Ribbon Cutting celebrates launch of Indiana Uplands Microelectronics Training Hub at WestGate@Crane9/30/2025 New hub and academy align ME training opportunities with defense and industry workforce needsIndustry leaders, defense partners, educators, students, families, and local officials joined together on September 29 to celebrate the opening of the Indiana Uplands Microelectronics (ME) Training Hub at the WestGate@Crane Technology Park, a milestone in building the region’s advanced ME workforce pipeline.
Hosted by Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) and Reliable MicroSystems (Rel-Micro), the event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the state-of-the-art hub and lab facilities. ROI’s Indiana Uplands ME Training Hub features a dedicated classroom and lab space designed to immerse students in hands-on learning experiences. Inside, students have access to advanced workstations, electronic testing and design equipment, a training cleanroom, and specialized software used across the microelectronics industry. The facility is outfitted for dual-enrollment coursework, technical training, and applied projects that mirror real-world defense and industry needs. By co-locating the Hub within Rel-Micro, students are also exposed to a professional engineering environment where research, design, and prototyping are actively underway.
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The 300 block of East Kirkwood Avenue, which includes the Monroe County Public Library, will reopen to vehicles and parking on Friday, October 3, following Hoosier Hoops, the final event scheduled in the public right-of-way for the 2025 seasonal closure of Kirkwood Avenue. With this change, traffic and parking access will return to the block. The following Kirkwood block closures continue through Monday, Nov. 10:
There are several convenient parking options downtown, including metered street parking, surface lots, and public parking garages. Parking meters and pay stations are enforced from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. They are free on Sundays and all official City of Bloomington holidays. Payment can be made via ParkMobile or with coins. Free on-street parking is available in designated areas, including two-hour parking on North Rogers Street between Kirkwood and 11th streets, South Washington Street between Second and Third streets, and South Lincoln Street between Third Street and Smith Avenue. Free parking is available 24/7 on South Grant Street between Second Street and Smith Avenue and on South Madison Street between Second and Third streets. Additionally, IU continues to offer free parking on weekday evenings, weekends, holidays, and university breaks. November 1 – 16 at the Waldron AuditoriumCelebrate 75 years of Peanuts with an hour of joy, humor, and timeless Peanuts magic!
This fall, Constellation Stage & Screen is presenting You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Under the guidance of seasoned director and familiar face to Constellation, Mitchell Ward, this fan-favorite will be brought to life on stage November 1- 16 at Waldron Auditorium. In addition to standard performances, Constellation is offering a sensory-friendly performance on Sunday, November 16 at 4:00pm. Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the whole Peanuts gang in the heartwarming and hilarious musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown! This timeless classic brings the beloved comic strip to life with laugh-out-loud moments, memorable songs, and a big dose of charm. From flying kites to school crushes, it’s a day in the life of the world’s most endearing underdog and his friends. Celebrate the 75th anniversary of Peanuts with this perennial favorite packed with humor, heart, and plenty of “good grief!” The City of Bloomington has awarded a $15,000 grant to AccessAbleUSA, Inc., a local accessibility information company, to help downtown businesses better serve patrons of all abilities.
Through this initiative, AccessAbleUSA will work with up to 30 small, independent businesses on a first-come, first-served basis to conduct remote surveys and create Detailed Access Guides, which provide accurate and practical information to help customers with diverse needs assess a venue’s accessibility. Detailed Access Guides are searchable on the websites of AccessAbleUSA and participating businesses, where people searching for accessibility information would expect to find them. The surveys will focus on customer-facing independent businesses in the greater downtown Bloomington area, including those already part of the city’s AccessAbility Decal Program. Businesses are encouraged to nominate themselves by completing the interest form as soon as possible. “In Bloomington, being a welcoming place is one of our core values,” said Andrea de la Rosa, Assistant Director for Small Business Development. “Helping facilitate ease of access for people with specialized needs is one of the many ways in which we exemplify this goal.” Newsweek and global data intelligence firm Statista are proud to present the America’s Best Nursing Homes 2026 ranking.
This year’s list recognizes the top 1,200 nursing homes across the United States. Facilities were evaluated on four pillars including performance data, peer recommendations, accreditations and resident satisfaction, with performance data carrying an increased weight in 2026 to reflect the growing emphasis on clinical quality metrics. Other updates this year include the addition of vaccination rates as new quality measures, the expansion of the ranking to cover 33 states across three size categories and an increase in the total number of facilities recognized. In this ranking, Stonecroft Health Campus made the top 20 in the 50-99 beds category in Indiana. Click here to read the full article from Newsweek. Join PRP Wine International Executive Wine Consultant, Tralinda Nelson, for a Sip and Savor wine tasting open house.
More than 40+ bottles of wine will be open for you to sample. PRP wine prides itself in having low intervention, no added chemicals, sulfites or sugars in their wines. Wines are not available in any stores, or bars and will be available for purchase on that day. Wines are sold in cases of 12, and can be mixed. Private Label for holiday gift giving available! 2643 S. Sunflower Dr. Bloomington, IN 47403 October 11th 4:00-7:00 pm- Come and go open house Hoosier Hills Food Bank will present the 41st Annual Community Book Fair from October 16-21, 2025 at the Monroe County Fairgrounds. This treasured event will again feature a wide selection of two buildings worth of books, games, puzzles, movies and music at bargain prices to support the food bank’s hunger relief programs.
The Book Fair will kick off Thursday, October 16th at 9am. Opening Day carries a $10 admission fee, but it’s also Veteran’s Appreciation Day and veterans are welcome for free admission. This year’s schedule is:
 🎭 Eclipse Productions presents Veronica’s Room by Ira Levin — just in time for spooky season! This chilling psychological thriller blurs the line between reality and illusion, as a young couple becomes entangled in a twisted game inside an old mansion. Nothing is as it seems, and each revelation is more unsettling than the last.💀
📍 *Waldron Firebay* 📅 *October 17–26* ⚠️ *For mature audiences* Buy tickets: https://www.eclipseproductionscompany.com/buy-tickets The Bloomington Senior Advocates, in partnership with community organizations and sponsors, is proud to announce the inaugural Bloomington Healthy Aging Expo on Wednesday, October 9, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1375 North Wellness Way, Bloomington, Indiana 47404.
This free, community-centered event is dedicated to connecting older adults and their families with essential resources that promote healthy, active, and independent living. Attendees can explore over 40 local vendors, enjoy engagement activities and healthy snacks at each table, and participate in wellness offerings such as chair yoga, bingo, and a Medicare 101 session. The Expo will also feature free hearing screenings and will host the annual Community Dementia Alliance Caregiver Awards, recognizing outstanding caregivers in the Bloomington community. As one of Indiana’s most respected entrepreneurs, Bender will share his entrepreneurial journey across five decades Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington will welcome John Bender, co-founder of Pizza Hut and Chairman at Bender Lumber Co., as the featured speaker for the Gayle & Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship’s 15th fundraising event, a Fireside Chat, on October 15 at 4:30 p.m.
“We are honored to welcome Mr. John Bender to Ivy Tech Bloomington as our featured speaker,” said Steve Bryant, executive director of the Cook Center for Entrepreneurship. “Mr. Bender’s history of building successful ventures offers valuable lessons for our students and community, and we look forward to hearing his expertise on what it takes to launch and grow a business.” Bender has five decades of experience as one of Indiana’s most respected entrepreneurs. As the founder of several well-known southern Indiana businesses, he has a track record of successfully propelling ventures from concept to commercialization. |
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