PodBN

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 20: Deb Halperin (West Bloomington Revitalization Project) Dec 10, 2019

Show notes

Deb Halperin is the President of the West Bloomington Revitalization Project (WBRP). We speak about how the project has grown over the last decade, as well as how it plans to continue to build on the strengths of neighborhood and empower residents. Just look at all these programs: Community Garden, Bike Co-Op, Book Bike, Tool Library, Veggie Oasis, Seed Library, Bed Blitz, and more!

You can find more information at:

Their office at 724 W. Washington
Website: westbloomington.org
Facebook and other social media platforms

Support someone else doing a big thing in Bloomington-Normal:

Mary Cambell at Dreams as Possible. An organization, which helps women find sustainable employment by providing them with free materials to learn trade jobs.

ilprairiecf.org/dreams-are-possible

Thank you to our sponsors

Play Normal E-Sports (playnormalesports.com)
Normal Gadgets (normalgadgets.com)
BRE Law (breinjurylaw.com)

Music: “Extremes” by The Lemming Shepherds, public domain

Ep. 19: Abbi Sorrells, Erik Rankin, Rob Fazzini (Countywide Candidates) Nov 25, 2019

Show notes

We sit down with all three McLean countywide candidates to discuss the offices they are seeking, what motivated them to run, and why these offices are chosen by partisan races. And a special announcement by one of the candidates is PodBN’s first official scoop!

You can find more information on the candidates on Facebook and other social media platforms.

Support someone else doing a big thing in Bloomington-Normal:

Donate professional clothes for people in the court system at Public Defender Carla Barnes’s office.

Email: carla.barnes@mcleancountyil.gov

Phone: (309) 888-5235

Visit the Ecology Action Center, the “gold standard” in Illinois for recycling and green living.

ecologyactioncenter.org

Volunteer at the YWCA Labyrinth Program, which offers reintegration services to formerly incarcerated women.

ywcamclean.org

Thank you to our sponsors

Play Normal E-Sports (playnormalesports.com)
Normal Gadgets (normalgadgets.com)
BRE Law (breinjurylaw.com)

Music: “Extremes” by The Lemming Shepherds, public domain

Ep. 18: Tari Renner (Bloomington Mayor) Nov 11, 2019

Show notes

Bloomington mayor Tari Renner stops by to talk about the major duties of his position, reflect on his time in office, and consider the future of the city.

You can get in touch with Mayor Renner via email at mayor@cityblm.org, or by attending a Mayoral Open House at 4:30 the Friday before most regular council meetings.

Support someone else doing a big thing in Bloomington-Normal:

Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal, who are building a new clubhouse at Sunnyside Park in Bloomington.

Online: bgcbn.org

Facebook: Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal

Thank you to our sponsors

Play Normal E-Sports (playnormalesports.com)
Normal Gadgets (normalgadgets.com)
BRE Law (breinjurylaw.com)

Music: “Extremes” by The Lemming Shepherds, public domain

Announcement: Season 2 Nov 09, 2019

Show notes

Season 2 starts next week!

___

Thank you to our sponsors

Play Normal E-Sports (playnormalesports.com)
Normal Gadgets (normalgadgets.com)
BRE Law (breinjurylaw.com)

Music: “Extremes” by The Lemming Shepherds, public domain

Ep. 17: Shayna Watchkinski (McLean County Board) Sep 24, 2019

Show notes

Shayna Watchinski is never shy about saying what’s on her mind. In this episode we hear about her journey from working mom to political leader. How did she get started down that path? What were the major milestones and surprises? Why so much hate for the pink hair? We cover these topics and more.

To learn more about the County Board, visit: mcleancountyil.gov/464/County-Board

Support someone else doing a big thing in Bloomington-Normal: Donate professional clothes for people in the court system at Public Defender Carla Barnes’s office.

Email: carla.barnes@mcleancountyil.gov

Phone: (309) 888-5235

Thank you to our sponsors

Play Normal E-Sports (playnormalesports.com)
Normal Gadgets (normalgadgets.com)
BRE Law (breinjurylaw.com)

Music: “Extremes” by The Lemming Shepherds, public domain

Ep. 16: Jeremy Kelley (Illinois Fire Juniors Soccer Club) Sep 09, 2019

Show notes

Jeremy Kelley is the secretary of the Illinois Fire Juniors Soccer Club and the co-chair of the capital campaign for new field space. Jeremy fills us in on the local soccer scene, what’s needed in a new field space, and how this need relates to the related discussion of a multi-sport complex.

To learn more, you can visit:

illinoisfirejuniors.com
Facebook: Illinois Fire Juniors
Articles on local news sources, such as WGLT and the Pantagraph

Thank you to our sponsors

Play Normal E-Sports (playnormalesports.com)
Normal Gadgets (normalgadgets.com)
BRE Law (breinjurylaw.com)

Music: “Extremes” by The Lemming Shepherds, public domain

Ep. 15: Erik Rankin (McLean County Democrats) Aug 27, 2019

Show notes

On this episode of Pod BN we speak to McLean County Democratic Chair Erik Rankin. Listen to Erik as he explains the reason for the party's growth and the plans for the next few years

To learn more, you can visit:

mcleancountydemocrats.org
Facebook and Twitter: McLean County Democrats
indivisible.org

Thank you to our sponsors

Play Normal E-Sports
Normal Gadgets

Music: “Extremes” by The Lemming Shepherds, public domain

Ep. 14: Connie Beard (McLean County Republican Party) Aug 12, 2019

Show notes

Connie Beard stops by to talk about her experiences as Chair of the local Republican Party, the 2018 election, and the outlook for 2020.

To learn more, you can visit:

Online: mcleancountyrepublicans.org
FB: McLean County Republicans
September 14 Leadership Institute Campaign Management Workshop

Thank you to our sponsors

Play Normal E-Sports
Normal Gadgets

Music: “Extremes” by The Lemming Shepherds, public domain

Local Topics, July 2019: Route 9 Jul 15, 2019

Show notes

Bike lanes and parking and sidewalks, oh my!

Since the last episode, Tyson has been digging into the details of the proposed road revisions on Route 9, including new bike lanes and less parking. He discusses the issue with his friend Jeremy, who holds some differing opinions on the approach. They go from least to most controversial to see if they can bridge the divide on this polarizing topic.

It would be particularly handy to have the route map for reference, if possible. You can find it on the PodBN Facebook Page

The city is collecting feedback through July. You can send it to your council member at ward#@cityblm.org (where # is your ward number) and publicworks@cityblm.org.

Local Topics, July 2019: Parking Jul 08, 2019

Show notes

Justin helps Tyson get up to speed on some local political topics he missed while he’s been distracted by his job up the last couple months. We touch on a few points of controversy covered fairly well in the media. Then we dive into parking, with a focus on downtown Bloomington and proposed Route 9 bike lanes. We wrap up with some advice on how to stay informed and involved.

Some additional information to supplement the show:

Jeff Speck’s Walkable City Rules
What is a “Stroad” and Why Does It Matter?
Call of Duty Tournament: July 12-14 all day @ Play Normal E-Sports
Public meeting on Empire Street (Road?) bike lanes: Thursday July 11, Bloomington City Hall, 4:30-6:30pm

Thank you to our sponsors

Play Normal E-Sports
Normal Gadgets

Music: “Extremes” by The Lemming Shepherds, public domain

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