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This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, August 23rd, 2022.
Later in the program, WFHB Afternoon Music Mix DJ Cindy Beaulé speaks with Rachael Himsel and Michelle Martin-Coleman about Project Stay – a suicide prevention movement. More in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, the Bloomington City Council discussed a petition to designate the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and Parsonage as a local historic district. But first, your local headlines.
Bloomington City Council Committee of the Whole
Four members of the Bloomington City Council met on August 10th. That’s not enough to meet quorum. Although the Council could not take official action, the four council members present–Susan Sandberg, Jim Sims, Dave Rollo, and Ron Smith–listened to a presentation by Historic Preservation Program Manager Gloria Colom Braña. The presentation detailed the petition to designate the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and Parsonage at 702 and 708 North Rogers Street as a local historic district.
Colom Braña said the Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission supported the designation.
Colom Braña described the significance and remarkable history of the church.
Colom Braña said that when it was built, the Bethel AME Church provided community both for longtime Bloomington residents and for Black students at Indiana University.
Beyond its cultural and social significance, the Bethel AME Church is also architecturally notable. Built in 1922, it was designed by local architect John Nichols and constructed from locally sourced limestone. Advisory member to the Historic Preservation Commission Duncan Campbell listed well-known Bloomington buildings built by Nichols.
According to Colom Braña, ownership of the church itself was a powerful symbol. When the congregation paid off the mortgage for the land and the construction, they held a mortgage-burning ceremony.
Congregation member Nancy Cross Harris has been part of Bethel for over thirty years. She said the congregation is still active in worship and in service.
At the end of the meeting, Sims shared his own history with the African Methodist Episcopal church.
All four council members in attendance indicated they would vote in favor of designating the Bethel AME Church and Parsonage as a local historic district. Council president Susan Sandberg said she expected the ordinance to pass.
Bloomington Arts Commission
The Bloomington Arts Commission met on Wednesday, August 10th, to approve budgetary spending for the next year and to promote public arts.
Commissioner of BAC Suzanne Ryan-Melamed started off the meeting by approving the minutes from July’s meeting. With the commission in the agreement of approving last month’s minutes, Ryan-Melamed passed it over to Holly Warren.
Assistant Director for the Arts Holly Warren outlined the budgetary standing of the Commission for the rest of the year. She cited the recent income tax increase as a means to get money to spend on more public arts projects.
BAC’s Public Arts Chair Nick Blandford brought up institutional changes in the Commission’s structure. He discussed the confusion over who occupies certain roles and how inefficient the current process is. Blandford did offer some constructive criticism, however, he praised the leaps forward in diversity the Commission has made.
The next meeting of the Bloomington Arts Commission is scheduled for September 14th.
Feature Report:
In today’s feature report, WFHB Afternoon Music Mix DJ Cindy Beaulé speaks with Rachael Himsel and Michelle Martin-Coleman about Project Stay – a suicide prevention movement. We turn now to that interview.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Cindy Beaulé.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
