Articles by Mike Rhodes

Cornerstone Center of the Arts graphic by Mike Rhodes

Non-Profit May 10, 2021

Registration for Cornerstone Center for the Arts Summer Classes Now Open

By Claire Yazel— Muncie, IN – Cornerstone Center for the Arts will host an eight-week-long session of classes this summer starting June 14 and continuing until August 8. Registration for these classes is available online at cornerstonearts.org until June 4. Both in-person and online classes are available for students of all ages. Class offerings for the summer session have doubled that of the spring session earlier this year. The catalog will feature returning favorites, like family ceramics and fluid art, along…

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Non-Profit May 9, 2021

Faith Congregations Sought for Interfaith Build with Habitat for Humanity

By Eileen Oaks Molter— Muncie, IN —During this challenging and unprecedented time, Muncie Habitat for Humanity is working together with the Muncie community to build homes, unity, and hope. Muncie Habitat for Humanity Interfaith Build is an opportunity for all faith groups to come together as one, united for one common cause – HUMANITY. The Interfaith Build program is bringing together congregations and communities from a variety of traditions to volunteer, side-by-side, to build affordable homes for families in Muncie, IN….

Volunteers work to remove trash and debris from alleys in the McKinley neighborhood. Photo provided

Non-Profit May 7, 2021

Neighborhood Cleanups and Dumpster Days Scheduled for May

By Heather Williams, MAP Task Force 2 Leader— Muncie, IN—With the winter snows melted and the ground beginning to burst with color, the site of trash and debris hidden by the winter has become an eyesore. Spring is the perfect time to organize volunteers to beautify our city’s streets, alleys, and sidewalks. Muncie’s neighborhood associations partner with the Muncie Sanitary District each spring and fall to coordinate cleanups and those are set to begin on Saturday, May 8th and continue…

Sometimes there’s way more than enough misery to go around. Photo by Nancy Carlson

Carlson May 7, 2021

John Carlson: Illness, Injury and Pain

By John Carlson— Since a nasty cold struck Nancy and me recently, I have been thinking a lot about illness. What I have been thinking about illness is that, even in these deadly pandemic days, just catching a stupid old-fashioned cold is no barrel of monkeys. It calls for preparation! Grabbing tissues, Tylenol and our fancy digital thermometer, I reread the instructions to press its little button for two seconds, then stick the skinny end into the far reaches of…

MCS to Celebrate School Lunch Hero Day On May 7th

Education May 7, 2021

MCS to Celebrate School Lunch Hero Day On May 7th

By Andy Klotz— District to honor frontline workers who helped make sure students didn’t go hungry during COVID-19 Muncie, Ind. — Today, Muncie Community Schools and its food service partner, Chartwells K12, will celebrate National School Lunch Hero Day to recognize the district’s team of essential cooks, chefs, dietitians and food service workers who have served more than 1.1 million meals since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past 14 months, rain or shine, Muncie lunch heroes rolled…

The recent repaving of Wheeling Ave is pictured. Photo by Mike Rhodes

Government May 6, 2021

26 Muncie Streets To Be Paved In 2021

By City of Muncie Communications— Muncie, IN- In 2020, Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour and  City Council members met on multiple occasions to discuss what direction to take on infrastructure for Muncie street work in 2021 and beyond. INDOT recently awarded Muncie $2.1 million for Tillotson resurfacing from Kilgore to McGalliard and $0.9 million and $1.6 million for McGalliard resurfacing from Tillotson to Wheeling and from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to the East Muncie Bypass. The City of Muncie has…

Jim Faulkner painting at his easel. Photo provided

Entertainment May 6, 2021

Jim Faulkner, Ambassador of Indiana’s Beauty

By Barbara Schafer— Muncie, IN—Jim Faulkner’s dedication, sensitivity, and skill as a painter for more than 50 years made him one of the most revered artists in our region and state. In a 2006 article, Jim said “I’ve always loved Indiana and it’s change of season, and I had missed it when I was gone . . . Indiana is as beautiful as any place in the world.” Jim Faulkner passed away at 86 in January.  A public reception celebrating…

Students in Nancy Shreve’s kindergarten classroom at Selma Elementary School worked together to plan and implement projects with a variety of building materials, including tree blocks (pictured). Constructive play requires students to use math, science, and engineering skills while practicing cooperation, perseverance, questioning, problem-solving, imagination, and strengthening motor skills.

Education, Non-Profit May 5, 2021

Teachers Awarded Funds for Creative and Innovative Classroom Projects

By Kallie Sulanke— Muncie, IN—Seven local teachers will receive $2,749.87 in Robert P. Bell Education Grants from The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. Across the county, 1,000s of students benefit from Bell Education Grants each year. Awards of up to $450 are available through the Bell Grants program. Teachers in public and private K-12 schools in Delaware County, Ind., are invited to apply for this competitive funding throughout the school year to enhance learning in their classrooms. Teachers may…

Entertainment May 4, 2021

Ross Community Center’s Upcoming Little League Season

By Conner Tighe— Muncie, IN—For many years, the Ross Community Center has advocated for the well-being of youth throughout the southside neighborhoods with the yearly Youth Little League program. With the strong financial support of the Ball Brother’s Foundation, IU Health Ball Memorial Foundation, Vectren Foundation, Lowe’s Foundation, and Project Reinvest, and with the support of local voices like previous mayor Dennis Tyler, construction of the two new ballfields began in 2016 and the fields were inaugurated in 2018. In 2018 and 2019, approximately 300 kids ages 4-12 participated in the…

Heather Williams accepts her Muncie "Citizen of the Month" Award at the city council meeting on Monday evening.

Government May 4, 2021

Heather Williams Presented With Muncie Citizen of the Month Award

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief— Muncie, IN—Heather Williams was presented with the “Citizen of the Month Award” at the Muncie City Council meeting Monday night. Council president Jeff Robinson said, “Heather Williams serves as an associate director in Ball State’s Office of Community Engagement and also as the Building Better Neighborhoods program manager working directly with the city’s neighborhood associations to help build capacity and make connections with Ball State faculty, staff, and students and programs.” In her non-profit volunteer work,…