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player ready...FRANCISCAN HEALTH HOLDS ‘FRIENDS’-THEMED EVENT
Franciscan Health will host a free ‘Friends’-themed event aimed at providing information on heart health and cancer screenings at 7 p.m. Thursday at Cloister in the Woods, 1101 Park Drive, Munster. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. “I’ll Be There for You” will begin with screenings and dinner. The event will then transition to short presentations on heart health and cancer screenings by Franciscan Physician Network Medical Oncologist Yameen Rashid, DO, and Cardiologist Asad Torabi, MD, followed by a question-and-answer period. The free night out includes blood pressure, pulse oximetry, bone density and body mass index screenings; five-minute chair massages; bingo for “Friends”; and Franciscan-themed prizes, including gift cards and a gift for all attendees. Space is limited and registration is required. Attendees must be 18 or older to attend. To register or for more information, visit FranciscanHealth.org/Events.
NATIONAL PARK’S OUTDOOR FEST STARTS SEPT. 4
Celebrate the outdoors at the 2026 Indiana Dunes Outdoor Adventure Festival Sept. 4 to 20. More than 75 events will take place during the festival at parks and preserves throughout Northwest Indiana. Events for visitors of all ages and activity levels will be offered, including hiking, biking, photography, yoga, birding and geocaching. For a list of programs, times and locations, visit www.dunesoutdoorfestival.com/uploads/2/6/1/6/26168414/oaf_planning_spreadsheet_2026__1_.pdf. The festival is free and no pre-registration is required for most events. Indiana Dunes National Park has an entrance fee of $25 per car for a 1- to 7-day pass. A $45 annual pass for the national park also is available. Purchase passes or pay the entrance fee at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, 1215 N. Ind. 49, Porter; at the West Beach Entrance Station, 376 N. County Line Road, Gary; or at www.recreation.gov/sitepass/indu. Veterans/Military/Gold Star Family, Access, and Fourth-Grade passes are available free of charge. For more information on national park passes, go to www.nps.gov/indu.
DUNELAND YMCA HOSTING ‘DANCING LIKE THE STARS’
The Duneland Family YMCA will host its annual “Dancing Like The Stars” benefit gala Nov. 14 at the Four Winds Casino, 11111 Wilson Road, New Buffalo. A cocktail reception will begin at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. This community event will honor the Duneland YMCA’s 60th anniversary with the theme “Diamonds Are Forever.” The signature fundraising event for its annual campaign, this event plays a vital role in supporting the Duneland Family YMCA’s mission. Proceeds directly subsidize essential programs and provide scholarships for local families, ensuring that everyone in the community has access to the resources they need to live healthier, more connected lives. To donate, become a sponsor, or vote for your favorite dancer, visit https://DLTS26.givesmart.com.
INDOT HOLDS HEARING ON CHESTERTON INTERSECTION
The Indiana Department of Transportation will host a public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Chesterton Town Hall, 726 Broadway, for a proposed intersection project at Indiana 49 and County Road 950 N/Calumet Avenue. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with a presentation at 6 p.m. followed by public comment. The hearing will provide an opportunity for the public to interact with the project team, review the unique features of the proposed intersection improvement project, and provide official public comment on the preferred alternative. Project documents are available for review at bit.ly/SR49CalumetAveCR950. As proposed, the project involves the construction of a Modified Reduced Conflict Intersection with a Median U-Turn. Construction is currently scheduled for 2027.
FREE COOKING CLASS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS
Franciscan Health Cancer Center Munster will offer a free Mediterranean cuisine cooking class for cancer survivors and their caregivers from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 16 in the St. Clare Conference Room of the Franciscan Health Medical Arts Center, 701 Superior Ave., Munster. Attendees are invited to learn about Mediterranean cuisine with Franciscan Health Dietitian Elizabeth Remmers. As Remmers prepares a meal, cancer survivors and their caregivers will learn more about the multiple benefits of the heart-healthy Mediterranean lifestyle, which includes eating nutrient-dense whole foods. Class members will taste samples of the recipes being prepared and will receive Mediterranean cuisine recipes to take home as part of the event. The class is free, but space is limited and registration is required by Sept. 7. To register and for more information, contact Kyla Krzeminski at [email protected] or 219-228-1263.
CHANGE OF DATE FOR WONDERFEST AT SUNSET HILL PARK
The date for Wonderfest, originally scheduled for Aug. 1, will now be held on Saturday. All tickets sold will carry over to the new date. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sunset Hill Farm County Park, 775 Meridian Road, Valparaiso. Tickets are $8 for adults, $3 for children, and are on sale at https://buytickets.at/wonderlaneevents.