Cherylene Brennecke with Vern Sanford

The Indiana Association of Homes & Services for the Aging (IAHSA) presented Pines Village Retirement Communities with two Excellence Awards, celebrating dedicated individuals and organizations who have improved the quality of life for older Hoosiers, at the annual state conference held in Indianapolis.  Pines Village received the "Excellence in Service" Award recognizing the organization for programs and services that are models of innovation and excellence that contribute significantly to the quality of life of the residents and the quality of work life of the employees. The "Excellence in Volunteering" Award was presented to Pines Village volunteer Vern Sanford, in honor of his extraordinary commitment to preserving dignity, well-being, and independence of Valparaiso residents living with low vision and other disabilities. Pictured are Vern Sanford and Cherylene Brennecke, Resident Life Director, Pines Village Retirement Communities.

The Porter County Community Foundation recently awardedmore than $93,000 in grants to ten local nonprofit organizations. Recipients of the second round of 2011 Community Grants include Chamber members: Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County, The Caring Place, Discoveries Unlimited, Opportunity Enterprises, and Taltree Arboretum & Gardens. The public is invited to learn more about the Porter County Community Foundation by joining the staff for a Foundation Hour tour.  For more information, call (219) 465-0294 or visit www.portercountyfoundation.org.

The young performers of the South Shore Youth Orchestra (SSYO) will perform music by composer greats Mozart and Mahler, as well as pieces with a cultural flare at their first concert of the season on Sunday, November 6 at 4:00 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church. The SSYO was founded to foster and nurture students who may not have the resources of orchestral training within their schools and to encourage the development and appreciation for fine music. For more information or to purchase concert tickets, call (219) 649-1720. Students interested in more information or to arrange an audition, may also contact South Shore Youth Orchestra. Proceeds from this event will go toward music costs, expenses, and scholarships.

Taltree Arboretum & Gardens, located at 450 West 100 North, is among 10 arboreta in the United States "that may well leave you speechless," according to an article featured on MSN Local Edition. The article states that Taltree has created "a verdant oasis to Chicago's encroaching bedroom communities." Taltree offers something for everyone, whether you'd like to come to walk your dog or just yourself on the 3+ miles of hiking trails, or you're a student on a field trip, or the Railway Garden sparks your interest in garden railroads or miniature and bonsai trees. While the collections of oaks, hickories and other woody plants award Taltree honors such as provisional status in the North American Plant Collections Consortium and induction into The Society of Innovators, it is sometimes easy to forget how beautiful it is for us to simply connect with nature and distress from the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. To learn more visit www.taltree.org.

Valpo ATA Black Belt Academyis now offering classes for adults and children on Mondays and Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Students will learn the dynamic kicking, striking and blocking techniques used in taekwondo, and will improve fitness and balance and mental focus through memorization.  These classes are for students of any skill level, and they are great midday stress-relievers. Call (219) 462-5000 for more information.

The all-male a cappella group, Committed, will perform on Saturday, October 22 at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Fall Concert Series hosted by Valparaiso Community Festivals & Events (VCFE). The recently crowned "Sing Off" winners began as an Alabama gospel group that expanded their powerful vocal performances and soaring harmonies to include a combination of sacred and secular music. The second concert in the series will feature Turtle Island Quartet, a two-time Grammy award winning string chamber music group on Sunday, November 6 at 4:00 p.m. This all-string quartet is sure to dazzle multi- genre music fans as they fuse a vast array of musical styles and pay homage to legendary singer and songwriter Jimi Hendrix. Concerts will take place at the Valparaiso University Chapel of Resurrection and tickets can be purchased through the University Box Office online at www.valpo.edu/vuca/ticket.php or at (219) 464-5162. For more information, visit www.valparaisoevents.com or call (219) 464-8332.

The Annual Harvest Festival hosted by Valparaiso Community Festivals and Events (VCFE) brings over 3,000 visitors to downtown Valparaiso each October. Kids are invited to don their scariest or silliest costumes and visit the many participating downtown businesses on Friday, October 28 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for special treats. Central Park Plaza will host a variety of activities including live music, trick-or-treating in the park and hayrides provided by the Valparaiso Parks Department. For more information, visit www.valparaisoevents.com.

Rock and Roll with the Valparaiso Family YMCA on Tuesday, October 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Memorial Opera House, and treat yourself to a benefit concert featuring Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers. Tickets may be purchased through the Memorial Opera House by calling (219) 548-9137 or online at www.mohlive.com. Proceeds will benefit the Valparaiso Family YMCA. Sponsors for this event are: Band Sponsor: Porter Health System; Venue Sponsors: Anderson Insurance, Thorgren Tool and Molding, and Vale Park Animal Hospital.