MAACabre Haunted House promises ‘Childhood Nightmares’
The MAAC Foundation is hosting the fourth annual MAACabre haunted attraction, with the theme “Childhood Nightmares,” from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Oct. 25 and 26 at 4203 Montdale Park Drive, Valparaiso. The haunted house features 37 rooms filled with hair-raising scares and a night of terrifying fun. There is an indoor waiting area, and food and drinks will be available for purchase on site. Tickets are $20 online, $25 at the door. All proceeds from the event go directly toward training programs for first-responders. For tickets and more information, visit https://bit.ly/MAACabre-HH.
CAC gets spooky with third Friday pop-up
Chesterton Art Center (CAC) is celebrating the final Chesterton Third Friday of the season with a Spooky Pop-Up event featuring the work of twelve local artists, a cash bar and light bites from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at 115 S. Fourth St., Chesterton. Artists will showcase their unique haunted creations, including handmade jewelry, prints, ceramics and sculpture. Participating artists include Maureen Duffy-Daugavietis, Georgia Geis, Laurel Izard, Morgan Johnson, Jayde McAloon, Mindy Milan, Emily Blossom, Susan Brandsetter, Zoe Gladkowski, Dorothy Graden, Alice Nebelsiek-Piorkowski, and artists from CAC’s Teen Arts Group. Immerse yourself in the spirit of Halloween through this shopping experience and connect with artists from the community. All are welcome; favorite festive attire is encouraged. To learn more about upcoming events at the CAC, visit www.chestertonart.org, or call 219-926-4711.
Portage to host Light Up the Gourds event
Portage Event Partnership will host their fifth annual Light Up the Gourds event Saturday at Imagination Glen Park, 2275 McCool Road, Portage. A Senior and Sensory Sensitivity Hour will be offered from 5 to 6 p.m. with golf cart tours available for those with disabilities or walking difficulties. The free event will be open to the general public from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Light Up the Gourds will feature an illuminated trail, food trucks and candy giveaways. For more information, contact nlaboy@portage-in.com, or call 219-764-5741.
Greening of Arts Show at CCSJ
The 19th annual Greening of the Arts Show opens Friday with a reception at the Bernard Gallery at Calumet College of St. Joseph (CCSJ), 2400 New York Ave., Whiting. Seven artists will be exhibiting their work at the event, which is co-sponsored by the college and the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative (AWLI). The show, which will continue through Nov. 13, features artists who use recycled products or who focus on nature and the environment. Works include paintings, prints, sculptures and photographs. The show is funded partially by the Legacy Foundation of Lake County, and will include four drawings of the George Lake landscape by Whiting’s Barbara Labus. The reception includes a concert, Ode to the Environmental Education Center by Abigail Pennanen of Hammond and Ken Czulno of Chicago. More information is with Michael Boos at 219-933-7149 or 312-220-0120.
League of Women Voters to meet
The League of Women Voters Porter County will hold their October membership meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 201 N. Washington, Valparaiso. Parking and the building entrance are accessible from Lafayette Street. The guest speaker will be Michael Griffin, who formerly served as State Senator and Highland Clerk-Treasurer. Griffin has more than 35 years of service in federal, state and local government. He will speak on the Mission Statement of Citizenship and the Preamble to the United States Constitution. Griffin currently serves as Merrillville’s Town Manager. Membership Meetings are open to all members as well as visitors. For those unable to attend the meeting in person, the ZOOM link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83898861851?pwd=c0h1bEhjMGJsTHZYejVaZUdGaFNXZz09. More information is with Mary Beth Witcher at mbjwitcher@frontier.com.
Duneland School Corp. Parent Ambassadors meeting
The Duneland School Corporation Exceptional Learning Department will host its first quarterly Parent Ambassadors meeting for the 2024-2025 school year from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at the DSC Administration Center, 601 W. Morgan Ave., Chesterton. Open to all Duneland School parents, this first meeting, Mental Health in Our Schools, will focus on issues impacting students as well as local resources, and district initiatives that are in place to support students with mental health needs. District leaders will present data from the school counselors; provide information about district and community resources; and discuss the new state law regarding the restriction of personal device use during the school day and allowable accommodations. CHS school counselors, Amy Snyder and Gretchen Arthur, will join in this presentation. More information is with Bridget Martinson at 219-983-3600, Ext. 1010.
