The City of Valparaiso has sworn in a new class for the 2026-2027 Mayor’s Youth Council. The Council is an opportunity for students to learn about city government, develop leadership skills and encourage civic engagement. The Mayor’s Youth Council was introduced in 2021 with support from Valparaiso High School, inviting 11th graders to apply to participate. The council meets monthly, learning from elected and appointed officials, participating in volunteer opportunities and cultivating leadership skills. The Mayor’s Youth Council for the City of Valparaiso, 2026-2027 includes: Josiah Allison; Natasha Barrera; Ahana Bhardwaj; Bryson Bolin; Sydney Brown; Conner Donahue; Vuk Dunovic; Henry Durnell; Vaughn Frye; Viviana Gonzalez; Cole Henry; Luis Hernandez; Araya Hlinsky; Lilly Hoffman; Lauren Krutz; Parker Lewis; Jackson Mack; Amelia Moore; Pauline Rall; Raegan Ralph; Fiona Skafish; Karina Trivedi; Elise Winegard; and Maddie Zimmerman. To learn more about the Mayor’s Youth Council, visit the Mayor’s page at valpo.us.
FRANCISCAN HEALTH OFFERS PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM
Franciscan Health is again teaming up with the Indy Hunger Network to support healthier lifestyles through nutritious food access and chronic disease management education through the Produce Prescription Program. The free program provides monthly prescriptions of fresh fruits and vegetables along with guidance and support to improve overall health and well-being. Participants are not required to be patients within the Franciscan Health system to participate. To be eligible for the program, participants must have pre-existing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or cancer; screen positive for moderate to high food insecurity and complete a six-week Cooking Matters course. The program will meet from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Aug. 25 to Sept. 29, at the Franciscan Health Michigan City Legacy Campus, 301 W. Homer St. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive produce vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables monthly for six months. The registration deadline is Tuesday. To register and for more information, contact Selena Tinoco at Selena.Tinoco@FranciscanAlliance.org or call 219-221-4153.
DISCOVER BULGARIA AT FOURTH FRIDAY SERIES
The Valparaiso International Center will welcome Svetla Tzvetkov for the next Fourth Friday Speaker Series presentation from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 201 N. Washington St., Valparaiso. Tzvetkov will take the audience on a personal journey to her native Bulgaria, sharing the history, traditions, landscapes, music, food and people that continue to connect her to her homeland. Following her passion for science, Tzvetkov earned a master’s degree in Engineering Physics from Sofia University and later worked at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences while teaching middle and high school students. Her teaching career eventually brought her to the United States when her husband was invited to join a research group at the University of Notre Dame. Today, Tzvetkov teaches at Purdue University Northwest and DeVry University. She and her husband moved to the Valparaiso area in 2007. Admission is free, and all are welcome. For more information, visit valpovic.org.
VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY INVITES PUBLIC TO EXPERIENCE THE ARTS
The community is invited to celebrate Valparaiso University’s passion for the arts by attending a fall concert or theater performance on the Valpo campus, 1700 Chapel Drive, Valparaiso. Performances are free unless otherwise noted. A Faculty Showcase Recital will be held at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at Duesenberg Recital Hall, Valparaiso University Center for the Arts. Valpo’s annual Faculty Showcase Recital features solo and collaborative performances by faculty from the Department of Music. The 2026 Homecoming Concert will be presented at 4 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Chapel of the Resurrection, featuring the Chorale, Chamber Concert Band and the Symphony Orchestra. A schedule of Valparaiso University’s holiday events will be shared at a later date. Full lists of scheduled and prior performances can be found at www.valpo.edu/college-of-arts-and-sciences/music/performance/. A campus map, parking information and directions are available at www.valpo.edu/about/campus/maps-directions/.
FRANCISCAN HEALTH DYER HOSTS FREE BABY EXPO
Franciscan Health Dyer is hosting a free baby expo for expectant families and new parents. The Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Baby Expo will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 12 at Franciscan Health Dyer, 24 Joliet St., in the first-floor conference rooms. Attendees should enter through the main entrance. Information and education on car seat safety, prenatal care, safe sleep and breastfeeding will be offered along with information from health vendors, clinical staff, healthcare providers and community resources. Tours of the Family Birth Center, refreshments and giveaways also will be featured. The event is free, but registration is required and space is limited. Registration is available at www.franciscanhealth.org/community/classes-supportgroups-events/twinkle-twinkle-little-star-baby-expo-dyer-20260912t100000 or by calling 1-800-931-3322.
MICHIGAN CITY TEACHER HONORED
A Michigan City elementary teacher is one of 10 finalists for the 2027 Indiana Teacher of the Year honor. Cynthia LoGreco teaches third grade at Lake Hills Elementary School in the Michigan City Area School District. The finalists will undergo a series of interviews and a winner will be announced by the Indiana Department of Education later in the year.