News Flash

Since it was founded in 1916, the Porter County Museum has served as one of the greatest time capsules in Northwest Indiana. The museum originally brought together artifacts from every township in Porter County. While it has a lot of original pieces from more than a century ago, that hasn’t stopped new artwork from making an appearance in the museum. 

The exhibits and programs at the Porter County Museum are intended to tell visitors not only about the past but also the present and future. The goal is to provide every attendee with a better understanding of the unique character of Porter County through its diversity, vibrancy, and beauty.

We want to offer our exhibits and programs to the community, free of charge, while giving them a better sense of place by connecting them to the history of Porter County,” said Kevin Pazour, executive director of the Porter County Museum. 

According to Pazour, the Porter County Museum has recently added an exhibit for visitors to explore. He believes that it will be meaningful for residents all across Northwest Indiana. 

“Our featured exhibit, which is called ‘Life Work,’ is currently open to the community. It spotlights Hazel and Vin Hannell, who were two significant local artists with national significance,” Pazour said. “They lived in Furnessville, near Chesterton, and were connected to the art scene all across the country. This story we’re telling talks about their history from start to finish, along with how they’ve impacted the arts forever in Porter County.”

Pazour himself is excited about what impact the new exhibit will have. Every day it’s been open, he finds something new to appreciate about it. 

“My favorite piece changes every day because there are over 170 works of art in the exhibit right now,” Pazour said. “One of my favorites that wasn’t a part of the exhibit when it first opened was owned by my mom. It’s a free-standing, hand-carved, mahogany salad bowl that was created by Vin Hannell in 1959. It’s unusual and interesting, and now it’s a part of the exhibit.”

Through all that it has to offer, the Porter County Museum focuses on storytelling in a manner that can make the visitors feel the moment of each piece whether they be paintings, sculptures, or other unique forms of artwork. 

“We keep our mission and vision at the forefront whenever we’re discussing different stories to tell,” Pazour said.

The Porter County Museum is possible thanks to its public-private partnership with Porter County government.

“Our museum wouldn’t exist without the partnership that exists with Porter County government, thanks to the commissioners and our nonprofit organization,” Pazour said. “This enables us to offer exhibits, programs, publications, and more to benefit the public at large.”

The Porter County Museum has offered weekly museum tours for its visitors and will continue to do so throughout the month of September, along with a focused morning tour in October that will provide visitors with an opportunity to learn about the stories that don’t appear on the labels of some of these creations.

“The most exciting part of this exhibit, as with every exhibit that we do, is having the opportunity to tell a different story and connect with people who might not even know we exist.” 

The Porter County Health Department, in partnership with Valparaiso Parks, Valparaiso Fire Department, and the Zac Mago Foundation, has begun placing publicly accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs). This initiative marks a significant step toward Porter County’s goal of becoming a “HEARTSafe community” by enhancing AED accessibility. 

The first of five new AED machines was installed on Friday, August 15. The installation took place at Central Park Plaza, near the Northwest Health Amphitheater, specifically in the area adjacent to the public restroom facilities. 

The remaining four SaveHeart stations will be strategically placed in areas with high foot traffic and public events to improve emergency preparedness and survival chances in sudden cardiac arrest incidents. This initiative was made possible through a partnership with the Porter County Health Department and the Zac Mago Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising awareness by providing heart screenings and education on the prevention of sudden cardiac arrest. 

“We are proud to partner with the Zac Mago Foundation, Valparaiso Fire Department, and the Porter County Health Department to bring these life-saving devices to our community,” said Tristan Leonhard from Valparaiso Parks. “This initiative is a proactive step in protecting the health of our residents and visitors, giving everyone peace of mind that help is close by in an emergency.” 

“The Zac Mago Foundation is committed to equipping communities with the tools and knowledge to combat sudden cardiac arrest,” said Teresa Mago from the Zac Mago Foundation. “By placing these SaveHeart stations, Porter County is taking a big step toward saving lives and building a safer community.” 

These SaveHeart stations are designed for public use, featuring climate control to ensure the AEDs remain operational in varying weather conditions. They also include audible and visual alarms, transparent covers for visibility, and video and remote monitoring capabilities to ensure functionality.

The locations of the new SaveHeart stations are chosen to maximize accessibility during emergencies: 

Valparaiso: 

• Central Park Plaza, at the amphitheater restroom. (Installed on August 15, 2025)
• Fairgrounds Park, near the concession stand (Old Fairgrounds). 
• Expo Center. 

Chesterton: 

• Thomas Centennial Park. 

Portage: 

• Founders Square. 

The Porter County Fair is about to showcase something truly special: 1,003 young people ready to demonstrate skills, creativity and leadership that extend far beyond what many expect from 4-H.

Porter County's 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator Jennifer Myers is proud that the organization continues to expand while staying true to its 123-year mission of empowering youth through hands-on learning.

"4-H has been around since 1902," Myers said. "We are focused on getting Porter County youth engaged and providing a positive place for them while also offering hands-on experiences."

What many community members don't realize is that today's 4-H extends far beyond traditional agriculture. With more than 90 project categories available, young people are pursuing everything from aerospace engineering to photography, or crafting to computer science.

"A lot of people think you have to have livestock to be in 4-H, but that's not the case," Myers said.

Myers discovered her own passion through 4-H photography, inspired by a neighbor who worked as a professional photographer.

"That really sparked it for me,” Myers said. “Once I realized I could do that in 4-H, I was hooked."

The diversity of today's projects is remarkable, and it presents a wide range of opportunities for everyone.

The Porter County program has flourished since the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, growing from 877 participants when Myers started to an impressive 1,003 young people currently enrolled. This growth reflects both the program's appeal and Myers' dedication to year-round engagement.

"My goal is to continue to grow and to get more kids involved year-round," Myers said. "People think nothing happens between sign-ups in October and the fair in July, but that's just not true."

As part of Purdue University Extension, 4-H operates in all 92 Indiana counties and offers comprehensive youth development year round.

The upcoming fair represents both a celebration of achievement and an invitation for the community to discover what 4-H truly offers. Myers encourages fair visitors to engage directly with the young participants.

"Ask questions when you go through the livestock barns," Myers said. "When you walk through the exhibit building, we hope people are impressed with all the projects with everything from aerospace to crafting."

Myers hopes fair visitors will leave with a new understanding of 4-H's impact on young lives.

"There's so much more to 4-H than meets the eye," Myers said. "It's not just about animals — it's about giving kids a safe place to grow, explore interests and feel seen."

The upcoming fair will showcase not just projects and livestock, but the bright future that nearly 1,000 young people will be representing.

For updates and fair event information, visit the Porter County 4-H Purdue Extension Facebook page, where several competitions will be livestreamed during the fair.