Waste Reduction District seeking vendors for Earth Day event
Registration is now open for interested vendors and sponsors for the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County’s 18th annual Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 18 at the Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Road, Valparaiso. Exploring how humans have the power to enact positive change for the planet’s sustainability, this year’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet.” Participants are encouraged to incorporate this theme into their booth’s display. Free to the public, the event will feature an array of vendors, local wildlife, a magician, interactive children’s games, birdhouse building, document shredding, a Fix-It Fair, food and giveaways. The Earth Day Celebration will also include the Reuse Fair and the Rain Barrel Competition amongst local schools. Vendor and sponsorship information can be found at https://portercountyrecycling.org/earth-day. For more information regarding Earth Day and other District events, contact Sarah Tubbs at sarah@portercountyrecycling.org or call 219-465-3694.
Garden club presents ‘Farming While Black’ screening
The Miller Beach Garden Club, in partnership with the Gary Food Council and the Gary International Black Film Festival, will present a special screening of the award-winning documentary “Farming While Black” at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Marshall Gardner Center for the Arts, 540 S. Lake St., Gary. Directed by Mark Decena, and featuring the Black-led Farm group Soul Fire Farm, the film examines the historical and contemporary experiences of Black farmers in the United States, tracing the dramatic decline of Black land ownership and spotlighting a new generation reclaiming agricultural knowledge, land stewardship and food sovereignty. Following the screening, the audience is invited to stay for a panel discussion with local farmers, connecting the film’s national themes to Northwest Indiana’s growing food justice and urban agriculture movement. This event is open to the public and welcomes gardeners, growers, food advocates and community members interested in the intersections of culture, land and justice. There is a suggested donation of $5 to attend. For more information, contact jennie.rudderham@gmail.com or call 773-879-5584.
The VIC’s Fourth Friday shines the spotlight on Jamaica
The Valparaiso International Center’s (VIC) Fourth Friday Speaker Series will kick off the new year with a compelling and personal presentation featuring Dalton “Scotty” Turnbull at 7 p.m. Jan. 23 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 201 N. Washington, Valparaiso. Born on the island of Jamaica, in Springfield Caron Hall, St. Mary’s Parish, Turnbull has lived in the United States since 2023. He will share stories of his upbringing, education and life on one of the world’s most well-known islands. He will also reflect on the emotional experience of being far from home during Jamaica’s most recent hurricane and discuss the ongoing recovery efforts months later. More information is at https://valpovic.org.
Franciscan Health offers stroke support groups throughout 2026
Franciscan Health Crown Point and Michigan City are offering monthly stroke support groups for stroke survivors, their families and caregivers. The Michigan City group will meet at 2 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in the Mother Maria Theresia Conference Room at Franciscan Health Michigan City, 3500 Franciscan Way. Attendees can park in the main entrance parking lot and enter through Entrance A. The Crown Point group will meet at 1 p.m. Feb. 2, April 1, June 1, Aug. 5, Oct. 1 and Dec. 2 in the San Damiano Conference Room B at Franciscan Health Crown Point, 12750 Saint Francis Drive. Attendees can park at the main entrance and enter through those doors. Valet parking is available. The groups aim to provide stroke survivors and their caregivers with resources in their communities to maximize quality of life and independence through education, encouragement, hope and understanding. Guest speakers will present educational information related to stroke recovery during each monthly session. The support groups are free, and pre-registration is not required. For more information on the Crown Point support group, contact Stevie Shipley at 219-757-5738 or Stevie.Shipley@franciscanalliance.org. For more information on the Michigan City support group, contact Kelly Wise at Kelly.Wise@franciscanalliance.org.
Purdue Extension hosts NWI Vegetable Farmer Workshop
Purdue Extension will host the Northwest Indiana Vegetable Farmer Workshop from 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Porter County Public Library – Valparaiso Branch, 103 Jefferson St. Topics will include: “Cultural Practices for Top Quality Vegetables”; “Eyes on the Field: Disease Scouting in Diverse Vegetable Crops”; “Sprayer Calibration Basics for Managing Vegetable Disease and Insects”; and “Unexpected Insect Damage: How to Scout, Identify and Manage.” This workshop is complimentary. Purdue Extension-Lake County Educator Rebecca Koetz will present a PARP regulatory topic for PARP credit. The workshop offers Indiana Private Applicator Recertification (PARP) and Commercial Applicator Credits (CCH). Bring your license to the workshop. Those in need of PARP credits should mail $10 cash/check to Purdue University Extension Lake County Office, 2293 N Main St., Crown Point, IN 46307. Make checks payable to Purdue University. Payment of PARP registration fees is accepted at the Purdue Extension office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Register for the workshop at https://tinyurl.com/NWIVeg26 or by phone at 574-235-9605 or 219-232-8058. This workshop is for market farmers and wholesale growers, but anyone with an interest in vegetable farming is welcome. Those in need of accommodations to attend, an interpreter or translator are asked to contact Emily Evers at 574-235-9605 or everse@purdue.edu by Jan. 26.
