Dec. 15, 2025: Hopewell, host hotel, skybridge, animal care, Big Butter!

Civic Solver

This week’s puzzle is another jigsaw. It took me 3 minutes and 35 seconds to complete. I dare you to try and beat that. The link, as always, is at the bottom of the bulletin.

Weather Talk

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

Thursday: Wear a raincoat or take an umbrella, because it’s going to rain. After 1 p.m. the rain is joined by the chance of a thunderstorm until 4 p.m., then more rain after 4 p.m. The high temperatures could hit 53F°. Hang onto your hat, because wind gusts could go up 37 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. This won’t be just sprinkles—the rainfall amounts will be between a half inch and three quarters of an inch.

Friday: Wear something warm to start the day, because the morning temperatures will be coming off an overnight low of 21F°. Maybe take your sunglasses, because even though things will start out cloudy, it will gradually turn sunny, with a high near just 31F°.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system.

Roundup of recent articles

• Monroe County council backs $30K in BEDC funding; commissioners to decide donation claims in separate vote.  The Monroe County council unanimously approved a $30,000 donation to the BEDC but the money won’t be paid unless county commissioners approve the formal claim. The claims for two donations—to the BEDC and to Seven Oaks Classical School—will have their own agenda item on Thursday.
• College Avenue to close for 2 weeks starting late January 2026 for Bloomington Convention Center skybridge installation.  Bloomington’s board of public works has OK'd a full 2-week closure of College Avenue south of 3rd Street from Jan. 26 to Feb. 12, 2026, for installation of a convention center skybridge. Detours and pedestrian reroutes will be in place, with single-lane traffic returning Feb. 13.
• Skipped over: Bloomington city council won’t get chance to OK $500K interlocal accord on animal care, $44K deal on justice grant.  Bloomington is bypassing city council review for 2 long-standing interlocal accords—on animals and JAG grants—by sending them to the state attorney general instead. The mayor’s administration says it’s easier and already OK'd. But it leaves the council without its usual public briefing on costs.
• Hopewell South PUD pitched as path to homeownership, heads to plan commission in 2026, gets first city council scrutiny.  Bloomington’s RDC has OK'd a petition to rezone Hopewell South as a PUD, clearing the way for a plan commission review in January. The proposal would allow up to 98 homes aimed at buyers earning around the area median income. City councilmembers also got an initial look at the PUD proposal.
• Archived Live Report: Convention center host hotel, Hopewell rezoning.  This is a live report from the Dec. 15, 2025 meeting of the Bloomington redevelopment commission. The agenda includes a resolution about land for a convention center host hotel, and a rezoning request for Hopewell South.

Quick notes

If you know the background already and you’re just wondering what happened in the second half of Wednesday in government news, here’s one-sentence summaries.

Host hotel. Unless Dora Hospitality has a specific deal to put on the table for the development of a host hotel for the convention center expansion by Jan. 21, 2026, the Monroe County capital improvement board will be issuing a new RFP for hotel developers.

Annexation of one parcel. At its Wednesday meeting, the Bloomington city council approved the annexation of a single parcel at 2005 W. Cory Drive, which is on the edge of the so-called central “island” of non-city territory. The city council also approved the new city zoning.

Historic district. At its Wednesday meeting, the Bloomington city council approved the historic designation of the Ivan Adams House at 115 E. 12th St.

Towing. At its Wednesday meeting, the Bloomington city council approved increases in the rates that towing companies can charge for both city-initiated tows and non-consensual tows.

Help Bloom Magazine chose best food, restaurants

Listen, I know you might have survey fatigue, but this year’s survey on food and restaurants from Bloom Magazine has been revamped and improved: It’s short and crisp, and does not require a response for every single item! But best of all, each section offers a chance to comment. Here’s what associate publisher Sydney Zulich says: “You can add comments—they may be published in the magazine!” 

I think what that really means is: Please use the comment option to confess to Bloom Magazine all the weirdo stuff you like to do at different restaurants in town that make you feel at home there! For example, when I go to Uptown Cafe, what I like to do sometimes is order the waffles. Waffles come with a round pat of butter, and the waffles are garnished with strawberries and blueberries.

Here’s what you do: Take two of the blueberries and arrange them as “eyes” on the pat of butter. Then you wait patiently. When your server checks on you, point at the butter pat and say: “Look!” And when they say, “What?!” You deliver the punchline, which is: “Big Butter is watching!” It will get your day off to a hilarious start. It never gets old. Go ahead and take the survey and tell Bloom Magazine funny stories: survey link.

Puzzlefest!

Mark your calendar for Jan. 25 from noon to 4 p.m., because the Monroe County History Center is sponsoring a jigsaw puzzle competition, which will take place from 1-3 p.m. at the Switchyard Park Pavillion.

For the competition, teams of four race to complete the same 500-ish piece puzzle. The competition signup is currently open online. The registration fee for a team of four is $60 and proceeds go to support educational programming at the Monroe County History Center. But guess what: Completing puzzles can be a spectator sport. It’s free to watch the competition and participate in the puzzle sale/swap.

Starting in 2026, from Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. you can donate puzzles to the puzzle swap at the History Center.

Anyone who drops puzzles off at the History Center through Jan. 24 will avoid a wait on Jan. 25 and will get extra tickets to use in the swap.

On the calendar

Homeless encampments. Expected to get some consideration at the 10 a.m. Thursday (Dec. 19) meeting of the Monroe County commissioners is the idea of establishing a policy for posting a 30-day notice for the clearance of any homeless encampment. There’s no agenda for that day posted yet for the meeting.

Donation claims. At their 10 a.m. Thursday (Dec. 19) meeting Monroe County commissioners will decide whether to approve the claim for a $30,000 donation to the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), which was authorized by the county council. At the same meeting, county commissioners are also expected to decide whether to approve the claim for a $1,800 donation to the Seven Oaks Classical School, which was also authorized by the county council. There’s no agenda for that day posted yet for the meeting. For B Square background, see: Monroe County council backs $30K in BEDC funding; commissioners to decide donation claims in separate vote.

Meet Arthur!

This very, very good boy is a mix of Dalmatian and cattle dog. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Arthur:

Arthur is the friendliest, most loving little ray of sunshine you’ll ever meet. He’s super open to loving everyone—animals and people alike—and he’s been socialized with rabbits, guinea pigs, cats, and other dogs. He truly is the sweetest boy ever

Photo Finish: 6th Street & Madison 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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