Fall prescribed burns planned for National Park
The National Park Service will conduct four prescribed fires this fall at Indiana Dunes National Park. In the east end of the park, a prescribed fire will cover 77 acres around Dunewood Campground, clearing fallen leaves and branches to reduce wildfire threats for next year’s camping season. This prescribed fire occurs every fall, as conditions allow. Additionally, in the east end of the park, a burn will take place adjacent to Beverly Shores in the Derby Ditch area, covering 150 acres to support wetland restoration by removing overgrown vegetation. This area is bordered by East State Park Road, East Beverly Drive, the Calumet Trail and Broadway. Near Dune Acres, the park will burn 35 acres of property in Cowles Bog. This wetland restoration project has seen fire used successfully as a tool to help restore former farmland back to the wetlands it was when first settled in the 1800s. Around the Douglas Center for Environmental Education, on North Lake Street near Gary’s Miller Neighborhood, the park will burn 16 acres immediately around the building in order to reduce the threat of wildland fire to the facility. Clear management goals and objectives have been established for each burn unit. Before burning, a designated set of conditions must exist including ideal wind speed and direction, and relative humidity. Weather conditions will be monitored throughout the duration of the burn to ensure it is completed safely. Fire is used as a tool for the park’s long-term habitat restoration and hazard fuel reduction efforts. An online map of the planned prescribed fire areas can be found at https://bit.ly/IndianaDunesPrescribedFires.
South Shore Arts hosts new exhibit, opening reception
South Shore Arts presents “Samsara: Cycles of Nature,” an exhibition of works by local artists Dawn Diamantopoulos, Carol Estes and Lorena Salinas, in cooperation with the Diversified Arts Visionaries artist group at Substation No. 9, 435 Fayetteville St., Hammond. An opening reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Visitors will have a chance to meet with the artists and discuss their works on display. Free lite bites and refreshments will be provided. Featuring more than 20 recent works by Diamantopoulos, Estes and Salinas, the exhibit includes a variety of paintings, photography and printmaking. The artwork ranges from the abstract to representational to expressionistic in nature. More information about exhibitions at South Shore Arts can be found at www.southshoreartsonline.org.
Family Art Day at Chesterton Art Center
Chesterton Art Center will host their next free Family Art Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 115 S. Fourth St., Chesterton. Children and their families are invited to participate anytime during those hours to create art together and to explore the current exhibition, “It’s All About the Square.” All ages are welcome, and all materials will be provided. While Family Art Day is free, please register at chestertonart.org/youth-and-teen-classes, or call 219-926-4711 to reserve a spot. Walk-ins are welcome. Visit chestertonart.org for more information.
Rotary, Kiwanis Clubs to host Veterans Appreciation Dinner
Veterans and their guests are invited to the Eighth Annual Veterans’ Appreciation Dinner from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Road, Valparaiso. The event is co-hosted by Valparaiso’s Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs. In addition to a three-course dinner, the celebration will feature performances by the Valparaiso Community Band and Hobart High School’s Wolffgang Choir, a vendor fair and keynote speaker Bill Hanna. Every veteran in attendance will be individually recognized in appreciation for their service to our country. Tickets are $20 for veterans, $35 for non-veterans. Purchase tickets at www.rotaryvalpo.com/veterans or at any 1st Source Bank location in Valparaiso. For sponsorship or ticket information, contact Amy Wulf at valpoveterans@gmail.com or 219-531-8024.
Master Gardeners offers Permaculture program
Join the Lake County Master Gardeners as they present a free program on “Permaculture” with Purdue Extension’s Urban Agriculture Educator, Rebecca Koetz, at 6:30 p.m. Monday at 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point (building adjacent to Lake County Government Center). Koetz will discuss permaculture, a design system that seeks to mimic the patterns found in nature, creating harmonious and resilient ecosystems. By understanding permaculture principles, one can learn how to create more self-sufficient and ecologically sound living spaces. Contact lakecountymastergardeners@gmail.com or use the link, https://tinyurl.com/yurxdtek to reserve a space.
League of Women Voters membership meeting
The League of Women Voters Porter County will hold its November membership meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 201 N. Washington, Valparaiso. Parking and the building entrance are accessible from Lafayette Street. The guest speaker will be Jessica Vargas, president of the Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity of Porter County. She will discuss Habitat for Humanity’s mission and Porter County Affiliate’s Strategic Plan. The new Attainable Homeownership Tax Credit Program for qualified donations also will be discussed. This new program is offered through Habitat Indiana and the State of Indiana. The meeting is open to all members as well as visitors. Those who are unable to attend the meeting in person can join via ZOOM at https://tinyurl.com/5n84mmv8. Contact Mary Beth Witcher at mbjwitcher@frontier.com for more information.
