Blueline Gallery welcomes local artist to demonstrate printmaking
Walking around with his metal spoon, local artist Jim Sampson introduced a crowd of 30 or so patrons of the Blueline Gallery to his last few years’ work.
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Walking around with his metal spoon, local artist Jim Sampson introduced a crowd of 30 or so patrons of the Blueline Gallery to his last few years’ work.
The Blueline Gallery will host a talk and workshop with local artist Jim Sampson on Thursday.
By Sanya Ali
The Bloomington Playwrights Project will stage a “Dungeons & Dragons”-based production titled “She Kills Monsters” at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
The Department of Theatre, Drama and Contemporary Dance will stage “In the Red and Brown Water,” a realist coming-of-age story by Tarell Alvin McCraney, at 7:30 p.m. Dec.5.
Rob Sherrell is paving the way for future IU students who hope to become comedians by being the first person to major in stand-up comedy in the school’s, and the nation’s, history.
The Mathers Museum of World Cultures will host a Family Craft Day on Saturday in order to introduce Bloomington’s children to the wonder of musical instruments.
Three of Bloomington’s crafters guilds will come together Friday and Saturday for the first Artisan Guilds of Bloomington Holiday Craft Show.
The Bloomington Handmade Market will host a convention 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Convention Center on Third Street and College Avenue.
The University Players and Union Board are working together to present “Legally Blonde the Musical” Oct. 30 through Nov. 1 at the Buskirk-Chumely Theatre.
The Mathers Museum of World Cultures hosted its annual Family Fun Fest on Sunday afternoon. The event’s theme was “Monsters,” and the museum invited children to explore their creative sides with a plethora of spooky crafts.
By Sanya Ali
The Mathers Museum of World Cultures will introduce Bloomington families to the world of monsters at its annual Halloween Family Fun Fest from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
The Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center will stage “King Oedipus,” a modern adaptation of Sophocles’ “Oedipus the King,” Friday through Oct. 25.
IU’s policy states that smoking is not ?allowed anywhere on campus.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A Bloomington family has purchased the Starlite Drive-In, which, until recently, was under threat of closure.Though Brooke Eads, a Bloomington resident who spent the month of January fundraising, was unable to save the theater on her own, the space will soon reopen to the public. Reece Freeman, son of Starlite’s new owner Mark Freeman, said the theater’s tentative opening date is May 2.The theater’s water lines and screen suffered some damage because of the unusually harsh winter. Because of the damage, the space will require extra renovations. Freeman clarified, however, that management of the space will be similar to management from past owners. Cindy Jarvis, who has been managing the theater with her husband Troy since 2001, said she feels confident the new owners of Starlite will maintain the integrity of the theater while also bringing about necessary changes to attract customers.“It was time to turn it over to the new owners to further its success,” Jarvis said. “I am very blessed to introduce the Freeman family and encourage everyone to come out and support them in this transition.”Reece said his family is elated by the prospects following such a large purchase.“Acquiring Starlite Drive-In is a dream come true,” Reece said. “We are incredibly excited and honored to operate an establishment that is such a well-known Bloomington treasure.”Jarvis said she looks forward to relaxation and watching her children grow up following years managing Starlite.“I am ready to settle down and lead a more simple life,” Jarvis said. “I hope to go to a drive-in, Starlite of course, and just sit and watch a movie.”Eads relied on fundraising to procure enough money to save the theater. The Freemans’ strategy varied slightly because they are entrepreneurs. They spent years saving money from their current business ventures to buy the space.“Since we opened up our farm to the public in 2000, efforts have been made to set aside any available money for future investments,” Reece said.Reece said he believes the family’s past experiences owning the farm taught them essential skills that will help them make Starlite a friendly and inviting environment.“The entrepreneurial knowledge we gained from operating Freeman Farms can directly be implemented towards Starlite,” Reece said. “As a family-run business, we have constantly concentrated our efforts towards family-orientated activities and events.”Reece said the newly renovated space will include traditional drive-in favorites, such as nights with dinner and two movies. He also said the family is working on adding carside pizza delivery to the theater’s routine.The Freeman family said they wanted to save the theater to ensure families would be able to create memories similar to theirs for years to come.“We purchased Starlite Drive-In not only as a business venture but because we wanted to bring new life to an establishment that has created so many wonderful, nostalgic memories not only for our family but to all those who have had the opportunity to sit under the stars with friends and family,” Freeman said.Jarvis said she advises the Freemans to keep their happiness in perspective and to make sure the theater lives forever in Bloomington.“Lead with your heart,” Jarvis said. “Love what you do, and keep history alive.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Each year, more than 200 women from Indiana apply for the chance to participate in the 500 Festival Princess Program, an offshoot event of the Indianapolis 500. Of those, only 33 make the cut. This year, four princesses are IU students. Sophomores Madeline Blackwell and Emma Tiernon and seniors Brittany Ignas and Sydney West will serve as ambassadors at this year’s Indy 500.As ambassadors, the girls volunteer at various programs throughout the month of May. They also participate in an outreach activity of their choice and take part in the Indy 500 Victory Circle celebration. The 2014 princesses come from a variety of interests and backgrounds, ranging from human biology and journalism to contemporary dance and foreign languages. Each of this year’s winners had their own motivations to become princesses, including a family legacy.Blackwell’s childhood nanny, who Blackwell said she greatly admired, was a princess. Watching this strong female role model in her life pursue this goal fostered the ambition within Blackwell. Once her older sister became a princess, too, Blackwell said she was certain applying was a good idea. “Watching my sister give back to the city, form lasting relationships with the other women and participate in all of the festival events that the state of Indiana is known for confirmed my aspiration to be a 500 Festival Princess,” Blackwell said.For Tiernon, the Indy 500 was a family tradition. Becoming a princess seemed like a great next step. “As long as I can remember, I have been going to the events and seeing the princesses,” Tiernon said. “As a child they were always a role model to me. Girls who represented themselves with poise, grace and confidence. Being of age now, I wanted the opportunity to be that role model for a little girl.”The application process begins with an online portion including photographs, references and a questionnaire. At the next stage, candidates go through a preliminary interview. The top 66 advance to a second round. The final 33 receive notification from director Kelby Hicks following the second interview. Ignas said anticipation for the results felt endless, but she was ready to celebrate once she found out she was selected. “I was sitting on the couch with my boyfriend, and once I got the email, I jumped off the couch and was so excited,” Ignas said. “I called my family and they were screaming over the phone.”Tiernon made a phone call too, but hers stretched a farther distance.“I immediately FaceTimed my mom, who was in Russia,” Tiernon said. “It was 3 a.m. her time and she had been waiting up all night to hear from me.”Blackwell also reached out to her younger sister, who was in the midst of an intense competition when the news came through.“I received the news I was selected to be a 2014 500 Festival Princess while I was in the stands watching my younger sister compete with her high school dance team,” Blackwell said. “I celebrated the news by cheering extra loud for my younger sister and her team who were about to perform, and calling my older sister immediately to let her know that we had another princess in the family.” Tiernon said there’s no tough secret behind becoming a princess. “Be yourself,” Tiernon said. “Cliché, but in the process, I could tell girls were really nervous and their true, awesome personalities were being hidden.” Ignas said princess hopefuls must display confidence about previous accomplishments.“During the interview, what they want to see is who you genuinely are,” Ignas said. “It’s good to show your personality and be proud of your accomplishments.”Blackwell said she’s most excited to contribute to the Indy 500 in a different way than she has before. “The festival has given me so many amazing memories over the years,” she said, “I’m excited to be able to give back and help other people make their own memories from festival events that they can always cherish.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The city of Bloomington received $12,500, one of the largest grants given to a community this year, from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to fund upcoming forestry projects.Tiffany Arp, community and urban forestry coordinator for IDNR, said Bloomington was one of three cities to receive the highest award for this grant category: tree planting projects that target environmental issues. The other cities were Fort Wayne and Kendalville. “Every community applying to IDNR’s Urban Forestry grant program may apply for funds up to $12,500,” Arp said. “Bloomington put together a strong grant application, and we had the grant dollars available to fully fund their request.”The goal of the intended projects is to remove trees that have attracted beetles known as emerald ash borers, which are detrimental to the trees they infest.The fear, Arp said, is that the EAB infestation might lead to a larger invasion if left uncontrolled. The Division of Forestry hopes to remove 400 of the 800 infected trees around Bloomington and to replant 100 new trees in their place in the next five years.Arp said the personal goal of IDNR is a broad one, involving educating the public and steering environmental efforts in the right direction. “The mission of IDNR is to protect, enhance, preserve and wisely use natural, cultural and recreational resources for the benefit of Indiana’s citizens through professional leadership, management and education,” Arp said.Bloomington’s Urban Forester Lee Huss worked alongside IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs instructor Burney Fischer and graduate student Rachael Bergman to write the proposal for this year’s grant. Huss said he worked with SPEA graduate students in the past to build proposals for the city.“The grant is very simple,” Huss said. “Create a project that meets IDNR Forestry’s criteria, produce matching funds and complete the project by the due date.”Bergman, who is currently working on dual master’s of public affairs and science in environmental science, said the team used the previous year’s proposals as models but added her research to strengthen the arguments. “I have taken Burney’s Urban Forest Management class, as well as worked with his research group for over a year, so I have a strong background in urban forestry that I utilized in writing the grant,” Bergman said. “In writing the grant, I utilized information about the effects of emerald ash borer and the importance of managing against this invasive pest.”The decision process was not a simple task, Arp said. The group judging the grant proposals this year included representatives from the Indiana Urban Forest Council, utility forestry, private industry, IU Bloomington faculty and IDNR staff.“The reviewers scored the grants they reviewed, and, based on those scores, the grants were ranked from highest to lowest,” Arp said. “We then award grant funds until we ran out of money.”Huss said he hopes that, following the success of these projects, the IDNR will accept another proposal in subsequent grant years.“When the city successfully accomplishes this task, we might be eligible to repeat this project the next time IDNR grant funds are available,” Huss said.Bergman said she was honored Huss considered her a benefit to the Parks and Recreation department.“I really enjoyed working with Lee,” Bergman said. “He has a lot of good ideas for urban forestry improvement projects in Bloomington, is invested in the city’s status of Tree City USA and understands the best management practices necessary to keep Bloomington’s trees healthy, including removing ash trees to protect against emerald ash borer.”Follow reporter Sanya Ali on Twitter @siali13.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When Brooke Eads heard the Starlite Drive-In theater was going to close, she immediately knew she needed to help.The Starlite has been a town icon since 1955, and its current owners, Cindy and Troy Jarvis, said they couldn’t keep it open any longer. Eads, a 32-year-old publisher and photographer, grew up attending shows at Starlite. Now, Eads is trying to buy the Starlite, but first she needs to raise the money. “I have been going to the drive-in since I was a child and have great memories there,” Eads said. “I also worked at Starlite Drive-In for the previous owners, Carl and Ruth Stewart, when I was in my teens and early 20s.”Cindy Jarvis has a similar affection for Starlite and said many of her best memories were made there. Her kids had friends over. The family sometimes camped at the drive-in.“Starlite was our home away from home on the weekends,” Jarvis said. “Everyone would work — they loved working the drive-in. Then we would play after people left.” There are specific arrangements in place so that no major modifications will occur after the sale. “They do not want to sell to someone who will change the drive-in, and that’s not my intention either,” Eads said. “I want Starlite to re-open better than ever and flourish.”The only change, according to Eads, will be the addition of newer digital projection equipment required for drive-in theaters. The cost of such equipment will run about $100,000, so Eads has planned fundraisers to cover expenses. She said she wants to maintain the sanctity of the Starlite theater she grew up with while also embracing some new traditions. “I love the idea of showing old movies from time to time, as well as holding a Halloween event every year,” Eads said.Scott Shafer, a friend and former coworker from Author Solutions, Inc., met Eads through a mutual friend. Eads was in a leadership position in her sector of ASI. “I could definitely see that she was a leader type,” Shafer said. “She always had things done on time and made sure everyone had everything they needed to get stuff done on time, too.”Cherish Denton, another friend and coworker, added that with Eads’ head role at ASI came many helpful administrative changes.“She ended up writing a lot of the procedures of our operation,” Denton said. “We had a lot to figure out, and she was huge in getting that figured for the company.”Shafer said he has faith that Eads will help bring Starlite into a new era of drive-in culture. “To see her actually try to get this transferred to digital and to keep the Starlite up and running is something I admire,” Shafer said. “There are so many drive-ins that have this hurdle they have to overcome, and so many of them are going to be lost in that transfer.”Both Denton and Shafer share Eads’s love of drive-ins and said the passion she has for the place will be an asset she competes with other buyers interested in the space. Eads said she hopes the reopened theater with the added events will attract community members for years to come. “I want new generations to enjoy the drive-in that so many of us grew up with,” Eads said. “It is one of the few standing places that is fun for all ages and is still affordable.”Denton advised Eads to take pride in all that she has done so far even if the fundraising step does not take off as planned. “It would be amazing, and I think she could do it, but if it didn’t happen, what she did matters so much more and means a lot to people,” Denton said. “For her to do this is letting a lot of people know what a great person she is and how much she can change things.”Cindy Jarvis said she hopes the drive-in continues to thrive, regardless of who is in charge. “It isn’t what is on the screen,” Jarvis said. “It is the experience. It is one of those entertainment pieces that families get to escape and be with their family.”