PORTER COUNTY MUSEUM TAKES ON WINTER TRADES, ORGAN WORKS
Porter County Museum (PoCo Muse) will host a public event about historic winter trades from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the museum, 20 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso. Living-history interpreters dressed in period garb will describe and demonstrate techniques used by both European settlers and indigenous peoples in our area during the 18th and 19th centuries. The program is interactive, family-friendly, and free of charge.
An exhibit that tells the story of the Hillstrom Organ Works, which produced the popular musical instruments at its Chesterton factory from 1880 to 1913, will open on Thursday at the museum. Founded by a Swedish immigrant from Chicago, the company became a major employer and played a key role in the Swedish community in northern Porter County. PoCo Muse is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Free half-hour guided tours are offered on the third Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. For more information, visit pocomuse.org or find @pocomuse on social media.
MASTER GARDENERS OFFERS VIRTUAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
Master Gardeners will host “Understanding Perennials Where It Matters – Underground” with Dr. Noel Kingsbury at 10 a.m. Saturday via Zoom. Join internationally acclaimed garden writer, educator and researcher Kingsbury for a fresh, science-backed look at perennial plant behavior. Backed by nearly forgotten Polish research from the 1960s and decades of field experience, Noel introduces a practical way to predict how different perennials will grow and spread over time. These easy-to-understand principles require no special training. Contact lakecountymastergardeners@gmail.com to reserve a space or register at https://forms.gle/GkgZhCd1Rt7JqcRR9.
VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY HOSTS TWO BAND CONCERTS
Valparaiso University will host two band concerts Saturday at the Chapel of the Resurrection, 1600 Chapel Drive, Valparaiso. Both concerts are free, open to the public and no ticket is required. At 3 p.m., the Valparaiso University Luce Concert Band will combine with 58 guest students from eight different high schools for the VU Small High School Band Festival. The performance will be a sensory-friendly and welcoming concert. VU music therapy students will lead activities with members of the neurodiverse, autistic and disabled communities in Northwest Indiana. At 5 p.m., the Valparaiso Community/University Concert Band, Valparaiso University Luce Concert Band, and guest musicians from local community bands will present the annual community band festival. The conductor is Jeffrey Scott Doebler, professor of Music and director of Music Education and Bands at Valparaiso University. Leading the music therapy students is Jordy Novak, director of Music Therapy at Valparaiso University. More information is with Doebler at Jeff.Doebler@valpo.edu.
FUTURE STUDENTS GET HELP FILING FAFSA AT IU NORTHWEST
Financial aid professionals will be at Indiana University Northwest from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday to help incoming college or technical students and their families with financial aid. College Goal Sunday helps students in filing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This year’s event will take place on IU Northwest’s campus, 3400 Broadway, in Hawthorn Hall, Room 454. Spanish interpreters will be available. During the event, financial aid volunteers will walk participants through the FAFSA line-by-line and will be available to answer individual questions. Students should attend College Goal Sunday with their parent(s) or guardian(s) and bring the following items: FSA ID username and password, which can be created before the event at studentaid.gov; 2024 tax returns; 2024 W-2 Forms; and other 2024 income and benefits information. Information should be for the student, and, if applicable, their parent(s). Students who attend College Goal Sunday at IU Northwest and submit a completed evaluation form will automatically be entered in a drawing for one of five $1,000 scholarships. The winners will be notified in spring, and scholarships will be sent directly to the higher education institution selected by the winning students. For more information, visit collegegoalsunday.org. The IU Northwest Office of Financial Aid can be reached at 219-981-5622 or at https://northwest.iu.edu/financialaid/.
RESIDENTS INVITED TO SHAPE FUTURE AT WORKSHOP
Porter County will host a community workshop from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Road, Valparaiso. Part of the Elevate Porter County Comprehensive Plan, the event will provide the community with an opportunity to participate in an assessment of the county’s economic and community health. The workshop will feature interactive stations and facilitated conversations where participants can explore what saying “yes” to the right development, industries and investments could mean for Porter County’s future. This is a chance for residents to help write Porter County’s next chapter with purpose.
The event is free and open to all Porter County residents, workers, and stakeholders. Registration and more information can be found at elevateportercounty.com. For questions and further information, email mike.Jabo@portercountyin.gov.
