HOME/FAMILY
Work-From-Home Tips From Work-From-Home Veterans
The pandemic has ushered the home office to the forefront of work life. Gallup, Inc., indicated last October that 33% of the U.S. workforce worked from home full time and another 25% did so some of the time. Three veteran Bloomington work-from-homers offer their tips for novices to the practice.
Silver Linings Rescue: Old Dogs for Older Folks
When Suki’s owner was suddenly moved to a nursing home for rehab, the small West Highland White terrier was left alone in a house with only occasional visits from a friend. There, he developed inflamed skin and hair loss from serious allergies that needed treatment.
A Fascination with Model Trains Is Alive and Well in Bloomington (PHOTO GALLERY)
Winding through Trevor Jones’ basement is a train model of Gloucestershire, England, circa 1960, that includes coal mines, cow pastures, castle ruins, and a hillside fox hunt.
Beacon: Programs and Services To Help People in Poverty
Nearly 21 years ago, Shalom Community Center opened in the basement of First United Methodist Church to provide services to those experiencing homelessness in Bloomington.
InBloom: Decorate with Evergreens
Now that most of the leaves have fallen from the deciduous trees, evergreen trees and shrubs are more apparent in park and garden plantings all across town.
Find Inspiration and Spread Love with The Muse Project
Like the ancient goddesses for which it is named, The Muse Project offers inspiration to those who heed its words. The project’s founder, Jodi Pope Johnson, says today, more than ever, she feels there is a need to share messages of hope and healing.
The Bloomerang Effect
Bloomington has a way of keeping a hold on its residents, even those who have left. In fact, the phenomenon of leaving and returning to Bloomington is so common that it has its own name: the Bloomerang Effect.
InBloom: Indiana’s Lush & Lovely State Flower—the Peony
Indiana has had four official state flowers. Our current state flower, the peony, is from China and was adopted in 1957.
Local Agility Club Helps Dogs and People to Bond
The Flying Paws Agility Club agility course, set up inside a refurbished horse barn, offers dogs (and their people) a big space to run, fetch, and show off their skills.
How Emily Pike Saved Her Stepmother By Donating a Kidney to a Stranger
When Christi Pike, 57, woke up with a headache on December 21, 2018, she asked her husband, Jim, to take her to Urgent Care so she wouldn’t be sick over the holidays.
Hospice Offers Compassionate End of Life Care for Patients & Families
In the summer of 2018, nurses at the IU Health Bloomington Hospital Hospice House rolled a patient outside in his hospital bed. A horse that had been a part of his family for years awaited him, brought to the facility in a trailer. Nurses put feed in the patient’s hand, allowing the horse and his dying owner to connect one final time.
Jordy the CASA Dog Helps Kids Through Tough Times
Jordy the CASA dog is something of a local celebrity. When the golden retriever celebrated his fifth birthday in October, it was a press-worthy event. But Jordy spends most days out of the spotlight, doing vital work at the Monroe County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) office, 201 N. Morton St.
SCCAP: A Local Agency Helping Families Become Independent
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are sometimes considered the best-kept secrets of the nonprofit sector, says Jessie Yeary, director of communications and development at the South Central Community Action Program (SCCAP). She hopes to change that. “I don’t really like that phrase because we don’t want to be a secret,” she says.
InBloom: Be Sure to Choose A Fragrant Rose
Old rose varieties, such as alba, gallica, and damask, had wonderfully fragrant blooms but, sadly, bloomed only once. Thanks to David Austin (1926–2018) we have 230 modern hybrid roses that offer intoxicating, old-fashioned rose fragrances and that bloom repeatedly.
How One Farmhand Got Land for His Own Farm
After working other people’s farms for a dozen years, Grant Pershing, 44, was ready to start farming for himself. Unfortunately, finding a bank that was willing to loan him the money wasn’t so easy. “I was a pretty poor risk, so I could either find a dilapidated house with enough land or a nice house with no land,” Pershing says. “When it came down to buying something, it just wasn’t going to happen.”
Shalom Celebrates Two Decades Of Helping Those Less Fortunate
The coming year is full of significant milestones for Shalom Community Center, a resource agency for those experiencing extreme poverty and homelessness, and for its executive director, Forrest Gilmore. Gilmore started as assistant director of Shalom in January 2010. A year later, on April 1, 2011—“Make of that what you will,” he says with a laugh—Gilmore was named executive director.
Holly, Ivy & Mistletoe: Natural Holiday Décor
Although you could splurge on red roses when decorating for the holidays, there are other, less expensive, natural alternatives. The early Romans decorated with holly for the winter solstice. Holly, along with ivy and mistletoe, was a traditional Christmas decoration in England, and early American settlers also preferred to use objects from nature to decorate for the holidays.
Shrubs Add Fall & Winter Interest to Home Gardens
The spring and summer months are when gardens are the most colorful, but it is easy to make our fall and winter gardens interesting as well. Shrubs are especially helpful as they are easy to care for once established, and come in a variety of colors, textures, and sizes.
B-town’s Linda Gause Attended World Meeting Of Women Homemakers
When Linda Gause, co-owner of Vance Music Center, joined a Monroe County homemakers club in the mid-1990s, she didn’t know it would lead to global adventure.
Cohousing in Bloomington Finally Becoming a Reality
After years of planning, Bloomington Cohousing, Indiana’s first cohousing community, is finally becoming a reality. The brainchild of lifelong friends Janet Greenblatt and Marion Sinclair, the intentional community near the Southeast YMCA will feature 26 privately owned homes, a common building, community gardens, and other shared amenities, all designed to reduce homeowners’ environmental footprints and expand their sense of community.
Sensory-Friendly Plays Make Theater Accessible To Kids With Disabilities
Making live theater more accessible is often on the minds of the folks at Cardinal Stage. One example is Cardinal’s Community Ticket Initiative, which allows people to see theater performances free of charge. Another way Cardinal is making theater more accessible is with sensory-friendly performances of their Cardinal for Kids productions during the 2019–20 season.
Ghost Walk Serves Up Spooky Fun For All Ages
At 200 years old, Indiana University has quite a few local legends, including ghostly yarns like the one about a grumpy child apparition in the Indiana Memorial Union Tudor Room, said to be connected to a painting of a little boy holding a pumpkin. Rumor has it the spirit creates a fuss when the chairs and tables in the room are moved out of place. Indulging in such stories is part of the fun when the IU Folklore and Ethnomusicology Department holds its annual Ghost Walk.
Plant a Gem This Fall: The Native Foamflower
If you are looking for more natives to plant this fall in a shade garden, consider our native North American foamflower.
B-town’s One & Only Platinum LEED Home
Nate Johnson admired the energy-efficient home his friends David and Carol Gulyas designed and built in Bloomington’s Near West Side neighborhood, so much so that he asked David to help him build a similar one.
Room at the Table: Host an Immigrant Family for Dinner
Even as America struggles with national immigration policy and animosity toward immigrants runs high in some places, two young social entrepreneurs from Indiana University have developed a novel way to make Bloomington a welcoming place for immigrants who choose to settle here.
Movies in the Park
For 21 years, families, friends, and neighbors have been gathering to enjoy recent releases and classic films as part of the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department Movies in the Parks program.
Couple Creates Family Endowment To Teach Their Kids About Giving
Jessika and Bryan Hane believe in contributing to the good of the community and the world. They also believe in modeling that philosophy for their four children.
Kids Can Bowl Free All Summer Long!
Parents who want their kids to stay active—and cool—during the summer can take advantage of two local Kids Bowl Free programs. Children ages 2 to 16 are invited to bowl for free at Bowling & Billiards at Indiana Memorial Union now through August 4.
Everything’s Coming Up Roses
Roses are the most popular cut flowers worldwide. Because of improvements in aeronautics, there is no time of year when roses are not available.
Get Ready to Be Inspired at Summer Garden Walk
If you are a gardener, or simply appreciate gardens and the outdoors, mark your calendar now so you can be sure to attend the Bloomington Garden Club’s 2019 Summer Garden Walk the weekend of June 8 and 9. This will be the 30th year for the popular event.
Williams Bros. Pharmacy Offers Home Solutions to Age in Place
According to AARP, about 90 percent of Americans want to continue living in their own homes as they age. “One change at home—a chairlift or a walk-in shower—can be the difference between living at home and living in a facility,” says Shaun Huttenlocker, manager of home medical equipment at Williams Bros. Health Care Pharmacy, 574 S. Landmark Ave.
Bloom’s Greatest Hits: Landscape Artists
Landscape gardening has always been a form of visual art, and, like painting, it has evolved over time. During the past century traditional formal plantings gave way to gardens that incorporate the surrounding terrain, use native plants, and satisfy the desire for a more relaxed—and sustainable—outdoor lifestyle.
Indoor Places for Little Kids To Play
BY PETER DORFMAN Bloomington is known as a playful city, but it isn’t always easy to find...
Endwright Center Offers Garden Programs & Trips
A short drive up West Ind. 46 in Ellettsville, The Endwright Center offers educational programs for active adults, including many on gardening. “We’ve had classes in bonsai and houseplant care,” says Director Rebecca Ball. “And we’re considering programs on container gardening and small gardens.”
Master Gardener Program Celebrates 30 Years Here
Monroe County’s Master Gardener program celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2019. Begun in the greater Seattle area in 1972, the Master Gardener program came to Indiana in 1978, reaching Bloomington in 1989. Participants take a rigorous course in horticultural art and science, then use their knowledge to help the community.
InBloom: Ancient Hellebores–You Can’t Have Too Many!
The hardy Helleborus plants, both those that bloom at Christmas (Helleborus niger) and those that bloom during Lent (Helleborus orientalis) are wonderfully well-behaved citizens in our Indiana gardens.
Stone Belt: Serving People With Disabilities for 60 Years
Today, Stone Belt is a $21 million nonprofit agency that supports 1,300 people with disabilities in three counties. Sixty years ago, Stone Belt was located in a church basement operating as a school for children with disabilities. Funds were raised through chili suppers and yard sales.
Toddlers & Seniors Learn Together at Jill’s House
Every weekday morning, small groups of preschoolers at Jill’s House Intergenerational Preschool take field trips from their lower-level classrooms up to the first-floor common areas where many of the residents of Jill’s House Assisted Living and Memory Care spend their time.
MCPL Sensory-Friendly Films Mean No ‘Shushing’ Allowed
With the lights up and the volume down, the Monroe County Public Library (MCPL) Autism & Sensory-Friendly Movie program flips all expectations of what it means to go to the movies. In this theater, talking and movement are not only allowed, they’re expected.
Thrive By Five: A Fund Drive For Early Childhood Education
Research has long recognized that when children attend quality preschool programs, they are more likely to succeed in school and in life. To ensure that kind of success locally, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County (CFBMC) has launched Thrive by Five, an endowment campaign with a goal of raising $1 million to support early childhood education.
Scott Sanders’ Children’s Books Encourage Kids to Go Outdoors
IU Press has just reprinted two children’s books with a simple plot: families go for a walk.
Boys & Girls Clubs Auxiliary Supporting Kids for 50 Years
As its single largest donor, the Auxiliary to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington has made a difference in the lives of Bloomington children for 50 years.
Sing for Joy! A Choir that Uplifts Seniors
When lifelong music educator Sandra Freund visited area retirement communities to sing for the residents, she noticed that many initially would sit quietly, their heads bowed. But after a bit, she says, their attitudes would change.
Moms Demand Action Working for Better Gun Laws
When 20 first-graders and six staff members were fatally shot at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012, Rachel Guglielmo and Courtney Daily reached their breaking points.
New Book by B-town Author Celebrates Arts & Crafts Furniture
Nancy Hiller is out to persuade readers that Arts and Crafts furniture offers more than the heavy, massive, unadorned pieces most Americans associate with the movement.
The Serviceable Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums were aptly described by the title character in the 1969 film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie as “serviceable flowers.”
Group Helps Kids When A Parent Is Imprisoned
Mary Goetze, founder of Kids with Absent Parents (KAP), estimates there are 1,000 children in Bloomington with an incarcerated parent. It’s a largely hidden population. “It’s not something families go around and announce,” she says.
CASA Has New Eyes & Ears To Check on Welfare of Kids
Due to an increase in abuse and neglect cases in Monroe County, more than 100 children have been waiting for a CASA—a Court Appointed Special Advocate—to represent their interests in court. So the Monroe County CASA office has created a new position to monitor the children until permanent advocates become available.
Artist Catherine Conlin Is Now Teaching Classes in Floral Design
As a young girl, every year Catherine Conlin would visit a flower shop in her hometown of Griffith, Indiana, and buy her mother flowers for her birthday.
Interior Designer Diana Paxton Back in Business with DianaBe
She is now Diana Paxton and after a 10-year absence brought on by a couple of detours, she has launched DianaBe LLC. “I was called back into action,” she says.
The Appeal of Begonias
Begonias are a diverse family of 1,500 plant species native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents except Australia.
The Public Library: Where Latino Kids Can Learn Spanish
Every Saturday, a room on the second floor of the Monroe County Public Library (MCPL) becomes an international classroom and community known as La Escuelita Para Todos, the Little School for All.
Krimson Leadership Academy Teaching it’s Cool to Be Smart
When Brian Richardson was being raised by a single mother in Saginaw, Michigan, he knew that as a black youth attending schools with poor reputations, conventional wisdom held that he wasn’t going to go very far in life. Richardson had other plans. Today, he’s assistant director of diversity and inclusion at the Indiana University School of Public Health and the founder of a mentoring program for young men at Fairview Elementary School.
The T.C. Steele Gardens
Theodore Clement Steele (1847–1926), the famous American impressionist painter, is well known for his Indiana landscapes. (What many may not know is that Steele was also a skilled portrait painter, and this actually generated the majority of his income.)
Green Camino—An Easy Way to Start Composting
Kathy Gutowsky and Randi Cox have a history of environmental activism that dates back to the late 90s when they met on a recycling committee. Now they have turned that interest into a business, Green Camino Curbside Composting.
Early Childhood Care Made Affordable by United Ministries
When Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM) Director of Operations Jen Smallwood enters a 2-year-old classroom, a toddler rushes up to her with a big smile and hugs her leg. “He’s a friendly one,” she says.
Couple Finds Bloomington Good Place to Raise Son With Special Needs
Getting married, having children, and raising them to an age where they can set out on their own is something many couples envision. When a child is born with a disability, families learn to adjust and, with the help of a supportive community, a new path is laid out.
Nonprofit Aims to Create More Affordable Housing in B-town
South Central Indiana Housing Opportunities (SCIHO) is working to make housing more affordable for renters who pay above-average rents while earning below-average wages. Executive Director Deborah Myerson says the entire community benefits when there is a range of housing options. “What’s the quality of life in Bloomington if only wealthy people can afford to live here?” Myerson says.
Generous Geraniums Add Year-Round Color
Some plants, like some people, are naturally more generous than others. In spring, we are besotted by exuberant blooming plants, as all the world seems new again and blossoms abound in our gardens. But we need to look ahead and ensure that our gardens continue to be full of beautiful flowers once the spring flush has subsided.
Agewise Design: Helping Older Adults and Disabled to Keep Living at Home
After Bloomington interior designer Lauren Cowan worked with older clients who wanted their new-home builds to include age-friendly features, she and her husband, Peter Cowan, decided to start a new business. “Age-friendly designing is stimulating and meaningful,” says Lauren.
Lotus Blossoms Brings World Music to Area School Children
While international musicians congregate in Bloomington each autumn for the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival, a special program for children brings that same diverse cultural experience into area schools. In September, one musical guest, Betsayda Machado y La Parranda el Clavo, visited Fairview Elementary School for a performance through the Lotus Blossoms Educational Outreach program.
What to Do (and Not Do) on St. Valentine’s Day
BY MOYA ANDREWS Flowers are reliable symbols of affection. According to a Society of American...
Crib for Every Baby Campaign Aims to Reduce Infant Mortality
BY JANET MANDELSTAM “Infant mortality is a major issue for Indiana,” says Carol Weiss-Kennedy,...
Kids Play Gym: A Place Where All Kids Can Have Fun Together
From jumping and swinging to zip lining and climbing, kids can unleash their energy at the locally owned indoor Kids Play Gym on Bloomington’s west side.
B-town Worldwide Friendship Helping IU Foreign Students
BY TRACY ZOLLINGER TURNER Coming to study in a new country can be exciting—but a bit overwhelming....
Traditional Colonial Style Saves Stress & Expense
Most people are well acquainted with the Colonial Williamsburg decorating style, and there is a lot of inspiration to be drawn from it as we go about the task of decorating our homes for the holidays.
‘Little Lost Monkey’: Stone Belt Artist Illustrates Children’s Book About Foster-to-Adoption Journey
‘Little Lost Monkey’ addresses issues of parental loss, foster care, and adoption through the eyes of Chipper, a monkey who embarks on a journey to find a new forever family.
InBloom: Hardy Hibiscus Add Tropical Touch to Midwestern Gardens
At this time of year, in some local gardens, you may notice and admire large blooms in pink, white, and maroon that lend a tropical feel to the landscape. Although they are hibiscus flowers, they are not the tropical varieties that grow so well in places such as Hawaii.
Photographer Pays Tribute to Veterans by Volunteering with Indy Honor Flight
The message Mark Kidd received in 2014 was clear: “You can’t not do this.” The message was from the head of Indy Honor Flight, and Kidd was being encouraged—“Basically told,” he says— to accompany aging veterans to Washington, D.C., and photograph their visits to the war memorials there.
Toy & Comic Book Lovers Can Be Superheroes to Kids with Autism
“If it’s geeky and nerdy, we’ll have it,” says Billy Cooper, founder and promoter of the Indiana Toy and Comic Expo (ITCE), which will take over the entire Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center on Sunday, August 27.
For Parents in Crisis, Safe Families for Children Offers Short-Term Alternative to Foster Care
Sometimes parents need help with their children for a few days or a few weeks. They may be temporarily experiencing homelessness or another crisis such as a medical emergency and not know where to turn. That’s when Safe Families for Children can step in and provide short-term childcare in a local host home.
Bluestone Tree: Artists at Work (VIDEO)
“There’s an art to performing tree work,” says Jerad Oren, co-owner of Bluestone Tree. “We provide homeowners and businesses with the best tree care while respecting their property and properties around them.”
InBloom: Local Growers Make Choosing Natives Easy
More and more home gardeners are choosing to grow native plants, not only because they add a variety of shapes and textural interest but because, at some time during their life cycle, for one reason or another, most of our native insects require a host plant that is native. Likewise, the birds that frequent our gardens depend on our native insects for nourishment. For example, it takes thousands of caterpillars and insects to sustain a young clutch of baby birds.
Rhino’s Youth Radio: Giving Teens a Voice
Rhino’s Youth Center, a division of Harmony Education Center, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Almost as old as the center itself is the first after-school program it offered—Youth Radio.
Nick Powell: Hardscape Expert Who Builds ‘Dry’ Stone Walls
Nick Powell always knew he wanted to work outdoors, so it was a good fit when he chose landscaping as a career. But it was only when he began working with stone, and saw he had a talent for it, that he found his true profession.
Ivy Tech Center Celebrates Decade of Lifelong Learning
This year, the Ivy Tech Center for Lifelong Learning celebrates its 10th anniversary. And while its founding executive director says she modeled the center on similar programs from around the country, it’s customized for Bloomington.
Susie’s Place: Helping Children Through Traumatic Times
Hundreds of tiny hand-shaped cutouts hang in the hallways of Susie’s Place Child Advocacy Center in Bloomington. Those hands represent a portion of the 3,000 children ages 2 to 18 seen there since Susie’s Place opened in 2011. The center is located at 365 S. Park Ridge Road.
It’s Not Just a Dog or Cat Choice: Consider Getting a Rabbit!
A few months ago, Marie Kosakowski wanted to find her 4-year-old copper-colored, lionhead rabbit, Oliver, a pal, so she packed him up and took him to the animal shelter run by the City of Bloomington for speed dating. But throwing strange rabbits together can cause sparks to fly—and not in a good way. That’s why Kosakowski took oven mitts for protection—in case she needed to break up any fights.
Urban Air Trampoline Park Now Offering Adult Fitness Classes
Debbie Hannah, owner of Bloomington’s Urban Air trampoline park, says the focus of the facility is helping families have fun together. “It’s meant to help people get active, burn calories, and stay away from screens,” Hannah says. “We want people to come and play and have fun with their families. It’s a place parents love as much as their kids.”
A Tiny, Tiny Home That’s Meant to ‘Live Large’
Last year, Loren Wood Builders constructed a 5,000-square-foot home on Covenanter Drive. Early this year, the home builder and remodeler went the other way, creating a house measuring just 20 feet by 8 feet—160 square feet of living space that can accommodate up to two adults and a child.
Project Play: Giving Toys So Kids Can Learn & Grow
Project Play creators Hilary Key and Angie Burck say that access to toys helps build social and motor skills, imagination, and empathy. Donating new or gently used toys to Project Play helps get the right toys in the hands of the right children.
Local Chess Club Brings Enthusiasts Together to Learn Strategies, Skills
While many people know the rules of chess and how each piece moves, far fewer actually know how to play the game. Bloomington Indiana Scholastic Chess Club (BISCC) is working to change that by hosting training sessions and competitive events for young chess enthusiasts.
Hey Kids, May 20 is Lemonade Day!
Amy Swain has a vision, and it’s the sweet sight of 800 kids setting up lemonade stands across Monroe County on May 20. As the city director of Lemonade Day, Swain hopes to surpass last year’s total of 737 kids selling lemonade for fun, profit, and charity.
BloomingSongs Project Makes Music More Accessible to Kids and Families
The ‘BloomingSongs’ album will include the work of 10 local composers, which will also appear in live performances for the 12-and-under crowd.
How One Teacher Helps Students by Teaching Video Production and Life Lessons
Jeffrey Rudkin’s B-TV students may be learning how to create award-winning student video projects, but they are also learning respect, forgiveness, and standing up for what is right.
New Coaching Program Helps At-Risk High School Students
High school students at risk of not earning a diploma could have the opportunity to speak with an educational coach through Regional Opportunity Initiatives.
B-town Producer’s WWI Film Has Special Meaning for Local Resident
Richard Darling recalls his father’s war stories from the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, which is the subject of local filmmaker Jo Throckmorton’s recent film.
Wylie House Heirloom Seed Sale March 4 Supports Genetic Diversity
Heirlooms seeds come in greater varieties and produce plants with greater hardiness.
New Law Will Allow Adoptees Access to Their Birth Records
Pam Kroskie, who has been campaigning for open records for nearly 30 years, now plans to educate the public about the new law.
Dr. Seuss’ Characters Come Alive at Monroe County Public Library Event
The Monroe County Public Library expects about 500 children to attend this year’s Seusspicious Behavior event, which celebrates Read Across America Day.
A Long Hike That Raised Thousands For African Children Is Now a Book
Author Elsa Marston pens story about 2013 fundraising hike by Morgan Scherer and his dog, Niko.
Backpack Buddies Supply Food to Needy Families on Weekends
Community Kitchen of Monroe County program distributes around a ton of food to students each week.
Fun, Healthy, Educational Ways to Celebrate at Children’s Birthday Parties
Try these alternatives to the traditional children’s birthday party.
Local Family Thanks Bruce Springsteen for Helping Save Their Daughter’s Life
BY CARMEN SIERING When Tom and Kelley French’s daughter, Juniper, was born at 23 weeks gestation,...
IU Media School Launches GirlPowered! Gaming Camp
BY ERIN HOLLINDEN With its first GirlPowered! gaming camp in June, The Media School at Indiana...
A Moving Ceremony in Korea Honors Brother Killed in Action Decades Ago
BY CARMEN SIERING When Brenda Lott was 6 years old, she learned that her brother, Cpl. Daniel...
You Can “Test-Drive” Assisted Living In a Bell Trace Transitional Apartment
BY CARMEN SIERING Moving into an assisted living community can be a big decision, but since 2014,...
Carrie Shahbahrami Recognized for Bringing Project Lifesaver to Town
BY CAIRRIL MILLS It was a dark and cold February night in 2012 when Carrie Shahbahrami’s then...
Builder Community & Habitat Unite to Give Low-Income Families New Homes
In June, the Habitat for Humanity Builders Blitz constructed homes for three families in the Trail...
Local Farmers Saving Monarchs and Offer Kits So You Can, Too!
BY JULIE GRAY Sean and Denise Breeden-Ost, owners of Getty’s Creek Farm, have long sold mushrooms...
HOME/FAMILY
Work-From-Home Tips From Work-From-Home Veterans
The pandemic has ushered the home office to the forefront of work life. Gallup, Inc., indicated last October that 33% of the U.S. workforce worked from home full time and another 25% did so some of the time. Three veteran Bloomington work-from-homers offer their tips for novices to the practice.
Silver Linings Rescue: Old Dogs for Older Folks
When Suki’s owner was suddenly moved to a nursing home for rehab, the small West Highland White terrier was left alone in a house with only occasional visits from a friend. There, he developed inflamed skin and hair loss from serious allergies that needed treatment.
A Fascination with Model Trains Is Alive and Well in Bloomington (PHOTO GALLERY)
Winding through Trevor Jones’ basement is a train model of Gloucestershire, England, circa 1960, that includes coal mines, cow pastures, castle ruins, and a hillside fox hunt.
Beacon: Programs and Services To Help People in Poverty
Nearly 21 years ago, Shalom Community Center opened in the basement of First United Methodist Church to provide services to those experiencing homelessness in Bloomington.
InBloom: Decorate with Evergreens
Now that most of the leaves have fallen from the deciduous trees, evergreen trees and shrubs are more apparent in park and garden plantings all across town.
Find Inspiration and Spread Love with The Muse Project
Like the ancient goddesses for which it is named, The Muse Project offers inspiration to those who heed its words. The project’s founder, Jodi Pope Johnson, says today, more than ever, she feels there is a need to share messages of hope and healing.
The Bloomerang Effect
Bloomington has a way of keeping a hold on its residents, even those who have left. In fact, the phenomenon of leaving and returning to Bloomington is so common that it has its own name: the Bloomerang Effect.
InBloom: Indiana’s Lush & Lovely State Flower—the Peony
Indiana has had four official state flowers. Our current state flower, the peony, is from China and was adopted in 1957.
Local Agility Club Helps Dogs and People to Bond
The Flying Paws Agility Club agility course, set up inside a refurbished horse barn, offers dogs (and their people) a big space to run, fetch, and show off their skills.
How Emily Pike Saved Her Stepmother By Donating a Kidney to a Stranger
When Christi Pike, 57, woke up with a headache on December 21, 2018, she asked her husband, Jim, to take her to Urgent Care so she wouldn’t be sick over the holidays.
Hospice Offers Compassionate End of Life Care for Patients & Families
In the summer of 2018, nurses at the IU Health Bloomington Hospital Hospice House rolled a patient outside in his hospital bed. A horse that had been a part of his family for years awaited him, brought to the facility in a trailer. Nurses put feed in the patient’s hand, allowing the horse and his dying owner to connect one final time.
Jordy the CASA Dog Helps Kids Through Tough Times
Jordy the CASA dog is something of a local celebrity. When the golden retriever celebrated his fifth birthday in October, it was a press-worthy event. But Jordy spends most days out of the spotlight, doing vital work at the Monroe County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) office, 201 N. Morton St.
SCCAP: A Local Agency Helping Families Become Independent
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are sometimes considered the best-kept secrets of the nonprofit sector, says Jessie Yeary, director of communications and development at the South Central Community Action Program (SCCAP). She hopes to change that. “I don’t really like that phrase because we don’t want to be a secret,” she says.
InBloom: Be Sure to Choose A Fragrant Rose
Old rose varieties, such as alba, gallica, and damask, had wonderfully fragrant blooms but, sadly, bloomed only once. Thanks to David Austin (1926–2018) we have 230 modern hybrid roses that offer intoxicating, old-fashioned rose fragrances and that bloom repeatedly.
How One Farmhand Got Land for His Own Farm
After working other people’s farms for a dozen years, Grant Pershing, 44, was ready to start farming for himself. Unfortunately, finding a bank that was willing to loan him the money wasn’t so easy. “I was a pretty poor risk, so I could either find a dilapidated house with enough land or a nice house with no land,” Pershing says. “When it came down to buying something, it just wasn’t going to happen.”
Shalom Celebrates Two Decades Of Helping Those Less Fortunate
The coming year is full of significant milestones for Shalom Community Center, a resource agency for those experiencing extreme poverty and homelessness, and for its executive director, Forrest Gilmore. Gilmore started as assistant director of Shalom in January 2010. A year later, on April 1, 2011—“Make of that what you will,” he says with a laugh—Gilmore was named executive director.
Holly, Ivy & Mistletoe: Natural Holiday Décor
Although you could splurge on red roses when decorating for the holidays, there are other, less expensive, natural alternatives. The early Romans decorated with holly for the winter solstice. Holly, along with ivy and mistletoe, was a traditional Christmas decoration in England, and early American settlers also preferred to use objects from nature to decorate for the holidays.
Shrubs Add Fall & Winter Interest to Home Gardens
The spring and summer months are when gardens are the most colorful, but it is easy to make our fall and winter gardens interesting as well. Shrubs are especially helpful as they are easy to care for once established, and come in a variety of colors, textures, and sizes.
B-town’s Linda Gause Attended World Meeting Of Women Homemakers
When Linda Gause, co-owner of Vance Music Center, joined a Monroe County homemakers club in the mid-1990s, she didn’t know it would lead to global adventure.
Cohousing in Bloomington Finally Becoming a Reality
After years of planning, Bloomington Cohousing, Indiana’s first cohousing community, is finally becoming a reality. The brainchild of lifelong friends Janet Greenblatt and Marion Sinclair, the intentional community near the Southeast YMCA will feature 26 privately owned homes, a common building, community gardens, and other shared amenities, all designed to reduce homeowners’ environmental footprints and expand their sense of community.
Sensory-Friendly Plays Make Theater Accessible To Kids With Disabilities
Making live theater more accessible is often on the minds of the folks at Cardinal Stage. One example is Cardinal’s Community Ticket Initiative, which allows people to see theater performances free of charge. Another way Cardinal is making theater more accessible is with sensory-friendly performances of their Cardinal for Kids productions during the 2019–20 season.
Ghost Walk Serves Up Spooky Fun For All Ages
At 200 years old, Indiana University has quite a few local legends, including ghostly yarns like the one about a grumpy child apparition in the Indiana Memorial Union Tudor Room, said to be connected to a painting of a little boy holding a pumpkin. Rumor has it the spirit creates a fuss when the chairs and tables in the room are moved out of place. Indulging in such stories is part of the fun when the IU Folklore and Ethnomusicology Department holds its annual Ghost Walk.
Plant a Gem This Fall: The Native Foamflower
If you are looking for more natives to plant this fall in a shade garden, consider our native North American foamflower.
B-town’s One & Only Platinum LEED Home
Nate Johnson admired the energy-efficient home his friends David and Carol Gulyas designed and built in Bloomington’s Near West Side neighborhood, so much so that he asked David to help him build a similar one.
Room at the Table: Host an Immigrant Family for Dinner
Even as America struggles with national immigration policy and animosity toward immigrants runs high in some places, two young social entrepreneurs from Indiana University have developed a novel way to make Bloomington a welcoming place for immigrants who choose to settle here.
Movies in the Park
For 21 years, families, friends, and neighbors have been gathering to enjoy recent releases and classic films as part of the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department Movies in the Parks program.
Couple Creates Family Endowment To Teach Their Kids About Giving
Jessika and Bryan Hane believe in contributing to the good of the community and the world. They also believe in modeling that philosophy for their four children.
Kids Can Bowl Free All Summer Long!
Parents who want their kids to stay active—and cool—during the summer can take advantage of two local Kids Bowl Free programs. Children ages 2 to 16 are invited to bowl for free at Bowling & Billiards at Indiana Memorial Union now through August 4.
Everything’s Coming Up Roses
Roses are the most popular cut flowers worldwide. Because of improvements in aeronautics, there is no time of year when roses are not available.
Get Ready to Be Inspired at Summer Garden Walk
If you are a gardener, or simply appreciate gardens and the outdoors, mark your calendar now so you can be sure to attend the Bloomington Garden Club’s 2019 Summer Garden Walk the weekend of June 8 and 9. This will be the 30th year for the popular event.
Williams Bros. Pharmacy Offers Home Solutions to Age in Place
According to AARP, about 90 percent of Americans want to continue living in their own homes as they age. “One change at home—a chairlift or a walk-in shower—can be the difference between living at home and living in a facility,” says Shaun Huttenlocker, manager of home medical equipment at Williams Bros. Health Care Pharmacy, 574 S. Landmark Ave.
Bloom’s Greatest Hits: Landscape Artists
Landscape gardening has always been a form of visual art, and, like painting, it has evolved over time. During the past century traditional formal plantings gave way to gardens that incorporate the surrounding terrain, use native plants, and satisfy the desire for a more relaxed—and sustainable—outdoor lifestyle.
Indoor Places for Little Kids To Play
BY PETER DORFMAN Bloomington is known as a playful city, but it isn’t always easy to find...
Endwright Center Offers Garden Programs & Trips
A short drive up West Ind. 46 in Ellettsville, The Endwright Center offers educational programs for active adults, including many on gardening. “We’ve had classes in bonsai and houseplant care,” says Director Rebecca Ball. “And we’re considering programs on container gardening and small gardens.”
Master Gardener Program Celebrates 30 Years Here
Monroe County’s Master Gardener program celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2019. Begun in the greater Seattle area in 1972, the Master Gardener program came to Indiana in 1978, reaching Bloomington in 1989. Participants take a rigorous course in horticultural art and science, then use their knowledge to help the community.
InBloom: Ancient Hellebores–You Can’t Have Too Many!
The hardy Helleborus plants, both those that bloom at Christmas (Helleborus niger) and those that bloom during Lent (Helleborus orientalis) are wonderfully well-behaved citizens in our Indiana gardens.
Stone Belt: Serving People With Disabilities for 60 Years
Today, Stone Belt is a $21 million nonprofit agency that supports 1,300 people with disabilities in three counties. Sixty years ago, Stone Belt was located in a church basement operating as a school for children with disabilities. Funds were raised through chili suppers and yard sales.
Toddlers & Seniors Learn Together at Jill’s House
Every weekday morning, small groups of preschoolers at Jill’s House Intergenerational Preschool take field trips from their lower-level classrooms up to the first-floor common areas where many of the residents of Jill’s House Assisted Living and Memory Care spend their time.
MCPL Sensory-Friendly Films Mean No ‘Shushing’ Allowed
With the lights up and the volume down, the Monroe County Public Library (MCPL) Autism & Sensory-Friendly Movie program flips all expectations of what it means to go to the movies. In this theater, talking and movement are not only allowed, they’re expected.
Thrive By Five: A Fund Drive For Early Childhood Education
Research has long recognized that when children attend quality preschool programs, they are more likely to succeed in school and in life. To ensure that kind of success locally, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County (CFBMC) has launched Thrive by Five, an endowment campaign with a goal of raising $1 million to support early childhood education.
Scott Sanders’ Children’s Books Encourage Kids to Go Outdoors
IU Press has just reprinted two children’s books with a simple plot: families go for a walk.
Boys & Girls Clubs Auxiliary Supporting Kids for 50 Years
As its single largest donor, the Auxiliary to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington has made a difference in the lives of Bloomington children for 50 years.
Sing for Joy! A Choir that Uplifts Seniors
When lifelong music educator Sandra Freund visited area retirement communities to sing for the residents, she noticed that many initially would sit quietly, their heads bowed. But after a bit, she says, their attitudes would change.
Moms Demand Action Working for Better Gun Laws
When 20 first-graders and six staff members were fatally shot at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012, Rachel Guglielmo and Courtney Daily reached their breaking points.
New Book by B-town Author Celebrates Arts & Crafts Furniture
Nancy Hiller is out to persuade readers that Arts and Crafts furniture offers more than the heavy, massive, unadorned pieces most Americans associate with the movement.
The Serviceable Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums were aptly described by the title character in the 1969 film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie as “serviceable flowers.”
Group Helps Kids When A Parent Is Imprisoned
Mary Goetze, founder of Kids with Absent Parents (KAP), estimates there are 1,000 children in Bloomington with an incarcerated parent. It’s a largely hidden population. “It’s not something families go around and announce,” she says.
CASA Has New Eyes & Ears To Check on Welfare of Kids
Due to an increase in abuse and neglect cases in Monroe County, more than 100 children have been waiting for a CASA—a Court Appointed Special Advocate—to represent their interests in court. So the Monroe County CASA office has created a new position to monitor the children until permanent advocates become available.
Artist Catherine Conlin Is Now Teaching Classes in Floral Design
As a young girl, every year Catherine Conlin would visit a flower shop in her hometown of Griffith, Indiana, and buy her mother flowers for her birthday.
Interior Designer Diana Paxton Back in Business with DianaBe
She is now Diana Paxton and after a 10-year absence brought on by a couple of detours, she has launched DianaBe LLC. “I was called back into action,” she says.
The Appeal of Begonias
Begonias are a diverse family of 1,500 plant species native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents except Australia.
The Public Library: Where Latino Kids Can Learn Spanish
Every Saturday, a room on the second floor of the Monroe County Public Library (MCPL) becomes an international classroom and community known as La Escuelita Para Todos, the Little School for All.
Krimson Leadership Academy Teaching it’s Cool to Be Smart
When Brian Richardson was being raised by a single mother in Saginaw, Michigan, he knew that as a black youth attending schools with poor reputations, conventional wisdom held that he wasn’t going to go very far in life. Richardson had other plans. Today, he’s assistant director of diversity and inclusion at the Indiana University School of Public Health and the founder of a mentoring program for young men at Fairview Elementary School.
The T.C. Steele Gardens
Theodore Clement Steele (1847–1926), the famous American impressionist painter, is well known for his Indiana landscapes. (What many may not know is that Steele was also a skilled portrait painter, and this actually generated the majority of his income.)
Green Camino—An Easy Way to Start Composting
Kathy Gutowsky and Randi Cox have a history of environmental activism that dates back to the late 90s when they met on a recycling committee. Now they have turned that interest into a business, Green Camino Curbside Composting.
Early Childhood Care Made Affordable by United Ministries
When Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM) Director of Operations Jen Smallwood enters a 2-year-old classroom, a toddler rushes up to her with a big smile and hugs her leg. “He’s a friendly one,” she says.
Couple Finds Bloomington Good Place to Raise Son With Special Needs
Getting married, having children, and raising them to an age where they can set out on their own is something many couples envision. When a child is born with a disability, families learn to adjust and, with the help of a supportive community, a new path is laid out.
Nonprofit Aims to Create More Affordable Housing in B-town
South Central Indiana Housing Opportunities (SCIHO) is working to make housing more affordable for renters who pay above-average rents while earning below-average wages. Executive Director Deborah Myerson says the entire community benefits when there is a range of housing options. “What’s the quality of life in Bloomington if only wealthy people can afford to live here?” Myerson says.
Generous Geraniums Add Year-Round Color
Some plants, like some people, are naturally more generous than others. In spring, we are besotted by exuberant blooming plants, as all the world seems new again and blossoms abound in our gardens. But we need to look ahead and ensure that our gardens continue to be full of beautiful flowers once the spring flush has subsided.
Agewise Design: Helping Older Adults and Disabled to Keep Living at Home
After Bloomington interior designer Lauren Cowan worked with older clients who wanted their new-home builds to include age-friendly features, she and her husband, Peter Cowan, decided to start a new business. “Age-friendly designing is stimulating and meaningful,” says Lauren.
Lotus Blossoms Brings World Music to Area School Children
While international musicians congregate in Bloomington each autumn for the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival, a special program for children brings that same diverse cultural experience into area schools. In September, one musical guest, Betsayda Machado y La Parranda el Clavo, visited Fairview Elementary School for a performance through the Lotus Blossoms Educational Outreach program.
What to Do (and Not Do) on St. Valentine’s Day
BY MOYA ANDREWS Flowers are reliable symbols of affection. According to a Society of American...
Crib for Every Baby Campaign Aims to Reduce Infant Mortality
BY JANET MANDELSTAM “Infant mortality is a major issue for Indiana,” says Carol Weiss-Kennedy,...
Kids Play Gym: A Place Where All Kids Can Have Fun Together
From jumping and swinging to zip lining and climbing, kids can unleash their energy at the locally owned indoor Kids Play Gym on Bloomington’s west side.
B-town Worldwide Friendship Helping IU Foreign Students
BY TRACY ZOLLINGER TURNER Coming to study in a new country can be exciting—but a bit overwhelming....
Traditional Colonial Style Saves Stress & Expense
Most people are well acquainted with the Colonial Williamsburg decorating style, and there is a lot of inspiration to be drawn from it as we go about the task of decorating our homes for the holidays.
‘Little Lost Monkey’: Stone Belt Artist Illustrates Children’s Book About Foster-to-Adoption Journey
‘Little Lost Monkey’ addresses issues of parental loss, foster care, and adoption through the eyes of Chipper, a monkey who embarks on a journey to find a new forever family.
InBloom: Hardy Hibiscus Add Tropical Touch to Midwestern Gardens
At this time of year, in some local gardens, you may notice and admire large blooms in pink, white, and maroon that lend a tropical feel to the landscape. Although they are hibiscus flowers, they are not the tropical varieties that grow so well in places such as Hawaii.
Photographer Pays Tribute to Veterans by Volunteering with Indy Honor Flight
The message Mark Kidd received in 2014 was clear: “You can’t not do this.” The message was from the head of Indy Honor Flight, and Kidd was being encouraged—“Basically told,” he says— to accompany aging veterans to Washington, D.C., and photograph their visits to the war memorials there.
Toy & Comic Book Lovers Can Be Superheroes to Kids with Autism
“If it’s geeky and nerdy, we’ll have it,” says Billy Cooper, founder and promoter of the Indiana Toy and Comic Expo (ITCE), which will take over the entire Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center on Sunday, August 27.
For Parents in Crisis, Safe Families for Children Offers Short-Term Alternative to Foster Care
Sometimes parents need help with their children for a few days or a few weeks. They may be temporarily experiencing homelessness or another crisis such as a medical emergency and not know where to turn. That’s when Safe Families for Children can step in and provide short-term childcare in a local host home.
Bluestone Tree: Artists at Work (VIDEO)
“There’s an art to performing tree work,” says Jerad Oren, co-owner of Bluestone Tree. “We provide homeowners and businesses with the best tree care while respecting their property and properties around them.”
InBloom: Local Growers Make Choosing Natives Easy
More and more home gardeners are choosing to grow native plants, not only because they add a variety of shapes and textural interest but because, at some time during their life cycle, for one reason or another, most of our native insects require a host plant that is native. Likewise, the birds that frequent our gardens depend on our native insects for nourishment. For example, it takes thousands of caterpillars and insects to sustain a young clutch of baby birds.
Rhino’s Youth Radio: Giving Teens a Voice
Rhino’s Youth Center, a division of Harmony Education Center, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Almost as old as the center itself is the first after-school program it offered—Youth Radio.
Nick Powell: Hardscape Expert Who Builds ‘Dry’ Stone Walls
Nick Powell always knew he wanted to work outdoors, so it was a good fit when he chose landscaping as a career. But it was only when he began working with stone, and saw he had a talent for it, that he found his true profession.
Ivy Tech Center Celebrates Decade of Lifelong Learning
This year, the Ivy Tech Center for Lifelong Learning celebrates its 10th anniversary. And while its founding executive director says she modeled the center on similar programs from around the country, it’s customized for Bloomington.
Susie’s Place: Helping Children Through Traumatic Times
Hundreds of tiny hand-shaped cutouts hang in the hallways of Susie’s Place Child Advocacy Center in Bloomington. Those hands represent a portion of the 3,000 children ages 2 to 18 seen there since Susie’s Place opened in 2011. The center is located at 365 S. Park Ridge Road.
It’s Not Just a Dog or Cat Choice: Consider Getting a Rabbit!
A few months ago, Marie Kosakowski wanted to find her 4-year-old copper-colored, lionhead rabbit, Oliver, a pal, so she packed him up and took him to the animal shelter run by the City of Bloomington for speed dating. But throwing strange rabbits together can cause sparks to fly—and not in a good way. That’s why Kosakowski took oven mitts for protection—in case she needed to break up any fights.
Urban Air Trampoline Park Now Offering Adult Fitness Classes
Debbie Hannah, owner of Bloomington’s Urban Air trampoline park, says the focus of the facility is helping families have fun together. “It’s meant to help people get active, burn calories, and stay away from screens,” Hannah says. “We want people to come and play and have fun with their families. It’s a place parents love as much as their kids.”
A Tiny, Tiny Home That’s Meant to ‘Live Large’
Last year, Loren Wood Builders constructed a 5,000-square-foot home on Covenanter Drive. Early this year, the home builder and remodeler went the other way, creating a house measuring just 20 feet by 8 feet—160 square feet of living space that can accommodate up to two adults and a child.
Project Play: Giving Toys So Kids Can Learn & Grow
Project Play creators Hilary Key and Angie Burck say that access to toys helps build social and motor skills, imagination, and empathy. Donating new or gently used toys to Project Play helps get the right toys in the hands of the right children.
Local Chess Club Brings Enthusiasts Together to Learn Strategies, Skills
While many people know the rules of chess and how each piece moves, far fewer actually know how to play the game. Bloomington Indiana Scholastic Chess Club (BISCC) is working to change that by hosting training sessions and competitive events for young chess enthusiasts.
Hey Kids, May 20 is Lemonade Day!
Amy Swain has a vision, and it’s the sweet sight of 800 kids setting up lemonade stands across Monroe County on May 20. As the city director of Lemonade Day, Swain hopes to surpass last year’s total of 737 kids selling lemonade for fun, profit, and charity.
BloomingSongs Project Makes Music More Accessible to Kids and Families
The ‘BloomingSongs’ album will include the work of 10 local composers, which will also appear in live performances for the 12-and-under crowd.
How One Teacher Helps Students by Teaching Video Production and Life Lessons
Jeffrey Rudkin’s B-TV students may be learning how to create award-winning student video projects, but they are also learning respect, forgiveness, and standing up for what is right.
New Coaching Program Helps At-Risk High School Students
High school students at risk of not earning a diploma could have the opportunity to speak with an educational coach through Regional Opportunity Initiatives.
B-town Producer’s WWI Film Has Special Meaning for Local Resident
Richard Darling recalls his father’s war stories from the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, which is the subject of local filmmaker Jo Throckmorton’s recent film.
Wylie House Heirloom Seed Sale March 4 Supports Genetic Diversity
Heirlooms seeds come in greater varieties and produce plants with greater hardiness.
New Law Will Allow Adoptees Access to Their Birth Records
Pam Kroskie, who has been campaigning for open records for nearly 30 years, now plans to educate the public about the new law.
Dr. Seuss’ Characters Come Alive at Monroe County Public Library Event
The Monroe County Public Library expects about 500 children to attend this year’s Seusspicious Behavior event, which celebrates Read Across America Day.
A Long Hike That Raised Thousands For African Children Is Now a Book
Author Elsa Marston pens story about 2013 fundraising hike by Morgan Scherer and his dog, Niko.
Backpack Buddies Supply Food to Needy Families on Weekends
Community Kitchen of Monroe County program distributes around a ton of food to students each week.
Fun, Healthy, Educational Ways to Celebrate at Children’s Birthday Parties
Try these alternatives to the traditional children’s birthday party.
Local Family Thanks Bruce Springsteen for Helping Save Their Daughter’s Life
BY CARMEN SIERING When Tom and Kelley French’s daughter, Juniper, was born at 23 weeks gestation,...
IU Media School Launches GirlPowered! Gaming Camp
BY ERIN HOLLINDEN With its first GirlPowered! gaming camp in June, The Media School at Indiana...
A Moving Ceremony in Korea Honors Brother Killed in Action Decades Ago
BY CARMEN SIERING When Brenda Lott was 6 years old, she learned that her brother, Cpl. Daniel...
You Can “Test-Drive” Assisted Living In a Bell Trace Transitional Apartment
BY CARMEN SIERING Moving into an assisted living community can be a big decision, but since 2014,...
Carrie Shahbahrami Recognized for Bringing Project Lifesaver to Town
BY CAIRRIL MILLS It was a dark and cold February night in 2012 when Carrie Shahbahrami’s then...
Builder Community & Habitat Unite to Give Low-Income Families New Homes
In June, the Habitat for Humanity Builders Blitz constructed homes for three families in the Trail...
Local Farmers Saving Monarchs and Offer Kits So You Can, Too!
BY JULIE GRAY Sean and Denise Breeden-Ost, owners of Getty’s Creek Farm, have long sold mushrooms...
