COMMUNITY NEWS
Free croquet event at Sunset Hill Farm
A free croquet event will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Sept. 19 at Sunset Hill Farm County Park, 775 Meridian Road, Valparaiso. Clinics and demonstrations on 9 Wicket Croquet and Golf Croquet will be offered during the event. Register via email at michael@eplindiana.com. More information is with Ron Eccles at 720-937-2056 or at coloradocroquct@gmail. com.
Program offers students stipend opportunity
Northwest Indiana Area Health Education Center (NWI AHEC) offers students an opportunity to earn a $1500 stipend. Students participating in the AHEC Scholars Program, a two-year program, will join scholars throughout the state from various colleges and from multiple health profession programs. An initiative set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the goal is to provide supplemental education and training for college students close to graduation and soon entering the workforce. The deadline to apply for the AHEC Scholars Program is Friday. Eligible students must currently be enrolled in an eligible health professions program, graduating May 2023 and willing to commit to the two-year program. More information can be found at applynow.nwiahecscholars. org, or at 219-989-2365 or by emailing gina.Avila@pnw. edu.
Kyres to speak at chamber business event
Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce will host a Coffee, Community and Connections event at 8 a.m. Sept. 23 at the Chamber office, 440 W. 84th Drive, Merrillville. Networking and refreshments will begin at 7:45 a.m. Andrew S. Kyres, vice president and business banker at First Financial Bank, and Crown Point city councilperson, will be the guest speaker. He will discuss “Business Development Tips and Insights.” The event is free. Members and non-members welcome. Register at https://www. crossroadschamber.org or by calling the Chamber office at 219-769-8180.
Walk to support the Merrillville Education Foundation
The Merrillville Education Foundation’s Fourth Annual Walk-A-Thon fundraiser will be held on Oct. 9 at Merrillville High School, 276 E. 68th Place. Participants in the “Better Health, Better Minds” event will walk at the school’s soccer/track and field area, east of the football stadium, to raise funds to help provide new educational opportunities for students. Registration will begin at 8 a.m.; the walk will begin at 9 a.m. In the event of rain, the walk will be held in the school’s field house. There will be food and prizes. Minimum participation donation is $10 for ages 5 and up. Participants raising $100 or more are guaranteed prizes. T-shirts for ages 5 years and older will be given to each participant who raises at least $20 in sponsorship donations and submits the registration form and donations to their school’s office by Sept. 23. Sponsorship opportunities for community businesses are available on the foundation’s website. Registration forms can be downloaded from the Merrillville Education Foundation website at www.merrillvilleeducationfoundation.org.
Bunco for Fur Babies
— Staff reports