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Healthy Living 189 results
In 1994, a group of Bloomington women conducted a homegrown experiment to create a new science playground for children. Today, WonderLab Museum of Science, Health & Technology has become a success story far beyond what many could have imagined. (above) WonderLab staff at the museum’s original location in the Wicks Building on the downtown square (clockwise from far left): Louise Schlesinger, Mary Sommers, Colleen Couper, Karen Stucky, Erin Gerecke, Catherine Olmer, (unidentified), Karen Jepson-Innes, Jeanne Gunning, Greta Faroute | Photo by Melinda Seader

The ‘WonderWomen’ Behind WonderLab
Trung Le
In 1994, a group of Bloomington women conducted a homegrown experiment to create a science playground for children. Today, as it welcomes a new executive director, WonderLab Museum has become a success story far beyond what they imagined. LP contributor Trung Le interviewed some of the women involved with WonderLab since its humble beginnings. Click here to read about the WonderWomen.
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Ruthie Cohen, LP’s aproned sage, is back in the kitchen, stirring the pot and serving up delicious recipes. This month, she shows us how to spice up the pantry, then makes chermoula (above), a savory Moroccan sauce that works with vegetables, fish, meats, and couscous. | Photos by Ruthie Cohen

Stirring the Pot: Chermoula and a Pantry Infused with Delight
Ruthie Cohen
Ruthie Cohen is back in the kitchen! After a two-year, too-long hiatus, LP’s aproned sage is once again serving up delicious recipes. This month, she stirs the pot by showing us how to spice up the pantry and make chermoula, a savory Moroccan sauce that works with vegetables, fish, meats, and couscous. Click here for the whole chermoula.
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The Marsh Madness Festival in Linton, Indiana, is February 14–15 at Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area. The annual event celebrates the sandhill crane migration that stops in Greene County and fuels an economic boost to the community. Above, sandhill cranes in Elkhart, Indiana. | Photo by Tina Nord

Sandhill Cranes Are the Stars of Marsh Madness at Goose Pond The annual wildlife spectacle boosts tourism in Greene County
Carol Johnson
Marsh Madness, February 14–15 at Goose Pond FWA, celebrates the sandhill crane migration that stops in Greene County and fuels an economic boost to the community. The annual event was established by the nonprofit Friends of Goose Pond, which supports the wetlands that attract numerous species of migratory birds. Read the article by Carol Johnson of the Southern Indiana Business Report.
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Winter in Indiana is prime season for house fires, but the Bloomington Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division works year-round to reduce the risk of fires and promote fire safety. Above, firefighters train at the Public Safety Training facility on South Walnut Street. | Photography by Nick Bauer

Fire Safety and Prevention Through Education, Engineering, Enforcement Photo essay on the Bloomington Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division
Nick Bauer
Winter in Indiana is prime season for house fires, but the Bloomington Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division works year-round to reduce the risk of fires and promote fire safety. This photo essay by Nick Bauer shows the work being done to prevent fire tragedies in Bloomington. Click here for Bauer’s article and photo gallery.
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As communities become more politically polarized, their citizens have to cope with ever more extreme policies. IU political science scholar Marjorie Hershey says polarization tends to make each party “less diverse internally and more different from the views and social characteristics of the other party.” Above, a vendor sells T-shirts in Milwaukee during the Republican National Convention in July. | Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian

Political Polarization Hurts Communities — What Can Be Done? Deep Dive: WFHB & Limestone Post Investigate Political Polarization
Marjorie Hershey, Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian
As communities become more Democratic or Republican, their citizens have to cope with ever more left-wing or right-wing policies. As political science scholar Marjorie Hershey writes, polarization tends to make each party “less diverse internally and more different from the views and social characteristics of the other party.” What can be done about it? Click here for a Deep Dive into political polarization.
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People take varied paths to the emergency medical profession, and their journeys can differ by geography. Nonetheless, Christine Brackenhoff writes, EMS personnel and agencies across our region have a strong spirit of interconnectivity. Above, flight paramedic Ashley Lucas prepares equipment for the next flight. | Photo by Christine Brackenhoff

Many Paths Taken to the Emergency Medical Profession
Christine Brackenhoff
The individual journeys people take to the emergency medical profession are varied and can differ by geography. Christine Brackenhoff profiles four EMS professionals in south-central Indiana to learn how they got where they are, and why. She also found a strong spirit of interconnectivity for first responders and EMS agencies across our region. Click here for the story.
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Students in the American Studies class at Bloomington’s Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship were asked to identify their sense of place. Each student made a video to learn about their special place’s “larger connection to our shared home of southern Indiana.” Above, a screenshot from the video by Andjoli C. Badger.

What Is ‘A Sense of Place’? Bloomington Students Explain — and Share Theirs The 2024 “Sense of Place” project by students at the Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship is here!
Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship Students
Students in the American Studies class at Bloomington’s Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship were asked to identify their sense of place. Each student made a video to learn about their special place’s “larger connection to our shared home of southern Indiana.” And as ASE students have done since 2016, they’ve shared their videos with us. Watch their “sense of place” videos here.
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Mindfulness originated in ancient Buddhism, but the practice has expanded to companies that offer some form of mindfulness training for their workers. Artists and sisters Nina (left) and Sonya Montenegro own The Far Woods, a creative studio that reflects their dedication to mindful living. Other local businesses make it part of their everyday approach, as well, by taking into consideration “the well-being of the environment, the consumer, and the business owner alike.” | Courtesy photo

Mindfulness Widens Its Sphere from Personal Mantra to Business Practice
Shannon Livengood
Though mindfulness originated in Buddhism, the practice has expanded to companies that offer some form of mindfulness for their workers. And, as Shannon Livengood writes, several local businesses have made it part of their everyday approach “in obvious and maybe not-so obvious ways,” taking into consideration “the well-being of the environment, the consumer, and the business owner alike.” Become more mindful here.
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The licensed mental health professionals on the Social Support Services Team at the Bloomington Police Department say they offer types of help that uniformed police officers aren’t trained to provide. (l-r) Dayona Cunningham, BPD Social Work Intern; Melissa Stone, MSW, LCSW; Mallory Swanson, MSW, LCSW; Pamela Flick, MA, LMHCA. | Limestone Post

Goal of BPD and Social Support Team Is ‘To Help People’ Deep Dive: WFHB & Limestone Post Investigate Police Social Support Services Team
Haley Miller
The Police Social Support Services Team at the Bloomington Police Department has helped thousands of people since 2019. Critics say police and social workers have differing views of justice — criminal versus social — but the team’s licensed mental health professionals say they offer support that uniformed police officers aren’t trained to provide. Click here to read a Deep Dive on social support services.
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A study conducted in part by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy surveyed teens about the most common sources of distress in their lives. IU Storyteller Nikki Livingston explores both the key findings from the survey and how teens can combat distress and burnout.

American Teens Feel Pressure in 6 Areas of Life How can they address burnout and ‘grind culture’?
Nikki Livingston
What are the most common sources of distress among teens? A study conducted in part by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy surveyed teens about specific pressures they face. IU Storyteller Nikki Livingston explores key findings from the survey and how teens can combat distress, burnout, and “grind culture.” Find out how to address the distress.
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