Community news

Post-Tribune, Post-Tribune (Merrillville, Ind.)
·4 min read

Franciscan Health offers new stroke support groups

Franciscan Health Crown Point and Michigan City are offering new 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 beginning Tuesday 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 meets at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month in the San Damiano Conference Room B at the new Franciscan Health Crown Point, 12750 Saint Francis Drive. The next session is set for April 3. Attendees can park at the main entrance and enter through those doors. Guest speakers will present educational information related to stroke recovery during each monthly session, with a Christmas party in December to celebrate the successful completion of the program. The support groups are free, and registration is not required.

For more information on the Crown Point support group, contact Stevie Shipley at 219-488-1385 or Stevie.Shipley@franciscanalliance.org. For more information on the Michigan City support group, contact Kelly Wise at Kelly.Wise@franciscanalliance.org.

CAC offers new adult artists a community initiative

Chesterton Art Center (CAC) is launching Emerging Artists Society (EAS), a new initiative for local artists ages 21-35 who are interested in meeting other creatives and gaining professional arts experience together. The Center recognizes a need for arts programming and connection that serves this specific age group. EAS supports CAC’s vision of inclusivity and building opportunities for the creative community. The callout meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. March 21 at CAC, 115 S. Fourth St., Chesterton. At this meeting, members will get to know each other through a series of collaborative art activities and share their creative interests. EAS is a monthly program that meets from 6 to 8 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at CAC. The program will work with guest artists, organize exhibition opportunities and public art projects and offer additional professional development workshops for members.

To join, email Jillian Bridgeman at programs@chestertonart.org or call the Center at 219-926-4711.

Easter trains return to Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum will run Easter Trains March 23 to 30 at 507 Mulberry St., North Judson. Trains will depart the station at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. An Easter Egg Hunt will be held after each train ride; the child who finds the golden egg in each age category will receive a special prize. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras and take photos of their children with the Easter Bunny during these events. Children will receive a gift bag with a coloring book, crayons and stickers while aboard the train. The Easter Train events this year will help support the Purdue Railroad Club. A portion of each ticket sold will be donated to their organization. The club is among the oldest student organizations at Purdue University. Tickets are $20 for adults and $14 for children ages 3 to 15 for coach seating. Infants and toddlers under 3 are free when riding on a parent’s or guardian’s lap.Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at hoosiervalley.org.

Science Fridays, spring hike at National Park

Indiana Dunes National Park will host Dr. Spencer Cortwright from Indiana University Northwest for a presentation about the life and times of Midwest amphibians at 5:30 p.m. at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, 1215 N. Indiana 49, Porter. Science Fridays will feature a series of presentations from experts covering different topics each month. For more information and a list of topics, visit www.nps.gov/indu or call 219-395-1882. Join a ranger for a Spring Hike from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Miller Woods. Meet at the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education, 100 N. Lake St., Gary. Be prepared for muddy conditions.

For more information on this and other programs at Indiana Dunes National Park, call or visit the website.

Ivy Tech Foundation hosts spring scholarship event

Ivy Tech Foundation will host its 20th annual Spring Fundraiser April 12 at Aberdeen Manor, 216 Ballantrae, Valparaiso. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The event includes dinner, dancing, raffles, an online auction and live entertainment from ReTurn2Soul, a six-piece band from Chicago. Tickets are $90, and can be purchased at https://link.ivytech.edu/Spring2024 through April 5. Proceeds will go to benefit students at the Lake County and Valparaiso/Michigan City campuses.

More information is with Cindy Hall at cjhall@ivytech.edu.