it, but Jim said the year has been “so good” for James, “Because it was his dream come true.”His dream had always been to be in the Phantom Regiment. Last year, he was with the Boston Crusaders, one of the oldest active world class corps, but had previously tried out for the Regiment. With one more year of eligibility left, James was uncertain it would be worth another attempt.“He said, ‘Mom, what should I do? … I might not make it’,” his mother recalled. “I told him, ‘Do it,’ because you will always go through life thinking, ‘what if?’ … You should take the risk for something you want.”Jim said it was hard for his son to leave the Crusaders, but Regiment was where he wanted to be.The passion of Regiment was one of the biggest draw factors for James.“It’s always been a dream for me to march here,” he said. “Everyone performs with passion.” With just the DCI finals to go, Phantom Regiment have just one more chance to fulfill another dream. Though James said it’s not just about points.“We’re not worried about what place we get," he said. "But we worry about touching the audience in a special way.”
(08/08/08 5:14pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Blue Devils, Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment, and Carolina Crown retained their statuses Thursday as the top four drum and bugle corps at the World Class Quarterfinals of the Drum Corps International World Championships.With a total score of 97.375, the Blue Devils, the 2007 champions, finished the evening in first place after their performance of “Constantly Risking Absurdity,” a program featuring music by Danny Elfman, Michel Legrand and Ennio Morricone. “I thought we had lots of energy,” said Blue Devils’ Joe Gibson, moments before their score announcement rippled over the field. Citing issues of tempo and ensemble, fellow member Matt Petterson added, “It was a great show, but there were some minor flaws that we’ll work out in the next couple days.”Finishing up right behind The Blue Devils were The Cavaliers with a score of 97.050, Phantom Regiment with 96.575 and Carolina Crown with 96.075. The other 13 corps selected to proceed to Friday’s semifinals were Pacific Crest, Troopers, Spirit, Colts, Crossmen, Madison Scouts, Glassmen, Boston Crusaders, Blue Stars, Blue Knights, Bluecoats, Santa Clara Vanguard and The Cadets. Out of 17 semifinalists, 12 will make it to the finals Saturday. There, the highest scorer of the evening will be crowned the world champion drum corps of 2008. “I thought it was an excellent, excellent show,” said Dickie England of the Carolina Crowns’ presentation of “Finis,” a compilation of enduring classics by the likes of Debussy, Liszt, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven. Meanwhile, Carolina Crowns members were pleased with the crowd’s response to their show, and further rewarded by a backstage ovation. “It was fantastic,” said Carolina Crowns’ Tabatha Cooper. “When your staff stands up before everyone else, you know you’re good.”
(08/07/08 1:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps emerged out of four charter buses at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, many didn’t know where they were or what day it was. Having been on the road since midnight, the 135 15-to-22-year-olds retrieved their bags and pillows and trudged groggily upstairs to the second level of the Bedford North Lawrence High School gymnasium.“Everyone sees the performances and the uniforms, but not this stuff,” said drum major Mike Huebner, as everyone silently dispersed to set up air mattresses and charge cell phones.They had 2½ hours to sleep before starting rehearsal day, one of their last before the Drum Corps International World Championships in Bloomington.In such close quarters, privacy and modesty are nearly non-existent. “You can’t be shy,” said Bluecoats member Brelyse Thornton, combing her hair. “You have to shower with every other girl in this drum corps.”Before bed, most Bluecoats simply remove their clothes and plop into bed in shorts, T-shirts or sport bras. Some stay in jeans.Traveling corps once slept in sleeping bags, but now only a few Bluecoats brave tours without air mattresses.“Most people realize that an air mattress is the way to go,” said Huebner, plugging in his pump and peeling off his hoodie.Having slept on the bus, he still had work to do. He threw on a fresh shirt and met with drum major Joe Falcon and executive director David Glasgow to find practice fields and plan for “tomorrow,” which for them wouldn’t start until wake-up call.In drum corps, things normally taken for granted can be hard to come by. Falcon and Huebner are Bluecoats veterans, and they admitted that their lifestyle is unusual.“Warm showers are a luxury,” noted Falcon, who would sleep just an hour before breakfast.During lights out, several tip-toed across the concrete and slid into other beds. By the time Huebner made the 10 a.m. wake-up announcement, several couples had cuddled with limbs entwined.Relationships start easily within the corps.“I would say with the exception of people who are in long-distance relationships, 90 percent of the corps at some point has a relationship or a significant other,” said Vicky Wielosinski, who met her boyfriend through the Bluecoats.Time in the corps is a priority in every way.“You learn to schedule your time by the minute,” said Wielosinski. “You learn how long it takes from the bathroom to the food truck and you develop a habit.”The drum corps rehearses daily for 8 to 12 hours. Days are divided into three blocks of rehearsal time: one for marching and visuals, a second for music and a third with everything combined. Each section has a job, such as unloading equipment or lining practice fields.In between practices, everyone traipses to the food truck, which serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. Hot dishes vary from roast beef to pancakes to pizza. Peanut butter and jelly are always available.The food truck is also where corps manager Bill Hamilton posts important post-championships announcements (“How are you getting home?”) and the day’s schedule. In a notebook, Hamilton charts the exact schedule of each day, sometimes down to 15 minute slots.Every 10 days, Bluecoats members do laundry.“We send out the four buses to four different laundromats, and we give them three hours,” Hamilton said.In a full-corps meeting that morning, visual instructor Gene Monterastelli told members that the week would be very emotional. He urged them to remember why they were there.“Ask yourselves, ‘Where did you start, where are you right now, and where do you want to end the week?’,” he said. “Make sure you maximize all of the things that you are here for.”After Saturday, many look forward to seeing their families, resting and returning to school. For some, the end will be especially bittersweet, as they will be too old to return for another year.“You’re with the same people everyday for three months,” said Wielosinski. “They’re your support, your family.”
(08/04/08 12:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As Drum Corps International’s World Championships draw drum corps from all over the world to compete in Bloomington this week, members of the community can proudly gaze back in time at the short, unsurpassed history of one of the league’s greatest drum and bugle corps, Bloomington-based Star of Indiana.In the realm of drum and bugle corps, most corps have histories dating back several decades, but Star sprang forth in 1984. It was founded by Bloomington billionaire Bill Cook and directed by drum corps veteran James Mason, whom Cook hired from the Iowa Colts.“At that particular time, I wasn’t sure I wanted to leave The Colts,” Mason said. “But I was so impressed with Bill as a person, and I saw how committed he was.”With $1 million in sponsorship from Cook Inc., they hired first-rate staff and purchased buses and rehearsal space. Star went to the DCI finals all nine summers of its competitive involvement, won the championship in 1991, and left DCI in 1993 with a legacy of pushing boundaries in every aspect of drum-corps competition. No corps in history has ever been so successful in so short a time.“Every time we went out, it was not about getting points to win or compete. We did our best. It was about competing against yourself, to do your best, and having everything perfect in every single show,” said LeAnn Scacco, who was in the Star color guard from 1991-1993.“To start a group from scratch with no skeletons in the closet was a rare and wonderful opportunity to pick our staff and really decide what our values were,” Mason said.With only 14 experienced members in Star’s first corps, time was of the utmost value. As director, Mason coordinated logistics of summer-long tours, including transporting 170 people and food in four buses and support trucks.Like performing, good organization took practice. They practiced loading and unloading. Mason even faked a bus breakdown.That first summer, Star made the final 12 at the season-ending championships and came in 10th overall, a success unheard for any drum corps’ first tour, and one that was greeted with some jealousy by other corps, many of which lacked the financial stability that Star enjoyed.THE FORMULABy 1987, Mason realized the corps had the potential to be a winning, unique force within DCI. He devised a three-step formula for success: “play the game, win the game, change the game.” That year, he decided to “play the game,” meaning Star would “develop a strong technical foundation.” Step two was to “win the game,” which they did in 1991.“I had to push them beyond what they thought they could do,” said Mason. “If you think you can or can’t do something, then you’re probably right.”And in the final two years of the corps, Mason implemented the final step and “changed the game.”Fresh out of high school, percussionist Tony Lymon saw Star live at the DCI South Preliminaries in Birmingham, Ala. in summer 1990.“When they did the opening strains of Belshazzar, I was completely won over,” Lymon said. “I turned to the guy next to me and said, ‘I’m going to be in that drum corps next year.’”With no car and no money, he sold everything to finance his trips to Bloomington. The pressure was intense.“When you go for those winter camps, you’re not in the corps until you get on the first bus for the first show. You have to constantly prove that you deserve that spot,” Lymon said.That summer, days before an event in Boston, the corps went through a harrowing process, changing the routine’s final 30 seconds. Known as the “cross-on-cross,” the closing presented the juxtaposition of two crosses in succession and alluded to the pairing of Old and New Testaments, Mason said.The logistics were torturous for visual director George Zingali.“We didn’t have the ending correct. It just wasn’t our best,” Mason said.FINDING ITZingali lamented to Mason that he “didn’t have it.” Finally, Zingali returned to the corps, and in sudden inspiration, he turned the tables. He had them separate into groups and choreograph themselves. Mason recalled the subsequent moments as something truly special.“What I saw that night, it was like a classical musician suddenly learned about improvisation in jazz. And it was a magical moment,” said Mason. “What they created that night was something I had never witnessed. (Zingali) was like a young boy that night.”That summer, in its sixth tour, Star became the youngest corps to win the world championships.“That was the greatest summer of my life,” said Lymon.Once Star “won the game” in 1991, Mason strove to “change the game,” and break new ground.“To change the game meant we were going to leave our own individual fingerprint on the activity, and set a bar of creative standard that the group would always be known for,” he said.RAISING THE CEILINGStar raised the ceiling in 1993 with a program titled “Medea” with music by Bela Bartok and Samuel Barber. The color guard danced balletic choreography and carried long poles and gigantic silver isosceles triangles instead of flags. The discordant music was unconventionally somber, and some protested Star’s second-place finish.“I think anyone you talk to will agree that the show we did changed the face of drum corps,” said Lymon. “The focus was solely on excellence.”After Star’s short triumphant stint in DCI from 1984 to 1993, Cook and Mason shifted focus to producing a full-length concert program via Brass Theater.“Drum corps is a wonderful, wonderful activity,” said Mason. “But when Star of Indiana was there, there was a lot of envy and not so many positive things for Bill and his company. The best thing was to play professional venues.”Brass Theater first toured in 1994 in collaboration with the professional ensemble Canadian Brass, performing in major venues like Tanglewood, Wolf Trap and Lincoln Center. Always pushing the envelope, Brass Theater soon evolved into the Emmy- and Tony-award-winning Broadway show “Blast!,” which debuted in London in 1999 and featured the defining elements of drum corps on a theater stage, complete with light effects and all the showmanship to dazzle a modern-day audience.“It was spine-tingling awesome to see parts of what I had done on the field put onstage,” said Scacco, who saw Blast! in Chicago five years ago. “This was the essence of drum corps on stage.”IN OUR BLOODWithout Star of Indiana, DCI has continued to draw young people from ages 15 to 21 into its ranks of brass, percussion and color guard.Alumni of Star of Indiana call each other lifelong friends. Many wed fellow drum corps alumni, and a striking number of them became musicians and music educators, often staying in the drum corps circuit as staff, parents or die-hard fans. They recall Cook as a warm, unassuming father-figure.“He would sit on the sidewalk with us and eat shepherd’s pie,” said Lymon of Cook. “He looked at us like we were his kids. I can’t say enough nice things about the guy.”Most agree that the drum corps life – living off buses, showering irregularly and eating meals on street curbs – is far from glamorous. Yet something intangible and far stronger than material desires beckons them back to the corps year after year.“It’s in our blood, man,” Scacco laughed. “It’s a passion for music, for movement and knowing that you’re with the best of the best.”
(07/31/08 1:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Thirteen years ago, James Bennett witnessed the first fatality of his firefighting career when he had to carry a 12-year-old girl out of a house fire in Connersville, Ind. Ten years later, a young man died in another fire, the second death of Bennett’s career. Both tragedies might have been prevented had there simply been smoke detectors in the homes where those fires broke out.“Both those properties had the same landlord,” Bennett said. “No working smoke detectors were found in either properties.”At the time of that second fatality, the landlord faced a $25 fine and a Class D infraction under state law. With lives at stake, Bennett, who was then chief of the Connersville Fire Department, found the penalty inadequate.Benett went to the local prosecutor, certain there must be some other way to punish the landlords’ negligence and prevent similar tragedies. “I was told there was nothing I could do,” Bennett recalled. “Except to change the law.” So he did. Effective July 1, a new statewide smoke detector law now requires tenants to sign a Smoke Detector Compliance Form upon moving in, stating that they have checked their smoke detector and that it is working. The new law also holds both tenants and landlords responsible for maintaining smoke detectors. Tenants are expected to replace the batteries for battery-operated smoke detectors and report malfunctioning hard-wired smoke detectors to their landlords. If a landlord fails to respond within seven days to a tenant’s written request to fix or replace a malfunctioning smoke detector, it would warrant a Class B infraction and a fine up to $1,000. If the landlord commits a subsequent offense, it would be a Class A infraction with a fine of up to $10,000. These fines are significantly higher than the previously existing $25 fine and Class D infraction. In 2007, Bennett worked with Indiana Senator Robert Jackman and the Indiana Apartments Association to construct and introduce the bill. It was defeated in the Senate the first time around, but it passed earlier this year after amendments, and was signed into law by Gov. Mitch Daniels in March. In the meantime, Bennett retired from the Connersville force in 2007 and was named Fire Chief of the Year by the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association. Then in 2008, he was hired as the new assistant state fire marshal.Except for the extra piece of paperwork required of new tenants, the law will not change much for Bloomington landlords, because the city already has rules and guidelines. But it could nonetheless have significance for rental companies throughout the state of Indiana. “I don’t really think it’s going to affect anything (in Bloomington) because the current codes and guidelines are set out by the city of Bloomington,” said Suzanne O’Connell, properties manager at Pavilion Properties. Lynne Sullivan, executive director of the Indiana Apartment Association, agreed that the new law’s impact on most rental companies is probably minimal, but she said it is still a positive change that accomplishes two main things.“It helps put the tenant on notice, as well as the landlord, that smoke detectors are in working order, that’s the first thing,” Sullivan said. “The second thing it does, is it ensures that residents realize that they are responsible for maintaining the batteries and not disabling their smoke detectors.”O’Connell said it concerns her that some tenants intentionally tamper with their smoke detectors. Pavilion Properties inspects smoke detectors periodically as part of both walk-through inspections with tenants and routine maintenance, which is how they discover that tenants have deliberately crippled their devices. “Often, we find that the current resident has disabled their smoke detectors,” O’Connell said. “Sometimes, during routine maintenance, we’ll find missing batteries or missing smoke detectors.” In such cases, O’Connell said the landlord cannot do much except “remedy the situation” and restore the smoke detector to working order. “It has to come down to common sense,” she said.Residential fires in the United States claim about 3,000 lives every year, and two-thirds of those occur in homes without working smoke detectors, according to FireSafety.gov.“A smoke detector is a fairly cheap price to pay to keep one’s family and home safe,” said Bloomington Fire Chief Roger Kerr. “It can do more to save your life than the fire department can after the fact.”Kerr recommended that if a smoke detector beeps relentlessly, one should not hesitate to pay a few bucks for a couple of 9-volt batteries and take a minute to replace them. “I strongly encourage people to maintain their smoke detectors,” Kerr said. “They are an invaluable tool to protect yourself and your loved ones. And surely anyone will agree that a life is worth the $9.99 that it takes to replace a battery.”
(07/27/08 10:12pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Science came to life in Bloomington this week at Alpha Chi Sigma’s 49th Biennial Conclave.The event was hosted by three chapters of the chemistry fraternity – Epsilon of IU, Zeta of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Iota of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology – as part of their upcoming centennials. The six-day meeting brought more than 200 collegiate and professional members together to conduct legislation and elect its national leaders for the next two years, attend educational forums and socialize. The coed fraternity focuses on chemistry, but the organization is open to anyone who has taken at least one chemistry class, regardless of their major.“I love this place,” said IU chapter president Susan Wetzel. “It’s my favorite group ever.”Now a senior, Wetzel said she has been a member since her freshman year. “I don’t know what I would do in college without it,” she said.Bill Courtney, a professional delegate and candidate for Grand Professional Alchemist at this year’s conclave, said the legislative sessions can foster passionate debate sometimes, but brotherhood ultimately prevails.“It’s a very democratic organization. If there’s something about the organization we don’t like, it’s up to us to change it,” he said. “We can yell and scream at each other in session and then go out and share a beer afterwards.”Other events planned for the week included a picnic, tours of the IU Cyclotron Facility and Lilly Library, a professional poster session and a banquet.On Wednesday afternoon, the Gamma Theta chapter from Truman State University in Missouri led a forum on its hugely successful tie-dye chemistry educational outreach program. Public outreach programs play a major role in Alpha Chi Sigma’s objective of promoting chemistry as a science.“It’s just plain fun, but there’s a lot of science in it,” said Gamma Theta faculty adviser Anne Moody. “You can present it at the preschool level and the college level.”Moody went through the basic chemistry of bonding and molecular structure that explains the science behind tie-dye, and made the point that tie-dye is just an example of how one can connect chemistry to everyday life.“You think you’re not chemically dependent, but we are,” Moody said. “It’s everywhere. It’s in your food and your clothes.” Melissa Waller came from Kansas State University’s Beta Rho chapter for her first conclave and said she found the tie-dye forum interesting.“I think it will definitely be useful for fund-raising for our chapter,” she said.Waller is not a chemistry major, but she joined Alpha Chi Sigma for the social aspect. In fact, for many members at the conclave, Alpha Chi Sigma plays a major social role. Waller considered some sororities, but she wasn’t satisfied. “I wanted something with more focus. I chose to join, and it’s really helping me meet people I wouldn’t have met otherwise,” she said.Pat Johanns came to tie-dye an outfit for his 13-month-old daughter. Johanns, a business professor at Purdue, serves as National Secretary-Treasurer and Grand Recorder for Alpha Chi Sigma. As business becomes global, he said, fraternities and outreach programs like this one could contribute to enhancing the global competitiveness of America’s professionals.“We really need to focus on what’s important for the U.S. to get ahead,” he said. “Part of that is a well-educated workforce. And that includes – of course I’m going to talk about science stuff – but it also includes literature and the arts.”Johanns also noted the importance of connecting science with everyday life, especially in encouraging students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, which are considered today’s “need areas.”“And the more scientists can help other people see that connection, I think the greater interest we’ll see in people pursuing studies in science,” Johanns said.
(07/26/08 6:57pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Science came to life in Bloomington this week at Alpha Chi Sigma’s 49th Biennial Conclave.The event was hosted by three chapters of the chemistry fraternity – Epsilon of IU, Zeta of the University of Illinois, and Iota of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology – as part of their upcoming centennials. The six-day meeting brought more than 200 collegiate and professional members together to conduct legislation and elect its national leaders for the next two years, attend educational forums and socialize. The coed fraternity focuses on chemistry, but the organization is open to anyone who has taken at least one chemistry class, regardless of their major.“I love this place,” said IU chapter president Susan Wetzel. “It’s my favorite group ever.”Now a senior, Wetzel said she has been a member since her freshman year. “I don’t know what I would do in college without it,” she said.Bill Courtney, a professional delegate and a candidate for Grand Professional Alchemist at this year’s conclave, said the legislative sessions can foster passionate debate sometimes, but brotherhood ultimately prevails.“It’s a very democratic organization. If there’s something about the organization we don’t like, it’s up to us to change it,” he said. “We can yell and scream at each other in session and then go out and share a beer afterwards.”Other events planned for the week included a picnic, tours of the IU Cyclotron Facility and Lilly Library, a professional poster session and a banquet.On Wednesday afternoon, the Gamma Theta chapter from Truman State University in Missouri led a forum on its hugely successful tie-dye chemistry educational outreach program. Public outreach programs play a major role in Alpha Chi Sigma’s objective of promoting chemistry as a science.“It’s just plain fun, but there’s a lot of science in it,” said Gamma Theta faculty adviser Anne Moody. “You can present it at the preschool level and the college level.”Moody went through the basic chemistry of bonding and molecular structure that explains the science behind tie-dye, and made the point that tie-dye is just an example of how one can connect chemistry to everyday life.“You think you’re not chemically dependent, but we are,” Moody said. “It’s everywhere. It’s in your food and your clothes.” Melissa Waller came from Kansas State University’s Beta Rho chapter for her first conclave, and said she found the tie-dye forum interesting.“I think it will definitely be useful for fund-raising for our chapter,” she said.Waller is not a chemistry major, but she joined Alpha Chi Sigma for the social aspect. In fact, for many members at the conclave, Alpha Chi Sigma plays a major social role. Waller considered some sororities, but she wasn’t satisfied. “I wanted something with more focus. I chose to join, and it’s really helping me meet people I wouldn’t have met otherwise,” she said.Pat Johanns came to tie-dye an outfit for his 13-month-old daughter. Johanns, a business professor at Purdue, serves as National Secretary-Treasurer and Grand Recorder for Alpha Chi Sigma. As business becomes global, he said, fraternities and outreach programs like this one could contribute to enhancing the global competitiveness of America’s professionals.“We really need to focus on what’s important for the U.S. to get ahead,” he said. “Part of that is a well-educated workforce. And that includes – of course I’m going to talk about science stuff – but it also includes literature and the arts.”Johanns also noted the importance of connecting science with everyday life, especially in encouraging students in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, which are considered today’s “need areas.”“And the more scientists can help other people see that connection, I think the greater interest we’ll see in people pursuing studies in science,” Johanns said.
(07/21/08 2:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU should surpass its original timetable for asbestos removal in the residence halls, said Residential Programs and Services Executive Director Pat Connor.RPS announced in November 2005 it had plans for all dorms to complete asbestos removal within the next 10 years in response to a series of Indiana Daily Student articles reporting the dangers of damaged asbestos in four residence halls. But Connor recently said this could actually be completed three years earlier than that estimate. “When all’s said and done, by 2012 it’s safe to say that none of the residential buildings will have asbestos in the environment, and that’s kind of what we pledged when we responded to the IDS articles,” Connor said.In the meantime, asbestos inspection and communication policies have undergone improvements, said Office of Environmental, Health and Safety Management Acting Director Michael Jenson.Forest, McNutt and Briscoe Quads, along with Tulip Tree Apartments, were reported to contain asbestos in an Oct. 24, 2005, IDS article, which raised campus awareness of the potential health hazards. That same year, plans were announced to phase out asbestos from residence halls.Asbestos is present in many of the buildings at IU, since most buildings built before 1980 used it in insulation material.Intact, asbestos is not considered a hazard, but it disintegrates into airborne carcinogenic fibers that pose long-term health risks. The asbestos removal at Forest Quad was completed in summer 2007 as part of renovations in the residence hall. This summer, the north side of McNutt Quad underwent asbestos removal, Connor said, and the south side will be completed next summer. The removal of asbestos in each half of McNutt would cost just over $1 million each. Connor said the tentative schedule for starting Briscoe Quad asbestos removal is May 2010 and Tulip Tree proposals are set to be approved this fall.Around fall 2005, RPS and OEHSM adopted a more rigorous biannual asbestos inspection policy of dorms, and took steps to improve communications with the campus community. This was not necessarily the case before 2005, Jenson said.“Before 2005, there weren’t regular inspections of the asbestos going on, at least in all of the buildings,” Jenson said. “Also, the big thing that happened is we started talking with different groups on campus a lot more about asbestos and where it is, what we’re doing about it.”RPS and OEHSM originally had an asbestos warning printed in the RPS move-in guide. In 2005, however, articles raised concern that the written warning was insufficient. Connor said IDS articles on the subject at the time played a major role in improving communication with students. Since then, he said, dorms have issued additional verbal warnings at floor meetings to help ensure that students understand the risks.“The removal of asbestos was always in our plan, but what the IDS did was to really put the issue to the forefront and really kind of helped us to do a better job of communicating with our students,” Connor said.Warning or no warning, junior Allegra Johnson said she thinks the danger still exists.“I think that even if you don’t tamper with it, just it being there is a risk,” Johnson said. “And in the dorm room, who knows what goes on in there.”Jenson said because asbestos removal occurs continuously on campus, it is impossible to specify which buildings are being worked on in a given week. OEHSM has a full-time asbestos removal crew charged with the sole task of inspecting, maintaining and removing asbestos throughout campus. Jenson said members of the crew are the ones willingly putting themselves at the greatest risk of asbestos exposure. “They’re kind of the unsung heroes of the University, really,” Jenson said.
(07/17/08 1:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The 16th annual Silk Road Bayram (festival) will provide audiences with a look into a world of musical and cultural traditions from the various civilizations found along the ancient and celebrated network of trade routes. The Silk Road began around 200 B.C. and ran thousands of miles from China through Central Asia and to the Turkish shores of the Mediterranean. It brought silk, among many other commodities, to the west. Nicknamed the Silk Road, it enabled one of the greatest cultural exchanges in history, and some of that culture will be brought to life in Bloomington on Saturday.This year also marks the founding of the Silk Road Institute, which will be announced at Saturday’s event.Professor Shahyar Daneshgar said that his idea for the festival stemmed from a desire to showcase the talents of international students, many of whom were participants in a summer language workshop. “People knew very little about the talent we had among foreign students,” Daneshgar said. “They were sort of cultural ambassadors of their countries, just here to study. Soon you found out they were great artists and that’s how I started to tap into this pool of artists who are here.” To this day, participants in that workshop play a role in the festival, and the event has since blossomed into a “major festival,” Daneshgar said. The event will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church and will include a cultural exhibit followed by a concert featuring authentic music, dance and a fashion show. This year’s guest artist will be Iranian tar virtuoso and composer, Mohammad Omranifar, who Daneshgar said will surely be the highlight of the evening. “He’s a fantastic artist, no doubt about it,” Daneshgar said.The event marks a special occasion for the Silk Road Ensemble, as it will host the official announcement of the opening of the Silk Road Institute. The institute will continue along the same lines as the annual musical festival but will further seek to expand its reach through educational initiatives and year-round opportunities for cultural and scholarly exchange. As the first fundraising event for the institute, a ticketed reception will immediately follow the concert, for which guests are requested to RSVP.Daneshgar said he feels “very positive” about garnering support for the new project. He said this is due in no small part to the strong backing of the arts from Mayor Mark Kruzan and IU President Michael McRobbie. Daneshgar said the various international communities in Bloomington and at IU are very enthusiastic about the efforts of the Silk Road Ensemble and Institute since such cultural exchange helps combat modern cultural prejudices.“They realize that this organization and this festival are trying to showcase positive aspects of their life and culture, and they take ownership of that, and they are very much involved with that,” Daneshgar said.Melissa Dittmann, assistant director of the festival, said one of the underlying goals of the new Silk Road Institute is to educate the community and aid in overcoming cultural barriers. “There is a lot of cultural misunderstanding, and the arts can be a great way to overcome those and promote cross-cultural dialogue,” Dittmann said. The event is sponsored by a number of academic departments at IU and organizations within the Bloomington community.
(07/16/08 9:24pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Downtown Bloomington was buzzing for Obama at Monday evening’s opening party for one of the first six “Indiana for Change” campaign offices to open in Indiana. The new campaign office on the corner of Ninth and North Walnut streets once housed a taco joint, but now is a grassroots-campaigning center for Obama. Local supporters hope that campaign efforts will culminate in the state’s first Democratic victory seen in a presidential election in Indiana since Lyndon Johnson’s victory in 1964. “For the first time in 40 years, we’re going to have a competitive Democratic candidate in Indiana,” said Indiana State Representative Matt Pierce, D-61, to the cheering crowd of about 250 people. Outside the building, supporters crowded several signup tables, adding their names to volunteer lists and rosters. In the back of the building, a handful of campaign volunteers staffed the “gift shop,” selling T-shirts, pins, stickers and other paraphernalia. Tables of snacks and refreshments lined another wall. “I’m very excited about this, and I’d like to do whatever I can to help out,” said volunteer Nick Vastra. An electronics engineer at IU’s cylcotron, he has been involved with Obama’s local campaign throughout the migration of the Bloomington headquarters from two previous spaces during the primaries. He listed such qualities as a sense of shared philosophies, ethics, energy policy and human rights, among other issues, in explaining his excitement about Obama. “When Obama speaks, I recognize certain philosophical backgrounds,” Vastra said. “I can tell where he’s coming from.” Vastra is keen on renewable energy sources and envisions enormous potential for them to transform policies and the “power dynamics” in America. He asserted that Obama’s “accountability to the little guy” is part of what he admires. “I think we can get into renewables without the oil economy if we simply work from what’s going to be best for the individuals and what’s going to be best for the country, not necessarily what’s going to be best for big oil and the people who already have the money,” he said. Also present at the opening party were a number of local politicians and Democratic Party members. Mayor Mark Kruzan is among those pulling for a Democratic victory in Indiana. “But even if that doesn’t ultimately happen, the fact that we’re considered competitive is a success,” he said. “We were very pleased with the turnout at all the office openings over the weekend,” said Jonathan Sweeney, communications director for Obama’s campaign in Indiana. Obama’s campaign is planning to open between 25 and 30 offices in Indiana during the time leading up to November’s general election. John McCain’s campaign, meanwhile, has no plans to open offices in Indiana, said Indiana Republican Party spokesman Jay Kenworthy. He said McCain has spent very little money in the state, which traditionally votes Republican. “The Obama campaign has a lot of money,” Kenworthy said. “But he has so much money to spend, I don’t think he knows what to do with it.” He said Obama was unlikely to defeat McCain in Indiana, and said that Obama actually lost support during the primary election, as evidenced by his loss in the primary. In Indiana, Hillary Clinton defeated Obama in the Democratic primary by 2 percentage points. McCain garnered nearly 80 percent of the Republican vote. Responding to Kenworthy’s remarks, Kruzan said, “A sure sign of a worried campaign is one that speaks negatively of the opposition.” Monroe County Democratic Party Chair Lee Jones said that Obama certainly knows how to spend his money, especially since his state-to-state grassroots efforts require a lot of money. “Obama is taking a whole different approach to his campaign,” she said. “He is really focusing on campaigning in every community possible, and that requires a huge amount of money.” She added, however, that “money does not actually vote” in an election. People do. “Lots of people contributing is much more important,” she said. Monroe County Democratic Party Vice Chair Rick Dietz added that the money Obama spends in states like Indiana will involve a different, ground-based approach that could yield long-term benefits. “The money will be invested for this presidential campaign and will go for decades beyond that,” he said. Sweeney said that the economy has hit close to home for Indiana, and this election could be crucial. “A majority of Americans and a majority of Hoosiers are very unhappy with the present direction of the country and are eager to have new leadership in the White House,” he said. “People are excited, many of them are involved with a campaign for the first time in their lives, because they know there’s a lot at stake and are anxious to get out and work hard and certainly make history this fall.”
(07/15/08 5:59pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Downtown Bloomington was buzzing for Obama at Monday evening’s opening party for one of the first six “Indiana for Change” campaign offices to open in Indiana. The new campaign office on the corner of Ninth and North Walnut streets once housed a taco joint, but now it is set to become a grassroots-campaigning center for Obama. Local Obama supporters hope that campaign efforts will culminate in the state’s first Democratic victory seen in a presidential election in Indiana since Lyndon Johnson’s victory in 1964. “For the first time in 40 years, we’re going to have a competitive Democratic candidate in Indiana,” said Indiana State Representative Matt Pierce, D-61, to the cheering crowd of about 250 people. Outside the building were several signup tables, crowded with supporters who were adding their names to lists and rosters. In the back of the building, a handful of campaign volunteers staffed the “gift shop,” selling T-shirts, pins, stickers and other paraphernalia. Tables of snacks and refreshments lined another wall. Present at the opening party were a number of local politicians and Democratic party members. Mayor Mark Kruzan is among those pulling for a Democrat victory in Indiana. “But even if that doesn’t ultimately happen, the fact that we’re considered competitive is a success,” he said. Kruzan said he was struck by the turnout at Monday’s event, namely the number of people who showed up despite summer break, how young the crowd was and the number of new, unfamiliar faces. John McCain’s campaign, meanwhile, has no plans to open offices in Indiana, said Indiana Republican Party spokesman Jay Kenworthy. He said McCain has spent very little money in the state. “The Obama campaign has a lot of money,” Kenworthy said. “But he has so much money to spend, I don’t think he knows what to do with it.” He said Obama was unlikely to defeat McCain in Indiana, which is traditionally a Republican state, and went on to imply that Obama actually lost support during the primary election, despite his similar campaign strategy. In response to Kenworthy’s remarks, Kruzan said, “A sure sign of a worried campaign is one that speaks negatively of the opposition.” Bloomington resident Jim Bob argued that McCain actually is not popular in Indiana, and said Obama’s candidacy signifies substantial progress in racial attitudes in America. “This is a time for enormous change in the country,” Bob said, recalling segregated Fourth of July parades. Obama’s campaign is planning to open between 25 and 30 offices in the state during the time leading up to the general election this November, said Jonathan Sweeney, communications director for Obama’s campaign in Indiana. “We were very pleased with all the office openings over the weekend, and especially tonight,” Sweeney said.
(07/14/08 12:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Honking car horns and hearty yells bounced across the intersection of Rogers Street and Kirkwood Avenue during an hour-long rally Wednesday afternoon, next to the Circle K gas station. About 15 people participated in MoveOn.org Political Action’s National Day of Action for an Oil-Free President, waving signs, offering pamphlets to drivers at the light and telling them to “vote for Obama.”MoveOn.org enthusiast Steve Mascari was willing to spend the entire hour baking in a suit and George W. Bush mask, pretending to chug a bottle of gasoline and lurching drunkenly on the traffic corner.“I couldn’t get a (John) McCain mask, but I think enough people realize that McCain is the next generation of the Bush dynasty,” Mascari explained, admitting that the costume was “extremely hot.”He said he chose to dress up because he wanted to attract as much attention as possible. He said he hoped to get the message across that McCain will be beholden to the oil companies, just like Bush.“(McCain) will not move forward in terms of policy and alternative energy. But Obama will. With Exxon in charge of the White House, there will not be other alternatives explored.”MoveOn.org is a progressive network that boasts more than 3.2 million members and seeks to “bring real Americans back into the political process,” according to its Web site.With the general election approaching this year, the organization, which is “not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee,” condemns the Republican candidate as being too tied to the oil and gas industry to offer “real solutions” to high gas prices and environmental concerns.“This is the most important election of my lifetime,” said Ginny Ghattos, 65. “I’m thinking of my children and my grandchildren. I am actually fearful that we’re going to lose what this country has been great for.”Meanwhile, across the street, Brett Volpp, a local artist was taking advantage of the sunny weather to continue painting a traffic box, which was turning out to be an illustration of an elephant. Volpp is one of the artists for the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District’s endeavor to make downtown Bloomington more tourist-friendly, and he said he would leave his elephant open to interpretation. “It’s great that people are out saying what they have to say,” Volpp said of the people across the street. “It’s a little too much horn honking for me, but that’s alright.” He expressed indifference regarding both major party candidates and their role in the economic and environmental issues being vocalized nearby.“Oh, it’s a problem,” he said of oil lobbying, “but I don’t see either candidate as being much different. I think Ralph Nader is a great alternative – the only alternative we have anyway.”Wednesday’s event was one of the first rallying events for MoveOn.org’s Bloomington chapter, and turnout was better than expected.“The turnout was great. I thought there were going to be six people,” said Sandy Washburn, who helped organize the event in Bloomington. “I think the passersby were very receptive. We got a lot of horn honks. Almost everyone took a flyer and people seemed very positive.”Employees of the gas station were not authorized to comment on the events taking place on the sidewalk, but Washburn said there were no problems between the group and the station.“Management just came out and gave us their policy,” Washburn said. “They were, you know, nice. They just didn’t want us on their property.”
(07/10/08 3:58pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Honking car horns and hearty yells bounced across the intersection of Rogers Street and Kirkwood Avenue during an hour-long rally Wednesday afternoon, next to the Circle K gas station.About fifteen people participated in MoveOn.org Political Action’s National Day of Action for an Oil-Free President, waving signs, offering pamphlets to drivers at the light, and telling them to “vote for Obama.”MoveOn enthusiast Steve Mascari was willing to spend the entire hour baking in a suit and George Bush mask, pretending to chug a bottle of gasoline and lurching drunkenly on the traffic corner.“I couldn’t get a McCain mask, but I think enough people realize that McCain is the next generation of the Bush dynasty,” Mascari explained, admitting that it was “extremely hot.”He chose to dress up because he said it’s important to attract as much attention as possible – to get the message across that McCain will be beholden to the oil companies, just like Bush. “(McCain) will not move forward in terms of policy and alternative energy. But Obama will. With Exxon in charge of the White House, there will not be other alternatives explored.”MoveOn.org is a progressive network that boasts more than 3.2 million members and seeks to “bring real Americans back into the political process,” according to its Web site.With the general election approaching this year, the organization, which is “not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee,” condemns the Republican candidate John McCain as being too tied to the oil and gas industry to offer “real solutions” to high gas prices and environmental concerns.“This is the most important election of my lifetime,” said Ginny Ghattos, 65. “I’m thinking of my children and my grandchildren. I am actually fearful that we’re going to lose what this country has been great for.”Meanwhile, across the street, Brett Volpp, a local artist was taking the sunny opportunity to continue painting his traffic box, which was turning out to be an elephant. Volpp is one of the artists for the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District’s endeavor to make downtown Bloomington more tourist friendly, and he said he would leave his elephant open to interpretation.“It’s great that people are out saying what they have to say,” Volpp said of the people across the street. “It’s a little too much horn honking for me, but that’s alright.”He expressed indifference regarding both major party candidates and their role in the economic and environmental issues being vocalized nearby.“Oh, it’s a problem,” he said of oil lobbying, “but I don’t see either candidate as being much different. I think Ralph Nader is a great alternative, the only alternative we have anyway.”Wednesday’s event was one of the first rallying events for MoveOn.org’s Bloomington chapter, and turnout was better than expected.“The turnout was great. I thought there were going to be six people,” said Sandy Washburn, who helped organize the event in Bloomington. “I think the passersby were very receptive. We got a lot of horn honks. Almost everyone took a flier and people seemed very positive.”Employees of the gas station were not authorized to comment on the events taking place on the sidewalk, but Washburn said there were no problems between group and the station.“Management just came out and gave us their policy,” Washburn said. “They were, you know, nice. They just didn’t want us on their property.”
(07/10/08 1:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Richard Hatch and his family used to spend their summers traveling. Years ago, Hatch and his wife used to go across the country participating in arts fairs in various cities. And just last summer, his family traveled all the way out to South Dakota to visit other family members.But with staggeringly high prices hitting the gas pumps this year, making the trip out to South Dakota was out of the question.“I’m not planning any long-distance trips, not with gas at four-something a gallon,” chuckled Hatch, a Bloomington resident. “My big trip will be to Indy.”He is not alone. Americans are expected to take 1 to 1.5 percent fewer leisure trips this summer than last year, according to AAA. For the first time in a decade, AAA forecasted a decline in Fourth of July weekend travelers, predicted to be 1.3 percent fewer than last year. “Gas prices are appalling. I don’t know how some people are managing,” said Martha Moore, owner of pictura gallery in Bloomington. She and her husband David recently visited family in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., and resorted to train travel between the cities. They realized that two one-way tickets were actually cheaper than gas.“Obviously there is some impact” of gas prices on local tourism, said Michael McAfee, executive director of the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Consumer confidence is low,” he said.However, with this year’s tax revenues from overnight stays up by 8 percent from last year, he suggested that people are “changing their patterns” rather than canceling their travels entirely.Lake Monroe is among the local tourist destinations that could feel an effect. With the combined challenges of last month’s regional floods and the higher fuel prices, potential visitors may mistakenly assume that the lake businesses are closed or that renting a boat is too costly this summer. Jenny Shedd, owner of Lake Monroe Boat Rental, said her business stayed open throughout the flooding. The lake hit a high of 17 feet above normal this year, forcing some neighboring businesses to close. She has seen a slight drop in business, but it is hard to say whether gas is a contributing factor, or if gas is a sole factor.“(Business) is down a little bit,” she said. “It has to do with the high water, and the economy, and the price of gas.”As for rental costs, she said, “people are attracted” to that aspect. The only fee that has gone up since last year is the hourly fuel rate. Still, the price per gallon is considerably cheaper than pump rates, sometimes less than half as much.Gas prices are actually bringing new customers this year, said Mim Cappy, general manager of Lake Monroe Boat Rental. Trailing a boat on land can cut fuel efficiency in half and is no longer feasible for boat owners, who are most likely driving “gas-guzzling” SUVs she said. “We have rented to people who own boats who don’t want to haul their boats. It’s just very inefficient,” she said.Oliver Winery is also witnessing the effects of people tweaking their travel plans, but they are not all bad, said Pam Feeney, hospitality director. “We’re experiencing both ends,” she said.For instance, regulars who usually drive down a few times a year are now “second guessing the trip down for the weekend,” and requesting wine shipments instead, Feeney said. On the other hand, Feeney anticipates that this summer could be a great opportunity for Bloomington locals to ask themselves, “What’s in Bloomington?” rather than heading out of town.Hatch, a manager of By Hand Gallery, said that the economy does not seem to have taken a toll on his business. The month of June was “one of the best months of June” the gallery has ever had, he said. Luckily, “a lot of business is local.”The Moores also said their downtown business, pictura gallery, is still thriving. June has been a slower month than April and May, but David Moore said they are making sales, and not just to locals. “Just earlier today, some people came in from south of here,” he said. “They were just out for the day.”
(07/08/08 4:54pm)
With summer underway, it will be no surprise to business owners and officials of Bloomington if gas prices around $4 a gallon will take a toll on local businesses.\nBloomington does not seem to have suffered too badly so far. According to the City of Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau, the city’s tax revenues are actually up 8 percent from last year.\nNevertheless, some local businesses are not feeling so lucky.\n“With the economy (as it is), there are a lot less people buying art,” said Marcy Neiditz, gallery director at Prima Gallery. She said the past year has been exceptionally difficult for the business. “Some months it was so slow,” she said.\n“I think the economy was already difficult, and gas prices made it worse,” she said. “Personally I’ve been on a budget since last year.” That was when gas topped $3 a gallon, but this year, people are really taking notice. “It’s scary, it really is,” she said of the general economic situation.\nAmericans may also be dining out less with the present \neconomic situation. Local restaurants like Bombay House are feeling an impact. This could be partially due to the seasonal ebb in IU students, but this year things are looking especially bleak.\n“This has been the worst few weeks we’ve had,” said Vijay Rajput, owner of Bombay House. Summer is about survival, he said, and July is typically a tough month for the restaurant.\n“It slows down in the summer anyway, but it was slower this year than last year,” he said about recent weeks.\nDespite concerns, Bloomington may benefit from the situation. Economic demands may provide further incentive for locals to stay close to home, explore the region, and support local businesses and art. Thus the price of gas may actually foster a tighter-knit community. \nPam Feeney, hospitality director at Oliver Winery, said this could be a great opportunity for locals to appreciate what is around the area. \n“People are more willing to explore what’s in their own backyards,” she said. “That’s really exciting.” \nThe winery plans to market more to the local community, to let them know that they are “just down the street.”\n“There is a silver lining to all of it,” Feeney said.\nJaime Sweany, owner of Wandering Turtle Art Gallery and Gifts, said via e-mail that the increasing prices ought to make locally produced goods more attractive to consumers. She said that shipping costs have “skyrocketed” during the past couple of years.\n“However, this fact is a very good reason for shoppers to consider buying locally made art and merchandise (as well as food). This not only keeps their money and purchase impact within the local economy but they are not paying the hidden costs of having their purchases shipped to our town. They are also supporting their friends and neighbors who are making a living in the arts during tough economic times,” she said.\n“It’s a very good time for consumers to be very cognizant of who they are supporting through their consumer choices.”