Register for Purdue Extension’s Heart Smart program
Thanks to a generous grant from Lake County Indiana Health Department, Purdue Extension – Lake County will be offering the Be Heart Smart Program at no cost to Lake County residents. The classes will include a Be Heart Smart program manual, a heart-healthy cookbook, food demonstrations and tastings, and educational instruction focused on the benefits of following a heart-healthy lifestyle. Join Linda Curley, Purdue Extension – Lake County Health and Human Sciences Educator for this four-session program by registering at one of these library locations throughout Lake County: Crown Point, Dyer-Schererville, Griffith-Calumet Township, Hammond, Hobart, Lowell, Merrillville, Munster or St. John, Whiting. For more information about Be Heart Smart, contact Diana Cook, dmcook@purdue.edu or call Purdue Extension at 219-755-3240.
Library to host Family Solar Discovery Day
The Gary Public Library and Cultural Center will host a free Family Solar Discovery Day from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 11 at 220 W. Fifth Ave., Gary. The event will include hands-on solar activities, a science story time, and energy-saving tips to boost home energy efficiency and lower energy bills. Lunch will be served from 12:20 to 1 p.m., while supplies last. Register to attend at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/family-solar-discovery-day-2.
Presentation, concert explores railroad’s history
The Valparaiso Chain of Lakes Watershed Group will host an audio-visual presentation and brass band concert exploring the history of the Valparaiso and Northern Interurban Railroad at 2 p.m. Jan. 12 at First Christian Church, 1507 E. Glendale Road, Valparaiso. The event coincides with an exhibit at the Porter County Museum, “The V&N: Porter County’s Electric Interurban Rail Line.” Built in the early 1900s, the Interurban Railroad accommodated tourists and vacationers visiting hotels and cottages along the Valparaiso Chain of Lakes. The 30-piece South Shore Brass Band has teamed up with the Valparaiso Chain of Lakes Watershed Group to offer this historical presentation including a live musical program and performance by the Indiana Ballet Theatre covering the era from 1911 to 1938, the heyday of the Interurban railroad. The event is free, handicap accessible and open to the public. Volunteers needed to help with this event. For additional information call or text Walt Breitinger at 219-477-7526.
AWLI to host meetings, Calumet Revisited Forum
The Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative (AWLI) will limit its 24th annual Winter Wonderland at Wolf Lake festival to a Zoom meeting for members and friends to plan for the new year. The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 18. AWLI is a bi-state, not-for-profit organization and land trust that seeks to protect and enhance the thousands of acres of the Wolf Lake Watershed. It serves a population base of 3.4 million. Ideas discussed at the Zoom meeting will be presented to AWLI’s Board of Directors’ organizing meeting on Jan. 29. AWLI also has scheduled a Calumet Revisited Forum on Jan. 7 featuring David Dolak of Hammond as speaker. It will conduct its annual membership meeting Jan. 16 at Calumet College of St. Joseph, 2400 New York Ave, Whiting. On Jan. 22, AWLI will host the seventh bi-monthly Zoom meeting on developing a Wolf Lake watershed management plan. More information is with Michael Boos at 219-933-7149 or 312-220-0120.
PNW invites public to join 2025 MLK Day celebrations
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) invites the public to join its annual celebration of the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. PNW will offer two opportunities for community members to join its MLK Day celebrations. Both of these community events will feature keynote addresses from local civic leaders, as well as breakout community conversations focusing on issues of systemic racism and social justice. All event information can be found at pnw.edu/mlk-celebration. A Hammond campus celebration will be held from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 16 in Alumni Hall, 2200 169th St., Hammond. Barry Tyler Jr., councilman for the City of Hammond’s 3rd District, will deliver the keynote address. A Westville campus celebration will take place from 7:45 to 11 a.m. Jan. 20 in the Great Hall Events and Conference Center inside the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville. Marty Corley, chief of police for the Michigan City Police Department (MCPD), will serve as keynote speaker. The Jan. 20 MLK Day celebration at PNW also will include a buffet breakfast. For more information on PNW’s MLK Day celebrations, including sponsorship opportunities, visit pnw.edu/mlk-celebration.