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The Council for Community Accessibility (CCA) has released a new resource to ensure that public and private events in Bloomington are accessible and welcoming to individuals with disabilities. The Accessible and Inclusive Events Checklist is designed to help event planners navigate the often-overlooked barriers that can prevent community members from fully participating.
This comprehensive checklist covers key areas such as scheduling, marketing, venue selection, food and drink planning, technological accommodations, and attendee engagement. It also highlights actionable steps to foster a sense of comfort and inclusion so that more residents can enjoy local events without unnecessary challenges. The initiative comes as Bloomington continues to prioritize inclusivity in all aspects of community life. With this checklist, the CCA aims to empower event organizers—whether in government, nonprofits, or the private sector—to create environments where accessibility is a priority, not an afterthought. The cover story for the next issue of Bloom Magazine features a selection of gift options from 29 local shops, for every budget and for everyone on your gift list. Plus, one of the world's top licensed artists has moved to town (you'll recognize her work); and if you like meat, you might want to limit your outdoor exposure-- alpha-gal is here!
Public Invited to Share Input on Future Transportation Projects in Bloomington and Monroe County11/13/2024 The Bloomington‐Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMCMPO) will hold a hybrid Public Information Meeting on Thursday, December 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Bloomington City Hall Council Chambers with the goal of gaining public input for the development of the Fiscal Year 2026-2030 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). A virtual attendance option is available via Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting https://bloomington.zoom.us/j/85492624444?pwd=QrnxqRhIJSkkqA7Dl2QhngbEWRa0Fu.1 Meeting ID: 854 9262 4444 Passcode: 883969 Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) Find your local number:bloomington.zoom.us/u/kwS4IfafP The FY 2026-2030 TIP is a comprehensive list of planned and federally funded multi-modal transportation projects programmed for the Indiana Department of Transportation, Monroe County, Rural Transit, Bloomington Transit, and the City of Bloomington. Development of the new TIP requires public involvement, including public review by the BMCMPO Citizens Advisory Committee, the Technical Advisory Committee, and adoption by the Policy Committee before submission to state and federal agencies for final approval. Meeting attendees will help shape the project investment priorities for the next five years by providing feedback on the proposed list of TIP projects. The Draft FY 2026-2030 Transportation Improvement Program is available for public review between November 10, 2024 and December 9, 2024:
 Track cycling champion, civil rights activist, and Indianapolis native Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor has been selected to receive the Distinguished Hoosier Award posthumously.
One of the highest awards given to Indiana citizens by the governor, the Distinguished Hoosier Award was sponsored by State Representative Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis), who represents the 96th Indiana House District in Indianapolis where Major Taylor lived. The award honors those who distinguish themselves by significant contributions to their communities, and whose qualities and actions endear them in the hearts and minds of Hoosiers. “I think Indiana has a lot of unsung Black heroes who deserve to be recognized for the barriers they broke. Taylor was only the second Black athlete to win a world championship in any sport, and he was a trailblazer in a non-traditional sport. His sprint times are still considered some of the fastest in the world. Growing up as a Black man in Indianapolis, Taylor was a testament to how far grit and willpower could take you. I am honored to posthumously present this award to Marshall ‘Major’ Taylor for his legendary impact on Indiana,” said Representative Porter. This December, Constellation invites you to travel down the Yellow Brick Road to the Buskirk-Chumley Theater for The Wizard of Oz. A beloved tradition, each year, Constellation’s Family Holiday Musical entertains over 7,000 members of the Bloomington community and beyond. The Wizard of Oz runs December 12 through 29 at the historic Buskirk-Chumley Theater in downtown Bloomington.
Step into the magical world of The Wizard of Oz in this bewitching live stage musical adaptation of one of the most beloved family films of all time! Travel down the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy and Toto in a whimsical journey filled with iconic songs, like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “If I Only Had a Brain.” An absolute delight for audiences of all ages, The Wizard of Oz invites you to discover the magical power of home! Constellation’s production features dozens of local elementary school students and professional actors from Bloomington and beyond. Starring as Dorothy is Betsy Scott, a New York-based actor and graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s Musical Theatre program. Joining her are IU Musical Theatre students Devin McDuffy as the Cowardly Lion and Evan Vaughan as the Scarecrow; while Devin May, previously seen in Constellation’s The True Story of the Three Little Pigs! and The Importance of Being Earnest, stars as the Tin Man. Sarah Hund conjures a wicked presence as both Miss Gulch and the Wicked Witch of the West, while Amanda (Biggs) Lawson charms as Aunt Em and Glinda the Good Witch. Rounding out the principal cast are Ronnie Johnstone, last seen in Holmes & Watson, as Uncle Henry, and Steve Scott, featured in Deathtrap and The Importance of Being Earnest, as the Wizard. The adult ensemble includes Nell Adkins, Jake Decker, Jocylon Evans, Lucy Ferguson, Trey Perlut, Laura Rong, Nicole “Nikki” Stawski, and Peter Valentino.
The application deadline for the Local-Motion Grant Program, designed to promote pedestrian and bicycle mobility throughout the city, has been extended to Thursday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m.
The grant program supports community projects that aim to enhance walking and bicycling infrastructure and culture in Bloomington. Past winning projects include a bicycle maintenance station by the Bloomington Bicycle Project, a bike lending program for Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) adult students, and a kid’s bike club at the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington. Program Guidelines Eligible organizations may submit one project application per annual cycle, with a maximum grant award of $2,400 per project. Applications are welcomed from non-profit organizations, neighborhood associations, and local businesses that propose creative and impactful projects supporting active transportation. For complete criteria, click here. Apply Now The application window is now open for 2024, with a deadline of November 14, 2024. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the program guidelines and submit their proposals before the deadline. For further details or questions about the application process, contact Hank Duncan, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, at [email protected].  The City of Bloomington’s Community and Family Resources Department (CFRD) has announced that Andrew Shannon has assumed the role of Safe and Civil City Program Director. Shannon will collaborate with CFRD Director Shatoyia Moss to lead efforts in promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and public safety education.
As Safe and Civil City Director, Shannon will act as a liaison to several commissions, including the Commission on the Status of Black Males and the Commission on the Status of Children and Youth. Since its establishment in 2002, this role has focused on fostering inclusivity and strengthening community ties across Bloomington. Shannon brings extensive experience in community engagement, coalition-building, and diversity-focused initiatives. He has served on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Virginia Advisory Committee and led programs with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Virginia. His previous position as the first Director of Youth Services in Fluvanna County, Virginia, included managing youth programming and community education initiatives, such as the nationally performing Fluvanna County Teen Scene and the FEEDING 5000 food security program. Additionally, Shannon has founded events such as the Southeast Community Day Parade and Festival, now in its 34th year, and the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Newport News. Shannon holds a degree in Business Administration from Winston-Salem State University and brings over three decades of supervisory and management experience to his new role. He is eager to collaborate with local organizations and community leaders to support Bloomington’s initiatives for community safety and inclusivity. The City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) has released a water service line inventory in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) guidelines for the updated Lead & Copper Rule. The service line inventory is available through 120Water, an Indiana- based company which partnered with IDEM to provide public-facing inventory access. The inventory displays up-to-date information about individual service line composition based on utilities records, plumbing code updates, field verifications, and computer learning models. A link to the CBU inventory is available on the utilities website at bloomington.in.gov/utilities/inventory, along with additional information about the service line inventory.
CBU began its “Let's Get the Lead Out!” program in 2022. The American Rescue Plan Act funded necessary equipment to implement the program. CBU has been working with contractors Arcadis and Blue Conduit to finalize and submit the initial inventory of over 54,000 service connections. EPA guidelines have the initial inventory due 10/16/2024 but water utilities were given allowance to categorize any service line as “unknown”; CBU currently lists approximately 11,000 unknown service lines. In the coming months, CBU will put together a comprehensive plan to finish identifying service line compositions around the city. Although the EPA has not released a due date to identify any unknown service lines, CBU will continue its proactive approach. |
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