Aug. 27, 2026: MCCSC redistricting; Powerline Camp cleared early; food inspections; Cup & Kettle returns

Civic Solver

This week’s puzzle is a jigsaw featuring the folks behind Cup & Kettle. The jigsaw is set up to be easy, and the reward for completion is so fantastic!

Weather Talk

Based on the National Weather Service forecast in text and charts here’s some advice.

Thursday: Wear something partly sunny, so that when you put it together with the mostly sunny forecast, the day will be completely sunny! The high will be around 84F°.

Friday: Wear the same thing you did yesterday, because the completely sunny forecast means your day will be extra sunny! The high will be around 83F°.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

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Recent articles

• MCCSC moves toward redistricting talks, board president calls change ‘inevitable’.  MCCSC will schedule a work session to set parameters for possible redrawing of attendance boundaries, reorganization or restructuring. Board president Erin Cooperman called some kind of change “inevitable,” citing declining enrollment, unused building space and financial pressures.
• Powerline Camp emptied Tuesday morning after Monroe County moves up deadline.  Monroe County deputies cleared the homeless encampment on the county-owned Thomson property early Tuesday, a week before the original Sept. 1 deadline. Residents objected to the changed date and a new notice that gave no specific time. Many remained unsure where they would go next.
• Monroe County Retail Food Inspections: June 2026.  During 48 of the 69 inspections of retail food establishments done by the Monroe County health department in June 2026, no violations were found. During 5 of them at least one priority violation was found.
• Cup & Kettle reopens production on Bloomington’s west side, eyes Indiana-grown tea.  After flooding from a busted pipe forced Cup & Kettle from its Walnut Street shop, the Bloomington tea business is back in a new west-side production space. Jessica Messmer is expanding custom blends, wholesale sales and online orders. She's exploring the possibility of growing tea in Indiana.

Other notes

Help shape the future of your Library! From the public library: “We’re creating a new strategic plan for the Monroe County Public Library, and we want to hear from you! Take our short survey and share your experiences and ideas. Your feedback will help us better serve you, your household, and our community.”

On the calendar

Roads, stormwater work, attendance. On the 10 a.m. Thursday (Aug. 27) agenda for Monroe County commissioners is a $107,700 redesign of the Baby Creek low-water crossings, up to $28,489.80 for storm-pipe inspections along Curry Pike, and $311,656.50 in paving contracts for Fry and Stanford roads. The agenda also includes an on-call engineering-services agreement with Etica Group, with costs to be billed hourly as needed. That makes for a comparatively light agenda.

Commissioner Lee Jones has not attended a regular meeting since May 21, according to a commissioners office attendance log, which goes through the end of July. Through last week’s meeting on Aug. 20, that amounts to eight absences over a roughly three-month period. A text message and an email from The B Square to Jones on Wednesday asking if she planned to attend this Thursday’s meeting did not receive responses. Jones said in a late 2025 interview with The B Square that she would continue to serve through her cancer treatments.

Certificates of appropriateness, demolition delays, Seminary Point? On the 5 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 27) agenda for Bloomington’s historic preservation commission (HPC) is a standard range of certificates of appropriateness and demolition delays. The most recent demolition delay covered by The B Square was a high-profile one involving the Seminary Point property.

Controversy over some procedural issues internal to the HPC has persisted since that late June meeting. A city council appointed member of the HPC (non-voting), Reynard Cross, has raised the procedural points at subsequent meetings. The city council is now looking to consider Cross’s removal from the HPC for cause. Interim city council attorney Larry Allen sent Cross a letter notifying him of the council’s potential action at its Sept. 2 meeting. And Cross has responded with a 90-paragraph rebuttal of the claims in Allen’s letter.

While local law says that a commissioner can be removed by law, and the city council has enacted a code of conduct, it’s not clear what, if any, due process was followed to put the question in front of the council. For example, who had standing to make a complaint and what criteria were applied to determine if the complaint had enough merit to be put in front of the council? The B Square has made a records request for any written documentation of such a process.

Kidical Mass: Aug. 27! What does that hilarious play on words mean? It’s a back to school family bike ride and celebration! It takes place on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., staring from the Bryan Park Woodlawn parking lot. This free, family-friendly event features a short, slow-paced 1- or 2.5-mile bike ride, plus a bike rodeo, games, bike-blended smoothies, popsicles, helmet decorating, free bike lights and quick bike repairs. Children under 11 have to ride with an adult. Official information from the city’s website.

Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard Garden Gala: Aug. 28. Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard will hold its annual Garden Gala fundraiser Friday, Aug. 28, from 6:30–9 p.m. at 1100 W. Allen St. The evening will include a light dinner, drinks, live music by Don’t Call Me Betty, a photo booth, community art projects and a raffle featuring prizes from local businesses. Tickets cost $45, with sponsored tickets also available for community members. Proceeds support MHC’s accessible garden and kitchen education programs.

Secretly 30th Anniversary. Magnolia & Johnson Electric: Aug. 27. Magnolia & Johnson Electric Co., Early Day Miners and June Panic perform Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Bluebird, 216 N. Walnut St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; music starts at 7:30 p.m. Ages 21 and older: tickets.

Secretly 30th Anniversary. Sharon Van Etten and Kevin Morby: Aug. 28. Sharon Van Etten, Kevin Morby and Jordan Patterson perform Friday, Aug. 28, at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m.; music starts at 7 p.m. All ages: tickets.

Secretly 30th Anniversary. Durand Jones & The Indications: Aug. 29. Durand Jones & The Indications, Jensen McRae and Angela Autumn perform Saturday, Aug. 29, at Switchyard Park, 1601 S. Rogers St. Doors open at 5 p.m.; music starts at 6 p.m. All ages: tickets.

Big Book Sale: Sept 18-21. The Friends of the Library will be hosting their Big Fall Book Sale in Meeting Room 1B/C at the Downtown Library with thousands of items at bargain prices. The 2026 Big Fall Book Sale will be open to the public Sept. 18–21 with a special early-bird sale for Friends members on Sept. 17. For hours on specific days, check the book sale webpage.

New Leaf New Life benefit book event: Sept. 23. Authors Chastidy Mader, Ryan Mader, Nordia McNish and Trunnis Goggins II will discuss resilience, recovery, purpose and second chances Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 6–8 p.m. at Redbud Books, 408 W. Kirkwood Ave. Tickets cost $20, with $12 from each ticket benefiting New Leaf New Life, which supports people affected by incarceration and reentry.

Meet Apollo!

This very, very, good boy is a bully breed mix. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Apollo:

Apollo is a young dog who has been a total joy to spend time with! When out and about this boy is attentive and eager to please, he definitely has the smarts to easily figure out what you ask of him. Apollo loves all variety of toys and enjoys a good snuggle after a big romp in the yard. He may need some calm energy when meeting new people but his big silly attitude emerges once he's comfortable. Come meet this special guy today!

Photo Finish: B-Line Trail & 4th Street

The Photo Finish items are drawn from the B There section of the B Square website.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a great weekend!

Dave Askins
734-645-2633
dave@bsquarebulletin.com

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