Philip Potempa

Philip Potempa is a freelance for the Post-Tribune.

A sign posted at the corner of Columbia Avenue and Ridge Road in Munster at Heritage Park proclaims a 250th community celebration on June 14, 2026, for the USA’s 250th birthday commemoration. (Luke Miiller/provided)

From the Farm: USA’s 250th birthday gets early celebration in Munster next Sunday

June 5, 2026 at 5:33 p.m.

Munster Junior Historical Society is hosting a 250th Birthday Celebration next Sunday, which also happens to be Flag Day.

Former child star and voiceover talent Melanie Kohn, shown as a guest at the April 2024 Olympic Collectible Expo in Silverdale, Washington, signs a toy likeness of “Peanuts Gang” character Lucy van Pelt, the bossy cartoon alter-ego Kohn voiced in the 1970s for some of the beloved “Charlie Brown” animated TV specials aired on CBS. (Melanie Kohn/provided)

Of Notoriety: Charlie Brown’s ‘Lucy’ in Valparaiso, and farewell JellyBean

June 3, 2026 at 4:17 p.m.

One of the voices behind the Peanuts' Lucy Van Pelt comes to Valparaiso, while Northwest Indiana mourns the death of a beloved clown.

Peggy Potempa, far right, mother of columnist Philip Potempa, joined her older sister Ruby, center, for a surprise birthday party for their younger brother “Sonny,” joined by “Toots,” far left, his wife of 67 years, at a family dinner gathering in Rensselaer on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Philip Potempa/provided)

From the Farm: Memorial Day brings memories of Dad with a special 90th birthday celebration

May 29, 2026 at 4:45 p.m.

Last weekend’s Memorial Day came with an extra emphasis this year. We missed Dad and our tradition of spending the days before the holiday with him, filling our family cemetery...

Actor Kevin Lee Geise plays the cast lead Sidney Bruhl, an obsessed playwright of thrillers who collects antique weapons in “Deathtrap,” opening this weekend at Dunes Summer Theatre in Michigan City to launch the stage destination’s 75th anniversary season. (Dunes Summer Theatre/provided)

Of Notoriety: Dunes Summer Theatre’s 75th anniversary kicks off this weekend

May 29, 2026 at 11:44 a.m.

Dunes Summer Theatre in Michigan City, with team talent Elise Kermani as managing director of the Dunes Arts Foundation and Steve Scott (a director emeritus from Chicago’s Goodman Theater) as...

Gilberto de la Cruz, left, and Everardo Corona assemble the Fun Slide at the Porter County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. A new exhibit at the Porter County Museum celebrates the 175th anniversary of the Porter County Fair. Dates for the 2026 Porter County 4-H Fair are July 23 to Aug.1, 2026. (Michael Gard/ for the Post-Tribune)

Of Notoriety: Free chamber concert, 4-H fair memories and Hamlet

May 28, 2026 at 4:27 p.m.

Porter County Museum’s new ongoing exhibit, “Our Heart of Hearts: The Porter County Fair,” celebrates the 175th anniversary of the hallowed favorite summer attraction traditions in Northwest Indiana. “We encourage...

Director Bill Pullinsi, right, dines in the ballroom of the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster, Indiana, on Feb. 14, 2026, with son Jamie Pullinsi, left, and columnist Philip Potempa, center. Pullinsi died at age 86 on May 17, 2026. (Photo by Luke Miiller/Center for the Visual and Performing Arts)

From the Farm: Goodbye to stage great Bill Pullinsi, ‘godfather of dinner theater’

May 22, 2026 at 5:52 p.m.

William “Bill” Pullinsi, the celebrated director and producer widely regarded as the “godfather of dinner theater,” died at age 86 on Sunday, May 17, at his home in Dyer with...

The cast of “The Frog Prince and the Princess: A Hoppy Tale" stars in the world stage premiere presented now through May 23, 2026, at Theatre at the Center in Munster (Center for Visual and Performing Arts/provided)

Of Notoriety: ‘Frog Prince and Princess’ premiere comes from imagination

May 20, 2026 at 4:03 p.m.

In the past three years, I’ve had the honor of being able to try the challenge of script writing for theater works designed for young audiences. It’s stage storytelling, and...

Columnist Philip Potempa trades authored books with Eve Plumb during a book signing event on May 8, 2026, at Barbara’s Books at Macy’s on State Street in Chicago. Plumb, who played middle daughter Jan on the CBS series “The Brady Bunch,” published her memoir in April, including stories of working with the late Florence Henderson, her TV mom, who is also featured in Potempa’s 2019 cookbook. (Luke Miiller/provided)

From the Farm: Decade anniversary with Tribune includes ‘Plumb’ nod to ‘The Brady Bunch’

May 15, 2026 at 4:31 p.m.

I marvel that May 8 marked the 10th anniversary of this “From the Farm” column being published in the Post-Tribune.

Dave Innes, left, in frog guise, returns to the Theatre at the Center stage to share the title role opposite Adrianna Alvarez, right, making her stage debut as royalty in the world stage premiere of “The Princess and The Frog Prince: A Hoppy Tale” May 18-23, 2026, at The Center for Visual and Performing in Munster. (CVPA/provided)

Of Notoriety: Frogs, funny guy and ’70s soul in local stage spotlight in May

May 14, 2026 at 4:15 p.m.

Entertainment news from around the region.

A red Yamaha BB300 electric bass, far left, signed in black marker by singer Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, is inscribed “Played at the very 1st Pumpkins show July 9th, 1988,” and included among new memorabilia on display at Hard Rock Northern Indiana to celebrate the facility's fifth anniversary since opening on May 14, 2021. (Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana/provided)

Of Notoriety: Hard Rock Northern Indiana launching 5-year anniversary fun

May 13, 2026 at 3:33 p.m.

How quickly five years can fly by in the world of gaming, paired with iconic headlining entertainment and fine dining, all in homage music.

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