The Times from Munster, Indiana • 43

FIND MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE AT NWI.COM PO I MONDAY, APRIL 23. 2012 I PAGE A7 SMI HISTORY OF THE REGION On this date in 1996 in The Times: During the contractor brief on the construction of the U.S. Courthouse, soon to be built in Hammond, there were questions on how small, disadvantaged and female-owned businesses will get their share of the work. Conservatory generates interes Wolf Lake Park facility supported by master gardeners, Cal College BY CHELSEA SCHNEIDER KIRK chelsea.schneidernwi.com, (219) 933-3241 HAMMOND Plans call for a new conservatory at Wolf Lake Memorial Park. The park is undergoing a transformation as part of a $31.4 million grant by the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.

The Hammond Port Authority is in the beginning stages of planning for the conservatory, which is expected to go in north of 121st Street and Calumet Avenue near the Splash Pad. "Hopefully it will be a really good place for a lot of folks to come together," Hammond Port Authority Director Milan Kruszynski said. He plans to reach out to local colleges and master gardeners in the region to gauge interest in maintaining the conservatory. Nikky Witkowski, who coordinates the Purdue Master Gardener Program for Lake County, expects the green space to be an asset for the community and create a "little island of paradise" within the park setting. "People can say at times gardening is therapy," Witkowski said.

"Gardening helps you relieve stresses and makes you take a deep breath." The group volunteers its time to help out at community projects, notably the children's butterfly garden at Tri-Town Safety Village in Schererville. Calumet College of St. Joseph President Daniel Lowery said the conservatory will fit perfectly with one of the college's new academic programs. The college started offering a concentration in restoration ecology to freshmen this year. Lowery said the college wants to use the natural "labs" available in the region, such as the Indiana Dunes and the conservatory.

"The reason we think the concentration is so important is precisely because of the ecology here in Northwest Indiana," Lowery said, "and the need for restoration through the northern part of the industrial portion of the region." a J- Lli ml in I) iMtiidl Ihimmmi. -it mwwii.tw iv. JIM BIS I THE TIMES Michael Front, 11, and Joe Webster, 10, lead the way Sunday as they carry the American and Partnership2Gether flags during the 64th annual Walk with Israel event in Munster. Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana and four local synagogues, the three-mile walk drew those from the Jewish community and members of Christian churches. Independence day for Israel Walk with Israel unites region communities in honoring Jewish nation Indiana is one of those 14 U.S.

communities, Dedelow said. To entertain the younger set, Schoffman created "parent sanity bags" filled with bubbles, a flag and other goodies. Inside the Jewish Federation building, that market featured artists from Israel offering jewelry, paintings, textiles and other hand-crafted items. Michael Shapiro, of Michigan City, examined handmade table runners designed and sewn by Yafa, a woman from Kibbutz Afik in the Golan Heights area of Israel. "I'm a big supporter of the walk and the market," said Shapiro, whose great-grandparents emigrated from Russia.

"It's part of my history." Yafa's creations included matzoh and halla covers and talith, or prayer shawls. "These are all handmade. It takes four to five hours to do each piece," she said. Walkers of all ages stepped off from the federation offices on Progress Avenue carrying signs and American and Israeli flags. Funds raised during the walk will be donated to Kivunim: New Directions, a program for youths with special needs in Israel.

"Our theme is to unify the community, to transform and work together," Michele Dedelow said. Dedelow and Stephanie Schoffman chaired the "walk, eat and shop event," which included a lunch with traditional Israeli foods and the Jerusalem Market. Sunday's Walk with Israel is part of the Partnership2Gether program that promotes personal relationships among the 14 U.S. Jewish communities and Israel's Western Galilee through cultural, educational, social, medical and economic programs. The Jewish Federation of Northwest Former Michigan City mayor wins Tuf ford planning award The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission has honored former Michigan City Mayor Chuck Ober-lie with its Norman E.

Tuf ford Award for outstanding service to NIRPC and the region. "It is appropriate that we honor Chuck Oberlie as our first commissioner to receive the award," NIRPC Chairman Geof Benson said at last week's meeting. "He recognizes the value NIRPC brings to his municipality and the region, and he has made a substantial commitment of his time and leadership skills to the accomplishment of our mission." The Tufford Award was established last year to recognize commissioners and staff of the agency who demonstrate outstanding leadership and service to NIRPC and the region. Tufford was the founding executive director of NIRPC, who served from 1966 until his retirement in 1985. He established the commission's planning program, as well as overseeing the formation of the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission, the Kankakee River Development Commission, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District and the Lake Michigan Marina Development Commission.

BY KEITH BENMAN, THE TIMES Attempted abduction prompts warning for parents, children MICHIGAN CITY I Police are urging parents to speak with their kids about predators after a man tried to lure a girl toward him Wednesday, officials said. A 6-year-old was outside her home in the 500 block of East 10th Street about 5 p.m. when a man pulled up in a car and asked whether she wanted candy, according to a Michigan City police news release. When the girl refused and turned to walk toward her home, the man said he would give her some candy if she helped him look for his lost dog, police said. The girl refused and went inside her home to tell her mother what had happened.

Police are asking parents to talk to their kids about the dangers of speaking with strangers. Officials said some predators try to get children to go with them quietly by offering gifts or asking the child for help, police said. Children should be reminded that adults should ask adults for help, police said. Parents should teach children to tell strangers "no" very loudly, to run away and to kick, scream and bite if they are ever picked up, police said. BY TIMES STAFF Police: Illinois man shot own leg at Crown Point gun show CROWN POINT I An Illinois man attending a gun show Sunday at the Lake County Fairgrounds accidentally shot himself, police said.

Louis Montalvo, 37, of Justice, 111., was shot in the leg with a Glock semiautomatic pistol about 3:20 p.m. inside a car in the fairgrounds parking lot, Lake County sheriff's Cmdr. Rob Arnold said. The bullet struck Montalvo in the upper right leg and then became lodged in the driver's side door panel, Arnold said. Montalvo was treated at Franciscan St.

Anthony Health in Crown Point and released, Arnold said. BY TIMES STAFF Dyer council advances plans for new school construction DYER I The Town Council has approved a special exception that will get construction of the new Protsman Elementary School moving forward. The Dyer Board of Zoning Appeals recommended approval in March, and the council formally approved the request at its April business meeting. The Lake Central School Corp. needed a special exception because the new building, which is planned on the site of the old school, will not be constructed on the original foundation.

Construction of the new school will be funded by money from the referendum approved last fall. Protsman Elementary, at 1121 Harrison Avenue, currently houses 700 students. Its new building will be 130,000 square feet, nearly double the space it currently has available. by MARY WILDS, TIMES CORRESPONDENT III I II BY LU ANN FRANKLIN Times Correspondent MUNSTER I Brisk northerly winds Sunday morning greeted more than 100 people who participated in the annual Walk with Israel to celebrate Israel's 64th anniversary of independence as a modern nation. Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana and four local synagogues, the three-mile walk through parts of Munster drew those from the Jewish community and members of Christian churches.

Griffith creates Safety Board to replace Police Commission GRIFFITH I The Town Council has dissolved the Police Commission and replaced it with a Safety Board. The Griffith council said it authorized a study several years ago to examine the functions of the town's various boards. "They issued a strong recommendation that we diversify our boards and commissions," said council Vice President Rick Ryfa, R-3rd. This included the creation of an overall entity to oversee both the Police and Fire departments. The new board will be responsible for hiring and personnel matters involving police officers and Fire Department members, Town Attorney Robert Schw-erd said.

The hiring and firing of police and fire chiefs will only be recommendations by the board to the Town Council, which has the final say, Schwerd said. BY Charles F. HABER, TIMES CORRESPONDENT Powerball ticket sold in Valpo hits five numbers, worth $1M Indianapolis I A Powerball ticket bought in Valparaiso matched the first five numbers but not the Powerball in the drawing Saturday night. The ticket is worth $1 million. The ticket was bought at Speedway, 153 U.S.

30. The winning Powerball numbers Saturday night were 6, 8, 20, 42 and 51, and the Powerball was 16. No one matched all six numbers, which puts the Power-ball jackpot at an estimated $173 million for the drawing Wednesday night. The Valparaiso ticket was one of seven nationwide to produce $1 million prizes. Hoosier Lottery officials remind players to check their numbers carefully and to sign the back of their tickets immediately.

The person holding the winning ticket should contact Hoosier Lottery customer service at (800) 955-6886 or visit H00SIERL0TTERY.COM for details on how to claim their prize. BY times staff III Northwest to host week of events for Public Affairs Month GARY I Free presentations are planned for this week at Indiana University Northwest, in recognition of Public Affairs Month. The Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs in the College of Health and Human Services invites the public to the series, which will include a variety of environmental and public affairs topics. The events include: A panel discussion called Volunteering and Community Engagement at 1 p.m. today in John W.

Anderson Library Conference Center, Room 105A. A presentation called Trauma and Pediatric Intensive Care Medical Needs in Northwest Indiana at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Anderson center, Room 105A. A session called Policy Issues in Criminal Justice at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Dunes MedicalProfessional building, Room 2001.

A discussion called Offender Re-Entry: The Collateral Consequences of Incarceration at 11 a.m. Thursday in Dunes building, Room 2001. A Federal Fish and Wildlife exhibition at 4 p.m. Thursday in Raintree Hall, Room 102. The week will end with the 22nd annual Forum on Child Abuse and Neglect, set for 9 a.m.

Friday in the Bruce W. Bergland Auditorium in the Savannah Center. It is the only event that requires advanced registration. Call (219) 762-3465 or email iunforumgmail.com. -BY TIMES STAFF Hammond Commission's approval paves way for fertilizer company for infrastructure improvements necessary to build the facility.

The Saskatoon, Canada-based company describes itself as the world's largest fertilizer producer. Including the Potash site in the redevelopment area allows Hammond to use tax increment financing to fund the incentives. The project will generate 225 temporary construction jobs and 25 to 30 permanent positions for the city. BY CHELSEA SCHNEIDER KIRK, THE TIMES Hammond I Expanding one of the city's redevelopment areas to cover the Potash Corp. project has gained final approval.

Members of the city's Redevelopment Commission unanimously approved the expansion, which will allow the city to provide $10 million in incentives it promised the company. Potash is expected to break ground in July on a $70 million rail transfer facility at Gibson Yard. The incentives will pay.