Stirring the Pot: Flour, Yeast, Salt, Water, and Love — Bloomington Bakers
Among the many talented people in B-town, some nurture our minds, some our souls, some our bellies, writes Ruthie Cohen. Surround a creative person with “caring mentors and a supportive community, and watch her grow.” In her column, Stirring the Pot, Ruthie profiles a few of the nurturing souls in kitchens across town.
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The Fate of Children in the Opioid Crisis
With the opioid crisis having profound effects on so much of our community, some of the most vulnerable victims are the children who have lost their parents — emotionally or physically — to drug addiction or overdose. The system we have to address the problem — foster care, legal guardianships, and adoption — is overwhelmed. Writer Ann Georgescu looks at the issue.
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Cave Diving in Southern Indiana Takes a Mature Mindset
Samuel Frushour and his cave-diving peers have mapped miles of aquatic caves in southern Indiana. While Hoosier caverns might not have the clear blue waters of tropical caves, they offer an adventure that is increasingly difficult to find in modern times — exploring uncharted territory. Writer Jonah Chester dives into the story.
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Guest Column: Roots of Community Orchard Spread Across Town
Since 2010, the Bloomington Community Orchard has grown from a grassy acre into a fully planted orchard. But its roots stretch throughout the city, connecting with community members, businesses, and other organizations through skill-sharing classes, partner plantings, and other programs. In this guest column, BCO volunteer Megan Betz writes about the project — and the mysteriously vanishing peaches!
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Big Mike’s B-town: Darran Mosley, Misfit
Creating a community of misfits isn’t what Darran Mosley intended or expected. After growing up in a “super-rough” neighborhood in Indianapolis, then working in computer systems in Chicago, he landed in Bloomington, where he works in IT by day and in music entertainment by night. Here, Michael G. Glab profiles this karaoke host, DJ, and vocalist.
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Summer Programs for Rural Kids Halts STEM Brain Drain
For many students in rural areas of Indiana, STEM learning fades as the school year ends, writes Patti Danner, a staff writer for the
Greene County Daily World. But Danner has found many activities and events — including an education outreach program from WonderLab — that offer science-learning opportunities to children who otherwise wouldn’t have access to it.
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Intentional Communities Must ‘Bend with the Times’
Southern Indiana has a long tradition of utopian communities, also known as communes. A few of the ones formed in the 1960s and ’70s — places like May Creek Farm and Needmore — have had to “bend with the times” to survive, says writer John Mikulenka in this detailed and expansive feature. But as the founding members age, he asks, who will take their place?
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