IU Northwest Gallery presents Valerie Hammond exhibition
The Indiana University Northwest School of the Arts recently opened Traces of Her: Wax Drawings and Other Ephemera by Valerie Hammond, an exhibition on loan from Wildwood Press. Hammond’s artwork has been featured in prominent public and private collections, including the Walker Art Center, the Library of Congress, The Fine Arts Museum of Houston and the Getty Museum.
The show will be displayed now through Jan. 16, 2025, in the School of the Arts Gallery located in the Arts and Sciences Building (2nd Floor) at 3415 Broadway in Gary. The School of the Arts Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 12-5 p.m. A special Saturday viewing will take place on from 12-5 p.m. on Dec. 7. The gallery will be closed from Dec. 25 through Jan. 1.
At 4 p.m. on Dec. 5, Maryann Simmons of Wildwood Press will discuss her studio and her relationship with Valerie Hammond, followed by a reception.
ServSafe certification class in February
Purdue University Extension – Lake County is offering a ServSafe™ Food Manager 1-Day Class & Examination on February 5, 2025. The class and exam take 8 hours. The registration link is available at https://cvent.me/K25ZOE.
Winter Wonderland Marketplace open
Victory Way’s Winter Wonderland Marketplace is now open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily through Dec. 24 at 26th and Broadway in Gary. For more information, visit www.jsbreakfastclubgary.com/events.
Dunes Learning Center to host women’s retreat
Women are invited to spend the weekend of December 7-8 at the Dunes Learning Center for a rustic retreat.
Led by Cynthia Smith, a meditation and restorative yoga teacher, the weekend aims to help women reset, surrounded by the beautiful Indiana Dunes National Park. Activities will include yoga, forest bathing, labyrinth walking, breathwork, and meditation.
The retreat includes healthy vegetarian meals, accommodations, and all activities. For details and to register, please visit DunesLearningCenter.org/events.
Porter County updates hours for compost sites
Recycling & Waste Reduction District of Porter County had adjusted the winter hours for its compost sites. The Portage and Boone Grove sites will extend their open days into the second week of December.
Starting Dec. 16, the Portage and Boone Grove Compost Sites will be closed for the season, making Dec. 14 the final day for drop-off. The Valparaiso Compost Site, located at 2150 W. Lincolnway, is open year-round for recycling, yard waste, and electronic drop-off from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The Portage Compost Site, 6451 U.S. 12, is open 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday through Dec. 14, as is the Boone Grove Compost Site, located at 546 S. County Road 400W. The Boone Grove and Portage compost sites will reopen for the season in March of 2025.
Valparaiso Science Olympiad teams seek volunteers
Science Olympiad season is in full swing for local middle school and high school students. This 23-event competition covers a wide range of science topics (biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, science writing, geology, meteorology and much more) as well as a significant hands-on building component (e.g. Rube Goldberg devices, wind-powered devices, and others). Science Olympiad coaches from the Valparaiso Community Schools are looking for expert volunteers to assist with mentoring students in various events from November – February. Students use the rules for each event to guide their preparation for competition in the spring. More details and the event rules are available if requested. Please email katesanders@valpo.k12.in.us with any questions or to express interest.
Quackenbush twins named Valparaiso’s ‘Rising Stars’
The Mayor’s Youth Council has named Evan and Ryan Quackenbush as Valparaiso’s Rising Stars. The inaugural Rising Star recognition celebrates the abundance of responsible, intelligent and hardworking youth that contribute to the success of Valparaiso every day.
Evan and Ryan are both freshmen — Evan at Valparaiso High School and Ryan at Culver Military Academy. The twins raised funds for Flounder & Friends, Valparaiso’s new skatepark. They met with a development professional, made face-to-face presentations and secured a funding match to make the park a reality. They also utilized their musical skills and played mini-concerts at Valpo Velvet Ice Cream almost every week of the summer, raising more than $5,000 for the project.
The Rising Star Recognition program was created by the Valparaiso Mayor’s Youth Council in 2024. To learn more about the program visit the Community Engagement page at www.valpo.us.
Valpo Parks announces advisory speed limits for safety
Valpo Parks has introduced a plan to improve safety and traffic measures surrounding Valpo Parks
facilities, including advisory speed limits and designated pedestrian connections.
The new advisory speed limit will be 20 mph throughout the zone, extending approximately 200 feet from the edge of park property in both directions. The zones will be marked with yellow signs featuring a seesaw icon. In addition, striped crosswalks will be painted at select intersections within the speed zones.
An advisory speed limit is a posted speed recommendation and is only informational, not enforceable. The Valpo Parks Foundation will fund the project.