Tickets now on sale for Opportunity Enterprises Gala
Opportunity Enterprises (OE) will host its annual Gala May 10 at Blue Chip Casino, 777 Blue Chip Drive, Michigan City. Sponsored by Property Management Inc. and presented by Delta Theta Tau, the Gala will unite more than 700 community and business leaders, as well as families, in a celebration of OE’s mission to create inclusive and equitable opportunities for people of all abilities. The evening will feature entertainment, an open bar, dinner and both live and silent auctions. A highlight of the night will be a raffle for a six-day, five-night stay at a luxury condo in Panama City Beach, Fla. Tickets are $175 per person; tables of 10 are available for purchase. Sponsorships also are available. Visit oegala.com to learn more information about sponsorship opportunities and to purchase tickets.
Gary Library to host Dunes program, Jazz Sunday, book sale
The Gary Public Library will host three upcoming events, all of which are open to the public. Indiana Dunes National Park Guide and Assistant Outreach Coordinator, Shane Griffin, will present “Intro to the Dunes” from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Main Library, 220 W. Fifth Ave., Gary, in the Arts Theater on the second floor. The program will feature a virtual tour of the park, animal furs and a live animal. The March Jazz Sunday Concert will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Main Library. Co-sponsored by the Greater Gary American Jazz Association, special guest will be Second Nature Jazz Quartet and Friends featuring Tyrone Spencer, sax; Danny Day, drums; Harrison Davis, bass guitar; Milton Lucy, keyboard; Di Kobe Knight, vibes; Sherise McQuay, vocals; and Clarence Mitchell, congas and vocals. Entrance is on the north side only, free parking in the north parking lot. The library will be closed, so no library service will be available. Seating is limited. The Friends of the Gary Public Library will hold a Book Sale from 1 to 5 p.m. March 20 at the Woodson Branch, 501 S. Lake St. Gently used books and DVDs will be available for sale. For more information, call 219-886-2484.
GCSC to hold Career and Enrollment Fair
The Gary Community School Corporation (GCSC) will host a Career and Enrollment Fair beginning at 3 p.m. Monday at Daniel Hale Williams Elementary School, 1320 E. 19th Ave., Gary. In addition to the Career and Enrollment Fair, the event will conclude with the third installment of the “Listen and Learn” Community forum series from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The Career and Enrollment Fair will feature the district’s wide range of academic programs, extracurricular activities, and community resources. Representatives from all schools will be onsite to share information and answer questions about enrollment and programs. The career fair invites prospective employees to meet with district representatives to explore career opportunities in teaching, administration and support services. Attendees will have the chance to discuss openings and learn about the district’s commitment to professional growth. The “Listen and Learn” Community Forum will feature the district’s leadership team and other members of administration sharing updates and answer questions from school community stakeholders. For more information, contact 219-881-5466. For the latest district news, visit garyschools.org.
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum offers Easter trains
The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum will host their annual Easter Trains, a popular holiday favorite for adults and children of all ages. Trains will depart from the station at 507 Mulberry St., North Judson, for a 45-minute excursion at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on April 5, 12 and 19. The events will feature an Easter Egg Hunt after each train ride. More than 6,000 eggs will be distributed this year and gathered by children in three age categories during the high-energy hunts. The child who finds the golden egg in each age category will receive a special prize. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras and take photos of their children with the Easter Bunny during these events. Children will receive a gift bag while aboard the train. The Easter Train events will help support the Purdue Railroad Club. A portion of each ticket sold will be donated to the organization. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $14 for children ages 3 to 15 for coach or open-air seating. First class seating options in a former business car includes suites for up to three people for $80 or $25 general lounge seats. Infants and toddlers under 3 are free when riding on a parent’s or guardian’s lap. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at hoosiervalley.org.
Organization and non-profits invited to join in Reuse Fair
In honor of Earth Day, Porter County Recycling and Waste Reduction invites all eligible organizations to participate in a Reuse Fair from 9 to 11:30 a.m. April 12 at the Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Road, Valparaiso. The Reuse Fair aims to keep valuable items out of landfills by encouraging the donation of reusable items to organizations in need. Organizations interested in receiving donations must register by emailing sarah@portercountyrecycling.org. Due to space constraints, participating organizations are asked to provide a wish list of up to 10 reusable items. Please note that wish list items should not include food or new items. A representative from each organization must be present during the entire collection period to ensure efficient distribution. A finalized list of acceptable donations will be published once a sufficient number of registered organizations. This list will help guide community members in their contributions. For more information email sarah@portercountyrecycling.org or call 219-465-3694.