PodBN

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

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)

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

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:

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

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (309) 888-5235

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

ecologyactioncenter.org

1. 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)

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

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 [email protected], 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)

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

Season 2 starts next week!

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Thank you to our sponsors

• Play Normal E-Sports (playnormalesports.com)

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

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: [email protected]

Phone: (309) 888-5235

Thank you to our sponsors

• Play Normal E-Sports (playnormalesports.com)

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

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

Thank you to our sponsors

• Play Normal E-Sports (playnormalesports.com)

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

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

Thank you to our sponsors

• Play Normal E-Sports

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

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

Thank you to our sponsors

• Play Normal E-Sports

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

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 [email protected].

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

Thank you to our sponsors

• Play Normal E-Sports

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