Community applications are now being accepted by the CommuniTree program for the Spring 2020 tree planting season.

Baby boomers and millennials want very different types of houses, and it's creating a major problem in the real-estate market.

Northwestern Indiana’s weather patterns have been quite a wild card this winter ranging from a 60 degree Christmas day to several dumps of snow throughout the month of December.

Art Barn School of Art announces its Spring session of classes and workshops for children and adults from February through May. Adult classes run for 4-week to 10-week sessions and include drawing, photography, painting, pastels and ceramic arts.

The Footlight Players’ Play Selection Committee is beginning the daunting task of picking a slate of five productions for their 71st season. They are in the process of reviewing over 25 scripts of plays and musicals and would like to expand our roster of directors.

**** Recommended ****  The Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show pays tribute to 25 years of synchronized Irish dance in a spectacular fashion.   The Anniversary Show features the beautiful scenery, haunting music, poetry and song of Ireland.  Add in gorgeous costumes and a little extra zing from Spain, Russia and the USA, and you’ve gotta love it!  I give “Riverdance” 4 Spotlights

MADAMA BUTTERFLY Opening Tonight, Februry 6th, running through March 8th

**** Highly Recommended **** Mystery buffs!  Do not miss Court Theatre’s delightfully quirky and quite hilarious production of “The Mousetrap”, Agatha Christie’s tour de force murder mystery which has been running in London’s West End since 1952.  Christie’s eccentric characters are portrayed with campy style and finesse; interacting with just the right touch of humor, innuendo and double entendre.  Just like Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, “The Mousetrap” will never go out of style.  I give “The Mousetrap” 4 Spotlights. 

**** Highly Recommended **** I am always in awe when I see one of Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s “Short Shakespeare!” performances!  The very idea that someone can abridge one of Shakespeare’s complicated plots into 75 minutes is mind-boggling.  Even more impressive, Director Eli Newell staged a full production with an excellent cast, and definitely didn’t dumb it down!  This year’s offering, “Short Shakespeare! Comedy of Errors”, was 75 minutes of pure fun.  4 Spotlights 

***RECOMMENDED*** Two women. One boat. A rift between them that is wider than the Gulf of Mexico itself. As long-held little secrets eventually bubble to the surface during what is supposed to be a leisurely afternoon of fishing and sunbathing on the Alabama Delta, these two lovers of six years must face some pretty harsh realities in playwright Audrey Cefaly's insightful character study "The Gulf."  3 SPOTLIGHTS