Dunebrook welcomes its new Board President, Steve Kring. Kring, Market President of LaPorte County Horizon Bank, begins his sixth year on Dunebrook's board, having most recently served as Vice President and Co-Chair of Dunebrook's Annual Golf Outing and Golf Ball Drop. Kring also serves on the boards of the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce and the LaPorte Hospital Foundation. For more information about Dunebrook's mission and services, visit www.dunebrook.org.

Derek Frazier has recently been named Development Director for Frontline Foundations Inc., a faith-based substance abuse treatment provider in Porter County. He will oversee fundraising, marketing, and grant development. Frazier was a member of the 2011 Valpo Chamberʼs Leadership Academy and currently serves as co-chair for Emerge South Shoreʼs Identify Committee. Frontline Foundations, Inc. serves young men and women suffering from alcohol and drug abuse while also providing an effective treatment and recovery support system. With offices in Chesterton and Valparaiso, Frontline is exclusively designed to meet the needs of an underserved population, ages 18 to 28. For more information on services, visit www.frontlinefoundations.com.

Imagine Music Productions invites you to experience singer/pianist Marcia Ball on Saturday, January 26, at 7:30 p.m. at the Memorial Opera House, located at 104 Indiana Ave. To learn more about Ball, visit www.rosebudus.com/ball/ or to purchase tickets, contact Memorial Opera House at (219) 548-9137 or visit ww.molive.com. 

JobSource, the Community Employment division of Opportunity Enterprises, is offering free job readiness and technology skills workshops for veterans of all ages with disabilities. Workshop dates are January 29 and 31, and February 5, 7, 12, and 14. All workshops are free, and will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Porter County JobSource office, 56 South Valparaiso Street, Valparaiso, and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Lake County JobSource office, 1465 E 84th St, Merrillville. Space is limited, and reservations are required. Contact Jennifer Hunter at (219) 510-5330, ext. 204 to reserve. To find out more about the JobSource program, visit www.oppent.org or contact program director Kathie Savich at kathie.savich@oppent.org or (219) 510-5330, ext. 213.

The employees at Peoples Bank Valparaiso Banking Center presented Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County with a check for $1,000 to support programs offered at the four Clubs and Kidstop program. The money was raised through employee efforts such as casual dress days, bake sales and contests. Pictured left to right from Peoples Bank Valparaiso Banking Center team are Nicole Walczak, Taryn Zubel, Dawn Duty of Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County (center), Shannon Franko and Heidi Johnson. For more information on membership, volunteer opportunities or to make a tax deductible donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County, please contact (219) 464-7282 or visit www.bgcpoco.org.

The Village Gallery at Pines Village Retirement Communities is featuring a unique exhibition of the late artist, Dr. Margaret Burroughs. "The Faces of My People" features original linocut prints on display through February 28, to coincide with Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Month celebrations. A prominent African American cultural figure, artist, author, educator, activist and humanitarian, Dr. Burroughs co-founded the internationally recognized DuSable Museum of African-American History in Chicago. On display will be Burroughs' works from the private collections of Pines Village, the Westville Public Library and the private collection of Barry Wicker on loan to the Brauer Museum of Art. Visitors will also be able to view original works by other prominent African American artists from the Brauer Museum of Art's permanent collection. The Village Gallery at Pines Village Retirement Communities is open to the public with hours Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information call (219) 465-1591 or go to www.pinesvillage.org.

The Porter County Community Foundation in partnership with Valparaiso University is sponsoring the "Spirit of Competition" exhibit at the Valparaiso University Center for the Arts now through February 7. Created by Indiana Humanities and designed in partnership with the Indiana Historical Society, the exhibit celebrates both unknown and well-known Hoosier competitors. It also includes short films on Hoosier competition-related stories. The exhibit is open to the public and the admission is free. Clubs, organizations and school and youth groups are also welcome to visit the exhibit. Reservations for group visits are required. To reserve your date and time, contact the Porter County Community Foundation at (219) 465-0294. More information, a Teacher Toolkit link and exhibit hours can be found at

Reins of Life cordially invites you to its 15th Annual Benefit Dinner & Auction on Saturday, February 2, at 5:30 p.m., at Knollwood Country Club in Granger, IN. All proceeds from this event support Therapeutic Horseback Riding programs for children and adults with disabilities at facilities in South Bend and Michigan City. Each year, Reins of Life serves over 500 riders with 3,000 hours of riding lessons. For additional information, to make a reservation or to donate an auction item, call (574) 232-0853.

Rittenhouse Senior Living will host a Silver Sneakers Demo presented by the Valparaiso YMCA on February 13th at 10:00 a.m. at its Valparaiso facility, located on 1300 Vale Park Road. Silver Sneakers is for adults 65 and over and is available to Medicare-eligible members of Humana, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, and AARP. It offers the opportunity to use the Valparaiso Family YMCA and also the specially-designed Silver Sneakers classes that focus on improving flexibility, balance, and endurance for older adults. Seating is limited. For more information or to reserve for this free event, call (219) 531-2484.

Seven Peaks Water Park, acquiring Splash Down Dunes in Porter, will re-open the park this summer with an Unlimited Season Pass to enjoy a summer full of the wave pool, lazy river, kid area, and 15 intense water slides. If the water park isn't enough, Seven Peaks has partnered with nine other venues in Northwest Indiana and Chicago giving you free bowling, mini golf, laser tag, go karts, pro sports, a zoo and more! For additional details, visit www.sevenpeaks.com or visit www.citydeals.com/waterpark  to purchase the Pass of all Passes for a reduced rate of 60% off! The reduced rate offer expires January 23, 2013.k

Valparaiso University will host its 9th Annual Career & Internship Fair on Thursday, February 7, from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Harre Union. It is an opportunity for all employers to meet Valpo students, acquaint them with your business, organization or agency, learn more about the University and identify students you may be interested in hiring. However, you do not need to have job or internship openings to participate. A wide variety of employers will participate and represent their industries, occupations and fields. For more information, or to purchase booth space, call Tom Cath, Director of the Career Center, at (219) 464-5005. Sponsorship packages are also available. To register, visit