Master Gardeners offer grants
Lake County Master Gardeners give back to the community by providing grants to Lake County municipalities, organizations and businesses. Proceeds from three major fundraisers – the Lake County Master Gardeners plant sale, the Garden Walk, and the Lake County Fair – will be used to fund the Lake County Master Gardeners (LCMG) grant program. Grants are available to schools, churches, organizations, businesses, municipalities and other groups for existing or new park-related projects. Scholarship amounts will range from $200 to $600 and will be awarded by April 1. To be eligible, projects must be located in Lake County, preferably including an educational component. The scholarship application deadline is March 2. For more information or to place an application, visit www.lakecountymastergardeners.org and click on the Grants and Scholarships tab, email Lakecountymastergardeners@gmail.com or call Lake County Extension at 219-755-3240.
Organizations and non-profits in need sought out the Earth Day Reuse Fair
To celebrate Earth Day 2026, the Porter County Recycling and Waste Reduction District will hold a reuse fair from 9 to 11:30 a.m. April 18 at the Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Road, Valparaiso. The Reuse Fair is a unique event designed to promote sustainability, and aims to keep valuable items out of landfills by encouraging the donation of reusable items to organizations such as non-profits and schools. All eligible organizations are invited to participate. Organizations interested in receiving donations should register by emailing sarah@portercountyrecycling.org. Due to space limitations, participating organizations are asked to submit a wish list of up to 10 reusable items. Wish list items must not include food or new items. A representative from each organization must be present during the entire collection period to ensure effective distribution. The final list of accepted donations will be published once a sufficient number of registered organizations have registered. This list will help guide community members in their generous contributions. For more information, email sarah@portercountyrecycling.org or call 219-465-3694.
South Shore Arts offers a “Kick Off Your Art” workshop.
Join South Shore Arts for a free workshop, Art 101: Launching Your Art Career, from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Substation 9, 435 Fayetteville St., Hammond. Keynote speaker will be Madeline Winter, a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Indiana University, Bloomington. Winter is recognized as one of the best representational painters of our time. She will talk about her career path, which has seen her represented by Oliva Gallery in Chicago, and art residencies in Virginia and Barcelona. Substation 9’s resident artists Don Diamantopoulos, Kerry Mummer, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, and Andrea Williams will lead the workshop, offering advice on how to draft a resume, write an artist statement, prepare photographs and apply for shows and exhibitions. Additionally, they will discuss their careers and their current tenure at Substation No. 9, New Year, Same Mess. Jonathan Canning, executive director of South Shore Arts, will also be on hand to explain the supporting arts grants offered by the Indiana Arts Commission. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, email Renea Gallagher at renea@southshoreartsonline.org.
Franciscan Health Crown Point hosts doula workshop
Franciscan Health Crown Point will host a DONA International Birth Doula Workshop from 8:30am to 6:30pm Central time February 21-22 and February 28-March 1 at Franciscan Health Crown Point, 12750 St. Francis Drive. Participants must be 18 years or older and attend all four days of classes to receive a certificate of completion. Doulas are trained professionals who provide ongoing physical, emotional, and informational support to their clients before, during, and shortly after birth. A doula may help communicate a woman’s birth plan, create a comfortable environment during birth, or simply provide the general support a family may seek during this pivotal time. Doulas do not perform clinical tasks. Franciscan Health Crown Point Family Birth Center offers doula services to families free of charge through its Volunteer Doula Program. The workshop fulfills two requirements for DONA International Certified Birth Doula Certification, Introduction to Childbirth and Childbirth Training. The cost of the workshop is $600, payable within four days of registration. Registration and payment must be completed by February 2. For more information, call 219-746-9134.
DunesARTS to conduct testing for the 2026 season
Non-contributing actors of all ethnic backgrounds, gender identities and body types from the region and beyond are invited to audition in-person or virtually for the 2026 duneArts season. In-person auditions will take place from 10am-5pm Central on February 7 and 12:30-5pm on February 8 at City Lit Theater Company, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago; and noon to 5 p.m., February 14 and 15 at the Holdcraft Center for the Performing Arts, 1200 Spring Street, Michigan City. The virtual application deadline is February 15. Live attendance is accepted, but not guaranteed. To schedule an exam, visit https://www.dunesarts.org and click on the exam form link.