April/May 2012

‘The Sun Never Sets on IU’ Says J T. Forbes, Alumni Head

First Posted: 1/22/13 09:23 AM EDT Updated: 1/22/13 09:23 AM EDT
Originally published April/May 2012

BY JANET MANDELSTAM When J Thomas Forbes became executive director of the Indiana University Alumni Association in 2010, he set out to meet his constituents. Not an easy task when you consider that there are more than half a million living IU graduates, 13,000 of whom are part of a global network of alumni in 154 countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. “The sun never sets on IU,” says Forbes, an alumnus himself, who traveled more than 43,000 miles “to meet and listen to alumni.” The trip took him across the U.S. and to China, Taiwan, and Korea. “When you live and work in Bloomington, you don’t often see what a difference the university has made in the lives of our [...]

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Filed Under: Community Tagged With: Indiana University, IU Alumni Association, J T. Forbes, Janet Mandelstam

Leo Cook: Jack of All Trades

First Posted: 1/21/13 02:28 PM EDT Updated: 1/21/13 02:28 PM EDT
Originally published April/May 2012

BY ELISABETH ANDREWS Things Leo Cook can do: mix an award-winning cocktail, play the electric washboard, make 50 varieties of Rice Krispies treats, and hug more than 1,000 people within 24 hours. He’s also a plumber’s assistant, a part-time landscaper, a volunteer cook and server at the Shalom Community Center, a volunteer bagger at Bloomingfoods, and a popular emcee for local events like LifeDesigns’ Week of Chocolate and the costume contest at The Bluebird Nightclub. Cook, 46, has strutted his stuff in the Dancing With the Celebrities showcase, raised nearly $1,000 for Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard with his Hug-a-Thon, and even cohosted the nationally syndicated The Jenny Jones Show. His day job these days is head caterer at the Showers Inn [...]

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Filed Under: Our Town Tagged With: Bloomingfoods, Elisabeth Andrews, James Kellar, Leo Cook, LifeDesigns, Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, Shalom Community Center, Showers Inn bed and breakfast, The Bluebird

Growing Vegetables and Fighting Fires Go Hand in Hand

First Posted: 1/15/13 02:20 PM EDT Updated: 1/15/13 02:22 PM EDT
Originally published April/May 2012

BY ADAM KENT-ISAAC There are few among us who, at some point in childhood, didn’t proclaim a desire to be firefighters when we grew up. And, as Mom and Dad would tell us, we had to eat our vegetables if this were to become a reality. Parents wishing to employ this same bit of hyperbole can point to the organic vegetable garden planted behind the Bloomington Fire Department station on East 4th Street downtown, and to the firefighters who enjoy its bounty. Ferrol Johnson of Abundant Harvest Farms, the organic gardening specialist responsible for the project, says it’s equal parts marketing strategy and public service. “Urban gardens are a great way to raise awareness of organic gardening in general, and [...]

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Filed Under: Home/Family Tagged With: Abundant Harvest Farms, Adam Kent-Isaac, Ann Hawks, Bloomington Fire Department, Ferrol Johnson, Roger Kerr

VIPaws: Bringing People and Pets Together for the Benefit of All

First Posted: 11/15/12 02:31 PM EDT Updated: 11/15/12 02:31 PM EDT
Originally published April/May 2012

BY JESSICA SCHOFIELD The adage “A dog is a man’s best friend” can be said not only for men but for women and children, too, because of some very important paws. In the Monroe County Humane Association’s VIPaws program, trained human and animal teams visit schools, nursing homes, and other places in the community to provide benefits for both people and pets. “It’s all about increasing the human and animal bond,” says VIPaws coordinator Sarah DeLone. Animals are therapeutic, she says, because they “change the whole energy of a room.” VIPaws is the local affiliate of Delta Society’s Pet Partners, a national program that trains volunteers and evaluates their pets before allowing them to visit facilities. In Monroe County, the [...]

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Filed Under: Health/Fitness Tagged With: Animal Reading Friends, Bell Trace Senior Living Community, Deborah Zigler, Delta Society's Pet Partners, James Kellar, Jessica Schofield, Monroe County Humane Association, Monroe County Public Library, Sarah DeLone, VIPaws

A New Women’s Boutique For All Sizes, All Ages

First Posted: 10/2/12 01:33 PM EDT Updated: 10/2/12 01:33 PM EDT
Originally published April/May 2012

BY PAMELA KEECH Bloomington has a new dress shop, art gallery, and gathering spot, all rolled into one. It’s called DD Decor and it’s the latest addition to Renwick Village Center on the east side of town, just off Sare Road. Owner Dana Goode, 58, is displaying trendy clothing with West Coast flair, along with paintings by her friend Jennifer Mujezinovic (Moo-yay-zin-o-vich). A native of Southern California, Goode has been around Bloomington since she met her husband, local manufacturer John Goode. She’s known for giving parties and organizing events, and in 2011 her fancy footwork won Dancing With the Celebrities. “People know they can come in the store and just sit down and have a good time, or talk, or [...]

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Filed Under: Fashion/Shopping Tagged With: Dana Goode, DD Decor, Jennifer Mujezinovic, Pamela Keech