328 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(01/15/03 5:35am)
Hoosiers can look for Indiana's depressed economy to rebound -- if Gov. Frank O'Bannon fulfills his promises. \nThe governor gave his seventh State of the State address Tuesday, which focused on improving Indiana's lagging economy.\n"Mark this day because today is the beginning of a revitalized economy in Indiana, one in which our citizens can find and keep jobs that provide a living wage," he said.\nAn elevated economy won't be the only hike in Indiana -- college tuition could rise, as well.\nThe governor praised the creation of the state's first Community College system, a strengthened partnership between Vincennes University and Ivy Tech. He failed to explain how Indiana plans to keep four-year university education affordable in wake of the budget freeze, which affects universities.\n"I'm well aware that, at the very time when all of us are asking our public schools and universities to do more -- we cannot give them more resources to do it," he said.\nHe said his resolve to not propose new taxes has resulted in spending cuts. \n"These steps, as difficult as they are, are necessary for us to ensure a positive bottom line in the state budget for the next two years," O'Bannon said.\nFred Eichhorn, president of the IU board of trustees, which is responsible for approving IU's budget, is optimistic to O'Bannon's spending freeze. \n"It's not pleasant to be flatlined, but it's better to be flatlined than to be reduced," Eichhorn said, referring to last year's budget that reduced spending. "We try to make do with what we have and we would like to improve our situation, but it's apparently not something we can accomplish this year in this budget."\nJamie Belanger, an IU board of trustee member, said he spoke with Interim IU President Gerald Bepko Tuesday. Both men are uncertain whether the freeze will further increase IU's tuition.\n"It's really tough to say at this point what this is going to mean. It's a tough situation for the state right now and we're going to feel that hit," Belanger said. "We're well aware that the past few years tuition increases have been pretty significant, and raising it is the last thing we want to do."\nIU spokeswoman Jane Jankowski declined to comment on the University's position on O'Bannon's address.\nO'Bannon mentioned the state's accomplishments in the past year, citing Indiana's commitment to Healthy Families program, which works to prevent child abuse, and enrolling half a million children in Hoosier Healthwise, a health insurance program for children, pregnant women and low-income families.\n"We have received national recognition for our efforts," O'Bannon said. "But more important -- many more Hoosier children now have health care."\nO'Bannon said the controversial Interstate 69 extension will be a "transportation, education and economic engine" for many southern Indiana cities.\n"It will save lives by making travel safer through southwest Indiana," he said. \nO'Bannon also spoke on Energize Indiana, a $1.25 billion program launched this year that will attempt to improve the state's problem of brain drain -- the exodus of bright students from Indiana once they graduate college. The plan aims to revive the state's economy and entice graduates to remain in the state, through the creation of 200,000 new jobs, O'Bannon promised, in the sectors of advanced manufacturing, life sciences, high-tech distribution and information technology.\nO'Bannon said the challenge that awaits legislators is to write a two-year budget that will dig Indiana out of its current $850 million deficit -- a figure that has failed to improve despite increases in cigarette and casino taxes. The state experienced a $2 billion surplus in 1999.
(01/10/03 7:08pm)
The number of Indiana retailers who sell alcohol could be reduced if a liquor bill is enacted. \nIndiana Senator Thomas J. Wyss and Representative Robert K. Alderman, both Republicans, and Representative Bob Kuzman and Senator Billie Breaux, both Democrats, are attempting to pass a bill that would more clearly define what constitutes a grocery store under Indiana's alcohol laws. \nThe representatives claim the current "grocery store" definition allows too many retailers, from gas stations to home-furnishing stores, to sell alcohol. They say alcohol's pervasiveness allows for easy access to minors. \n"The more locations you have selling alcohol, the more chance you have of alcohol getting into the wrong hands," Wyss said. \nWyss cites a wedding shop in Allen county that was given a permit to sell beer and wine. \n"That has to be stretching any definition of a grocery store," he said.\nWyss said he is not trying to limit competition, as critics argue, but to be realistic about how many stores should be able to sell alcohol. He says the bill's authors are responding to county neighborhood associations and alcohol and beverage commissions who wish to see the number of retailers who can sell alcohol reduced. \nJohn Livengood, president of Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers, said the association favors the bill.\n"We're extremely supportive. We think it's long overdue and very needed," he said. \nLivengood said a "huge, gaping loophole" currently exits in Indiana law that allows what he believes are illegitimate grocery stores to sell alcohol.\nHe and Wyss both say a 16-year-old convenience store worker can sell alcohol under the current law, creating a situation in which teenagers sell alcohol to their friends. \n"Because there's no definition of a grocery store in the law, people are getting permits who shouldn't be allowed to have them," Livengood said. \nWyss wants a more practical definition in which retailers receive alcohol licenses based upon the amount of food sales versus other products they sell. He does not aim to prevent actual grocery stores from selling alcohol. \n"I'm not saying grocery stores should not be able to sell alcohol," he said. "I'm saying you should have a specific amount of food sales before you can be called a grocery store." \nGrant Monahan, president of the Indiana Retail Council, said the council opposes the legislation. \n"We believe that under current law, convenience stores are grocery stores and have every right to sell alcoholic beverages," he said.\nMonahan said the proposed law would only limit competition and benefit liquor stores. He said liquor stores -- not grocery stores -- receive a large number Alcohol and Tobacco Commission violations.\nHe said the majority of underage drinkers purchase beer. The most logical solution legislators could take to reduce underage drinking would be to prohibit the sale of cold beer in liquor stores, he said.\nBut the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission's Web site shows violators distributed evenly across the spectrum of establishments who sell alcohol, from restaurants to pubs. \nWyss said 22 of the 29 Indianapolis City Council members, who will request a state definition, support asking the General Assembly to define grocery store. \nIf the General Assembly passes the proposed legislation, Livengood said it could issue an emergency clause, in which the bill could take effect immediately.
(01/08/03 10:54am)
Jeff Jackson meticulously paints a section of his current piece, an impressive twist on Bottacelli's Birth of Venus. For this ambitious work, Jackson uses a watercolor set not from a deluxe art store … but from a dumpster. His sister's husband, who has a garbage-rummaging fetish, found the watercolors in a bin near his Nevada home and mailed them to Jackson.\nDressed in a plain, forest-green button-up shirt, worn-in jeans and a salt and pepper beard, local abstract artist Jeff Jackson is as humble and unpretentious as people with eye-raising talent come. \nPerhaps a reason for his modesty is because art isn't his sole occupation. During the day, Jackson, 46, works for IU's University Information Technology Systems as an application developer for Indiana University Information Environment, which defines and accesses data.\nHis fascination with technology, as well as numbers and mathematics, is evident in his art, lending it an edgy, computer-generated-like quality.\n"Another Starry Night," a funky rendition of Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night," hangs in Jackson's UITS cubicle. "Starry Night" is an ideal work for Jackson to reproduce because intricate, curly-queue patterns and vibrant, bold colors characterize Jackson's work, as well.\n"What I'm doing is painting dreams," he says, his beady, brown eyes shining through his silver, wire-rimmed glasses. He calls his abstractions of Bottacelli and Van Gogh's works "impressions of Impressionists."\nJackson works on his pieces after work from a drafting table in his Ellettsville home. He draws his designs first with pencil and then retraces over them with a ball-point pen. He uses watercolors - deep yellows, oranges and purples mostly -- to emphasize patterns.\nRuth Miller, Jackson's best friend since first grade, also an artist, thinks his aesthetic ability enhances his art.\n"I love the colors that he chooses. He has a very keen eye for what looks good together," Miller says. "The vibrancy of the colors is amazing."\nJackson's love of art fermented when he was a fourth grade student during the 1960s. The art teacher at his Knightstown, Indiana elementary school was a young British woman who encouraged the popular abstract art of the time period. \nJackson graduated from IU in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. During this time, he sought answers to some of life's most profound questions, such as "what 'is' is," in the areas of chemistry, physics, psychology and religion and found no answers. Jackson decided to pursue computer programming because he believes it's the closest way to achieving a theory of consciousness. \n"Programming is a tool that allows you to manifest those theories," Jackson said. \nJackson worked at computer company in Terre Haute, Indiana to pay bills and put food on the table, but applied for positions at UITS throughout his seven-year tenure at the Terre Haute company, finally receiving one in 1988. \nConsidering this academic and professional background, it isn't surprising Jackson possesses little in-depth knowledge about art and its terminology.\n"Just because I can produce it, doesn't mean I know much about it," he says. \nBut this hasn't stopped him from success. Jackson has sold around 100, 8 ½ x 11 inch pieces ($30) since 1996, when he first put his work on the market. He's sold 40 of his larger, 3x2 feet prints, three of which for $500. He also sells prints of his original works, such as Another Starry Night, for just $10 a pop. \n"I also sign them for another $10, but most people opt for just the print," he says laughing. \nMiller and UITS colleagues influenced his decision to sell his work. They always complimented Jackson on the "doodles" he sketched during work meetings and urged him to sell his pieces. \nJoanne Wilhelm, a UITS database analyst, owns five framed works of Jackson's. She says he refers to meeting sketches as "doodles," but they're really impressive works of art. \n"His work is just unendingly interesting -- the colors, the shapes. I always see new designs and patterns in it," Wilhelm said.\nJackson sells his pieces by word of mouth, mostly to friends, family and colleagues. He tried selling at art fairs but no longer does because fair goers are more interested in looking than buying, Jackson says.\nAnd selling numerous works doesn't give Jackson true pleasure. \n"What I like most is when I can sit and look at something when I'm done with it and think to myself that it came through me," Jackson says. "If it's good, it takes on a life of its own."\nFriends and family tell Jackson people will appreciate his work when he's gone.\n"Everyone tells him he'll be famous after he dies," Miller says.\nJackson's dream is to open his own art gallery and let as many artists as possible showcase their creations -- but he isn't concerned with earning beaucoup dollars or prestige and recognition. \n"I'm not going to sacrifice day-to-day happiness for something as thin as money," he says matter-of-factly. \nThese are the words of a content man who loves where he lives, enjoys what he does and knows what he wants.
(12/16/02 4:49pm)
Lori Crum glides across the ice rink, gracefully completing spins and jumps, her ivory skates slicing across the slick, smooth ice. There are usually 10 skaters whizzing around the rink during this time. But this Monday, she is the only one.\nCrum, a child therapist in Bloomington and a member of the Frank Southern Ice Arena's figure skating club, said she uses her lunch hour to skate during the rink's noon to 1:30 p.m. weekday sessions. \n"Skating is a huge stress relief," she said after finishing. "Other worries and things on my mind just go away. It's a nice mental break."\nThe arena, 1965 S. Henderson Street, located behind Bloomington High School South, is the city's sole ice rink, making it a beloved spot where Crum and fellow skating and hockey enthusiasts can perfect their skills. For many, it's a solace where cares slip away with completed laps and worries are lost in the music that streams from the rink's speakers. \nPublic skating at the rink costs $5.50, a price that includes skate rental. The rink offers a 10-session, $35 public pass and a $45 freestyle skating pass, which allows figure skaters to sharpen their skills during set-aside times. \nThe rink is a constant buzz of activity, offering more than just ice skating. \nSeven days a week, morning through evening, the rink holds skating and hockey lessons. Frank Southern is home to both the Bloomington Blades, an area hockey team for high school students, and the IU Hockey Team. A figure skating club meets twice a week to practice at the 36-year old rink, as do a myriad of youth hockey leagues.\nPublic skating sessions run Monday through Friday from noon to 1:30 p.m., September through the first week of March, the rink's operating months. The rink holds public skating Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. when the IU Hockey Team isn't competing on the ice. There are also 10 p.m. to midnight sessions after games when the team isn't playing a double-header, Mark Sterner, the rink's manager, said.\nChildren hoping to hone their hockey skills can meet with instructors, many of which are IU Hockey Team members. \nThe rink boasts a plethora of ice skating lessons for all ages and abilities -- from Snowplow Sam 1, in which 3 to 6-year-olds learn how to stand and fall correctly on the ice, to Basic 8, where advanced skaters perfect jumps, spins and combination steps. The rink also offers beginning adult classes for anyone age 14 and up.\n"It's never too late to learn to skate," said Chris Truelock, the rink's program director. "We've got senior citizens out here learning."\nThe rink's upcoming winter session for skating lessons runs from Jan. 15 to Feb. 22. Lessons cost $40 for Bloomington residents. The classes can contain between five to 20 learners depending on the ability level. The concept, Truelock said, is that newer skaters need more attention. \n"The more beginning of a student you are, the more individual instruction you're going to get," he said.\nPeople who want to learn to skate but don't wish to wobble and wipe out in front of others can opt for private lessons. Lessons range from $10 to $60 per half hour depending on the learner's instruction level.\nGroups can rent the rink when public skating sessions, lessons and hockey games aren't taking place. The rink costs $120 an hour to rent mornings or late nights. The cost shoots up to $225 from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights, the rink's prime hours. \nBroomball is an enjoyable activity for groups to play when renting the rink, which provides the sport's special equipment for no additional charge. Broomball is similar to ice hockey, except it is played in broomball shoes -- a type of soft, tennis shoe, and with rubber paddles instead of conventional hockey sticks. \n"It's a lot easier than hockey and skating," Truelock said. "It's a good introductory sport to bring you into ice sports."\nSterner said that although broomball is a popular sport at Miami University (Ohio), it has generated little interest among IU students. He said the rink hasn't mustered enough enthusiasm to create a league for it. He said the rink's past managers failed to exhaust IU as a resource, and he and Truelock, both new managers, have been handed the results. \n"They basically left alone an untapped market" Sterner said. "It's definitely an area we're looking to have more interest in. I'm always amazed at how many IU students don't know we have a rink here in town."\nThey plan to hold promotional events between periods at IU hockey games to generate an interest in ice sports among IU students, he said. Truelock said the rink's 10 p.m. to midnight skating sessions after IU Hockey games were implemented to attract IU students.\nHe said he hopes that as the number of students coming to the rink boosts, word of mouth about it will spread, also. But Truelock said his ultimate goal is to have a busing system to and from Frank Southern.\n"What I would like to see in the future is a bus that would go to the dorms and drop kids off here and then back off at the dorms," he said. \nSterner and Truelock said they would like to operate year-round, but the rink's business must increase to cover operational costs before this goal can be realized.\n"We're having to compete with southern Indiana basketball during our youth hockey season and that's a big challenge," Sterner said.\nCrum said she would like the arena to stay open year round as well. She and other figure skating club members must trek to Columbus, Ind., or Indianapolis to practice during the summer.\n"It makes it harder for figure skating to take off here," she said. "It sets you back if you can't skate during the summer." \nStarting this September, the rink will hold lunar ice skating, an activity in which patrons skate in the dark to laser lighting, a disco ball and a DJ's energy-infused beats. Truelock said he thinks the activity will appeal to both Bloomington residents and IU students for one reason. \n"It's just what you'd see at a dance club, but out on a rink," he said. \nFor updated public skating times call the Frank Southern's Skating Hotline at 349-3741.
(12/04/02 3:48am)
Whoever thinks hunts for candy take place on a certain spring day in April hasn't heard about Bloomington's Candy Cane Hunt, a family-fun event celebrating winter's chilly arrival. \nThe city's 3rd annual Candy Cane Hunt will take place this Sunday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Thomson Park, located southwest of downtown. \nThe event, sponsored by Bloomington Parks and Recreation and the Village Deli, is open to pre-school through elementary age children and their parents. Admission costs $2.\nThe afternoon will include not just scampering around for the red and white swirled sweets but arts and crafts, cookie decorating and steaming hot cocoa. \nThe candy cane hunt starts at 3 p.m., but children can decorate bags to use for the hunt from 2 to 3 p.m. Parents and kids can also decorate and munch on the 200 candy cane cookies the Village Deli will contribute. Frosty the Snowman will be present, mingling and dancing with children during the hour.\n"It's kind of like seeing Santa Claus, but the kids like seeing Frosty, too," said Becky Barrick, community events manager for Bloomington Parks and Recreation.\nIn addition to regular canes, candy cane pens and pencils and golden candy canes, which children can redeem for prizes, will also be hidden. \nJulie Ramey, community relations manager for Bloomington Parks and Recreation, said she plans to bring her two-year old son, Jeff. She thinks the hunt, which will be Jeff's first Parks and Recreation community event, will be enjoyable despite her son's young age.\n"He probably won't know what's going on like a seven year old would, but I think it will be a fun event for him to participate in anyway," Ramey said. "He'll like Frosty the Snowman." \nPeople who wish to participate in the event must pre-register by Dec. 6, which they can do by calling 349-3700.\nIU students comprise all 17 of the hunt's volunteers, who will help with registration and aid kids with the arts and crafts, said Kim Ecenbarger, special services coordinator for Bloomington Parks and Recreation.\n"That's pretty characteristic of a lot of our events that take place during the school time," Ecenbarger said. \nShe says IU students make-up 80 percent of Bloomington's Parks and Recreation's volunteer base from August through April. \nGosia Czech, a member of IU's marketing club and an intern for Bloomington Parks and Recreation, recruited the majority of the hunt's 17 volunteers from the marketing club. The club participates in volunteer projects twice a semester, mostly in Parks and Recreation community events.\n"It's great interaction with the community. Parks and Recreation always puts on great events," Czech said. \nThe Candy Cane Hunt usually draws between 100 to 150 participants - a figure that depends on the weather, Barrick says. But even if Sunday's weather is frigid, she encourages residents to still bundle up and come out for the hunt.\n"It's a fun way to start winter and do winter activities," Barrick said. "It's a great event that helps us welcome in winter"
(11/26/02 5:24am)
Bloomington Mayor John Fernandez announced Friday that he will not seek reelection to a third term as mayor when his current one ends next year. \n"These have been the best years of my life, and I'm tremendously grateful to the people of Bloomington for giving me this opportunity," Fernandez said in a prepared statement.\nAfter three terms as mayor, a position he began in 1995, Fernandez said he wants to tackle other challenges. \n"We've been able to get a tremendous amount accomplished, and I just feel it's time for me to move on," Fernandez said. "(My leave) is an opportunity for the community to get a new leader."\nIf Fernandez's wishes come true, the city's new leader will be District 61 representative Mark Kruzan, D-Bloomington, who the mayor said he will endorse and support. He said he will do anything to help elect Kruzan as mayor.\n"I think he has the potential to really help keep the community together, which is so important," he said.\nFernandez said he would like to stay involved in community development and public policy after his term is over.\nBut he said to not expect a lame-duck term from him in his last year. Fernandez said he has a list of projects he hopes to complete before his term expires. \nHe said his main priority is to convert the rarely used CSX railroad tracks that run through downtown into a pedestrian and biking trail. The goal is part of the Alternative Transportation and Greenways System Plan that seeks to transform Bloomington's urban landscape. \n"We would like to see a multi-purpose path that would run through the heart of Bloomington and would aesthetically improve the look of Bloomington," said Penni Sims, spokeswoman for the City of Bloomington. "It would be a nice way to connect the community."\nThe mayor also said he hopes to pass a zoning ordinance that would establish design and density standards for downtown. The ordinance aims to maximize limited space by having businesses build up, instead of out, and encouraging them to move into vacant stores, instead of constructing new ones. \n"The idea is that space is at a premium and you should use it to the best of your ability," Sims said.\nFernandez said he also wants to open a new animal shelter for Bloomington, as the current one does not have adequate space, creating a strain for both employees and the animals.\nFernandez said his proudest accomplishment as mayor thus far has been the execution of various community projects, such as increasing public green spaces and creating WonderLab -- a children's science museum -- while maintaining a strong economy during a time of national economic distress.
(11/21/02 5:52am)
While most folks will spend Thanksgiving stuffed with food and relaxing with family, 35 Bloomington residents will scurry around the Community Kitchen, preparing some 400 fresh meals for Bloomington citizens in need of a warm dinner.\nBecause many employees at the Community Kitchen, 917 S. Rogers Street, and the Area 10 Agency on Aging request the holiday off, the organizations combine their efforts to ensure that citizens who need a meal receive one.\n"I find it unfortunate that so many people are in need of our services, but I'm very grateful for the level of community generosity that makes it possible for us to offer this service," said Julio Alonso, the kitchen's executive director. "You see a lot of generous people in this community coming forward and helping out."\nThe Community Kitchen will make the meals Thanksgiving Day beginning at 8:30 a.m., when the first batch of volunteers arrives for meal preparation. The kitchen will serve the dinners from 3 to 6 p.m. while the Area 10 Agency delivers them to homebound citizens living in the Bloomington area. \nThe dinner will consist of traditional Thanksgiving fare: turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, salad, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, all donated by community members. \nJessie Bowman, the kitchen's office manager and volunteer coordinator, said the kitchen still needs cream of mushroom soup, green beans and turkeys.\nThe Community Kitchen, which regularly offers free, hot meals Monday through Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m., uses funds from its minimal food budget to purchase necessary goods that aren't donated. The center can always use canned fruits and vegetables, egg noodles and ground beef donations, Bowman said. \nThe Area 10 Agency on Aging serves lunches to senior citizens in Monroe and Owen counties Monday through Friday at local congregate sites, such as retirement or assisted living communities. The agency also delivers meals to citizens who cannot get to the sites, said Caroline Clay, Area 10's deputy director.\nArea 10 distributed 150 meals last Thanksgiving Day and predicts it will deliver around 200 this year, said Bruce Parrott, the agency's nutrition director. Although Parrott assigns just five meals for each driver to deliver, trips can last a while, he said.\n"The meals can take from one to two hours, depending on whether they want to chat," Parrott said. "It depends on conversation." \nAlthough both the Community Kitchen and the Area 10 Agency on Aging have filled their volunteer positions for Thanksgiving Day, they said they can use volunteers any other time. Many IU students volunteer during non-holiday weeks and comprise a good portion of the kitchen and agency's volunteer corps, Bowman said. \n"IU students make up about 50 percent of our volunteer pool," she said. "They help our volunteer pool become so diverse. They keep it energetic around here." \nHomebound citizens can request a delivery dinner for Thanksgiving Day by calling the Area 10 Agency on Aging at 876-3383. To volunteer at Area 10, contact their RSVP office 876-9922.
(11/07/02 5:17am)
Mike Redmond, Indianapolis Star humor columnist since 1995, will speak about his recently-published book at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Monroe County Public Library.\nThe book, "Six of One, Half Dozen of Another: Twelve Stories about Family, Indiana Kidhood and Other Goofy Stuff" (Guild Press of Indiana) is an autobiographical memoir packed with colorful tales about the columnist's family, childhood and growing up in LaGrange County, Ind., home to the third largest U.S. Amish population -- a fact the author amiably pokes fun at in many of his columns.\n"Six of One," Redmond's first book, tackles meaty issues such as how a teen can make quick cash from selling beer while skipping class and the appropriate age for a boy to begin wearing high heels, according to the Guild Press of Indiana's Web site. \nJane Ruddick, reference and programming librarian at Monroe County library, is responsible for Redmond's talk tonight. \n"He was so funny at the conference I attended; I thought he would be someone our library patrons would enjoy hearing," Ruddick said. \nLast year, after hearing Redmond speak at an Indiana Library Federation conference in Indianapolis, she said she thought he was hilarious and asked him to speak at the library.\nLaurel Setser, library director at Avon Washington Township Public Library, said she has heard Redmond speak twice and has read his column since it first appeared. His personable quality characterizes his speeches as well as his columns -- he talks to, and not at, listeners, she said.\n"If you're one of those people who read his column frequently, you feel like you know him personally," Setser said. "He talks so much about his family and his life, you feel like you've just sat down and had a cup of coffee with him after reading his column." \nRedmond once told Setser only angry readers address their letters to him with "Mr. Redmond." Most folks simply call him "Mike," an anecdote that reveals the intimacy he creates with readers, Setser said. \nThe American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors has twice recognized Redmond's column for excellence.\nSetser said she encourages people to attend Redmond's talk for two simple reasons.\n"You'll have a good time; he'll make you laugh," she said. \nRedmond will speak in room 2C of the library and will sign copies of his book.
(11/06/02 6:43am)
An Indiana law that would again require women to receive in-person counseling 18 hours before having an abortion has generated passionate debate amongst its opposers and supporters. \nThe law could have taken effect this week, but plaintiffs, 11 women's health clinics around the state, filed Monday for a stay. The stay prevents the ruling from becoming a law until the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals rules on the request, said Ken Falk, an attorney with the Indiana Civil Liberties Union.\nIndiana law requires women to receive counseling about abortion's risks and alternatives. The law has existed since 1995, but last year, a U.S. District judge ruled women could receive over-the-phone, as well as in-person, counseling.\nBut in September, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned last year's ruling that allowed women to discuss reproductive options over the phone. \nThe Center for Reproductive Law and Policy in New York is now asking the Supreme Court to hear the case, as an 11-member appeals court in Chicago has since declined to hear their appeal, Falk said. \nBetty Cockrum, president and chief executive officer at Planned Parenthood of Greater Indiana, said the state has seen a decline in abortions among teenagers due to their increased education on sex and contraception. She contrasted this group with low-income women, a demographic in which the number of abortions performed yearly has increased. She said these women often lack access to reproductive information.\n"Educational efforts aren't getting to those women," Cockrum said.\nShe said the new law would further deter women from receiving thorough reproductive knowledge.\n"It's a hurdle to make it more difficult to get an abortion," she said.\nThe law's critics claim it inconveniences women who are poor or live in rural areas, because it forces them to make two trips to abortion clinics.\nWomen would have to take off work, find someone to care for children while away and possibly find lodging in the city in which the nearest clinic is located, if the law is passed, Cockrum said. \nAlthough 38 Planned Parenthood Health Clinics are distributed around Indiana, women can receive abortion information only at clinics that do not receive federal funding, said Theresa Browning, director of communications for Planned Parenthood. Just three of the 38 clinics offer abortion services.\nBut not everyone agrees with the argument that the 18-hour counseling requirement unnecessarily burdens women. \n"I don't think the counseling requirement is that much at all for such a huge decision," says junior Melody Kanney, vice president for IU's Students for Life. "If you're going to make a decision that big, you should expect there to be some type of inconvenience."\nShe said she finds the in-person counseling rule reasonable considering the issue's weightiness.\n"It's much more personal face-to face," Kanney said. "It's such a personal decision and not the kind of issue to talk casually about over the phone"
(10/29/02 5:52am)
ELLETTSVILLE -- Beneath a gray, fog-filled sky, 25 people trudged through 10-foot high, rust-colored brush Saturday morning to clean up the Bean Blossom Bottoms Nature Preserve from the effects of a tornado that ripped through the area last month.\nSycamore Land Trust volunteers along with other Bloomington residents cleaned up the 700-acre wetland in Ellettsville.\nThe group is a non-profit conservation organization that acquires land around south-central Indiana and preserves it. The organization holds work days, which consist of clean-up projects, tree planting and trail establishments five-to-10 times a year.\nThe group's goal was to drag out debris from a once-nearby trailer and barn that last month's tornadoes had strewn around 100 acres of the Bottom's brush. SLT officials said they plan to plant more trees in the area, which will require knowing that chunks of debris would interfere.\nVolunteers hauled out everything from mangled trailer siding to a child's plastic basketball backboard -- its fire engine red rim ripped in two. \nWorkers piled the trash along the dusty, gravel road that angles through the Bottoms, where the Monroe County Solid Waste Disposal collects it.\nSLT board member David Welch organized the day and helped instruct volunteers like Marta Dieber and Aimee Osmundsen, two Bloomington High School North students who helped out as part of an environmental science class project.\n"I was trying to find a way to help with the tornado damage and this was the easiest way to get involved," Dieber said.\nWelch and the BHSN students stood staring at three aerial photos of the Bottoms that showed where the wreckage was scattered.\n"This is basically an Easter egg hunt," Welch said. "Find trash and bring it here."\nThe day's workers also included several School of Public and Environmental Affairs students and ten Phi Sigma Kappa pledges, who needed 12 community service hours for the fraternity, freshman pledge Jeremy Manion said. \nScott Struck, an SLT land steward, led the Phi Sigma Kappa men in removing sheet metal from the dilapidated barn throughout the morning. \n"There was a whole lot to do," Struck said. "We only got a fraction of it done, so there is still a need for more work at the site." \nThe Bean Blossom Bottoms, the SLT's flagship property, is a hardwoods ecosystem, spouting Sycamore and Cottonwood trees. Welch said it is important to preserve this type of land because its soil makes it in prime farming demand.\n"When you find a big piece like this, you try to go after it and protect as best as you can," Acquisitions co-Chair Dave Hudak said.\nStruck said one of his goals during the day was to help preserve wildlife -- which the group did by removing debris that would have obstructed plant growth. \n"It's about trying to maintain the biological integrity of these areas," he said.\nThe Bottoms contain a great blue heron rookery and are home to five endangered species, such as the Kirkland snake and Barn owl, and myriad migrant birds, Hudak said.\nThe SLT, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and private individuals all own pieces of the preserve.\nSince its 1990 foundation, the SLT trust has acquired over 3,000 acres in 34 properties.
(10/23/02 4:25am)
Southern Indiana's hilly terrain, shimmering lakes and colorful fall foliage make for wonderful hiking. Below is a list of top hiking spots around Bloomington that beckon exploration. Hikers who desire longer hikes can always combine shorter trails, said Stacy Mathies, an interpretive naturalist at Brown County State Park. So, lace up those boots and get ready to romp and stomp through scenic, tranquil beauty.\nCharles Deam Wilderness\nNestled in the Hoosier National Forest, southeast of Bloomington, the Charles Deam Wilderness is the best local hiking spot, said Dick Jones, founder of the Bloomington Hike Club. \n"Deam is a top spot to hike because it is a pure wilderness hike," Jones said.\nThe 13,000 acre preserve is Indiana's only protected wilderness area. Deam's seven interconnected paths -- four loops and three linear trails -- await hikers searching longer jaunts. Visitors are permitted to camp trailside or by Lake Monroe's shores, where lapping water soothes one to sleep. Keep an eye out for sweeping bald eagles during the day.\nBrown County State Park\nAs Indiana's largest state park and only a 20-minute drive from Bloomington, Brown County is another optimal site. The park features ten hiking trails and two lakes. Trail 6 circles Strahl Lake and Trail 7 loops around Ogle Lake for a one and a half mile jaunt. Trail 5 runs through Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve, which features the rare Yellowwood tree. Ambitious hikers can trudge the Ten O'Clock Line Trail, a 16 mile, one-way journey that concludes at Yellowwood Lake in Yellowwood State Forest. Trekkers must hike it in a day, though, as trailside camping isn't permitted. \nMorgan-Monroe State Forest\nLocated north of Bloomington, east off State Road 37, Morgan-Monroe spans almost 24,000 acres of hardwood tree-dotted ridges and valleys, evidence of a glacier that halted in the area, says indianaoutfitters.com, an Indiana outdoor information site. Morgan-Monroe contains six foot trails that range from one to 10 miles. Energetic hikers can opt for Three Lakes Trail, a 10-mile loop that connects each of the forest's lakes -- Cherry, Bean Blossom and Bryant.\nMcCormick's Creek State Park\nHikers in McCormick's Creek State Park, 14 miles northwest of Bloomington in Spencer, Indiana, can roam past limestone formations and a gushing waterfall. Its ten short trails, all under three miles, wind through the park's canyon. Popular Trail 3 runs along the creek and by the falls, says Laura Guest, a park employee and frequent hiker. Trail 5 coils through the park's Wolf Cave Nature Preserve, passing sugar maple, beech, and red oak trees.\nYellowwood State Forest\nAlthough lesser known than other parks, Yellowwood's relative anonymity makes it ideal for hikers seeking serenity and seclusion. \nSenior Laura Koenig, a trip coordinator for IU Outdoor Adventures, said Yellowwood is her favorite local hiking spot because of its little-trampled trails. \n"I like it because there aren't a lot of people on the trails, and the forest has a wide range of animals and plants," she said. \nYellowwood's many types of trees make it a great place to admire fall's beauty, she said. The facile 1.7-mile Jackson Creek Trail ambles through both pine and deciduous tree areas and offers marshy views of Yellowwood Lake. \nKnobstone Trail\nThe Knobstone Trail, dubbed "The Little Appalachian Trail," reigns as Indiana's longest hiking path - serious hikers shouldn't miss it. The trail, which features 60 miles of rugged, wilderness hiking, runs parallel to Interstate 65. You can hop on its northern terminals in either Jackson-Washington State Forest, near Brownstown, Indiana, or nearby Delaney Park. It snakes south, ending at Deam Lake in Clarke State Forest, near the Ohio River, Jeremiah Lemmons, Jackson-Washington State Forest's assistant manager, said. Hikers not up to trekking the entire trail can get on at any of its eight trail heads. The trail meanders though the Indiana Knobs, taking travelers over steep ridges and low ravines and providing great overlooks along the way, Lemmons said. \nContrary to popular opinion, hikers don't have to put away their boots once fall's vivid leaves drift to the ground. As long as the temperature isn't too frigid, winter is a great time to hike, as well. \n"There's nothing more beautiful than hiking in the woods during winter," Jones said.
(10/08/02 5:19am)
The event's participants were as diverse as one could find in a group. Some were stout with fuzzy, honey-hued hair, while others were tall with silky, black locks. Some had long, droopy ears and others featured short, perked ones. But they all shared two common characteristics: four feet and an insatiable sniffing appetite. \nThe Monroe County Humane Association held its seventh annual "Walk for the Animals" Sunday at Third Street Park. \n"Walk for the Animals," the MCHA's largest yearly fund-raiser, drew almost 400 people and over 100 dogs, romping in euphoric, sensory overload. \nThe group headed out around 2 p.m. at the intersection of Third and Washington streets, trotted around the courthouse square and wound back. \n"As Jerry Lewis said, 'You'll never walk alone,'" Joe Lee, a former MCHA board member who emceed the event, told the group as they began. \nIn addition to the walk, locals and their canine companions also participated in various four-footed activities to the music of Kid Kazooey, a local group.\nThe Doggie Dash, a canine obstacle course that ran throughout the afternoon, elicited much entertainment. The competition, which measured a dog's agility, included rectangular hay blocks, hoola hoops and a lengthy, blue crawl tube. At the end of the day, the owners of the dogs with the fastest three times received doggie bag prizes.\nOwners jogged outside the course alongside their pups, encouraging them to "Come on, come on" when the dogs stopped to sniff the hay blocks. \nSome dogs weren't up to the challenge.\nCrybaby, a tan Beagle, plopped down at the course's starting area and showed no signs of rising. With repeated encouragement, she finally rose and meandered around the course, her tail wagging all the way. \n"She's 12 in dog years," owner Clayton Hicks, 10, explained.\nWillie started off with a sprint and looked to post an impressive time -- until he arrived at the first hay block, sniffed it and decided to smell every hay block after it.\n"Willie, you're not going to quit your day job," owner Lisa Hosey told him after he completed the course. \nParticipants could enter photos of non-canine pets, mostly cats, in the Critter Photo Contest. A "Viewer's Choice" box, in which people dropped their votes for the cutest critter, sat on the table below the photos.\nPeople and pups also competed in "musical sit." Owners and their canine companions strolled inside a white, chainlink fence area near the stage, and when Kid Kazooey's tunes stopped, the owners told their dogs to "Sit!" The last dog standing was out. \n"We want everyone to know that every dog's a winner -- some just get prizes," Lee said. \nA talent show, one of the day's last events, showcased tricks ranging from catching a tennis ball in the air to, well … not performing at all due to fatigue. Kelly McDonnell commanded her pooch, Parker Puppy, to give her a hug. The hulky, brown dog shot up on his hind legs and threw his thick paws around her neck.\n"The 'Walk for Animals' is really cool because you see so many different people and dogs out here," said Karen Walker, manager of Wayport Kennels, one of the event's sponsors. "And it's good to see a lot of our boarders."\nThe event raised $12,000 -- some donated from participants -- which will go toward the MCHA's general programs, such as education and Spay-Neuter Assistance Program. \n"We had a lot of good people and a lot of great dogs that were having a great time," said Sarah DeLone, MCHA's education program director. "I basically enjoyed seeing all the animals." \nThe MCHA is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization that advocates and works for the welfare of Monroe County's domestic, farm and wildlife animals. \nFor more information about the Association, call 333-6242.
(10/04/02 8:13pm)
The 35th Annual Hilly Hundred, a three-day bicycle event, will take place this weekend. \nThe ride will take participants through the gentle, rolling hills and colorful fall landscapes of Brown, Morgan and Monroe counties. People of all ages can participate in the tour -- it is not a race, its organizers say.\n"People are invited to take their time and enjoy the scenery," said Skip Higgins, the Hilly Hundred's managing director, who has ridden for 24 years.\nCyclists in the event, sponsored by the Central Indiana Bicycling Association Inc., can choose between a 40 or 50 mile route Saturday and a 30 or 50 mile route Sunday. Saturday's tour loops riders by the lakes and hardwood trees of Morgan-Monroe State Forest. Sunday's ride winds cyclists by Lake Lemon and through Nashville.\n"People who take their time and look at the scenery have plenty available to them," Higgins said. \nThe frenzy begins Friday night, when riders can pick up their registration and enjoy live entertainment and free refreshments.\nAdvanced registration for the event is closed, but interested riders can sign up at Bloomington High School North, 3901 N. Kinser Pike, on Saturday morning before the ride. Riders can begin the route anytime between 8 and 10:30 a.m. Saturday and 7 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday. \nThe ride starts and ends at Bloomington North, the Hilly Hundred's headquarters. Registration costs $40 for one or both days, a price that includes entertainment and free food at all rest stops. \nThe Bloomington North Band Boosters, a club in charge of raising funds for the high school's band program, will prepare a Saturday morning breakfast, Saturday evening spaghetti dinner and a pancake breakfast Sunday morning for riders, said Donna Rinckel, who, with her husband, Tim, is in charge of organizing the weekend for the club.\n"This is our biggest fund-raiser of the year," Rinckel said. "It's a big endeavor with over 600 man-hours for the weekend." \nMany Little 500 riders participate in the Hilly Hundred, Higgins says.\nTim Laughlin, a Bloomington North Band Boosters member, says he encourages anyone who enjoys biking to participate in the event because roads are blocked off, making the weekend a rare opportunity to enjoy scenic routes without traffic.\n"It's a great time to ride because the roads are almost all reserved for the bicyclists," he said. "And, you get to see southern Indiana in all its fall glory."\nThe Hilly Hundred's main problem is bandits -- people who don't register for the event but partake in the ride and free food anyway, Higgins said.\n"People who haven't registered should not participate in riding," he said. \nThe first Hilly Hundred, then sponsored by the Southern Indiana Bicycle Touring Association, took place in June 1968 and featured 54 riders. Today's tour boasts 5,000 riders from more than 40 states.\nBicycle Magazine and the League of American Bicyclists' Best Biking in America Competition named the Hilly Hundred "Best Overall Ride" in 1999 and 2000.
(10/01/02 5:49am)
The sound of trumpets, cellos and children's voices trickles through Borders Bookstore. Following the noise, one arrives at the store's southwest corner, where a group of parents and kids sit on planet, star and sun-speckled semi-circular steps. \nAmy Benson, John Richardson and Cheryl Schuster, Bloomington Symphony Orchestra violinists and the objects of the group's enchantment, sit at the bottom. \nCassie plays the cello under Schuster's guidance, while mom, Paula, and five-month-old sister, Anya, watch.\n"And I'm five already," Cassie suddenly exclaims to Schuster, while carefully gliding the bow over the instrument.\nSeven Bloomington Symphony Orchestra musicians entertained and delighted local children Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon in a "Meet the instruments" event at Borders Bookstore. "Meet the instruments" is part of the BSO's educational outreach programs held several times yearly. \nPart of the BSO's mission is to encourage the understanding, appreciation and mastery of music, according to the group's Web site.\n"I think it's very important for people to get exposed to music, beyond passively listening to the radio, and see how it's made," Richardson said.\nMost of the children shyly cling to their parents, listening as Benson and Schuster make "silly" noises on the instruments. But after gentle encouragement from the players, they timidly approach, with small smiles of pleasure curled around their mouths.\nSchuster shakes her head of chestnut curls up and down, mimicking the motions a cello player makes while performing. \n"I don't think they really do that," Cole Martin, Schuster's pupil at the moment, said, giggling.\n"See, cello players don't have to comb their hair before they go to a concert," Schuster said.\nIn the CD and DVDs section, Cole, and his brother, Cabot, examine various percussion instruments, including the snare drum, symbols and castanets. \n"They (children) almost never can get this close to the instruments," said Lisa Martin, mother of Cole and Cabot. "So, this just really gives them a feel for how music works and to explore it more."\nBSO conductor Leonardo Panigada stands by smiling. He said he enjoys the facial expressions and different reactions the children make when they first produce a sound. Richardson also takes an equal amount of delight from working with kids, he said.\n"I find the enthusiasm of the children very infectious," said Richardson, also an IU chemistry professor. \nNestled in a lone cove away from the cluster, Joe Padawan, a first-year BSO player and marching band instructor at Ellettsville's Edgewood High School, informs an older, blond-haired boy how to blow the trumpet.\n"Take a big breath and go 'phhhhhh,'" Padawan said, puffing out his cheeks.\nPadawan squirts the trombone with a mouthpiece disinfectant spray and asks Zarya Desouza, 3, if she would like to try. She shakes her head "no," content to watch and listen by her mother's side. \nInstead, Padawan plays "Twinkle, twinkle little star" -- a song Zarya instantly recognizes. Her mom, Kelly Desouza, decides to try the trombone. Her cheeks swell, and she blows, emitting a long squeak.\n"Mommy's not very good at it," Zarya said laughing.\n"The kids have a better sound than the parents do," Padawan said.\nJennifer Bryan, a BSO violinist and vice president for orchestra affairs who organized the day, sat watching Padawan and the Desouzas. \n"It's so neat to see children trying out a musical instrument for the first time," she said. "When you see the surprised look on the kids' faces when they can make a sound from the instrument is the most exciting thing."\nThe BSO will hold its first concert Oct. 20. Their annual children's concert is Nov. 24. Both concerts are at 3 p.m. the Buskirk Chumley Theatre.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Like many journalism majors, I read The New York Times, Newsweek and Time magazines, a few of the country's top news sources, hoping that over time my writing ability will reach the level of those publications.\nBut the high respect I once held for these prestigious and respected news organizations has diminished. And I've learned that even the greatest of the great can make the dumbest of mistakes.\nI was eating a bowl of Rice Krispies last Tuesday morning as I logged on to The New York Times Web site. When I saw it, I wasn't sure if it was sleep in my eyes or if I had actually correctly read the headline to one of the top stories. I blinked and read it again. To my horror, I was right. The headline blared, "Justices to hear issue of executing retarded killers" (March 27). \nI was awe-struck at the crudeness and just plain incorrectness of this headline -- how could a paper as respected as the Times run such an insensitive and incorrect headline? \nSadly, this wasn't the first time I have seen a news organization use this archaic adjective to describe people with mental disabilities.\nI learned in my journalism class that news organizations avoid using "politically correct" terms, arguing they trivialize social issues. But as the daughter of a special education teacher, I know "retarded" is absolutely not the word to use -- "mentally impaired" or "disabled" are both acceptable.\n"'Retarded' is certainly not the preferred term, and it's not even used in special education," said Mike Horvath, Monroe County Community School Corporation's director of special education. "I don't know why they continue to use that term."\nHe said "mentally disabled" is the term he would use.\nAs much as America has made advances in social issues such as racial improvement, women's rights and even geriatrics, people with disabilities seems to be an issue in which America has remained educationally stationery. \nJust recently, my mother came home from work visibly upset. She had taken her elementary class, composed of students with severe disabilities, on a field-trip to Wal-Mart to practice buying items on a shopping list. \nWhile in the store, my mom overheard a mother tell her daughter, "We better get outta here. The store is full of retards today."\nThe stereotypes people hold about persons with disabilities are still too prevalent. As someone who has grown up around children with special needs, I know they are some of the most loving and affectionate people -- we need more individuals like them in this world. \nAmerican ideology cannot change until news organizations such as The New York Times educate their staffs about this sensitive and important issue.\nWord length (yes, I realize it's an inconvenience to editors that "mentally disabled" is longer than the more concise "retarded") must not be considered when choosing the words to describe an individual. We as journalists should be sensitive, and should use our power as communicators to positively change American ideology.
(04/04/01 4:15am)
The Matrix, a literary arts group that strives to promote poetry and art in the community, teamed with Bloomington Transit to bring poetry to public transportation. Words on Wheels is a poetry contest that provides the public with a more interesting bus ride and gives poets an opportunity to express themselves. \nLora Wagers, a member of the Matrix editorial board, said she was anxious to get Words on Wheels underway. \n"The purpose of this program is to get people involved in poetry and literacy and to give them a better experience," Wagers said. \nThe contest was open to the Bloomington community and IU students. There were two age categories: 18 and older and 17 and younger. There were no restrictions regarding topics for the poems.\nKenya LeDay, a customer service representative for Bloomington Transit and judge for the Words on Wheels contest, said she was eager to get involved. She said she loves reading poetry and thought the contest would increase community involvement.\n"I thought Words on Wheels was an excellent idea that would get the community involved," LeDay said. \nOne of LeDay's favorite poems was written by a young boy saying goodbye to his mother, who was dying of cancer. She said she enjoyed reading every poem but admits her favorite poems were written by young children. Judging the poems was not easy, LeDay said.\nPhil Metres, a graduate student and recent winner of the Words on Wheels contest, said he was excited about his involvement. \n"Words on Wheels brings poetry into public spaces where regular people can enjoy poems," Metres said. \nHis poem, "Safety Instructions," was intended to poke fun at poetry and entertain his readers. \n"I wanted to write a familiar poem which makes fun at the complexity of poetry," Metres said.\nWagers said she was pleased with the outcome of the event. \n"We didn't expect so much community outpouring," Wagers said.\nMetres said poetry shouldn't be confined to the library.\n"Poetry should be part of our daily life and should be liberated from books," Metres said. "It's our duty as poets to make it happen"
(02/23/01 5:47am)
Indianapolis residents can expect to see an increase in the number of green spaces speckled throughout the city.\nLilly Endowment announced Wednesday it would grant Keep Indianapolis Beautiful $300,000 this year -- double the company's normal donatation to the organization.\nKeep Indianapolis Beautiful is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the beautification of Indianapolis. Its activities include picking up litter, planting trees and painting and repairing houses, according to the Web site at www.kab.org.\nLilly Endowment is a private foundation that grants money to Hoosier organizations that focus on community development, religion and education. It receives its money through Eli Lilly stocks.\nThe grant is KIB's largest donation in its 25-year history and one of the largest grants received by any of the 500 Keep America Beautiful affiliate cities, said Teresa Rhodes, KIB director of development. \n"The grant will greatly impact Keep Indianapolis Beautiful because it will allow us to expand and evolve. I think the gift demonstrates competence in our programs," Rhodes said. \nLilly Endowment awards its grants based upon the merits of KIB's annual proposal. KIB has been a Lilly Endowment grantee for 15 years. This year, KIB's community record and ambitious future city project plans enabled the organization to receive more money, said Gretchen Wolfram, Lilly Endowment communications director. \n"The extra money will allow us to expand our programs further and touch more areas of the city that we normally would not have been able to," said Jamie Huckelberry, KIB public relations director.\nThe grant KIB receives will support its overall programs, a landscape maintenance business and "Project 180 Degrees IPL (Indianapolis Power & Light) Revive a Neighborhood." The latter is a five-year-old program in which KIB enters deteriorated neighborhoods and works to improve the houses, Rhodes said. \nKIB, which has more than 22,000 volunteers each year, receives donations from hundreds of companies and businesses. It works with other Indiana nonprofit agencies to make aesthetic and environmental improvements in the area.\nLast year, KIB volunteers constructed 34 community gardens, planted more than 1,000 trees and picked up more than 3 million pounds of litter, Huckelberry said.
(02/23/01 4:47am)
St. Mark's United Methodist Church will play host to its seventh annual Soup Bowl Benefit, a community event to raise funds for the Hoosier Hills Food Bank, 5 p.m. Sunday. \nAs is the custom, local potters donated hundreds of handmade bowls. Local restaurants contributed soups and breads, and entertainment is provided to add to the atmosphere.\nThis year's musical guest artists include local bands "Kid Kazooey" and the "Ballroom Roustabouts."\nThe Soup Bowl Benefit brings together volunteers from all over the community who work together to ensure that the event is successful and enjoyable, said event volunteers.\nDan Taylor, an employee at the Hoosier Hills Food Bank, said without contributors, the Soup Bowl would not be as successful.\n"It's a way for us to continue what we do here at the Hoosier Hills Food Bank, which is to rescue food and make it available to hungry people," Taylor said.\nPrincess Restaurant has been a prime contributor to the benefit for the past three years. \nThe manager of the restaurant, Mohammed Elbekhty, said its motivation in donating food is to help with the cause of feeding those less fortunate.\n"It's a community kitchen," he said. "That soup is gonna fill someone's stomach and not make them hungry." \nA variety of restaurants plan to donate food to the event, including the Siam House, Le Petit Cafe and Flora. \nThe manager of Michael's Uptown Cafe, Tim Hommey, said he feels that by contributing to the benefit he is maintaining a generous reputation and closeness to the community. \n"Since Uptown is locally owned, we work closely with the community on a variety of things," he said. "We donate a lot of services to the Middle Way House and other organizations in order to maintain a strong sense of community ties. We feel it's like a civic duty"
(02/22/01 6:11am)
Burgers, fries and math homework help is a combo option twice a week at McDonald's locations in Bloomington and Ellettsville. \nFrom 7-9 p.m. each Tuesday and Wednesday, middle and high school students can receive math homework help at the Ellettsville McDonald's or the Bloomington McDonald's at 2910 W. Third St. \nStudents can also receive help from 7-9 p.m. Mondays at the Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave.\nThe program is just one of many tutoring sites in the Bloomington area. Jim Provenzale, South-Central Indiana's Twenty-first Century Scholars coordinator, said the number of after- or out-of-school homework help programs is rapidly increasing. State-funded tutoring programs are popular with the government, which is looking for new ways to improve student performance.\nIU students and community volunteers have helped teenagers at the restaurant in the "Math Help for Teens" tutoring program for more than 10 years. The Monroe County Public Library, the Monroe County Community School Corporation, the Monroe County Educator's Association and McDonald's sponsor the program.\nGenerally "A" and "B" students who work hard in school but are not as strong in math attend the sessions, said Dana Burton, youth services librarian. But she said a variety of students with different educational abilities attend. The program's biggest problem is students who do not come because they do not want to be seen getting help. \nBloomington High Schools North and South have after-school tutoring programs. \nRachel Nichols, a Bloomington High School North English teacher and an academic adviser for Twenty-first Century Scholars, stays after school Wednesdays to advise a study table offered since November. \nThe volunteer tutors consist of other North students and IU students. She said the majority of IU volunteers are School of Public and Environmental Affairs graduates. Twenty-first Century Scholars sponsors the study table through funds it receives from the state. The group provides food and rides home. \nNichols said she believes it is helping. The high school encourages its students to attend the table through morning announcements, bulletin boards and teacher recommendations to struggling students.\n"I've been really impressed with how the study table's grown and how the kids come in and are willing to work and work hard. They get individual attention that makes a tremendous difference," she said.\nVicky Schroeder, latchkey program contact for the Indiana Department of Education, Twenty-first Century Community Learning Centers program, said an Indiana "latchkey" law requires school corporations to offer an after-school program for grades K-6. \nThe Community Learning Centers program is the nation's fastest growing federal program. The program awards grants to school corporations working with community organizations to provide and expand learning opportunities. The government has 400 new grant awards this year, with a record $8.5 million allotted for the program. \nRoughly eight to 15 students are at the library Mondays, Burton said. She said she believes the program is successful because it has been going on for more than 10 years and because of high student participation.\n"We're so lucky to have both community and IU students wanting to volunteer in the program," she said.\nBloomington resident Lara Trinkler, a 1996 IU graduate, has been tutoring in the program since 1997. \n"I guess now I just go because it's fun," she said.
(02/14/01 5:15am)
A cappella music is not only making a comeback, but also a name for the University.\nMost people have probably heard of Straight No Chaser, but not everyone is aware of two other a cappella groups making waves at IU, Ladies First and Delusions of Grandeur.\nThe women of Ladies First recently took first place at one of three Midwest quarterfinals in the International Championships of Collegiate A Cappella at Penn State. They also took first runner-up for best arrangement for their version of "It's Rainin' Men"; first runner-up for best vocalist, senior Caroline DeLima for "Ready to Run" and best vocalist, sophomore Lauren Orenga, for "At Last."\nThe group will compete March 3 at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., against five other finalists from around the Midwest. One of the six groups will be chosen to advance to the finals in New York City.\nSenior Molly Logan said she feels a strong sense of pride and fulfillment in the group's recent honor. \n"When the judge announced our name, I felt an incredible rush of emotions -- excitement, surprise and overwhelming satisfaction," she said. "All of our hard work paid off and we were able to show all of Penn State, but most importantly ourselves, what we were able to do."\nUnder the direction of senior Nora Colwell, Ladies First has thrived as one of the first female a cappella groups at IU. The group started in March 1999, as Natalie Perkins and Sarah Gibson began contacting Walter Shilanskas, former director of Straight No Chaser, about their desire to bring a women's a cappella group to campus.\nWith Shilanskas' assistance and Perkins' and Gibson's persistence, 10 girls were chosen in April 1999. Now the group consists of 12 members who sing anything from oldies to R&B. First called "Amphion," the women decided a catchier title was in order and thought "Ladies First" was appropriate.\nColwell said not all members in the group are music majors, but each rehearsal is a learning experience for the girls to strengthen their talent and music skills.\n"A cappella singing is mostly about listening; you don't have to be able to read music to do it," she said.\nMen's group Delusions of Grandeur recently competed at Penn State with Ladies First and members said they are proud of the ladies taking first. The groups are supportive of each other and occasionally practice for each other and ask for input.\nDelusions of Grandeur originated in 1995 and recently made its comeback.\nUnder the direction of senior John Flower, known as "Dad" to the members of the group, Delusions of Grandeur has soared to new heights. They said they refer to Flower as "Dad" because he is the oldest member of the group and they look up to him.\nAlthough the group consists of only five members, members said they don't look at their small numbers as an obstacle. Delusions of Grandeur member Todd Gallet, a sophomore, said he is confident in the group and its abilities. \n"For the people that think they know what a cappella music is on this campus, they haven't heard us yet," he said.\nThe men rehearse from two to five times a week and sing anything from oldies to Boyz II Men. Rehearsals are not only an opportunity for the guys to exercise their talent, but also an opportunity to have fun, they said.\n"Being in DOG gives us the chance to explore our musical horizons while making memories and friendships that will last forever," Mickey Seidenstein, a sophomore, said.\nDelusions of Grandeur will compete March 24 at the Harmony Sweepstakes in Chicago. On average, it competes one or two times a year. April will mark its fourth year participating in Acappellooza, an opportunity for music fans to hear all three of the a cappella groups on campus. \nFor further information about upcoming Ladies First shows or to order tickets, contact iuladies@indiana.edu.
