ANNUAL FRIENDS OF THE DUNES PLANT SALE IS MAY 9
The Friends of Indiana Dunes’ 30th Annual Native Plant Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 9 in the parking lot at the Friends’ Office, 1000 W. Oak Hill Road, Porter. More than 80 native plant species will be available, including woodland flowering plants and ferns; dry, medium, and wet prairie flowering plants; as well as grasses, shrubs, trees, native grasses, woodlands and ferns. Plant varieties come in pots and are native to Northwest Indiana’s Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, as well as adjacent Northeast Illinois and Southwest Michigan. Gardening consultants will be available to answer questions about native plants and specific habitats. All sale profits will support programming at Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana Dunes State Park and the Dunes Learning Center. For more information, call 219-707-3617 or email nativeplants@dunefriends.org.
PROFESSOR SPEAKS ON GREAT LAKES FUR TRADE
Porter County Museum (PoCo Muse), in collaboration with Pines Village Retirement Communities, will sponsor a presentation by Valparaiso University Professor Randa Duvick about her research into the history of the fur trade business in the Great Lakes region at the turn of the 19th century. Free and open to the public, the event will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Pines Village Retirement Communities, 3303 Pines Village Circle, Valparaiso. Porter County Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday at 20 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso. Admission is free. Free half-hour guided tours are offered at 11 a.m. every third Saturday. For more information, visit pocomuse.org or find @pocomuse on social media.
FOURTH FRIDAY SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON URUGUAY
The Valparaiso International Center (VIC) welcomes Eduardo “Ed” Brussa for a Fourth Friday evening centered on Uruguay at 7 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 201 N. Washington St., Valparaiso. A native of Montevideo, Uruguay, he grew up surrounded by both science and the arts. After moving to the United States, Brussa pursued music and education, earning degrees in Music Business and Secondary Education. Today, he brings those worlds together as a Spanish teacher at Portage High School, as a musician and through his creative work with Liminal Media and the electronic duo LaFinka. More information can be found at https://valpovic.org.
FRANCISCAN HEALTH OFFERS FREE WALKING PROGRAM
Franciscan Health is partnering with the Lake County Health Department to provide a free, six-week outdoor walking program this spring. Path to Wellness will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. Fridays through May 29. Registration begins at 9:45 a.m. at Pennsy Greenway Trail, Austin Avenue and Park Street in Crown Point. Walkers should meet at the circle rest area by the bike racks and benches. Water and light snacks will be provided. Attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes. In case of inclement weather, the walks will be canceled. The events will begin with brief, wellness-related informational talks on topics such as chronic disease prevention, heart health, cancer prevention and early cancer detection. More information is with Stacy Zembala at 219-226-3889 or Denice Trulley at 219-755-3655, Ext. 351.
PRENATAL WELL HOSTS ANNUAL WOMEN’S WELLNESS FAIR
The nonprofit organization Prenatal Well will host the Third Annual Women’s Wellness Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center, 6600 Broadway, Merrillville. The event is free and open to the public. Prenatal Well is committed to reducing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality through a holistic, patient-centered approach. The Women’s Wellness Fair provides information on these topics and more while connecting families to essential resources. Attendees can take advantage of free health screenings, interactive vendors, children’s entertainment, medical equipment demonstrations, giveaways, raffles, free haircuts and guest speakers in a family-friendly environment. This event is made possible in part by the support of community partners, including NorthShore Health Centers, Youngblood Youth Development Homes and Services, and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. To learn more, visit https://prenatalwell.org/events/ or email Odominique@prenatalwell.org.
US 30 TO CLOSE FOR RAILROAD WORK IN DYER
CSX Railroad will close U.S. 30 at its crossing between Hart Street and Calumet Avenue in Dyer on or after Monday, April 27. All lanes of U.S. 30 will be closed for about six days while CSX conducts work on its crossing. The closure will be confined to the railroad crossing, and local access will be maintained up to that point. Through traffic should seek alternate routes. The detour will follow U.S. 41/Indianapolis Boulevard, 45th Street/Glenwood Lansing Road, and Illinois Route 83.
VALPARAISO INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR MAYOR’S YOUTH COUNCIL
The city of Valparaiso is accepting applications for the annual Mayor’s Youth Council. Designed to encourage youth to interact with city government, build leadership skills and enhance civic engagement, the council will include 20-24 members for the 2026-27 school year. Students entering their junior year in fall 2026 are encouraged to apply by May 29. Mayor Jon Costas will host an information session for interested students at 2:45 p.m. April 30 at the Valparaiso High School Media Center, 2727 N. Campbell St. The council meets monthly, gathers for a daylong retreat in August, and meets for volunteer opportunities throughout the year. For more information or an application packet, visit tinyurl.com/MayorYouthCouncil or contact Maggie Clifton at MClifton@valpo.us or 219-462-1161.
VALPARAISO OFFERS FREE BUS RIDES ON ELECTION DAY
To encourage voter turnout and community engagement, the city of Valparaiso will offer free rides on the V-Line intracity bus on primary election day, May 5. For bus schedules and routes, visit www.ValpoTransit.com.
