What’s recently happened?
During the summer season, downtown Valparaiso is never without activities. Just recently, Lakeshore PAWS hosted its annual Pup Crawl.
This fundraiser was held on June 17 in Central Park. Along with food trucks and live music, it was a place for owners and their dogs to explore and meet new friends.
Not only was this a fun event for people to attend, it was also an extremely successful fundraiser hosted by Lakeshore PAWS, an animal rescue service located in Porter County.
Lakeshore PAWS is an organization that is dedicated to helping abandoned animals.
Unwanted pets are being brought in constantly, so hosting events like this is a great way to help raise money and garner attention.
While owners were encouraged to bring their own pets to this event, Lakeshore PAWS had its own dogs available for adoption being walked around.
It also had puppies that anyone could hold and play with for a dollar. This, along with other things like selling merchandise, raised an impressive amount of money.
"This event was very successful, as we raised over $52,000 and brought awareness to the public," said Jeanne Sommer, founder of Lakeshore PAWS.
Both of these things are vital to the success and upkeep of the organization. This money can be used to help with the influx of abandoned animals being brought in and provide for the ones who are sick or injured.
"We do the Pup Crawl every year and plan on continuing to do it as well," said Sommer.
There are two dogs who attended the Pup Crawl that have yet to find their forever homes.
Zooley, an 8-month-old American Bulldog mix, has been in the shelter since May, after his sister was adopted. Though partially deaf, Zooley is an extremely happy dog.
"He is super affectionate towards people and loves just about every dog he meets," said Kara Barney, Lakeshore PAWS employee and social media manager.
Molly is a 4-year-old Terrier mix who is excellent with children and other dogs. She is a calm, well-mannered family dog who is currently being fostered in a home with a toddler.
"She’s been with us for over two months now, and we would really love for her to be adopted," said Barney.
All in all, the Valparaiso Pup Crawl was a fun experience that allowed people to interact, dogs to make friends, and awareness to be spread.
What’s coming up?
Porter County’s highly anticipated fair is right around the corner. This 10-day event will be held on the fairgrounds from July 20 to July 29.
To say the fair has a few activities would be an understatement.
With fair rides, carnival games, a variety of live music, rodeos, wrestling, vehicle derbies, and different food options everywhere, there’s never a moment of boredom.
Tickets can be purchased ahead of time for the majority of these events. There are also smaller shows that anyone walking around can watch, including pig racing and acrobats.
In addition to this, 4-H events are a staple at the Porter County Fair. Animals like dogs, goats, horses, pigs, rabbits, cows, roosters, and even cats have their own competitions and shows.
People of all ages participate in 4-H, including some students from Boone Grove High School.
"I’ve been doing 4-H for as long as I can remember. It’s something I’m always excited to do. Reconnecting with old friends and meeting new people really makes it worthwhile," said Murial Strzechowski, an upcoming senior at Boone Grove.
Boone Grove is also involved in the fair in other ways, including having a booth to showcase Key Club, a high school-level service organization stemming from Kiwanis.
"At the booth, Key Club helps give out information to people passing by, sharing what the Kiwanis family does. I volunteered last year and will be going again, and I love being able to share a little about our work and contributions," said Boone Grove Key Club’s President Lea Nikolov.
The Porter County Fair is made up of a variety of different things. In between the fun rides and games, there are also art shows and booths set up to spread information about important topics.
With all this being said, one thing is certain: there will be something for just about anyone to enjoy.
Community member spotlight:
When it comes to a restaurant that’s both delicious and a fun place to be, El Jimador is the place to go.
Located at 9071 E. 109th Ave., this restaurant focuses on Mexican Cuisine and is popular throughout the area.
El Jimador first opened its doors in February of 2013 under Amador Gutierrez. He was born in Mexico and moved to the US at 15 in hopes of a better future.
During the past 10 years of business, things have both changed and grown, but one thing has stayed consistent throughout the years: the welcoming atmosphere.
Juliana Dominguez, a student at Boone Grove, has worked at El Jimador for about two years now.
"I can always count on having fun during my shifts. From chatting with my coworkers to trying not to laugh while dealing with crazy customers, there’s never really a dull moment," said Dominguez.
On holidays, the restaurant even has special event nights.
"For the restaurant anniversary, we bring in a mariachi band, and for Cinco de Mayo, we bring in a DJ," said Gutierrez.
From tacos to fajitas, burritos and desserts, the food options are endless. A house favorite would be the Carne Asada, a grilled steak loaded with toppings.
Helping out their community is also something that’s important to the business. In 2021, El Jimador sponsored a youth basketball program in Lakes of the Four Seasons. They plan on continuing to find new ways to help out.
El Jimador is a place where food, family, and fun all take place. Gutierrez and his team all work together to provide a great experience for those who visit.