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The City of Portage’s Market on the Square returned to Founder’s Square Park after a two week break to the delight of all attendees on Friday, July 24. The weekly market brings together a collection of Portage’s favorite vendors, food trucks, and entertainment acts for an evening of summer fun.

Every year, the Market on the Square gives families and friends an excellent start to the weekend during the summer, making it a favorite event among Portage residents.

“I have met some really wonderful people out here,” said Anna Brambila, a partaker in the festivities. “I am brand new to Portage; my family moved here in January just six months ago, and I decided to come out and visit the market to get to know people. I’ve met some wonderful people out here, and everybody’s really friendly in Portage, and I’ve enjoyed it.”

The market attracts a wide variety of vendors, from Region staples like Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck to artisans and craftspeople hoping to sell their handmade goods. That means supporting the market is a great way to support Portage and its community.

“I think that they are a community,” said Angelina Mendoza, the event’s coordinator. “The vendors themselves are each other’s friends. They know each other, they help each other out, and they’re a real vendor community within themselves.”

The entertainment for the evening changes every week, meaning there’s always something new to enjoy. Tonight’s event featured live music from Austin Edward, a former America’s Got Talent star playing country classics, but music, movies, and more rotate throughout the month.

The live entertainment, coupled with attractions like a beer garden and bounce houses, means visitors can get more than a meal when they come to the market.

“That’s the thing about human beings, right? We want everything to stay the same, and yet simultaneously we want everything to change,” said Austin Bonta, Mayor of the City of Portage. “You have these little traditions, but the traditions themselves have little changes in them. Maybe this is the market where the horses are at, or maybe this is the one where we’ve got a foam party going on, or maybe this is the one where we got a country singer. There’s just always something a little different each time, but the overall market stays the same.”

The emphasis on providing a quality experience isn’t limited to market attendees either. Many of the event’s vendors return every week thanks to the care the City of Portage and its Parks Department put into hosting the event.

“The best part is when I get repeat customers and their faces light up when they see the books,” said Michelle O’Dell, a vendor at the market who was selling books to the community. “I’m an English teacher by trade, so literature is my thing. I feel a responsibility to give people access to good books, so that’s why I come out here.”

The Market on the Square will return to Founders Square Park every Friday – except August 7 – through the rest of the summer. Upcoming entertainment includes a family movie night on July 31, a line dancing night on August 14, and a Taylor Swift tribute night on August 28. For a full list of upcoming entertainment, as well as updates on the market and attending vendors, be sure to follow the Market on the Square on Facebook.

Visit portagein.gov to catch up on the latest news from the City of Portage.

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When Bryan Cheek (MBA’12) enrolled in the Purdue University Northwest (PNW) College of Business’ Master of Business Administration program, he entered with a goal to enhance his operations management role at U.S. Steel. His program experience helped him discover an unexpected career direction.

While completing his path of study, Cheek took a course in data analytics, which allowed him to see the exciting possibilities of applying his skills in data analysis.

“It was that single point where I realized, ‘I get this, this comes naturally to me and I really enjoy doing it,’” he says. “That decision point changed me from an operations manager to somebody on a career path in data analytics and data science.

“My decision to come to Purdue Northwest for the MBA program was the defining, most important decision I made in my career. It put me on a different trajectory.”

Today, Cheek serves in a leadership role within data analytics and data science—a career path that traces directly back to a decision to invest in himself and embrace new opportunities.

Before joining PNW’s MBA program, Cheek had grown in operations management at U.S. Steel. Working on the mill floor gave him a deep understanding of how organizations operate and how leaders support their teams. As his career progressed, he began to see new possibilities for his future.

“I liked what I was doing, but I wanted to shift,” he recalls. “I wanted to find a path where I could use my knowledge base but stretch into a different direction.”

That determination led him to explore graduate programs throughout the region. Purdue University Northwest’s MBA program ultimately proved the best fit for him.

Cheek earned his undergraduate degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette and was already familiar with PNW’s reputation for academic excellence. At PNW, he found a graduate program that challenged him to think differently, expanded his skills and helped him find the confidence to pursue opportunities that might have seemed out of reach based solely on his previous experience.

“I was able to show interest in opportunities where my career experience didn’t necessarily align,” he explains. “But I had the coursework, the projects and the tangible evidence of my abilities. I could show my skill, my effort and what the program was helping me achieve.”

Just as impactful were the relationships he built along the way.

Working alongside a cohort of professionals from different backgrounds created an environment where students learned from one another as much as they learned in the classroom. Classmates leaned on each other’s strengths, challenged one another to grow and formed connections that will continue years after graduation.

“Those relationships stand today,” Cheek says. “I’ve been a support mechanism for my cohort, and they’ve been there for me. That hasn’t stopped.”

For professionals considering graduate school at PNW, his advice is simple.

“You already have that drive,” he says. “Now it’s about making the decision. For me, that decision put me on a new path. I didn’t know exactly where it would lead at the time, but this graduate program enabled me to get there. You get a lot of value here at PNW, but you have to recognize that value and take advantage of the opportunity.”

Cheek’s determination to earn his MBA from PNW became a turning point—one that transformed his career, expanded his confidence and helped him discover a future he hadn’t previously imagined.

Listen to Bryan share his story on Instagram

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However, it isn’t just properties the company invests in, but the people involved as well; when you invest in Weiss Entities, it invests back in you.

Thanks to its dedicated team, the LOV is able to put on a great time for residents and members of the community to enjoy in a variety of ways. 

On June 8, the LOV began the Cutest Pet Contest on its Facebook page. Fluffy residents had the chance to win a prize by June 15, and all their human companions had to do was post a snapshot of their pet. By liking and commenting on the photo, the pet had a chance to win a gift basket full of goodies, including a grooming service gift card.

Wrapping up a week later, the fuzzy winners that were crowned champions were an elegantly named dog, Louie George Preston, and a regally dressed cat, Milka. Their owners were able to stop by the clubhouse to pick up their prize.

“It did well. A lot of people did participate and submitted really cute photos,” said Sidnie Williams, marketing assistant at Weiss Entities.

The Cutest Pet Contest came from the desire to work in a pet-related event for residents to enjoy. While the LOV typically does a Puppy Plunge toward the end of summer, the intense heatwaves simmering through the midwest has put a temporary hold on things, as the team at Weiss wanted to keep all the residents and furry friends safe.

There’s still a chance the Puppy Plunge will happen, however. The event is just as it sounds: the puppies have a chance to cool off and enjoy a swim with other pets, chase toys, or explore the area while their human counterparts socialize and get to know their neighbors.

The LOV is also exploring the idea of a potential Pet of The Month to be implemented in the future. Whether or not the Puppy Plunge or Pet of The Month happens, the LOV ensures that caring for pets is a point of emphasis.

“We do a lot of resident events geared towards pets; we are very pet-friendly,” Williams said. “We have treats for both cats and dogs, and we like to include our pets in every aspect that we can.”

For the LOV, pets are more than animals; they’re part of the family.

“We want to give people their dream apartment. If that includes them being able to bring their pet, no harm there,” Williams said. “I don’t know many people who would choose a community that’s not pet-friendly if they do have a pet.”

Being open to pets is part of inclusivity for Weiss, as most people have furry friends these days. With 22 of 23 properties being pet-friendly, apartment-seekers have plenty of opportunities with Weiss to find a home that suits their needs best.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, no-pet properties were more common, even for the LOV. As more people began seeking companionship during lockdowns, the LOV saw the rise in need from its residents and transitioned into being fully pet-friendly.

“I think it helped a lot to show people in the industry that in order to be as inclusive as possible, which is always what we strive for,” Williams said. “There’s not any sort of, ‘Oh, I really love this apartment, but it’s in a non-pet friendly building. Do I give up my pet? Do I go for my dream apartment?’”

While Weiss Entities does unfortunately have breed restrictions that are out of its control, the development company continues working toward inclusivity for families of all shapes and sizes.

“We love our furry friends and residents. We encourage everybody to bring them into the clubhouse so that we can get to know them, and so that they’re more comfortable in an apartment setting as well,” Williams said.

Getting to know residents is important to Weiss. With a devotion to make the inhabitants of the properties feel seen, Weiss also offers a Hometown Heroes administrative waiver to those who qualify.

By showing a military ID, paystubs from a healthcare facility, or whatever the future resident uses for income documentation, the LOV will waive the $150 administrative fee for first responders, healthcare professionals, educators, or anyone involved in the military. While those qualifying for Hometown Heroes will have to pay the fee initially, by proving their status within the parameters, it will be credited back upon moving in.

Not all residents may qualify for Hometown Heroes, but everyone wins with Weiss Entities — any resident has the chance to join any of the events the company puts on each month. Each event varies in size throughout different days of the week, and there is something for every resident to enjoy.

Smaller events are activities with a limited number of winners, such as hiding a select number of plastic ducks around the building for residents to find. For more opportunities to win prizes while mingling with neighbors, the LOV offers bingo as well.

Summer and winter offer larger events for inhabitants of the LOV properties. One upcoming event that the LOV team is hard at work planning is the annual Summer Bash. Previous years have had a DJ, food, raffles, and cornhole tournaments. The courtyard is expected to be full of music, drinks, and fun.

“We specifically do it on a Saturday to ensure people can participate, because we want to hold appreciation for our residents in the biggest seasons,” Williams said. 

A lot of raffle prizes offered are donations from vendors in a process Williams described as a circle of appreciation. Vendors appreciate business from Weiss Entities, who appreciates the residents, and a gift is crafted for winners to take home.

“The residents ask when we’re doing a summer bash, so that’s definitely one that fits the most interest, and usually is the best turnout,” Williams said.

The Summer Bash is a wonderful opportunity for residents to interact with neighbors, as well as communicate with the staff at Weiss. Food and games break the ice and allow people to grow comfortable within the community. It’s also an opportunity to get to know the employees who aim to support those living on the property. This event opens the door to ask for help, make friends, and enjoy a comfortable life.

“We want our residents to feel as comfortable as they can with us, and ask those questions that they have,” Williams said. “Our events and programs are a good way to meet and vibe with your neighbors, while having a good time and growing closer with everybody.”

To learn more about Weiss Entities and its properties, programs, or services, visit its website at weissentities.com.

For more information on the Lakes of Valparaiso specifically, visit lovthelife.com.

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Services differ from family to family, but Kyle Newhard, office manager at Bartholomew Funeral Home, has some advice to offer attendees.

Services are most commonly called a funeral, or a celebration of life, but some may have also heard the terms “wake” or “visitation” as well. According to Newhard, these terms are interchangeable.

For some families, a wake may be held before the funeral as a more casual gathering, while the funeral is a formal setting. When it comes to preparing for the memorial service, the best bet is to keep an eye out for what the family would like. A good way to do that is to seek out the obituary.

While obituaries in newspapers aren’t very common anymore, they can still be found online and exported to other sites — so if you don’t know which funeral home will be used, there should still be no trouble finding it by simply searching for the departed’s first and last name, alongside what city and state they lived in. Where and when the service will be is typically written at the bottom of the obituary, as well as any specific information, such as what to wear.

Memorial services aren’t always formal. According to Newhard, trends have varied greatly over the years, and wearing a suit and tie might make you stand out.

“We have some families who say, ‘Our loved one that passed away was a big Jimmy Buffett fan, everybody should wear their Hawaiian shirts.’” Newhard said. “It depends from person to person.”

Keeping an eye out for the family’s wishes might save you some trouble, but if you don’t see any specific instructions, Newhard advises dressing business casual and staying away from anything too colorful. A nice pair of slacks, a button down, or a skirt if you prefer is typically a good way to go.

As for sending flowers — where to, what kind, or even how — the obituary also might clarify on this matter.

“Something that we see becoming more and more standard is people saying that flowers are unnecessary. They don’t want to deal with dying plants or the logistics of moving it all,” Newhard said. “They say in lieu of flowers, why don’t people just bring a donation to whatever organization the deceased was a part of? Maybe they suffered from cancer, so bring donations for the American Cancer Society.”

Not only are some families looking for donations nowadays, but flowers can sometimes be a hassle. The grieving families might not know what to do with the flowers, or they might not have enough space or hands to handle the plants. A donation to a society or cause relevant to the deceased is not only a thoughtful way to remember them but considerate of their loved ones as well.

Of course, this also varies. If you find that flowers are the way to go, trust your instincts. While each funeral home, church, or hall can differ, Newhard suggests going directly to the nearest florist, as the building holding the service often will be doing so themselves.

With an outfit planned and flowers, a donation, or perhaps something else requested by the family ready, the next step is being prepared to attend the service itself. When an attendee knows what to expect, it can make a difficult day feel less daunting.

Each service is different. Newhard stresses the importance of planning ahead to visitors and warns that there is no exact answer of what to expect.

“You have some families that are much more reserved. Things might be more of what you would expect out of a funeral or something somber,” he said. “Then, you might have some families that are outgoing, energetic and laid back, and it might be more relaxed.”

With the assumption that you’re familiar with the deceased’s loved ones, the first few moments you step into the door of a typical service will have a sign-in or register book for you to let the family know you were there. Once you’ve signed, you may pay your respects to the remains of the deceased and chat with family.

“Some families might just want to get things over with. They might want you to come up, say, ‘I’m sorry, if you need anything, let me know,’ and then move along,” said Newhard. “Some families will want to sit and hear all your stories about their loved one. There’s not any real right answer.”

Newhard’s best piece of advice? Try to read the room and follow along.

“If loved ones are a little bit short with you, it’s nothing personal. Some people want the day over with,” Newhard said.

At the same time, if loved ones are receptive to sharing stories, chatting, and reminiscing, feel free to share your own memories. What’s most important is that the loved ones know you were there and cared enough about the recently deceased to pay your respects.

Ultimately, there is no one way to prepare for a service. It will differ from family to family, and some people may even defy your expectations; grief is a complicated experience, and no one size fits all. Reading the obituary, having a story ready, and most importantly, seeking to pay respects and receive closure should be the ultimate goal.

For more information on Bartholomew Funeral Home, you can visit bartholomewnewhard.com.

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The community event kicks off at 6 p.m. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department will land a helicopter on Field 3. Crown Point police and fire departments will take to Field 2 for a softball game around 6:30 p.m.  

Around 7:45 p.m., gates for the foam party will open on Field 1. The evening will close out with a drone show by Chicago Drone Light Shows. 

The event will feature free Kona Ice for the first 300 attendees and hot dogs grilled by Crown Point Emergency Management; live music provided by Tom Lounges; booths from Crown Point public safety departments, the City of Crown Point and various community partners; swag giveaways; and public safety vehicles. Fun Times Cotton Candy will be available for purchase. 

“National Night Out gives our officers the chance to connect with our community while building camaraderie. It’s great to see so many residents show up every year to support our officers and enjoy a night with our community partners,” Crown Point Police Chief Ryan S. Patrick said.  

Patrick added the department is grateful for its sponsors, including drone show sponsors Dutch Farms and Eotech and foam party sponsor The Staples Realty Group. To become a 2026 National Night Out sponsor, visit crownpoint.info/nno2026.  

“We’re fortunate to live in one of the safest cities in Indiana. This year, Crown Point was again ranked as one of the safest communities in Indiana,” Crown Point Mayor Pete Land said. “When people choose to  move to a community, they look for great schools and public safety. I am proud to say we have both in Crown Point.” 

ABOUT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT 

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live, according to the NNO website. Thousands of communities from all 50 states, the U.S. territories and military bases worldwide participate on the first Tuesday in August. Texas and select areas celebrate on the first Tuesday in October. 

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Juliana Cook, a student at Morgan Township High School, served as the president of the 2025-26 Junior Board of Directors class.

“I was searching for a group of like-minded, teen leaders that wanted to develop their leadership skills and make change in our community, and the Junior Board program was that,” Cook said.

One of Cook’s favorite parts of being on the Junior Board was executing their capstone project. Members had to plan, budget, and execute their project as a team, allowing them to gain real-world experience in leadership and project management.

“It was very rewarding to see how months of conversations, planning, and advertising could turn into something larger than what we could have imagined,” she said.

Their Capstone project, Hearts in Motion, raised money for Play for Jake, a foundation dedicated to raising awareness and educating both parents and youth about the dangers of undetected heart conditions. The board hosted a car show and corn hole tournament, and raised more than $6,000 for the organization.

One of the benefits of the program is helping students develop real-life leadership skills. Throughout the year, students are encouraged to step outside of their comfort zones, make decisions and work with others to create meaningful change.

“As president of the 2025-26 Junior Board, I had to put myself in uncomfortable positions,” Cook said. “These included speaking in front of our board, being a decision-maker for the group, and speaking to different leaders in our community, but this led to me becoming more confident and comfortable in my leadership.”

The Junior Board also provides students with opportunities to learn from leaders outside of their schools and communities.

“A trip that stood out the most to me was visiting the Indiana State House, where we met with multiple state representatives, other junior boards in Indiana, and watched the Senate vote on legislation. It was fascinating to see,” Cook said.

Cook encourages other students to apply because of the valuable lessons they can learn through the experience.

“I went in blind, not knowing what to expect,” Cook said. “I came out the other side with strong leadership skills, opportunities I never would have imagined, and friends who want to make change as much as I do.”

While Cook’s leadership journey is just beginning, previous Junior Board member Londyn Connelly is already making an impact.

Connelly served on the Junior Board during the 2024-25 school year. She loved how involved she was able to become in her community.

Like Cook, one of Connelly’s favorite parts of the program was the community service projects. She helped lead a project benefiting local Women’s Care Centers, where she helped gather donations and create care packages for families in need.

The group collected donations to create 50 care packages for two centers that provide pregnancy resources and continued support for women and young children. The care packages focused on providing essential items for babies, including diapers, wipes, clothing, blankets, toys and soap. Through fundraising efforts and community donations, the group was able to raise nearly $5,000.

“Going to the centers and directly handing them the bags that we made and seeing the joy on their faces and the director’s thankfulness was the most beautiful thing. I was really encouraged to see how people do care. People who donated were putting their love and trust in us as high schoolers to do good, and we couldn’t have done it without them,” Connelly said.

Through the program, Connelly learned that leadership comes in many forms.

“One thing I learned from Junior Board is that being a leader does not mean that you need to be bold and loud. You can do it quietly and have a quiet strength,” she said. “Anyone can be a leader. You don’t need to be the loudest person in the room to get people’s attention.”

She learned the importance of listening to others and recognizing the strengths each person brings to a team.

“Part of being a leader is admitting when you don’t know the answer and humbling yourself,” Connelly said. “Sometimes, you will be strengthened when you listen and take everyone’s thoughts into consideration. For different circumstances, people are going to have different strengths and, in the end, everyone is stronger by using their unique strengths.”

While Connelly loved the trips they went on, she recognized that sometimes the best way to make a difference starts in her own community.

“I love listening to people and learning from people,” she said. “Some of the most meaningful lessons that I learned and experiences that I had were actually when we just stayed in our town. It was wonderful to listen to leaders who might have a small role, but they impact people so much.”

Like her peers, Junior Board taught Connelly to embrace confidence, even if it’s a little scary.

“Junior Board truly changed my perspective on so many things,” Connelly said. “It made my priorities better, gave me encouragement to not be afraid to do things, to not be afraid to apply or try things. Often I wouldn’t speak up because I was afraid of rejection, then I realized that rejection is not even close to the end of the world.”

Connelly is attending Purdue University and working toward earning a double major in French and communications. She credits the lessons she learned through Junior Board with helping her earn a scholarship that covers her full tuition.

“One of the lessons I learned most from being part of the Junior Board is that it’s best to say yes to many opportunities. There’s so much that can be missed by not taking up chances that are given to you.” Connelly said.

The only thing Connelly would change about the program is that members often joked they wished there was a senior board of directors for them to join the following year.

“I cannot think of a single reason that someone should not apply,” Connelly said. “There’s absolutely something that you can learn from it, whether that is from the people you’re working with, or the way you can give to others, or meeting people and working with them. Meeting people from different schools and knowing that everyone has the same desire to care is wonderful.”

For more information, or to apply, visit their website.

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When Chicha Sanders started her job as a resource navigator in December 2025, she was shown a closet. That tiny space held something hugely important to Indiana University Northwest and the surrounding community — a food pantry.

Though it was small, it served a big need.

“The university was seeing students who were suffering from food insecurity, and we’re supposed to be a campus with resources,” Sanders said. “So, the pantry became one of those resources for the students, staff and faculty.”

Over the next few months, the RedHawk Refuel food market received a significant upgrade, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program.

“The pantry moved into a space that’s like two rooms in one,” Sanders said. “Now it has two refrigerators, two freezers and one cooler. In addition to that, we have plenty of space to actually have stock within our pantry.”

If you visit the food market in the Moraine Student Center today, you’ll find a slew of food items. Thanks to the new equipment, the food market is often stocked with milk, produce, steak and even seafood. Sanders’ goal is to create a section where clients can build their own meals.

“Students will be able to come in and know they’ll have a selection of ready-to-go meals they can make with the ingredients in the pantry,” she said.

In addition to being run primarily for students, RedHawk Refuel is also run by students.

Krysten Abbasi has been working at the food pantry for two years now. The psychology major was already employed at a different campus job when she heard about the opening at the pantry, but she decided to go for it.

“It still shocks me how different it is now. When I first started, we had some shelves lining the walls and a single chair and desk for whoever was working that day,” she said. “Since it was tucked in a little corner of campus, nobody knew that a food pantry even existed, so I’d have maybe two guests a day.”

Abbasi has done pretty much every job at the food pantry, from stocking items to helping guests find what they need.

“I come across so many people while being here, and I’ve had so many meaningful interactions,” Abbasi said. “I’m hopefully helping someone be a little less stressed about putting food on their table.”

Though the food pantry has already grown so much since Abbasi started working there, Sanders has even more in store.

Mobile food carts now travel across campus carrying free snacks.

“The idea is that if we have these carts, students don’t have to walk around being hungry if they can’t afford something or don’t know where the pantry is,” Sanders said. “They can come grab snacks, and they can just take them for free.”

Sanders is also planning to reach out to community partners to make an even bigger impact.

“Our biggest supporter is the Northwest Indiana Food Bank,” she said. “But I am hoping to secure partnerships with other local grocery store.”

She also wants to connect with local farms to bring in more fresh produce. In that same vein, Sanders is excited about starting a small bed in the community garden on campus.

“I would love to have a huge garden that we can get fresh produce from. We planted some squash, carrots and lettuce, and we actually see this stuff growing. I’m getting excited,” she said.

There’s a lot for Sanders to be excited about, but nothing warms her heart more than seeing the food market’s impact on the campus and community.

“You don’t realize how many students on a university campus are going through things, and I want people to feel like they can come to the food pantry and make a meal and support their household,” she said. “I’m hoping to bridge the gap of food insecurity, and it warms my heart that people are acknowledging that we’re here to help the community.”

What was once a tiny closet few people knew about has become an essential resource, one that will only continue to grow and serve the campus and the greater community.

A special acknowledgment to the RedHawks CARE Grant Planning Team, whose efforts helped to secure the U.S. Department of Education’s grant. Thanks to their efforts, many services and resources beyond establishing the food pantry were created to assist all IU Northwest students.

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The City of Hobart Clean Team will host a Lake and River Cleanup from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at Jerry Pavese Park, 500 S. Lake Park Ave.

Community members will work in designated water and land teams to remove litter and debris from Lake George, nearby shorelines and surrounding storm drains. Volunteers may select the team that best matches their abilities and available equipment.

“Keeping Hobart’s waterways clean is a responsibility we all share,” said Stephanie Luken, deputy engineer and Clean Team member for the City of Hobart. “This cleanup gives residents a direct opportunity to protect Lake George and the surrounding river system while working alongside others who care about our community.”

Water Team volunteers will travel along the edges of Lake George to locate and collect trash and debris. Participants must check in before entering the water and provide their own kayak, canoe or boat and personal flotation device. The Water Team cleanup will operate throughout the scheduled event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Land Team volunteers will collect litter and debris along designated sections of the shoreline and near surrounding storm drains. Each mapped walking route is less than one mile. Land Team volunteers may check in and participate at any point during the event.

“We designed the cleanup so volunteers can participate in the way that best fits their abilities and comfort level,” said Jillian Burton, sustainability director and Clean Team manager for the City of Hobart. “Whether someone joins us on the water or walks one of the land routes, every piece of debris removed helps protect local wildlife, improve water quality and preserve these natural spaces for the community.”

Cleanup supplies will be available at the registration area for volunteers on both teams. Available materials will include litter grabbers, heavy-duty trash bags, five-gallon buckets, work gloves, safety vests, bottled water, sunscreen, hand sanitizer and insect repellent.

Designated collection stations will be placed throughout the cleanup area for filled trash bags and larger debris. The Hobart Public Works Department will collect and remove materials left at those stations.

Participants should review the event map before arriving for information about registration, volunteer routes and debris collection locations.

Hot dogs and drinks will be provided to volunteers following the cleanup.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Jerry Pavese Park, 500 S. Lake Park Ave., Hobart, IN 46342
Event Map: https://gis.cityofhobart.org/portal/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=5a8a5bc79dcd43669d33ebe80050e4e7

About the City of Hobart

The City of Hobart is a community of approximately 40,000 residents located in Lake County, Indiana. Positioned at the crossroads of major transportation corridors and home to a historic downtown, Lake George, an extensive trail network, and a strong industrial base, Hobart serves as a regional destination for business, recreation, and community life. The City is committed to providing high-quality public services, supporting economic opportunity, investing in infrastructure, and enhancing quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors. For more information, visit cityofhobart.org.

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