Destination Small Town: Old World Germany in Oldenburg

Michael Waterford

In our newest series, Destination Small Town, adventure-travel writer Michael Waterford explores intriguing places in Indiana. His first trip is to "ludicrously pleasant” Oldenburg. With Germanic heritage, a historic convent, and two restaurants on the Southeastern Indiana Chicken Tour (yes, it's a real thing), Oldenburg is a fantastic weekend getaway. Click here to read the full story.

March 31, 2016

Montana Transplant’s First Hoosier Garden Turns Into ‘Tropical Rectangle of Chaos’

Jonna Mary Yost

With so-so results and “a heavy blanket of defeat” from gardening in her native Montana, Jonna Mary Yost dug her thumbs in the dirt at her new Indiana home. The prime growing conditions of the Hoosier climate turned her backyard into a lush harvest. Click here to read the full story.

March 29, 2016

Sponsorship

PupCake The Service Dog works with "her girl" on many things, including guide work, mobility, self-injury prevention, item retrieval, alerting, wheelchair work, and repetitive-motion disruption. | Photo courtesy of PupCake The Service Dog

Service Dogs Are a Breed Apart

Brian Hartz

The range of skills and tasks that service dogs can accomplish is remarkable — almost human. At the very least, they provide a measure of confidence and independence to people with specific needs, but often the results are nothing short of life saving. In this article, writer Brian Hartz looks at the canine saviors. Click here to read the full story.

March 25, 2016

Stephanie Solomon, the director of education and outreach at Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, says the problem of food insecurity is broader and more systemic than many people realize. Monroe County is tied for the fourth-highest hunger rate in the state. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

Food Insecurity, Part 1: Misconceptions Persist About Who Needs Help Getting Food

Sarah Gordon, Natasha Komoda

In this three-part series, Sarah Gordon investigates the popular misconceptions about “food insecurity” — the inability to afford nutritious, or even enough, food. Most people considered food insecure are seniors and families with children. Many are our neighbors. Local experts say the problem is more systemic than most people are aware. Click here to read the full story.

March 21, 2016

Terran Marks, resident blacksmith and owner of Brown County Forge, working in the Ingot Workshop at Artisan Alley, an artist collective on South Rogers Street. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

Fair, Open House on March 26 to Showcase Artisan Alley on S. Rogers St.

Wesley P. Martin, Natasha Komoda

A collective of glassblowers, painters, welders, photographers, and more, Artisan Alley is on property slated to become part of Switchyard Park. For now, though, founder Adam Nahas is providing a home for artists with a variety of artistic needs. On Saturday, March 26, the collective hosts an art fair and open house. Click here to read the full story.

March 15, 2016

Sponsorship

The Eastern box turtle is one of many Indiana species on the state's "special concern" list. | Creative Commons, Branlon

150 Species in Indiana Now Listed As Endangered or ‘Special Concern’

Susan M. Brackney

What would happen if the hellbender goes? More than 150 mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and mollusks that call Indiana home are now listed as “endangered” or “special concern” in the state. Susan M. Brackney shows who decides which animals make the cut — and how. Click here to read the full story.

March 11, 2016

Photographer Shoots Bloomington Street Scenes on Film

Justin Banks

Using a Rolleiflex 3.5 F camera, photographer Justin Banks shoots street scenes of Bloomington and processes the film in his kitchen. While his work is in the vein of Vivian Maier, who captured Chicago in the 1950s on the same kind of camera, Banks’ photography is classic, contemporary Bloomington. Click here to view our photo gallery.

March 7, 2016

The stars of the 7th Annual Marsh Madness Sandhill Crane Festival at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area in Greene County. Tens of thousands have already been spotted in the area. | Photo by Thomas Marriage

Treasure Hunting at Goose Pond During Marsh Madness

Limestone Post

The spring migration of sandhill cranes and countless other birds will be celebrated on March 4-5 during the 7th Annual Marsh Madness Sandhill Crane Festival at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area. David Rupp, owner of IndiGo Birding Nature Tours, gave Limestone Post a preview on a recent trip to the pond. Click here to read the full story.