Summer outdoor movie series set to begin
Valparaiso Events’ Summer Outdoor Movies series premieres Tuesday at Central Park Plaza, home to Northwest Health Amphitheater, 68 Lafayette St., in downtown Valpo. The season will kick off with a showing of the family favorite “Toy Story.” Pre-movie activities will get underway at 5:30 p.m.; the movie will start at 7 p.m. on a digital LED screen. The series runs every Tuesday evening through July 2 featuring family-friendly classics and a recent release: “Wonka,” “Tangled,” “The Greatest Showman” and “The Sandlot.” Free popcorn, courtesy of Valparaiso Baptist Church, will be available at 5:30 p.m. while supplies last. Additional treats can be purchased from Valpo Velvet and other food vendors. Moviegoers are encouraged to bring a blanket and chairs for the lawn. For more information visit www.valparaisoevents.com or @valparaisoevents on Facebook or Instagram.
Household Hazardous Waste collection event
The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County will host a Household Hazardous Waste collection from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Portage High School, 6450 US-6, Portage. Participants are asked to enter through Pan Am Boulevard. Residents can safely dispose of products containing corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive substances. Common household hazardous waste items include anti-freeze, motor oil, batteries (household and automotive), fluorescent bulbs, oil-based paints, deck stains, pool chemicals, pesticides and household smoke detectors. This event will also feature document shredding sponsored by Secure Shred. There is no paper limit and the service is provided free of charge. At the collection participants can drop off medical sharps including diabetic needles, blood lancets, insulin pens, Epipens, syringes, expired over the counter medicines and non-narcotic prescriptions. Items that are not accepted at this event are electronics, latex paint, grill propane cylinders, and large containers over 55 gallons in size. Visit PorterCountyRecycling.org for a complete list of accepted items. More information can be found at 219-465-3694, or info@portercountyrecycling.org.
First A.M.E. Church to celebrate 115th anniversary
Rev. Dr. Virgil Woods and members of First A.M.E. Church invite the community to share in their celebratory weekend, “A Legacy of Love,” June 14–16 to commemorate 115 years of service to the Gary community. Family Game Night will be held at 6 p.m. June 14 in the Baber Youth Center gym at the church, 2045 Massachusetts St., Gary. A Formal Dinner Party with entertainment by star comedian Stephon Raickett, and live dance music provided by Return2Soul Band will begin at 5 p.m. June 15 at the Chateau Banquet Center, 530 W. 61st Ave., Merrillville. Tickets are $100 per person, and can be purchased by calling the church office at 219-886-7561 or online at firstamechurch.org/legacy. An Outdoor Worship Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. June 16. Members are encouraged to wear their church T-shirts, bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic lunch. More information is with Dorothy Jones at 219-381-9188.
Lake County Master Gardeners hold Annual Garden Walk
Lake County Master Gardeners will host “Meet Me in the Garden!” Garden Walk from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 30. Tour eight enchanting gardens in Munster, Schererville, St. John and Cedar Lake, and discover the unique ways homeowners enhance their outdoor spaces. Explore a variety of plants and landscaping ideas, and get expert tips from homeowners and Master Gardeners. Tickets are available at Alsip’s, The Artful Garden, Elzinga’s, Leo’s, Mighty Mike’s Tires, Niemeyer’s, Practically Magic, Remus, Bee Quilting and Such and Walt’s, or online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lcmga-meet-me-in-the-garden-garden-walk-2024-tickets-879472183977?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. Proceeds from the event support the Lake County Master Gardener Scholarship and Grant programs. For information, email lakecountymastergardeners@gmail.com, call Purdue Extension 219-755-3240 or visit lakecountymastergardeners.org.
Two Valpo alumni named Fulbright Scholars
Payton Hodson ’22 and Momin Mirza ’22 ’24 have been selected to receive grants and enter the Fulbright Scholar Program. Through Fulbright, these Valpo graduates will have the opportunity to meet, work, learn and live with the people of their host country while teaching and furthering the skills that will help them in their future careers. Hodson will be teaching abroad in Ecuador, while Mirza will be teaching in the Canary Islands near Spain. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected based on academic and professional achievement, as well as a record of service and leadership in their respective fields.
PCCF names Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients
The Porter County Community Foundation (PCCF) has announced the recipients of the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Porter County: Arieanna Brown of Washington Township High School; Miles O’Shea of Valparaiso High School; and Olivia Pierce of Portage High School. Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Both the scholarship program and Lilly Scholars Network (LSN) are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities. In determining Porter County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar nominees, consideration was given to academic excellence, leadership and engagement in school activities and community involvement, and a highly competitive written essay and in-person interview process with the selection committee.