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Newsletter May 2011 Serving Bloomington and Monroe Co. |
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Nick's English Hut: Greener Than You Think!
By Una Winterman, Director, Local First Indiana
Walk into Nick's English Hut and the first thing that comes to mind is not Sustainability. "Beer", perhaps,
 or "burgers," or "good times," but if you didn't know about it already, you might not realize everything that Nick's has done over the years to quietly build a responsible and sustainable green plan for their business. Attendees for the April Mixer for Local First Indiana were lucky enough to hear about these efforts from speaker Susan Bright. This list does not cover it all, by any means, but is merely a highlight:
- Recycling: Nick's participates in a cooperative recycling collective. They work with neighboring businesses to reduce trash and collect recycling in an area behind the Village Deli. She estimates that, among other things, they save 1,000 lbs. of cardboard per month from the trash.
- Local Food: Nick's has been using local meat for 8 years. Fischer Farms, near Jasper, IN provides grass and grain fed, hormone and antibiotic free beef for their burgers and steak sandwiches, while Ewenique Farms of Bartholomew County, Indiana provides the lamb for their lamb burger.
Read more here. |
Local First Indiana Sustaining Member
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Your Business May Qualify for a Lower Electric Rate
by Una Winterman, Director, Local First Indiana
Those with a business rate plan for three-phase-services, such as LLF (Low Load Factor) or HLF (High Load Factor) can call to evaluate and make sure you are on the best rate for your business. Your electricity bill should tell you if you have this kind of service. If, like Nick's, you have put several sustainability measures into place over the last several years, you might have reduced your use enough to go to the lower rate.
If you are currently using a High Rate of electricity, it would be cheaper to stay on the high rate plan, though knowing this could help you realize that you may want to make an effort to reduce your use of electricity.
Businesses can only change plans once a year, so if you are anticipating that your energy output will change in the next 12 months due to an expansion or sustainability efforts, you may wait to officially change it until you have made the changes. Meanwhile, you can call 1-800-774-1202 to check in and see what rate you are currently at and they can offer you a price comparison. |
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June Mixer on the Patio at SOMA Cof feehouse
322 E. Kirkwood
June 9, 5:30-7:30pm
Our mixers are a great way to meet other Local First members, LFI staff, and catch up on what we are working on right now. There are a lot of exciting things happening, so come out and hang out with us!
Mixers are open to Local First Indiana Members, employees of member businesses, and owners, employees, or individuals considering joining. Come learn about local businesses and help us create a network that will create a strong voice for local, independent business in Bloomington and Monroe County!
Upcoming Mixers
July 14: Friends of Art Books and the SOFA (School of Fine Arts) Gallery
August 11: Twisted Limb Paper
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Update on Stand with Main Street
update on the previous story by Marci Hughes
by Una Winterman, Local First Indiana
Online retailers currently don't have to pay sales tax in the state of Indiana. Because all other retail has to charge 7% sales tax, this gives online retailers a 7% discount on all items.
The session ended with no language supporting our Stand With Main Street Effort, however, the good news is that a study committee will take a closer look at our issue between sessions. This gives us a chance to sit down with legislators over the summer when they have a bit more time and talk in depth about the issue. If you are concerned about this issue, we urge you to join the 75 business owners who have already signed up across the state to request a level playing field when it comes to paying taxes. Sign the petition to get updates and find out how to help.
Friend Stand with Main Street on Facebook to get updates about this issue across the country.  |
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New Local First Indiana Members!
See the full list of Local First Indiana Members in our Directory |
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Sustainability Dashboard
www.green2sustainable.com 
Sustainability Dashboard, LLC develops tools to assist small companies with the challenges of sustainability reporting. Sustainability isn't just our business; it's our passion. While numerous consulting and software companies provide solutions which help large, international, multibillion-dollar retailers and manufacturers, our mission is to provide cost effective, easy-to-use tools to help the 95+% of companies that are small and whose success is essential to creating a more sustainable future.
Based on the same global reporting requirements used by large companies, our Tool is cost-effective and makes reporting easy. What's more, our Tool uniquely provides advice from leading sustainability experts to help small companies improve environmental performance, increase efficiencies, and eliminate waste. In so doing, the Tool can help improve workflow and increase profitability. . |
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We would also like to thank the following for their new and continued Membership:
Individual Members:
Sandi Taylor
Renewals:
Patrick Siney Art Direction and Design
Local Works, LLC
LIFE Farms
Panache School of Ballroom and Social Dance
The Bishop
Yarns Unlimited
Brinegar Eye Care
The Green Nursery
My Edible Eden |
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Bloomington Playwrights Project Presents:
Still the River Runs by Barton Bishop 
107 W. 9th St.
Bloomington, IN 47404
May 20, 21, 26 - 28 & June 2 - 4 at 8pm
Pay-What-You-Can Preview: May 19 at 8pm
The Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP) is proud to announce the final Mainstage production of its 10/11 Mainstage Season, Still The River Runs by Barton Bishop, a presentation of the BPP's Off-Broadway/On-Ninth series.
This touchingly comic play tells the tale of two brothers who steal their grandfather's body from his coffin in order to bury him in a place that holds more meaning. Beautiful, sweet, poignant, and poetic, while also being laugh-out-loud funny, Still The River Runs is an excellent summation of what made this year's BPP Mainstage Season so dynamic and unique.
Tickets: $18 General Admission; $15 Student/Senior
Tickets available at BCT Box Office at the Buskirk Chumley Theatre or online at buskirkchumley.org |
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Oliver Winery
8024 North State Road 37
Bloomington, IN 47404
Spring at Oliver's Creekbend Vineyard brings a three-acre expansion, bud break and the threat of a late spring frost. This video (just over five min.) highlights their efforts from Feb. and March.
 | | Creekbend in Bloom - Episode II: Bernie Parker |
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WFHB News Sweeps State Journalism Awards
http://www.wfhb.org/ 
Congratulations to the WFHB News crew, winners of twenty awards for excellence in broadcast journalism from the Society of Professional Journalists. At the "Best in Indiana 2010" Awards Ceremony, hosted by the Society of Professional Journalists, WFHB won HALF of ALL awards given to Indiana radio stations, including a clean sweep of the Best News category - first, second, and third place.
WFHB won more awards than any other Indiana radio station, scored the highest number of recognized journalists among all Indiana media outlets, and station manager Chad Carrothers is now the most decorated radio journalists in Indiana for 2010. CLICK HERE for a full list of winners and links to their award winning productions. |
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3rd Annual Bloomington Comedy Festival:
Coming to the Comedy Attic!
123 S Walnut St.
All shows start at 8pm,
Wednesday evenings throughout the summer.
Starting June 1, Wednesdays are your comedy night. Come find out who the funniest person in Bloomington is.
Shows are $5 individually, but the best value is the ultra-popular $25 all-inclusive festival pass, which includes a pair of free tickets to a professional weekend show of your choice!
Comedian schedules will be posted soon on Facebook and the website, so be sure to friend them to find out what the schedules are.
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Bridal Event at Historic Showers Inn
430 North Washington Street
Fri, June 17 6-8pm
812-361-8023
Free, open to the general public
Historic Showers Inn will host a Bridal Event Showcase, featuring a fashion show by area businesses in formal and bridal wear.
Photographers will also be there to showcase their work. There will be a drawing for prizes from area businesses. Live music from J.C. Clements (Americana), and a culinary showcase, featuring Food Network winner Leo Cook.
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Bike to Work Day Celebration
Fri., May 20, 3:30-8pm
On the B-Line, closest to Bfoods West at 316 W. 6th St.
Bikes, beer, food, and gear!
Join Bloomingfoods and some of your favorite local businesses as we celebrate Bloomington commuters by throwing a party on our B-line trail stub. Proceeds from the event go to Bloomington Bicycle Club's Grant Fund.Giveaways from www.bikejerseys.com, Bloomingfoods, Revolution Bike and Bean, Bicycle Indiana, and many more!
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Submit Your News!
Members: Let people know about your events and the latest news about your business by using our new forms! We have set up a simple form so that you can plug your information in and we can get it into the Member News section of our newsletters. Newsletters go out on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. The deadline for sending event submissions is the 2nd Tuesday of the month at midnight. Any submissions sent after that will still be considered, depending on time and space.
A separate form allows you to send us links and information you would like to post to Facebook and Twitter. Click here to access the forms.
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Local First Indiana Sustaining Members
click on the logos below to link to the webpages
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The Center for Sustainable Living is the Fiscal Sponsor for Local First Indiana
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Local First Indiana Decal |
Become a Member of Local First Indiana Today! Bloomington residents want to shop local and we aim to make that easier!
Benefits
Window decal,
Cooperative Marketing Campaigns
Benefit from our consumer education plan that tells residents why it matters to shop locally,
Access to network of over 22,000 local, independent businesses throughout the U.S. through our affiliation with BALLE.
Listing in our online directory
Twitter and Facebook postings
Monthly Newsletter
Prices
$10 a year per employee,
min. $35, max. $350.
Part-time employees count as half.
Sustaining Members
Sustaining Member Benefits: Promotion at Local First Events, on our website, and in our monthly newsletter. Size of logo or business name will correspond to size of contribution.
For more information about becoming a member, please visit our website here.
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Friends of Art Bookstore
1201 E. 7th St. in the School of Fine Arts Bldg.
At long last - FoA Bookshop has coffee! Bloomington Bagel Company is brewing us delicious locally roasted Partridge and Quigley coffee. C'mon in for your piping hot cup-o-joe!
Summer hours have begun at the Bookshop: Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm (FoA Bookshop is closed summer weekends through August 21, 2011) |
Local First Indiana Steering Committee
Una Winterman, Director
Martin Sorge, LFI Resource and Technology Coordinator
Carly McCall, Marketing Director
Rick Dietz, Stranger's Hill Farm
Jessika Hane, Oliver Winery
Darcy Harvey, Bloomingfoods
George Huntington, Stranger's Hill Farm, Bloomingfoods
Sheryl Woodhouse-Keese, Twisted Limb Paperworks
Liz Sanders, Laughing Planet, SOMA, The Village Deli
Marcella Hughes, Friends of Art Books
Benjamin Schultz, Indiana University
Alexandra Simmons, Indiana University Credit Union
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