The VIC’s Fourth Friday highlights the Czech Republic
The Valparaiso International Center’s (VIC) Fourth Friday will shine a spotlight on the Czech Republic at 7 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 201 N. Washington, Valparaiso. Lubos Barton from Ceska Lipa in the northern part of the Czech Republic, will be the featured speaker. Lubos left his homeland at the age of 18, and entered Valparaiso University on a basketball scholarship in 1998. After graduating, he went on to play professional basketball for 14 years in Italy and Spain followed by a coaching career in Barcelona. Last year, Lubos returned to Valparaiso University and joined Roger Power and his staff coaching the Valparaiso University basketball team. Lubos lives in Valparaiso with his wife and children. He will discuss the culture, cuisine, art and life in the Czech Republic and talk about his journey from a high school basketball player in the Czech Republic to basketball coach at Valparaiso University in Indiana. More information is at https://www.valpovic.org.
Valpo presents free Lutheran Summer Music
Valparaiso University will host the 2024 Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) season featuring more than 30 free public concerts, recitals and worship events. The season begins Monday and will run through to July 28. The LSM season will culminate during Festival Week, July 22 through 28, featuring band, choir and orchestra performances as well as numerous recitals and worship services. Of special note, more than 200 church musicians from the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians will join this year’s LSM community and offer an intergenerational performance of J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion on July 24, conducted by Valapraiso’s own Dr. Christopher Cock. Events will take place at the Duesenberg Recital Hall, 1709 Chapel Drive, and the Chapel of the Resurrection, 1600 Chapel Drive. A complete list of LSM concerts and events can be found at https://www.lsmacademy.org/2024/#2024calendar. Those who cannot attend in-person are encouraged to join via livestream: https://www.lsmacademy.org/2024/#livestream2024.
IU Northwest offers summer youth athletic camps
The Indiana University Northwest athletic department has opened registration for its annual summer youth athletic camps, which are set to begin in July. All camps are for both boys and girls. Volleyball, for ages 12 to 17, will be offered from 8:30 to 11 a.m. July 15-17 in the Savannah Center gymnasium on the IU Northwest campus, 3400 Broadway, Gary. Soccer, for ages 8 to 13, will run from 8:30 to 11 a.m. July 15-17 at the Crown Point SportsPlex, 1313 North St., Crown Point. Basketball camp, for ages 8 to 13, will take place from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. July 22-24 in the Savannah Center gymnasium. The cost for each camp is $50 per child, with the cost for a second child in the same household being $40. For questions, email redhawks@iu.edu. Register for summer camps at https://iunredhawks.com/sports/2022/6/10/1283_132993224114702327.aspx.
Purdue Extension, Shirley Heinze hosts nature program series
Purdue Extension and Shirley Heinze staff and volunteers will provide activities that encourage families to engage with nature. These programs will highlight Shirley Heinze properties where families can explore oak savannah and dune-swale habitats with guides and other families. Family Nature Play Dates will be held the second and fourth Thursdays July through October Families can drop in any time between 9 and 11 a.m. The second Thursdays: July 11; Aug. 8; Sept. 12; and Oct. 10, will be held at Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve, 750 Colfax St, Gary. There is primarily street parking. The fourth Thursdays: July 25; Aug. 22; Sept. 26; and Oct. 24, will be held at Cressmoor Prairie Nature Preserve. Parking will be at 615 W. 40th Ave., Hobart.
These programs will target families with youth ages 3 to 7, but other ages are welcome. No person under 18 will be admitted without an adult. Attendees are advised to wear closed-toed shoes and socks, long pants, sunscreen/hats/sunglasses and bug spray. Staff will be on the lookout for poison ivy and checking for ticks. Register for free at https://tinyurl.com/ws53uefw, one week before each program to help staff plan for materials. Participants can call or text Rebecca at 219-232-8058 with questions. Those who require reasonable accommodations are asked to email Rebecca Koetz at busser@purdue.edu.
New CAC exhibit showcases local ceramic, paper artists
Chesterton Art Center (CAC) will host a new exhibition from July 5 to Sept.1 titled “Beneath the Surface” by artists Jon Hook and Andrea Peterson. An Artists’ Reception with both Hook and Peterson will be held from 4 to 7. p.m. July 19, with an artist talk at 5:30 p.m. at the CAC, 115 S. Fourth St., Chesterton. In addition, artist demonstrations in ceramics and paper making will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 16 as part of Chesterton Third Friday series. These events are free to the public and all are welcome. CAC will host a Family Art Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 24. Family Art Day visitors will explore Hook and Peterson’s Beneath the Surface exhibition and create a series of projects inspired by their work. This is a free event and all ages are welcome, registration information can be found at chestertonart.org. To learn more about CAC, visit www.chestertonart.org, or call 219-926-4711.