HEALTH/FITNESS
Jazzercise: Blending Dance, Yoga, Kickboxing, & More
As a Purdue University undergraduate in the 1980s, Kris Heeter was struck by a car and left with a broken pelvis.
Temujin Gold: A Swim Coach Without a Pool to Coach In
The pandemic brought many challenges, but for local swim coach Temujin Gold, that challenge was almost overwhelming—a year of coaching a swim club without a swimming pool.
Centerstone: Helping People in Recovery Find Employment and Start a New Life
Sometimes you just need someone to believe in you.
A Girl from Jamaica Becomes A Doctor in South-Central IN
As a young girl growing up in Jamaica, Dr. Karen Reid- Renner wanted to be a missionary nurse.
Coming in 2022: Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House
Indiana is a dangerous place to be a pregnant person. With one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the United States, Indiana sees approximately 50 people die of pregnancy-related complications for every 100,000 live births each year.
Bloomington Now a Leader In Supplying Vaccines to Nation
There’s a bit of Bloomington in much of the COVID-19 vaccine supply currently flowing nationwide.
New IU Hospital Plan Still On Track Despite Pandemic
Brian Shockney already had his work cut out for him—and then COVID-19 came along. As president of Indiana University Health South Central Region, Shockney has been managing teams working to build and transition to the new $557 million IU Health Bloomington Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC).
IU to Study Childhood Sexual Exploitation in Rural Counties
The number of Indiana youth who are sexually exploited has increased significantly in recent years, according to the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement.
Courage to Change Sober Living Providing Housing for Recovery
In 2016, housing for those recovering from substance use disorder was limited in Bloomington.
Bloomington Massage & Bodyworks Now Offering Movement Classes
With the recent acquisition of a third suite in Fountain Square Mall, Bloomington Massage & Bodyworks is now providing a movement and art space to complement the therapeutic work that’s been offered since 1997.
Chiropractor Dr. Karin Drummond: 10,000 Patients and Counting
Dr. Karin Drummond knew she wanted to be a chiropractor from the time she was a little girl. “I wasn’t interested in pills, I was interested in how to get well without pills,” she says.
Life at Bell Trace in the Pandemic
The sweet potato casserole, a traditional part of a holiday meal at Bell Trace, took a new path from the kitchen in the year of COVID-19.
Globe-Trotting with Brooke Bierhaus: Finding Community in Yoga Classes Around the World
Staying active while traveling isn’t always easy, especially when work and travel coincide. A long walk or a quick run are my favorite ways to combine exercise and sightseeing.
Insurance-Based Fitness Plans Help Seniors Pay Memberships
Judy and Paul Tedesco have logged countless miles trekking around the Twin Lakes Recreation Center track. Judy also rides the recumbent bike, Paul enjoys pickleball, and they both use the weight machines. The couple visits the City-run fitness facility nearly every day.
IU Student Advocates for Youth with Chronic Illness
Sneha Dave learned to cope with chronic illness when she was just a little girl. At age 6, she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affecting the large intestine.
IU Researcher Creates Health App To Aid Those on Autism Spectrum
Limited research shows that, due to sedentary lifestyles, health disorders such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hypertension are prevalent in those who experience autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Stride Coalition to Open Crisis Diversion Center
Working behind the scenes for two years, a group with more than 40 public, private, and nonprofit organizations represented has been quietly mapping out the community resources available for those with substance abuse disorders, working to identify service gaps, and looking for solutions to the problems faced by people in crisis.
Mind · Body · Spirit: Finding Your Next Fun Fitness Activity
I’m not sure if it’s an aphorism or an adage, but the saying “When one door closes, a window opens” is used in various contexts, usually to keep up one’s spirits. While I can’t seem to pin down who said it first, its general truthfulness and applicability make it useful in a variety of situations. I’ve most recently been applying it to exercise.
A Wellness Coach Who Knows About Trauma
Although she has always had a desire to help people, Susan Woods says experiencing her own health crisis took her work as a health and wellness coach to a new level.
B-town’s Jeff Huntoon—Coach of Championship Teams in Canada
While many of us may be anticipating the approach of the 2020 Summer Olympics, the games mean much more to former Bloomingtonian Jeff Huntoon. For him, those 16 days are the culmination of years of coaching some of Canada’s best track and field athletes.
Mind · Body · Spirit: It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask
In our family we have a motto: “It doesn’t hurt to ask.” My husband, Greg, insists this is true—the sentiment and the fact that it is our motto.
IU, Bloomington North Study Effects of Subconcussive Hits
Concerns about concussions have led to questions about the safety of high school football. Now a team of researchers from Indiana University has set up shop at Bloomington High School North to study the impact of subconcussive hits in youthful football players over time.
Local Girls Get Moving With Girls on the Run
Chelsea Blanchard says she was lucky to have talented cross country and track coaches when she was a runner—from the time she was in middle school through her time at Indiana University. Now, the Clear Creek Elementary School art teacher is a coach with Girls on the Run (GOTR), training a new generation of runners while also helping them build confidence and make smart life choices.
Volunteers in Medicine Now Able to Serve More People
Bloomington residents may notice changes to Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) at the end of the year, but Executive Director Nancy Richman says the clinic’s not going anywhere, it’s just entering a new era.
IU Health Embraces New Model: Population Health Management
There’s a new way of looking at medical care, and it’s being embraced at Indiana University Health. It’s called population health management, and it’s changing the way medical establishments interact with patients.
Every CrossFit Gym Offers Something a Little Different
CrossFit has been around since 2000, so it’s almost 20 years old, and still, people are confused as to what it means to “do CrossFit.”
‘The Universe Gave Me an Opportunity’ To Be a Donor Match and Save a Life
Five years ago, in 2014, Samuel Hanslits was a Georgetown University student, worn out and hungry during finals week. As he stepped off the campus library elevator, he noticed a table offering hefty chocolate chip cookies in exchange for joining Be the Match, a DNA registry seeking bone marrow donors for people with blood cancer.
Life Coaching Offers Clients Guidance and Skill Building
Scan the advertisements of any self-help or wellness magazine and you’ll find the term “life coaching” applied across a variety of services—everything from relationship help, career strategizing, and financial management to spiritual growth, stress reduction, and communication building.
Small Fitness Facilities Focus on the Individual
The second in a series about fitness facilities in Bloomington.
Courtney Payne-Taylor: Skateboarder on a Mission
When Courtney Payne-Taylor stepped onto a skateboard at Upper Cascades Skate Park in 2004, she was hooked. Skateboarding gave her the strength and confidence she needed to overcome the depression that had plagued her teen years.
Senior Games of Indiana: September 13-October 10
Staying active is a factor in healthy aging. In 1985, the Senior Games of Indiana was created to provide opportunities for people 50 and older to keep physically and mentally fit, says Na’Kia Jones, activities and programming manager for the Area 10 Agency on Aging.
City Starts Senior Center at Mall: Open on Tuesdays and Thursdays
While most Bloomington residents head to College Mall to peruse racks of clothing or maybe have lunch, Deborah Hill recently found herself in the mall for an entirely different reason: to attend a low-impact dance class at the new Endwright East Active Living Community Center.
Hoosiers Outrun Cancer Celebrates Its 20th Year
In the fall of 2000, a bittersweet Bloomington tradition began. That’s when 2,400 people gathered for the first Hoosiers Outrun Cancer (HOC) event, an opportunity to remember family and friends lost to cancer, to celebrate survivors, and raise money to help the Bloomington Health Foundation (BHF) support families fighting the disease.
For Runner Olivia Ballew Life is All About Routine
Local marathoner Olivia Ballew is a busy person. In November she ran a 2:43:13 marathon at the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, qualifying her for next year’s Olympic trials that will determine the 2020 U.S. Olympic marathon team. On top of her training, Ballew, 29, is a Ph.D. candidate in genome, cellular, and developmental biology at Indiana University.
Groups Make It Easy to Go Take a Hike
Area residents interested in hiking have two local groups—the Monroe County Trailblazers and Hiking for Health—to help lead the way.
Big Fitness Facilities Offer Something for Everyone
All large fitness facilities have a few things in common—cardio and weight machines, free weights, group exercise classes, personal trainers. But if you want to join a gym, you need to figure out which one is right for you. Here, we focus on four of the largest fitness facilities in Bloomington.
Public Library Now Offers Summer Running Program
Bloomington’s running culture is getting a boost from a place most people associate with more cerebral activities. On May 1, the Monroe County Public Library (MCPL) began a free 16-week running program for ages 18 and older called Booking It.
Bloom’s Greatest Hits: For the Love of Biking
I fell helmet over cleats in love with Bloomington cycling a long time ago. It wasn’t a matter of choice. How could I resist the bucolic country roads?
Suicide Awareness Training Prepares Teachers to Respond
Kara Cheslock has a new acronym in her teaching toolkit. A science teacher at Batchelor Middle School, Cheslock was in the first cohort of Monroe County Community School Corporation teachers to participate in a state-mandated suicide awareness and prevention training program.
Family Martial Arts Studio Focuses on Teaching Life Skills
Bloomington ATA Family Martial Arts is a family-run business with a customer base of mostly families. Nearly every student learning the Korean art of taekwondo is training with siblings, parents, or both.
Volunteers in Medicine Offers Full Dental Care
The dental clinic at Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) sees about 100 patients each month. During those visits, dentists Steve Pritchard and Park Firebaugh and dental hygienist Jan Firebaugh do what most of us might see as routine dental care: they conduct exams, perform cleanings and extractions, take X-rays, and fit dentures.
Bloom’s Greatest Hits: A Guide To Golf In Our Own Backyard
Indiana does not generally fit the golfer’s notion of paradise, like, say, Florida, Hawaii, or even Myrtle Beach. We are missing the temperate climates, the sandy dunes, and the ocean breezes that conjure up the golfer’s idyll. But Indiana is actually a great place to play golf, precisely because most people don’t think of it that way.
Stop, Drop, and Give Me Ten! Fire Department Offers Free Workouts (Stop Gallery)
This summer, the City of Bloomington and the Bloomington Fire Department (BFD) are once again offering residents a chance to get in a free midweek workout while getting to know their local firefighters.
IU Eskenazi Art Museum Will Offer Art Therapy Programming
Art therapy has shown to be a powerful healing tool. Now, thanks to a charitable gift from philanthropist Bob LeBien, the Indiana University Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art will soon make such healing available in Bloomington.
Lumiere Ball To Shine Light On Mental Health
After 22 years in the hair industry, Bridgett DiVohl, owner of Royale Hair Parlor, finds she now has time to pursue passion projects that benefit the community.
Northwest YMCA Renovation: New Spaces, New Programs
The Northwest branch of the Monroe County YMCA opened five years ago, and to celebrate that milestone the facility recently received a makeover.
Baby Boomers—Five Times More Likely to Have Hep C
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in 2016 there were 2.4 million people living with hepatitis C in the United States. Carrie Lawrence, director of Project Cultivate, an Indiana University School of Public Health program, wants people to know the disease can be prevented and, if diagnosed, it can be treated.
IRA Offers Tools to Help Address Opioid Epidemic
As the country struggles to address the opioid epidemic, the Indiana Recovery Alliance (IRA) offers local communities tools to directly address two of the most pressing issues—the administration of the overdose-reversing drug naloxone and the disposal of used syringes.
Maxwell House Offers Free Yoga to Everyone
There are a lot of yoga studios in Bloomington, but Maxwell House Yoga is different. Here, instructors volunteer their time to teach free classes that last as long as three hours. Students are asked to donate what they can to local charities.
Ivy Tech Massage Program Offers Low-Cost Treatments to the Public
The students enrolled in the therapeutic massage program at Ivy Tech Community College–Bloomington may not know it, but they are at the forefront of a growing career trend. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs for massage therapists are growing much faster than the average for all occupations in the United States.
Soccer Player Allison Jorden Makes Sure Everybody Plays
When Indiana University soccer player Allison Jorden suffered a season-ending injury at the start of her sophomore year, she recognized the challenges she would have to overcome to return to the sport she loves. But rather than simply sit on the sidelines, Jorden spent her recovery returning to a sports-related passion she first developed as a high school student in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Local Community Has Support of Two Health Foundations
Those looking to support health programs in Bloomington and Monroe County now have more ways to give, but it can get a little confusing.
Local Boy Ian Finnerty Is Top NCAA Swimmer
While Indiana University swimmer Ian Finnerty might emulate other swimmers like Olympic medal record-holder Michael Phelps in the pool, he gets much of his inspiration from land-based athletes like runner Steve Prefontaine.
Hundreds of Lifesaving AEDs Are Now All Around Town
While you might not have known what it was, chances are you have seen an automated external defibrillator, or AED. Used to restart someone’s heart following sudden cardiac arrest, AEDs have been placed in more gyms, schools, and businesses in recent years due to increased regulation and greater public awareness of their ability to save lives.
Nurse-Family Partnership Means Healthier Babies
With a focus on the development of healthier families, the IU Health Community Health Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) pairs first-time, low-income, expectant mothers with a registered nurse during pregnancy and through the child’s second birthday.
Hoosiers Outrun Cancer, Everyone’s a Winner!
The winners of the annual Hoosiers Outrun Cancer 5K are the participants who band together to celebrate survival over cancer, to honor the memory of a loved one who lost the fight, or to encourage those just beginning their battle.
Nurse Navigators Guide Patients on Cancer Journey
As long as Debra Traylor Davis had been getting yearly mammograms, she had also been getting called back to Southern Indiana Radiological Associates (SIRA). “They usually couldn’t get a good read on the first one, so I’d have to get a second mammogram,” Davis says. “So when they called me back last year, I figured that’s what it was.”
Dummy Cardboard Rooms Help in Designing New IU Health Hospital
Although the new IU Health Bloomington Hospital on the city’s east side won’t be complete until 2020, doctors, nurses, and other staff have already begun considering how they will best deliver services to future patients.
Runners & Would-Be Runners: Eight Training Tips for Fall Races
BY CARMEN SIERING If you’ve ever thought of tackling one of the 5ks, 10ks, or half-marathons that...
Two Bloomington Women Donate Kidneys, Attend World-Record Gathering of Donors
Though they are fast friends now, Kate Griggs and Anita Rausch might never have become acquainted if it were not for kidney transplants. Both Bloomington women donated kidneys to strangers.
At Cutters Soccer Club, Everybody Gets to Play
On Saturday mornings, Karst Farm Park is home to Cutters Soccer Club, a Bloomington organization dedicated to youth soccer. Looking around, what most people see are kids running up and down soccer fields. What Cutters Executive Director Michael Nosofsky would like them to see, however, is not a youth soccer program so much as a youth development program that uses soccer as its vehicle.
Positive Link Primary Care Clinic Offers Hope for Slowing HIV/AIDS Infection
For the first time in the 17 years that Jill Stowers has been working in the field, she has hope of slowing the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Back Handspring Anyone? Stage Flight Circus Arts Is a Place to Learn from Pros
Clint and Hannah Bobzein, the owners of Stage Flight, are professional circus artists. After years of international touring, they settled in Bloomington in 2014. The next year they opened Stage Flight in a barn on Lake Monroe. They started by offering open-gym sessions, later adding classes in the circus arts. They soon had 30 students. In January 2017 they relocated to a west-side warehouse where they now teach more than 80 students of all ages and experience levels.
Fred Astaire Studio Offers Dance Lessons and Chance for Romance
When Dmitriy Volodko boarded a plane to the United States from Ukraine six years ago, it was the first time he had seen the inside of an airport, let alone a plane. When he arrived in New York City, it was a struggle to locate his luggage. “I had zero language skills,” he says. It was his skill as a competitive ballroom dancer, a career he began at age 8, that made the journey possible.
Bloomington’s Pickleball Ambassador Goes to Spain for World Tournament
It seems fitting that a man who calls himself the unofficial pickleball ambassador in Bloomington would travel all the way to Spain to participate in an international pickleball competition pitting North American players against those from Europe.
New Program Offers Sports For People with Disabilities
It’s taken a few years, but the students and faculty in the recreational therapy program at Indiana University have created an adaptive sports program for Bloomington.
Sunday Hoops at the Y: A 20-Year-Old Tradition
Many of the faces have changed over the past two decades, but not the bond that brings them together—basketball. Every Sunday at 8 a.m., approximately 20 men, young and old, gather at the Southeast YMCA to shoot hoops for a couple of hours. Their reasons for playing are as diverse as their backgrounds.
Group Is Helping Bloomington Become A More Dementia-Friendly Community
Julie Hill, life enrichment director at Bell Trace senior living community, has a personal stake in promoting Bloomington as a dementia-friendly community.
Bodybuilder, Personal Trainer & Artists’ Model
Personal trainer Brian Bourkland is a serious bodybuilder. His clients generally aren’t, but that’s fine with him. “I’m mostly interested in working with people in my generation—40s, 50s, 60s,” Bourkland says. “Everyone should be building strength and bone density to feel better long into their retirement years.”
Leukemia Survivor Would Like Bloomington To Be the ‘Bone Marrow Capital of Indiana’
In May 2016, Bloomington resident Martha Sullivan went to the emergency room after experiencing flu-like symptoms and shortness of breath for several weeks. There she received a shocking diagnosis: A blood test revealed she had acute myeloid leukemia, a type of blood cancer.
Two-Time Heart Recipient Winner of Athletic Medals Urges Others to Battle On
At 26, Spencer resident Dylan Deem has spent more time in hospitals than most people do in a lifetime. When he was 3 years old, he was diagnosed with synovial cell sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that usually occurs in adults.
Congratulations, Hunter! Puppy Partly Trained Here Graduates as Service Dog
It was a proud day in June when Susan Augenbergs saw Hunter, a puppy she helped train as a service dog, paired with his forever
companion in a graduation ceremony at the Indiana Women’s Prison in Indianapolis.
Indiana Recovery Alliance: Syringe Exchange Program Saves Lives
While Indiana, like most states, struggles with an ongoing opioid crisis that officials predict will get worse before it gets better, there are groups trying to mitigate the damage.
The Annual Turkey Trots And Other Autumn Races
For many runners, fall is race season, and those looking to hit the road or trail will find several local opportunities.
IU Students Educate Legislators at AIDSWatch Event in Capital
When Gilbert Bongmba walked up the steps of the United States Capitol in March to advocate for support in the fight against HIV/AIDS, it was the latest demonstration of his long commitment to reducing the spread of the disease.
Support Group Hopes to Make Indiana a ‘Lyme Literate State’
Susan Coleman’s mysterious health symptoms—headaches, fatigue, joint pain, fever, stiff neck, insomnia—began more than two decades ago. They would come and go, but she knew something was wrong. The difficulty was getting the right diagnosis.
Using Group Music Therapy to Improve Mental Health
In Gloria Stearns-Bruner’s softly lit, cozy music therapy room, young clients come in, pick out a lap dulcimer or rain stick or any of the other hand-held string and percussion instruments. They stand, sinking their feet into the plush rug, or sit down to relax—and make music.
B-town Gets a Salt Cave: Known as a Relaxing, Healthy Escape
Laura Chaiken likens the experience of visiting the Bloomington Salt Cave to getting “a nice big pink hug.” Visitors are surrounded by four tons of pink Himalayan salt on the walls and floor, 500 twinkling lights on the ceiling, and the quiet sounds of nature.
‘How Do You Have Fun with Cancer’ and Create a New Paradigm for Chemo?
On three occasions, Lauren Lane Powell was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and three times she defeated the disease. Now, along with IU Health Bloomington Hospital, she hopes her most recent experiences can be used to help others.
Jill’s House Has New Purpose as Home for Memory Care Patients
When Jan Gerkensmeyer needed more care due to memory loss, she and her husband, Dave, faced a tough decision. They knew they couldn’t continue living in their lake cabin in Minnesota. Their daughter lives in Bloomington, so they came here, where they found Jill’s House, an assisted living facility focusing on memory care.
PALS: Offering Horsemanship Therapy Even for Non-Riders
Over the past 17 years, Bloomington-based People & Animal Learning Services (PALS) has provided therapeutic riding programs for hundreds of clients with a wide range of conditions, from bipolar disorder to muscular dystrophy.
New Program Uses Music to Help Alzheimer’s Patients & Caregivers
Barbara Edmonds is enlisting high school music students, adult volunteers, and local professionals in her efforts to use music to enrich the lives of Monroe County elders living with Alzheimer’s disease. The nonprofit program she founded, Blooming Memories Thru Music, grew out of Edmonds’ experience watching her closest friend work as a caregiver for a relative with Alzheimer’s.
Bloomington Hospital Foundation Celebrates 50 Years of Helping People
If you live in south-central Indiana, you’ve almost certainly benefited from the work of the Bloomington Hospital Foundation at some point in your life. Established in 1967 by Bloomington’s Local Council of Women, the foundation has grown into a major force in health care philanthropy.
Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping: You’ll Kick, Punch, Squat & Sweat
Pam Green, co-owner of Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping, shouts to be heard over the music blasting in the gym. “Pound that bag. Left jab, right cross,” she yells. “Let me hear that bag. It’s music to my ears.” To the 20 sweaty exercisers punching and kicking the black heavy bags, she exhorts, “Keep pushing yourself.”
Kids Assemble Their New Bikes at Boys & Girls Clubs of B-town
Sixty-five local children put together their new bicycles, supplied by the Wheels & Wellness public health project, on Saturday, April 1, at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington on South Lincoln Street. Bill Morrow, a nurse practitioner with Riley Physicians at IU Health in Bloomington, led the effort, which developed into a multi-organizational partnership that raised about $12,500 to purchase the bicycle kits.
Housing for the Homeless: Work Starts on Crawford II Building
Crawford Homes, located on South Henderson Street, provides permanent, supportive housing for those suffering from long-term homelessness due to mental illness, chronic disease, late-stage addiction, and physical and developmental disabilities. Crawford I opened in 2013 and, according to those involved with the 25-unit complex, has proven to be a success.
Wheeler Mission Ministries: Helping Addicts Recover Their Lives
Since 1953, Wheeler Mission Ministries has operated a 285-acre residential facility on Fish Road called Camp Hunt that helps men overcome addiction. And, since merging with Backstreet Missions in 2015, Wheeler has operated the Center for Men and Center for Women & Children homeless shelters in town.
Young Women Can Work Out for Free at B-town Jazzercise
Throughout 2017, Jazzercise Bloomington is joining a national Jazzercise Inc. initiative and offering women 16 to 21 years of age unlimited free classes to support their fitness efforts.
Update: On 70th Anniversary of Famed Kinsey Institute
This year marks a milestone for the Kinsey Institute as Indiana University celebrates the 70th anniversary of what is arguably the world’s most influential center for the study of human sexuality.
Four Earth Week Events Set for April
These family-friendly Earth Week activities include two paddle events on Griffy Lake, a tree survey, and solar-cooked pizza.
New Vet Clinic Offers Services For Low-Income Pet Owners
The Nonprofit Veterinary Clinic & Outreach Center, which opened in November, offers affordable diagnostics, medication, and additional care.
Can You Do A Triathlon? Test Yourself at Indoor Event
The Indiana University Swim Club Indoor Triathlon invites swimmers, bikers, and runners of all skill-levels to participate on March 5.
Greene & Schultz Hoosier Half Marathon Fundraiser for Riley Hospital, April 8
Three thousand runners are expected to participate in this year’s Greene & Schultz Hoosier Half Marathon Fundraiser event.
The Bridge Spiritual Center for Seekers of Restorative Therapies (photo gallery)
Karla Kamstra owns The Bridge Spiritual Center, a sanctuary for those seeking calmness and balance in their lives.
Protect Your Kids: Where to Go for Inexpensive Home Safety Products
Accidental injuries are the leading cause of death in children up to the age of 14. The Riley Safety Store at IU Health Bloomington is a one-stop shop for safety products.
ICEY- An Interfaith Teen Group Working to Tackle Climate Change
Members of Bloomington’s Interfaith Community of Environmentalist Youth believe climate change is their generation’s most important issue, and have taken it upon themselves to educate others.
KMB Studio for Music and Movement: Raising the Barre at Fountain Square Mall
Kelly McCormick Bangs brings exercise focused on balanced functionality to people of all ages with KMB Studio.
Leisure Companion Program Ensures Everyone Gets to Play
Parks and Rec program partners participants with disabilities with volunteer companions for additional support during inclusive activities.
Bell Trace and College Mall Team Up for Senior Wellness
Program is part of the Bell Trace commitment to encourage senior wellness.
Sweetroot Doulas: A One-Stop Shop For Expectant & New Parents
BY ERIN HOLLINDEN Developing a childbirth plan is a lot like making a business plan says Linnea...
HEALTH/FITNESS
Jazzercise: Blending Dance, Yoga, Kickboxing, & More
As a Purdue University undergraduate in the 1980s, Kris Heeter was struck by a car and left with a broken pelvis.
Temujin Gold: A Swim Coach Without a Pool to Coach In
The pandemic brought many challenges, but for local swim coach Temujin Gold, that challenge was almost overwhelming—a year of coaching a swim club without a swimming pool.
Centerstone: Helping People in Recovery Find Employment and Start a New Life
Sometimes you just need someone to believe in you.
A Girl from Jamaica Becomes A Doctor in South-Central IN
As a young girl growing up in Jamaica, Dr. Karen Reid- Renner wanted to be a missionary nurse.
Coming in 2022: Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House
Indiana is a dangerous place to be a pregnant person. With one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the United States, Indiana sees approximately 50 people die of pregnancy-related complications for every 100,000 live births each year.
Bloomington Now a Leader In Supplying Vaccines to Nation
There’s a bit of Bloomington in much of the COVID-19 vaccine supply currently flowing nationwide.
New IU Hospital Plan Still On Track Despite Pandemic
Brian Shockney already had his work cut out for him—and then COVID-19 came along. As president of Indiana University Health South Central Region, Shockney has been managing teams working to build and transition to the new $557 million IU Health Bloomington Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC).
IU to Study Childhood Sexual Exploitation in Rural Counties
The number of Indiana youth who are sexually exploited has increased significantly in recent years, according to the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement.
Courage to Change Sober Living Providing Housing for Recovery
In 2016, housing for those recovering from substance use disorder was limited in Bloomington.
Bloomington Massage & Bodyworks Now Offering Movement Classes
With the recent acquisition of a third suite in Fountain Square Mall, Bloomington Massage & Bodyworks is now providing a movement and art space to complement the therapeutic work that’s been offered since 1997.
Chiropractor Dr. Karin Drummond: 10,000 Patients and Counting
Dr. Karin Drummond knew she wanted to be a chiropractor from the time she was a little girl. “I wasn’t interested in pills, I was interested in how to get well without pills,” she says.
Life at Bell Trace in the Pandemic
The sweet potato casserole, a traditional part of a holiday meal at Bell Trace, took a new path from the kitchen in the year of COVID-19.
Globe-Trotting with Brooke Bierhaus: Finding Community in Yoga Classes Around the World
Staying active while traveling isn’t always easy, especially when work and travel coincide. A long walk or a quick run are my favorite ways to combine exercise and sightseeing.
Insurance-Based Fitness Plans Help Seniors Pay Memberships
Judy and Paul Tedesco have logged countless miles trekking around the Twin Lakes Recreation Center track. Judy also rides the recumbent bike, Paul enjoys pickleball, and they both use the weight machines. The couple visits the City-run fitness facility nearly every day.
IU Student Advocates for Youth with Chronic Illness
Sneha Dave learned to cope with chronic illness when she was just a little girl. At age 6, she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affecting the large intestine.
IU Researcher Creates Health App To Aid Those on Autism Spectrum
Limited research shows that, due to sedentary lifestyles, health disorders such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hypertension are prevalent in those who experience autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Stride Coalition to Open Crisis Diversion Center
Working behind the scenes for two years, a group with more than 40 public, private, and nonprofit organizations represented has been quietly mapping out the community resources available for those with substance abuse disorders, working to identify service gaps, and looking for solutions to the problems faced by people in crisis.
Mind · Body · Spirit: Finding Your Next Fun Fitness Activity
I’m not sure if it’s an aphorism or an adage, but the saying “When one door closes, a window opens” is used in various contexts, usually to keep up one’s spirits. While I can’t seem to pin down who said it first, its general truthfulness and applicability make it useful in a variety of situations. I’ve most recently been applying it to exercise.
A Wellness Coach Who Knows About Trauma
Although she has always had a desire to help people, Susan Woods says experiencing her own health crisis took her work as a health and wellness coach to a new level.
B-town’s Jeff Huntoon—Coach of Championship Teams in Canada
While many of us may be anticipating the approach of the 2020 Summer Olympics, the games mean much more to former Bloomingtonian Jeff Huntoon. For him, those 16 days are the culmination of years of coaching some of Canada’s best track and field athletes.
Mind · Body · Spirit: It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask
In our family we have a motto: “It doesn’t hurt to ask.” My husband, Greg, insists this is true—the sentiment and the fact that it is our motto.
IU, Bloomington North Study Effects of Subconcussive Hits
Concerns about concussions have led to questions about the safety of high school football. Now a team of researchers from Indiana University has set up shop at Bloomington High School North to study the impact of subconcussive hits in youthful football players over time.
Local Girls Get Moving With Girls on the Run
Chelsea Blanchard says she was lucky to have talented cross country and track coaches when she was a runner—from the time she was in middle school through her time at Indiana University. Now, the Clear Creek Elementary School art teacher is a coach with Girls on the Run (GOTR), training a new generation of runners while also helping them build confidence and make smart life choices.
Volunteers in Medicine Now Able to Serve More People
Bloomington residents may notice changes to Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) at the end of the year, but Executive Director Nancy Richman says the clinic’s not going anywhere, it’s just entering a new era.
IU Health Embraces New Model: Population Health Management
There’s a new way of looking at medical care, and it’s being embraced at Indiana University Health. It’s called population health management, and it’s changing the way medical establishments interact with patients.
Every CrossFit Gym Offers Something a Little Different
CrossFit has been around since 2000, so it’s almost 20 years old, and still, people are confused as to what it means to “do CrossFit.”
‘The Universe Gave Me an Opportunity’ To Be a Donor Match and Save a Life
Five years ago, in 2014, Samuel Hanslits was a Georgetown University student, worn out and hungry during finals week. As he stepped off the campus library elevator, he noticed a table offering hefty chocolate chip cookies in exchange for joining Be the Match, a DNA registry seeking bone marrow donors for people with blood cancer.
Life Coaching Offers Clients Guidance and Skill Building
Scan the advertisements of any self-help or wellness magazine and you’ll find the term “life coaching” applied across a variety of services—everything from relationship help, career strategizing, and financial management to spiritual growth, stress reduction, and communication building.
Small Fitness Facilities Focus on the Individual
The second in a series about fitness facilities in Bloomington.
Courtney Payne-Taylor: Skateboarder on a Mission
When Courtney Payne-Taylor stepped onto a skateboard at Upper Cascades Skate Park in 2004, she was hooked. Skateboarding gave her the strength and confidence she needed to overcome the depression that had plagued her teen years.
Senior Games of Indiana: September 13-October 10
Staying active is a factor in healthy aging. In 1985, the Senior Games of Indiana was created to provide opportunities for people 50 and older to keep physically and mentally fit, says Na’Kia Jones, activities and programming manager for the Area 10 Agency on Aging.
City Starts Senior Center at Mall: Open on Tuesdays and Thursdays
While most Bloomington residents head to College Mall to peruse racks of clothing or maybe have lunch, Deborah Hill recently found herself in the mall for an entirely different reason: to attend a low-impact dance class at the new Endwright East Active Living Community Center.
Hoosiers Outrun Cancer Celebrates Its 20th Year
In the fall of 2000, a bittersweet Bloomington tradition began. That’s when 2,400 people gathered for the first Hoosiers Outrun Cancer (HOC) event, an opportunity to remember family and friends lost to cancer, to celebrate survivors, and raise money to help the Bloomington Health Foundation (BHF) support families fighting the disease.
For Runner Olivia Ballew Life is All About Routine
Local marathoner Olivia Ballew is a busy person. In November she ran a 2:43:13 marathon at the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, qualifying her for next year’s Olympic trials that will determine the 2020 U.S. Olympic marathon team. On top of her training, Ballew, 29, is a Ph.D. candidate in genome, cellular, and developmental biology at Indiana University.
Groups Make It Easy to Go Take a Hike
Area residents interested in hiking have two local groups—the Monroe County Trailblazers and Hiking for Health—to help lead the way.
Big Fitness Facilities Offer Something for Everyone
All large fitness facilities have a few things in common—cardio and weight machines, free weights, group exercise classes, personal trainers. But if you want to join a gym, you need to figure out which one is right for you. Here, we focus on four of the largest fitness facilities in Bloomington.
Public Library Now Offers Summer Running Program
Bloomington’s running culture is getting a boost from a place most people associate with more cerebral activities. On May 1, the Monroe County Public Library (MCPL) began a free 16-week running program for ages 18 and older called Booking It.
Bloom’s Greatest Hits: For the Love of Biking
I fell helmet over cleats in love with Bloomington cycling a long time ago. It wasn’t a matter of choice. How could I resist the bucolic country roads?
Suicide Awareness Training Prepares Teachers to Respond
Kara Cheslock has a new acronym in her teaching toolkit. A science teacher at Batchelor Middle School, Cheslock was in the first cohort of Monroe County Community School Corporation teachers to participate in a state-mandated suicide awareness and prevention training program.
Family Martial Arts Studio Focuses on Teaching Life Skills
Bloomington ATA Family Martial Arts is a family-run business with a customer base of mostly families. Nearly every student learning the Korean art of taekwondo is training with siblings, parents, or both.
Volunteers in Medicine Offers Full Dental Care
The dental clinic at Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) sees about 100 patients each month. During those visits, dentists Steve Pritchard and Park Firebaugh and dental hygienist Jan Firebaugh do what most of us might see as routine dental care: they conduct exams, perform cleanings and extractions, take X-rays, and fit dentures.
Bloom’s Greatest Hits: A Guide To Golf In Our Own Backyard
Indiana does not generally fit the golfer’s notion of paradise, like, say, Florida, Hawaii, or even Myrtle Beach. We are missing the temperate climates, the sandy dunes, and the ocean breezes that conjure up the golfer’s idyll. But Indiana is actually a great place to play golf, precisely because most people don’t think of it that way.
Stop, Drop, and Give Me Ten! Fire Department Offers Free Workouts (Stop Gallery)
This summer, the City of Bloomington and the Bloomington Fire Department (BFD) are once again offering residents a chance to get in a free midweek workout while getting to know their local firefighters.
IU Eskenazi Art Museum Will Offer Art Therapy Programming
Art therapy has shown to be a powerful healing tool. Now, thanks to a charitable gift from philanthropist Bob LeBien, the Indiana University Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art will soon make such healing available in Bloomington.
Lumiere Ball To Shine Light On Mental Health
After 22 years in the hair industry, Bridgett DiVohl, owner of Royale Hair Parlor, finds she now has time to pursue passion projects that benefit the community.
Northwest YMCA Renovation: New Spaces, New Programs
The Northwest branch of the Monroe County YMCA opened five years ago, and to celebrate that milestone the facility recently received a makeover.
Baby Boomers—Five Times More Likely to Have Hep C
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in 2016 there were 2.4 million people living with hepatitis C in the United States. Carrie Lawrence, director of Project Cultivate, an Indiana University School of Public Health program, wants people to know the disease can be prevented and, if diagnosed, it can be treated.
IRA Offers Tools to Help Address Opioid Epidemic
As the country struggles to address the opioid epidemic, the Indiana Recovery Alliance (IRA) offers local communities tools to directly address two of the most pressing issues—the administration of the overdose-reversing drug naloxone and the disposal of used syringes.
Maxwell House Offers Free Yoga to Everyone
There are a lot of yoga studios in Bloomington, but Maxwell House Yoga is different. Here, instructors volunteer their time to teach free classes that last as long as three hours. Students are asked to donate what they can to local charities.
Ivy Tech Massage Program Offers Low-Cost Treatments to the Public
The students enrolled in the therapeutic massage program at Ivy Tech Community College–Bloomington may not know it, but they are at the forefront of a growing career trend. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs for massage therapists are growing much faster than the average for all occupations in the United States.
Soccer Player Allison Jorden Makes Sure Everybody Plays
When Indiana University soccer player Allison Jorden suffered a season-ending injury at the start of her sophomore year, she recognized the challenges she would have to overcome to return to the sport she loves. But rather than simply sit on the sidelines, Jorden spent her recovery returning to a sports-related passion she first developed as a high school student in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Local Community Has Support of Two Health Foundations
Those looking to support health programs in Bloomington and Monroe County now have more ways to give, but it can get a little confusing.
Local Boy Ian Finnerty Is Top NCAA Swimmer
While Indiana University swimmer Ian Finnerty might emulate other swimmers like Olympic medal record-holder Michael Phelps in the pool, he gets much of his inspiration from land-based athletes like runner Steve Prefontaine.
Hundreds of Lifesaving AEDs Are Now All Around Town
While you might not have known what it was, chances are you have seen an automated external defibrillator, or AED. Used to restart someone’s heart following sudden cardiac arrest, AEDs have been placed in more gyms, schools, and businesses in recent years due to increased regulation and greater public awareness of their ability to save lives.
Nurse-Family Partnership Means Healthier Babies
With a focus on the development of healthier families, the IU Health Community Health Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) pairs first-time, low-income, expectant mothers with a registered nurse during pregnancy and through the child’s second birthday.
Hoosiers Outrun Cancer, Everyone’s a Winner!
The winners of the annual Hoosiers Outrun Cancer 5K are the participants who band together to celebrate survival over cancer, to honor the memory of a loved one who lost the fight, or to encourage those just beginning their battle.
Nurse Navigators Guide Patients on Cancer Journey
As long as Debra Traylor Davis had been getting yearly mammograms, she had also been getting called back to Southern Indiana Radiological Associates (SIRA). “They usually couldn’t get a good read on the first one, so I’d have to get a second mammogram,” Davis says. “So when they called me back last year, I figured that’s what it was.”
Dummy Cardboard Rooms Help in Designing New IU Health Hospital
Although the new IU Health Bloomington Hospital on the city’s east side won’t be complete until 2020, doctors, nurses, and other staff have already begun considering how they will best deliver services to future patients.
Runners & Would-Be Runners: Eight Training Tips for Fall Races
BY CARMEN SIERING If you’ve ever thought of tackling one of the 5ks, 10ks, or half-marathons that...
Two Bloomington Women Donate Kidneys, Attend World-Record Gathering of Donors
Though they are fast friends now, Kate Griggs and Anita Rausch might never have become acquainted if it were not for kidney transplants. Both Bloomington women donated kidneys to strangers.
At Cutters Soccer Club, Everybody Gets to Play
On Saturday mornings, Karst Farm Park is home to Cutters Soccer Club, a Bloomington organization dedicated to youth soccer. Looking around, what most people see are kids running up and down soccer fields. What Cutters Executive Director Michael Nosofsky would like them to see, however, is not a youth soccer program so much as a youth development program that uses soccer as its vehicle.
Positive Link Primary Care Clinic Offers Hope for Slowing HIV/AIDS Infection
For the first time in the 17 years that Jill Stowers has been working in the field, she has hope of slowing the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Back Handspring Anyone? Stage Flight Circus Arts Is a Place to Learn from Pros
Clint and Hannah Bobzein, the owners of Stage Flight, are professional circus artists. After years of international touring, they settled in Bloomington in 2014. The next year they opened Stage Flight in a barn on Lake Monroe. They started by offering open-gym sessions, later adding classes in the circus arts. They soon had 30 students. In January 2017 they relocated to a west-side warehouse where they now teach more than 80 students of all ages and experience levels.
Fred Astaire Studio Offers Dance Lessons and Chance for Romance
When Dmitriy Volodko boarded a plane to the United States from Ukraine six years ago, it was the first time he had seen the inside of an airport, let alone a plane. When he arrived in New York City, it was a struggle to locate his luggage. “I had zero language skills,” he says. It was his skill as a competitive ballroom dancer, a career he began at age 8, that made the journey possible.
Bloomington’s Pickleball Ambassador Goes to Spain for World Tournament
It seems fitting that a man who calls himself the unofficial pickleball ambassador in Bloomington would travel all the way to Spain to participate in an international pickleball competition pitting North American players against those from Europe.
New Program Offers Sports For People with Disabilities
It’s taken a few years, but the students and faculty in the recreational therapy program at Indiana University have created an adaptive sports program for Bloomington.
Sunday Hoops at the Y: A 20-Year-Old Tradition
Many of the faces have changed over the past two decades, but not the bond that brings them together—basketball. Every Sunday at 8 a.m., approximately 20 men, young and old, gather at the Southeast YMCA to shoot hoops for a couple of hours. Their reasons for playing are as diverse as their backgrounds.
Group Is Helping Bloomington Become A More Dementia-Friendly Community
Julie Hill, life enrichment director at Bell Trace senior living community, has a personal stake in promoting Bloomington as a dementia-friendly community.
Bodybuilder, Personal Trainer & Artists’ Model
Personal trainer Brian Bourkland is a serious bodybuilder. His clients generally aren’t, but that’s fine with him. “I’m mostly interested in working with people in my generation—40s, 50s, 60s,” Bourkland says. “Everyone should be building strength and bone density to feel better long into their retirement years.”
Leukemia Survivor Would Like Bloomington To Be the ‘Bone Marrow Capital of Indiana’
In May 2016, Bloomington resident Martha Sullivan went to the emergency room after experiencing flu-like symptoms and shortness of breath for several weeks. There she received a shocking diagnosis: A blood test revealed she had acute myeloid leukemia, a type of blood cancer.
Two-Time Heart Recipient Winner of Athletic Medals Urges Others to Battle On
At 26, Spencer resident Dylan Deem has spent more time in hospitals than most people do in a lifetime. When he was 3 years old, he was diagnosed with synovial cell sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that usually occurs in adults.
Congratulations, Hunter! Puppy Partly Trained Here Graduates as Service Dog
It was a proud day in June when Susan Augenbergs saw Hunter, a puppy she helped train as a service dog, paired with his forever
companion in a graduation ceremony at the Indiana Women’s Prison in Indianapolis.
Indiana Recovery Alliance: Syringe Exchange Program Saves Lives
While Indiana, like most states, struggles with an ongoing opioid crisis that officials predict will get worse before it gets better, there are groups trying to mitigate the damage.
The Annual Turkey Trots And Other Autumn Races
For many runners, fall is race season, and those looking to hit the road or trail will find several local opportunities.
IU Students Educate Legislators at AIDSWatch Event in Capital
When Gilbert Bongmba walked up the steps of the United States Capitol in March to advocate for support in the fight against HIV/AIDS, it was the latest demonstration of his long commitment to reducing the spread of the disease.
Support Group Hopes to Make Indiana a ‘Lyme Literate State’
Susan Coleman’s mysterious health symptoms—headaches, fatigue, joint pain, fever, stiff neck, insomnia—began more than two decades ago. They would come and go, but she knew something was wrong. The difficulty was getting the right diagnosis.
Using Group Music Therapy to Improve Mental Health
In Gloria Stearns-Bruner’s softly lit, cozy music therapy room, young clients come in, pick out a lap dulcimer or rain stick or any of the other hand-held string and percussion instruments. They stand, sinking their feet into the plush rug, or sit down to relax—and make music.
B-town Gets a Salt Cave: Known as a Relaxing, Healthy Escape
Laura Chaiken likens the experience of visiting the Bloomington Salt Cave to getting “a nice big pink hug.” Visitors are surrounded by four tons of pink Himalayan salt on the walls and floor, 500 twinkling lights on the ceiling, and the quiet sounds of nature.
‘How Do You Have Fun with Cancer’ and Create a New Paradigm for Chemo?
On three occasions, Lauren Lane Powell was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and three times she defeated the disease. Now, along with IU Health Bloomington Hospital, she hopes her most recent experiences can be used to help others.
Jill’s House Has New Purpose as Home for Memory Care Patients
When Jan Gerkensmeyer needed more care due to memory loss, she and her husband, Dave, faced a tough decision. They knew they couldn’t continue living in their lake cabin in Minnesota. Their daughter lives in Bloomington, so they came here, where they found Jill’s House, an assisted living facility focusing on memory care.
PALS: Offering Horsemanship Therapy Even for Non-Riders
Over the past 17 years, Bloomington-based People & Animal Learning Services (PALS) has provided therapeutic riding programs for hundreds of clients with a wide range of conditions, from bipolar disorder to muscular dystrophy.
New Program Uses Music to Help Alzheimer’s Patients & Caregivers
Barbara Edmonds is enlisting high school music students, adult volunteers, and local professionals in her efforts to use music to enrich the lives of Monroe County elders living with Alzheimer’s disease. The nonprofit program she founded, Blooming Memories Thru Music, grew out of Edmonds’ experience watching her closest friend work as a caregiver for a relative with Alzheimer’s.
Bloomington Hospital Foundation Celebrates 50 Years of Helping People
If you live in south-central Indiana, you’ve almost certainly benefited from the work of the Bloomington Hospital Foundation at some point in your life. Established in 1967 by Bloomington’s Local Council of Women, the foundation has grown into a major force in health care philanthropy.
Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping: You’ll Kick, Punch, Squat & Sweat
Pam Green, co-owner of Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping, shouts to be heard over the music blasting in the gym. “Pound that bag. Left jab, right cross,” she yells. “Let me hear that bag. It’s music to my ears.” To the 20 sweaty exercisers punching and kicking the black heavy bags, she exhorts, “Keep pushing yourself.”
Kids Assemble Their New Bikes at Boys & Girls Clubs of B-town
Sixty-five local children put together their new bicycles, supplied by the Wheels & Wellness public health project, on Saturday, April 1, at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington on South Lincoln Street. Bill Morrow, a nurse practitioner with Riley Physicians at IU Health in Bloomington, led the effort, which developed into a multi-organizational partnership that raised about $12,500 to purchase the bicycle kits.
Housing for the Homeless: Work Starts on Crawford II Building
Crawford Homes, located on South Henderson Street, provides permanent, supportive housing for those suffering from long-term homelessness due to mental illness, chronic disease, late-stage addiction, and physical and developmental disabilities. Crawford I opened in 2013 and, according to those involved with the 25-unit complex, has proven to be a success.
Wheeler Mission Ministries: Helping Addicts Recover Their Lives
Since 1953, Wheeler Mission Ministries has operated a 285-acre residential facility on Fish Road called Camp Hunt that helps men overcome addiction. And, since merging with Backstreet Missions in 2015, Wheeler has operated the Center for Men and Center for Women & Children homeless shelters in town.
Young Women Can Work Out for Free at B-town Jazzercise
Throughout 2017, Jazzercise Bloomington is joining a national Jazzercise Inc. initiative and offering women 16 to 21 years of age unlimited free classes to support their fitness efforts.
Update: On 70th Anniversary of Famed Kinsey Institute
This year marks a milestone for the Kinsey Institute as Indiana University celebrates the 70th anniversary of what is arguably the world’s most influential center for the study of human sexuality.
Four Earth Week Events Set for April
These family-friendly Earth Week activities include two paddle events on Griffy Lake, a tree survey, and solar-cooked pizza.
New Vet Clinic Offers Services For Low-Income Pet Owners
The Nonprofit Veterinary Clinic & Outreach Center, which opened in November, offers affordable diagnostics, medication, and additional care.
Can You Do A Triathlon? Test Yourself at Indoor Event
The Indiana University Swim Club Indoor Triathlon invites swimmers, bikers, and runners of all skill-levels to participate on March 5.
Greene & Schultz Hoosier Half Marathon Fundraiser for Riley Hospital, April 8
Three thousand runners are expected to participate in this year’s Greene & Schultz Hoosier Half Marathon Fundraiser event.
The Bridge Spiritual Center for Seekers of Restorative Therapies (photo gallery)
Karla Kamstra owns The Bridge Spiritual Center, a sanctuary for those seeking calmness and balance in their lives.
Protect Your Kids: Where to Go for Inexpensive Home Safety Products
Accidental injuries are the leading cause of death in children up to the age of 14. The Riley Safety Store at IU Health Bloomington is a one-stop shop for safety products.
ICEY- An Interfaith Teen Group Working to Tackle Climate Change
Members of Bloomington’s Interfaith Community of Environmentalist Youth believe climate change is their generation’s most important issue, and have taken it upon themselves to educate others.
KMB Studio for Music and Movement: Raising the Barre at Fountain Square Mall
Kelly McCormick Bangs brings exercise focused on balanced functionality to people of all ages with KMB Studio.
Leisure Companion Program Ensures Everyone Gets to Play
Parks and Rec program partners participants with disabilities with volunteer companions for additional support during inclusive activities.
Bell Trace and College Mall Team Up for Senior Wellness
Program is part of the Bell Trace commitment to encourage senior wellness.
Sweetroot Doulas: A One-Stop Shop For Expectant & New Parents
BY ERIN HOLLINDEN Developing a childbirth plan is a lot like making a business plan says Linnea...
