Market on the Square to start June 3
The Portage Parks Department’s Market on the Square will kick off June 3, featuring vendors with fresh produce and meats, crafts, live music and more.
The market will be from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Friday until Aug. 19 at Founders Square. Live music will be from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with different acts every week, including E-Man on June 3, David Hernandez on June 10 and Ally Christian on July 15.
Summer Disney movies will also take place at Founders Square in July and July following the market. The movies begin at dusk and families should bring chairs or blankets to sit on. Admission is free.
Indiana 55 will have lane closures due to pavement restoration
Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Milestone Contractors North Inc. will continue the concrete pavement restoration project on Indiana 55 between Indiana 2 and U.S. 231 beginning on or after June 6.
Northbound Indiana 55 will be closed between 137th Ave and U.S. 231. Local traffic seeking to access businesses or homes on Indiana 55 in the closed section will need to come from the north and utilize southbound Indiana 55 to get to their destination. Under no circumstances should motorists drive north on the southbound side of the roadway.
The lane closure will switch to the southbound side of the roadway once northbound patches are complete in this section. When the southbound lane is closed, local traffic will need to come from the south and utilize northbound Indiana 55 to get to homes and businesses in the work zone. Traffic should not drive south on the northbound side of the roadway.
The detour for thru traffic will follow Indiana 2, I-65 and U.S. 231. Intersections will remain open for cross traffic if possible. This work began on Indiana 55 in 2021 and will wrap up in August of this year.
INDOT urges drivers to stay alert near crews and follow traffic directions carefully. Motorists are encouraged to allow extra time when driving through this area and should slow down and drive distraction-free through all work zones.
Free meals for kids through summer
The Merrillville Community School Corporation will offer free breakfast and lunches to all children ages 18 and under beginning June 8 through Aug. 10.
The meals will be offered on weekdays only, with the exception of Juneteenth (June 19), June 20 and July 4. Children must eat the meals on site and will receive only one breakfast and one lunch per day.
Breakfast can be picked up from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and lunches can be picked up from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Merrillville High School, Pierce Middle School, Fieler Elementary School, Salk Elementary School, Miller Elementary School, Stefek Park and Collins Park.
Mobile bus stops will offer lunch only and take place from 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 11:40 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. at 73rd & Bigger, and 12 p.m. to 12:20 p.m. at Rethink Church.
Portage summer concert series to begin in June
Jim Bulanda’s Salute to the Stars will kick off the Portage LIVE! summer concert series on June 7 at Woodland Park.
The thirteen-concert series is free, and will take place every Tuesday night from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There will be open seating, food concessions, a cash bar and a car show before and during the music.
While the show is free, donations of nonperishable food, personal items or paper products for the Portage Food Pantry and Gabriel’s Horn Homeless Shelter are welcomed, according to a press release from the Portage Chamber of Commerce and Portage Parks.
The series is made possible by support from the Porter County Community Foundation, Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce, Portage Department of Parks and Recreation, John W. Anderson Foundation and Quinlan & Fabish Music and Company, according to the press release.
Sojourner Truth House walk to end homelessness
The Sojourner Truth House will hold its 23rd annual fundraising walk at 9 a.m. June 11 at the Sojourner Truth House in Gary to end homelessness and hunger. Registration for the walk begins at 8 a.m. June 11 or can be done in advance at at www.WalkforSTH.org.
The Sojourner Truth House is a day center for women and children experiencing homelessness and poverty, and the funds from the walk will help the not-for-profit ministry provide services such as food, clothing, access to medical care, job skills programs, intense case management and independent living.
