Gary receives grant to revitalize neighborhoods
The City of Gary Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services (MOCS) has been awarded a $6,000 grant from Legacy Foundation to support a Neighborhood Beautification Kit Project for Block Clubs. Gary also recently received a $25,000 Cities of Services, Love Your Block Grant. The MOCS is a liaison between the Mayor, City Council, City Department and Gary residents. Their mission is to assist the City in providing high-quality basic services for residents, visitors and business owners through the 311 Citizens Request number. The grant will enable the program to provide Neighborhood Beautification Kits to registered Block Clubs. Kits will include supplies and guides on the specific project proposed, and will help foster a sense of community within neighborhoods by encouraging residents to get involved and work together. The kits also will build upon the existing Building Blocks Blight Revitalization Program by beautifying select blocks with sustainable projects that may include rain gardens, community gardens, artwork for boarded up properties and sitting social parks. More information about the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services is at 219-881-4815 or garyin.us.
Children’s book signing event
The public is invited to a book signing from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Indiana Welcome Center, 7770 Corinne Drive, Hammond. James B. Dworkin, author of “Red’s Nature Adventure,” and illustrator Michael Chelich will be on hand to sign copies of the book, which was recently published by Shirley Heinze Land Trust. The story, set in several of Shirley Heinze’s northwestern Indiana nature preserves, is about an Irish setter named Red and his day of adventure and exploration in nature with his human friends. More information is at www.heinzetrust.org or 219-242-8558.
Gabis Arboretum opens new music garden
A new addition to their gardens, Gabis Arboretum boasts of colorful musical instruments with the opening of the TreeSong Music Garden. The garden explores the combination of music and nature with unique outdoor instruments. Each instrument has signage for a self-guided musical program. The TreeSong Music Garden is made possible by the Indiana Arts Commission, South Shore Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. The arboretum is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through August. More information is at Taltree.org or 219-462-0025.
Porter County namesake focus of meeting
Porter County Museum will host a meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the complex at Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Road, Portage. Museum Curator, Kevin Pazour, will present “Who in the World is Commodore David Porter?” The meeting is free and open to the public. More information is at pocomuse.org.
Home food preservation classes
Purdue University Extension Lake County will offer Home Food Preservation classes from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 29, Sept. 5 and 19 at 2291 N. Main St., Crown Point. The course will cover food safety basics, water bath canning, pressure canning and other preserving methods. Each class will consist of instruction, including lecture and hands-on food preservation techniques. The fee is $75 for three classes. Registration deadline is Friday. Class size is limited, and there are no refunds. Registration is with Linda Curley at lcurley@purdue.edu, Diana Cook at dmcook@purdue.edu or call 219-755-3240. Download registration information at https://extension.purdue.edu/lake/Pages/article.aspx?intItemID=29078.
