Articles by Mike Rhodes

Spraying a silicone-based lubricant on the rubber base of your garage door will keep it from sticking/freezing to the pavement in very cold weather. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Winter Readiness October 3, 2019

Winter Readiness: Tips, Tricks, And Things To Do

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—MuncieJournal.com is proud to bring you our new Winter Readiness special section. As of this writing, it is 90+ degrees outside, but there’s a huge snowstorm on the west coast, so you know the cooler weather will be here before you know it. Below you will find 15 different stories from local businesses and organizations that can help you prepare for cooler temperatures, save you money, update your home furnishings, or get ready for the upcoming holiday…

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2018 Startup Weekend Muncie winning team (Button Buddy). From left to right Austin Hollowell, Esther Bryant, Rachel Hafley, Brandi Lambertson, and Michael Garrity. Photo provided

Business October 3, 2019

‘Techstars Startup Weekend’ Returns to Muncie. Learn, Network, Startup!

By: Karen Lloyd, Program Coordinator, Entrepreneurship Center, Ball State University— Muncie, IN— On October 11th, 12th and 13th, the 2019 Techstars Startup Weekend will make its return to Muncie. Do you have an idea you would like to pursue or a problem you would like to solve but don’t know where to start? Then Startup Weekend Muncie is just the event for you! Startup Weekend is a global organization powered by Techstars and Google where participants get together on a Friday evening to pitch and…

Aerial view of the Ball State Campus. Photo by: BSU Photo Services

We Fly October 3, 2019

2019 Enrollment A Record For Ball State

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN — This Fall, Ball State University welcomed a record 22,541 students, including its largest, most academically qualified, and most diverse freshman class in the institution’s 101-year history. “It is very exciting to welcome such a bright and diverse group of students to Ball State,” said Board Chairman Rick Hall. “Ball State is on an upward trajectory, and there has never been a better time to be a Cardinal.” The previous record of 22,513 was set…

L-R: Jennifer Gilland, Kristen McConnell & Megan O’Connor

Non-Profit October 2, 2019

YMCA Strengthens Leadership to Deepen Community Impact

By: Chad Zaucha— Muncie, IN—Over the course of the last two years, the YMCA of Muncie has been realigning our staff structure to streamline operations in order to deepen our impact to our community.  The final phase involved promoting three members of our leadership staff that exemplify hungry, humble and smart leadership. We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Kristen McConnell to Vice President of Mission Advancement.  Kristen has served the community via the YMCA for the past 18 years…

Pictured L-R: Panel discussion with Geoffery Mearns, LeeAnn Kwiatkowski, Jim Williams and Susana Rivera-Mills. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Education October 2, 2019

Horizon Convention Center Hosts ‘Innovation Summit’ For Muncie Educators

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN– For two days, teachers and administrators from Muncie Community Schools (MCS) along with their partners from Ball State University together sought innovative solutions to transform education. During the MCS-Ball State Innovation Summit on September 25-26 in Muncie’s Horizon Convention Center, K-12 teachers and principals, Ball State faculty and staff, and community leaders worked on ways to continue the upward trajectory of the school system. Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns praised the teachers and staff…

ArtsWalk. File photo

Entertainment October 1, 2019

ArtsWalk 2019 Events Announced For First Thursday

By: Cheryl Crowder— Muncie, IN–Muncie Downtown Development Partnership (MDDP), in cooperation with Muncie Arts and Culture Council and Ball State University’s Departments of Fine Art and Music, present ArtsWalk 2019. ArtsWalk will be held in the streets of DWNTWN Muncie on Oct. 3rd from 5-9 pm. Please join us for an exceptional evening of art, food and performances. In addition to the well-established DWNTWN “First Thursday” art gallery openings, Ball State students and faculty will share a wealth of musical talent…

Fields of Faith will be held at Muncie Southside Football Field, 1601 E. 26th St., Muncie, IN 47302

Non-Profit October 1, 2019

Fields Of Faith To Take Place at Muncie Southside Football Field on October 2nd

By: Patrick Benner— Muncie, IN—East Central Indiana Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA, www.fca.org) will host the annual student-driving, student-led Fields of Faith event October 2nd. Since 2009, Fields of Faith Muncie has been the largest local Christian event in East Central Indiana. On a national level, in 2018 alone, more than 198,000 people gathered on 521 athletic fields and gymnasiums across the country. This is the first year the event will be held outdoors on the Muncie Southside Football Field….

The benefit concert will take place on Wednesday evening, October 2, at 7:30 p.m. at Sursa Performance Hall on the campus of Ball State University. Photo provided

Non-Profit September 28, 2019

Survivor Voices and Ball State’s University Singers To Present Joint Benefit Concert

By: Molly Flodder— Muncie, IN—Last year, Survivor Voices cancer survivor choir, ages 50+, and Ball State University Singers, ages 25 and under came together for a joint concert. The focus was not so much on cancer, but on strength, hope, energy and fun!  Of course, the cancer topic came up and survivors in the choir, students for whom cancer had affected their families and even Dr. Alan Alder, director of the BSU Singers, whose grandmother was a cancer survivor. The two…

A hand holds a burrito as a taco-holder holds a taco. Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson September 27, 2019

John Carlson: New Car Goes Its Own Way

By: John Carlson— Cars these days. Go figure… That’s how I used to react to all the hype over self-driving cars. As a longtime motorist who fully enjoys being behind the wheel, I found the very idea of self-driving cars loathsome. Young, up-and-coming drivers? My sense was they would hate self-driving cars more than anyone. After all, when I was just getting my license I couldn’t wait to be the guy in charge, burning rubber, doing doughnuts and skidding in…

YWCA Central Indiana will host their 6th annual Put Yourself In Her H.E.E.L.S. (Help. Encourage. Empower. Lift. Support) event on Saturday, September 28th, 2019.

Non-Profit September 26, 2019

YWCA Central Indiana To Host 6th Annual ‘Put Yourself In Her H.E.E.L.S. Event’ on Saturday

By: WaTasha Barnes Griffin— Muncie, IN—YWCA Central Indiana will host their 6th annual Put Yourself In Her H.E.E.L.S. (Help. Encourage. Empower. Lift. Support) event on Saturday, September 28th, 2019. Put Yourself in Her H.E.E.L.S. is the YWCA’s premiere event targeted at raising awareness of YWCA’s mission driven work and fundraising for the residential programs. Services such as C.O.T.S. Stay (complimentary, overnight, temporary, shelter stay), YWCA Emergency Shelter, Second Phase Housing, and Permanent Housing Support provide the comfort and assurance a woman…