Dana Abbring selected as DAR Good Citizen finalist
Dana Abbring of Morgan Township High School has been selected as an Indiana State finalist for the DAR Good Citizen contest, according to a release from the DAR’s William Henry Harrison chapter. Abbring will be honored at the DAR State Conference in May and will receive her award and chapter cash prize at her school’s senior honors night. Abbring is the daughter of Steven and Heather Abbring and plans to study materials engineering in the fall. Other outstanding students chosen as Good Citizens for the 2024-25 school year are: Kayla Pleasant, Portage High School; Kelly Swickard, Chesterton High School; Page Hein, Washington Township High School; Patrick Wood, Kouts High School; and Reagan Cole, Hebron High School.
Gary Schools to host Family and Community Engagement Series
West Side Leadership Academy will host the next installment of “F.A.C.E. It” (Family and Community Engagement), a series of conversations for families and school community stakeholders who want to get involved with the Gary Schools, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Room B-120 at West Side Leadership Academy, 900 Gerry St. The topic will be “Special Populations – Parent Impact,” which aims to equip parents with the resources to support their children with special needs. For added convenience, the program will be streamed on Facebook Live, ensuring accessibility for families who are unable to attend in person. The discussion will be led by Special Education Teacher Kimberly Mead and will feature guest speakers Judge Inga Lewis-Shannon of Project Rebuild and Quiana Davis, a district parent who will share her personal experiences and insights on educating a child with special needs. They will provide guidance for parents who may need assistance with navigating and advocating for their children. Space is limited; participants are encouraged to RSVP by contacting the West Side Leadership Academy FACE Liaison, Lanonya Sombright-Jackson at 219-413-9870, Ext. 48003. For more information about the Special Populations division of the district, visit www.GarySchools.org.
Spring Community Wellness Fair coming to IU Northwest
Indiana University Northwest College of Health and Human Services will be hosting the 2025 Spring Community Wellness Fair from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday in IU Northwest’s Savannah Center gymnasium on the north side of the main campus, near 33rd Avenue and Broadway, Gary. The fair is open to the public. Methodist Hospitals, Community HealthNet and Marram Health will be offering free health screenings for ages 18 and over, including Afib checks; blood pressure checks; BMI checks; heart attack and stroke risk assessments; HIV screenings; hepatitis C screenings; and behavioral health screenings. Free blood tests include: A1C; blood glucose; cholesterol, HDL, LDL (12-hour fast required); and PSA for men. Parking is free during the event. Register at https://methodisthospitals.org/event/spring-community-wellness-fair-3/. For questions, call 888-909-3627.
Nelson’s Port-A-Pit Chicken fundraiser to benefit Family Promise
Family Promise of Porter County is now selling tickets for their Nelson’s Port-A-Pit Chicken Fundraiser. Buy a succulent half chicken, smoked to perfection using Nelson’s Port-A-Pit® and signature seasoning for $10 or a half chicken with Nelson’s perfectly roasted Pit-Tatoes for $15.00. Stop by the Family Promise office in the Portage Township Resource Center, 3484 Airport Road, Portage, 1st Source Bank, 6043 Central Ave., Portage, Portage Township YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Road, Portage, or First Merchant’s Bank, 855 Thornapple Way, Valparaiso, to purchase tickets; or call the Family Promise office at 219-220-2054 to make arrangements. Orders will be ready for pickup between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on May 10 at Willowcreek Middle School, 5962 Willowcreek Road, Portage. Chicken will be sold as long as supply lasts. Family Promise of Porter County is a nonprofit organization committed to helping families experiencing homelessness and financial hardship. For questions or more information contact Family Promise at 219-220-2054 or visit www.familypromisepcin.org.
Franciscan Health, partners bring Move With the Mayor to Michigan City
Franciscan Health Michigan City is partnering with the City and the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention for a new initiative in May and June aimed at helping residents get moving to improve their overall health and well-being. Move with the Mayor will take place on Saturday at Krueger Memorial Park, 801 Liberty Trail; May 24 at Pullman Field Park, 550 W. Fourth St.; May 31 at Water Tower Park, 301 Broadway St. and June 14 at the Michigan City Police Department at 1201 E. Michigan Blvd. Registration begins on-site at 10:30 a.m. followed by a brief health talk by a physician or clinical staff member and a variety of physical activities. The events are free and open to the public. Incentives and giveaways will be available to participants as well. More information is with Nila Williams at Nila.Williams@franciscanalliance.org.
Household hazardous waste, tire 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 the Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Road, Valparaiso. Enter through Gate 3. Residents can safely dispose of products containing corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive substances. Common household hazardous waste items include anti-freeze, motor oil, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, paints, deck stains, pool chemicals, pesticides and household smoke detectors. All paints, including latex, will be accepted at collection events throughout 2025. Visit PorterCountyRecycling.org to view the complete list of accepted items. This event also will feature a tire collection service. Residents can bring up to four tires under 20 inches for free. Tires over 20 inches will incur a fee. All tires, with or without rims, are welcome. For more information on District events, call 219-465-3694 or email info@portercountyrecycling.org.
Lake County Master Gardeners annual plant sale
The 24th Annual Lake County Master Gardeners Plant Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 10 at the Fine Arts Building, Lake County Fairgrounds, 889 S. Court St., Crown Point. Many plants are purchased from commercial growers to satisfy home gardening needs, while even more are grown and offered by the Lake County Master Gardeners. Plants include annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, native plants, houseplants, hanging baskets, bulbs, shrubs and trees. All plants are labeled. Master Gardeners will be available to answer any question. The Sale also includes mini-presentations on gardening topics and a “Trash to Treasures” area where “gently-used” gardening items can be purchased. Gardening demos will take place at 11 a.m. Proceeds from the Plant Sale help fund the Lake County Master Gardener Scholarship and Grant programs. For more information, visit www.lakecountymastergardeners.org, email lakecountymastergardeners@gmail.com or call 219-755-3240.
