GCSC to host Back-to-School Enrollment Fair

The Gary Community School Corporation will host its Back-to-School Uniform Voucher Enrollment Fair from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Thursday at West Side Leadership Academy, 900 Gerry St., Gary. This fair is designed to ease preparations for the upcoming school year, and to provide families access to essential resources in one convenient location. During the event, families will be able to receive their uniform vouchers from Calumet Township, eliminating the need to stand in long lines. The fair will also feature a broad range of resources to jumpstart school preparations. Highlighting the event, GCSC has partnered with NorthShore Health to provide free physical exams and additional health services to families at no cost. For more information about the fair and enrollment, contact the GCSC Family and Community Engagement Department at 219-881-5466.

Gary Public Library offering a variety of summer programs

The annual Summer Reading Program, “Color Our World,” for students in preschool through 12th grade continues until July 26 at all units of the Gary Public Library. Complete rules and sign-up sheets are available at all library branches or on the library’s website, www.garypubliclibrary.org. The July MakerSpace schedule is now available on the library’s website. Call 219-886-2484, Ext. 332 to register. MakerSpace sessions are held at the Main Library, 220 W. Fifth Ave. “Business Basics” will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. beginning Tuesday at the Woodson Branch, 501 S. Lake St. Presented by Jackie DeRosa, each week will feature a different topic to help participants learn what it takes to build a business from the ground up. Basic lessons in etiquette for grade school and middle school students will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Main Library. Presented by Shakinah S. Bullock, CEO of the Charmed I’m Sure Etiquette Program, lessons will feature table setting, in-school manners, courtesy and much more. Space is limited. For more information, call Children’s Services at 219-886-2484, ext. 104. The monthly Chess Tournament will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday at the Main Library. The event is free, and all ages are welcome. Games are 30 minutes. The public is invited to two programs presented by the Save the Dunes organization at the Main Library: in conjunction with the Summer Reading Program, there will be stories, a slide show and activities for children from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. July 17; and Em Racine of Save the Dunes will host a presentation about the Indiana Dunes National Park from 5 to 6:30 p.m. July 24. New Summer Hours at the branches continue through Aug. 9. Summer hours for both Woodson Branch, 501 S. Lake St., and Kennedy Branch, 3953 Broadway, are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday, closed Friday. The hours at the Main Library remain the same, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. More information is at 219-886-2484.

US 12 to close under Ind. 249 starting Monday

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Superior Construction Co. Inc. will close U.S. 12 under Ind. 249 beginning on or after Monday. U.S. 12 will first be closed in the eastbound direction for approximately three days. Traffic going eastbound on U.S. 12 will be diverted to southbound Ind. 249 and can use the official detour of U.S. 20 and Ind. 149. Traffic will have access to eastbound U.S. 12 from northbound Ind. 249. U.S. 12 will then be closed in the westbound direction for approximately three days on or after July 17. The official detour will follow Ind. 149 and U.S. 20. Westbound U.S. 12 will have access to northbound Ind. 249 (Port of Indiana) but not southbound Ind. 249. Work will be confined to the area between the U.S. 12 ramps to and from Ind. 249. These closures are for beam setting for the Ind. 249 bridge replacement project over U.S. 12.

Two Hearts Home for Seniors open house, resource fair

Two Hearts Homes for Seniors, Indiana’s first family-owned assisted living, invites the community to an open house from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at 1600 Feather Rock Drive, Crown Point. A community resource fair will be featured during the open house. Guests will enjoy refreshments, tour the home, and meet the McCracken family, owners and founders of Two Hearts Homes for Seniors. The event celebrates the company’s fifth anniversary of the first Two Hearts Home in Lowell. Experts in senior care, including representatives from hospice, palliative care, and home care companies, will be present to answer questions. The McCracken family and Two Hearts staff will be available to speak about the personalized care model and daily life in the homes. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet residents and their families to hear firsthand what life is like at Two Hearts. In addition to full-time residential care, Two Hearts offers half-day and full-day senior daycare options at both locations. Two Hearts Homes for Seniors has been honored with both the Residential Assisted Living (RAL) Industry Innovator and RAL Home Certification awards. For more information or to reserve a spot, call 219-600-2200.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection event

The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County will host their next Household Hazardous Waste Collection event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 19 at Boone Grove High School, 260 S 500 W, Boone Grove. Participants are asked to enter at 500 W. Residents can safely dispose of products containing corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive substances. Common household hazardous waste items include antifreeze, motor oil, batteries (household and automotive), fluorescent bulbs, paints, deck stains, pool chemicals, pesticides and household smoke detectors. Items that are not accepted at this event are electronics, grill propane cylinders and large containers over 55 gallons in size. Visit Porter CountyRecycling.org for a complete list of accepted items. For more information, call 219-465-3694 or email info@portercountyrecycling.org.

The Gary and Merrillville Soil Tour to be held July 29

The Gary/Merrillville Soil tour for farmers and gardeners is scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. July 29. Bus transportation will be provided to the program locations, which will be disclosed closer to the date of the event. Led by Lake County Soil Health Improvement Program, a partnership between Purdue Extension Lake County, Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District, Urban Soil Health and local farms, participants will see real-life demonstrations about using soil health practices such as cover crops, mulching, native plants and composting from local gardeners working with Gary/Merrillville soils. Light refreshments will be provided. Register by July 15 at tinyurl.com/Soil-Tour. For more information, for accommodations to attend, or for special dietary needs, contact Rebecca Koetz by July 15 at 219-755-3240 or email busser@purdue.edu.

— Staff report