Latest news with #PierogiFest
Chicago Tribune
03-08-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
United Way relaunches Day of Caring, database for volunteer opportunities
United Way of Northwest Indiana relaunched two major volunteer efforts Friday, beginning with 600 volunteers at 80 sites for the Day of Caring. Their contact information is being used to restart the Volunteer Resource Center as well, CEO Chris White said. 'This is the rebuilding of the United Way,' White told volunteers at a breakfast kickoff at Avalon Manor. 'This is an announcement that we are back. We are the region's United Way.' United Way is about building connections and creating healthy communities, he said. 'Before you leave today, meet somebody new,' he urged. Pierogi Fest and other events wouldn't happen without volunteers, Whiting Councilman Mark Harbin said. He called volunteers 'the heart and soul of the community.' 'Northwest Indiana is really at its best when we act in abundance,' Northwest Indiana Forum President and CEO Heather Ennis said. More than half of the Calumet Township trustee's office workers volunteered, Trustee Tai Adkins said. Getting volunteers reenergized is important to White. 'We're bringing people together to solve unsolvable problems,' he said. Day of Caring has been on hiatus since 2022. 'We wanted to bring it back with real work projects, real viable things,' White said. 'Where there was a need, we tried to help.' That included projects across Lake, Porter, Jasper and Newton counties. Day of Caring was started as a United Way of Porter County effort and focused primarily on Porter County sites. Since the merger with Lake Area United Way, the effort spread. Friday was the 29th Day of Caring, White said. In recent years, the United Way chapter has focused on its Level Up program to lift people out of poverty. That effort, which has helped hundreds already, will continue, he said. In Northwest Indiana, a single person needs to earn more than $30,000 a year to afford a decent apartment. For a family of four, it's $79,000 in Lake County and $81,000 in Porter County, he said. Increasing earning potential for the working poor is crucial. But so is ensuring child care is available. 'The No. 1 thing that's keeping people out of the workforce is child care,' White said. 'Quality childcare is as expensive as Purdue's tuition.' White said increasing the capacity for responding to disasters is also important, promising United Way will help the region become much better prepared to respond. At the Boys & Girls Club in Valparaiso, Tri Kappa member Amy Yuko brought her 9-year-old twins, Sierra and Bodey, to volunteer alongside her. 'Kids like to help out. They really do,' Amy said. 'At first, I thought they didn't really know what they were getting into,' she said, but they enjoyed serving food and helping lead the kids in games for an end-of-summer party. 'We saw some keys they knew so it's always fun to see them in a different setting.' Fellow Tri Kappa member Kaye Frataccia-Seibert volunteered there as well. She wouldn't miss it, having volunteered at each of the 29 Day of Caring events. 'People around me, they all say they're so glad it's back,' said Frataccia-Seibert, who also serves on the Valparaiso School Board. 'It's so exciting to see the reach through all the communities,' she said, and to see volunteers of all ages. At the Art Barn in Jackson Township, volunteers from NIPSCO were working alongside staff to paint a fence, hang mural tiles and weed monarch gardens, Executive Director Amy Davis Navardauskas said while taking a break from the paintbrush. 'Volunteerism is an amazing thing for us,' she said. With 69 acres to take care of, 'the to-do list is very long.' NIPSCO Public Affairs and Economic Development Manager Katie Eason said the Art Barn is one of two sites where the company's employees volunteered. About a dozen others were helping with a cookout at the Boys & Girls Club in Gary. 'We started with a dingy fence, and now we have a bright red one,' she said. At Tradewinds, volunteers from Korellis Roofing were running carnival games. 'I always wanted to give back to the community as much as I can,' Karen Knezic said. 'It's important to give back.' 'I think they're having a lot of fun,' she said as she ran a hallway bowling game. 'They're excited. They really enjoy playing games,' Tammy Silwa, of Cedar Lake, said. 'I've done a lot of volunteering over the years,' Tessa Anderson, of Hobart said as she helped a Tradewinds client with ring toss and ladder ball games. 'Some of them get more excited than I even hoped for.' Now that Day of Caring is back, Frataccia-Seibert said she hoped even more organizations will know to ask for help with projects next year.
Chicago Tribune
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Of Notoriety: Pierogi Fest, Five for Fighting and Jeff Dunham entertain this weekend
Whiting's Pierogi Fest, billed as one of the country's 'wackiest festivals,' returns to region spotlight this weekend in its 31st edition. All of the favorite attractions and characters transform 119th Street in downtown Whiting as crowds immerse in the highlights like Friday night's annual Polka Parade with eccentric perennial participants such as the Lawnmower Brigade as the finale unit as the marchers start at Forsythe Park, along the lure of assorted pierogi and other Eastern European food delights from vendors, live music, including the Saturday night free stage showcase band Five for Fighting. Not to be missed on Sunday are the Pierogi Eating Contest and a Pierogi Toss Challenge. Guests are greeted by characters such as the signature mascot Mr. Pierogi and delicious pals Halupki Guy, Miss Paczki, and the ever-entertaining Buscias holding court with silly fun for all. The 2025 edition of the fest marks the final year with Tom Dabertin as fest chair after 31 years watching the event grow from the start as one of its co-founders. For a full schedule of events, visit Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham, 63, returns to the Hammond Horseshoe Casino to play The Venue stage space with his trunk of talented friends. Dubbed his 'Artificial Intelligence' 2025 tour, Dunham and his puppet pals like grouchy Walter, excitable green creature Peanut and rural favorite Bubba J have one performance at 8 p.m. Friday, July 25 on The Venue stage at 777 Casino Center Drive in Hammond. Tickets are $49 and available by calling 866-711-7463 or go to It's the final weekend of the 2025 Porter County Fair with smash-up entertainment taking over the grandstand arena. At 7 p.m. Friday, July 25, it's 'The Night of Destruction Demo Derby.' Vehicles of all designs crash into one another to see which can outlast the other. Various categories include: Regular Demolition Derby (Cars), Trucks and Vans, Figure 8 specialty course and Kids Power Wheels. Noise and smoke add to the excitement. Check out 'Demolition Derby & Drag Racing' on the website to review the rules and get involved. At 5 p.m. Saturday, July 26, 'Sanberg's Towing School Bus and Farm Combine Derby' is in the spectator spotlight as retired buses are pitted against farm combines with daredevil twists on the mud track in a race to win. Tickets are the same for both nights, free parking but $10 fair gate admission plus $18 for adult grandstand arena tickets and $12 for children under age 12 FYI: or 219-462-0321. The Gary Shakespeare Company is excited to announce their summer production of William Shakespeare's 'Measure for Measure,' directed by Stephanie Naumoff, will have one indoor performance at Beatniks On Conkey from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, July 27. Performance space is at 420 Conkey St. in Hammond. More details are at or call or text 219-852-0848 for reservations. Seating is limited. Reservations are strongly suggested. Gary Shakespeare Company was founded in 2013 by a group of Shakespeare enthusiasts who believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience a live performance of Shakespeare's works, with a mission 'to enrich the public spaces of Northwest Indiana with passionate, vivid performances that reflect and include our communities.' Sons of Chicago bring their tribute to rock 'n' roll legends Bruce Springsteen and Bob Seger to Theatre at the Center at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road in Munster. Playing deep cuts and top hits from both artists alike, songs like 'Born in the USA' and 'Old Time Rock 'n' Roll' will delight audiences. Tickets are $40, with doors opening at 7 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit or call the box office at 219-836-3255.
CBS News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Pierogi Fest returns to Whiting, Indiana, with food and live music this weekend
The popular Pierogi Fest, honoring Eastern European culture through food, kicks off Friday in Whiting, Indiana. This year, the weekend-long event will feature more than 75 food booths, two beer gardens, and 55 vendors. The event starts at 11 a.m. Friday with the Polka Parade wrapping up day one at 7 p.m. According to the events website, those planning to attend can find free parking around the town, but there will be six paid lots that will benefit churches and organizations, including: St. John the Baptist Church - Lincoln Ave. and 119th St. Sacred Heart Church - 1800 LaPorte Ave. St. Adalbert Church - 2106 Indianapolis Blvd. St. Mary's Byzantine Church - 2011 Clark St. St. Paul's Lutheran Church - Atchison Ave and Indianapolis Blvd. Whiting Football Parking Lot - 500 Center St. Shuttles will also run Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. Shuttles will not run during the parade. The last shuttle bus will run at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday. Shuttles are $5 or $20 for families of 5 or more. Children under 6 years old ride free. Bus services and handicap park is also available. The event will be headlined by Five For Fighting singer John Ondrasik, who will take to the main stage on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. There will be six stages with more than 50 performances scheduled, including a polka dance contest and other traditional performances. Starting as a small festival in 1993, serving just 1,200 people in its first year, Pierogi Fest now sees millions of visitors yearly. The event will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. CBS News Chicago is a proud media partner of the event.
Chicago Tribune
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
SSCVA ups Pierogi Fest sponsorship amid dustup with Hammond
The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority is giving Whiting's Pierogi Fest an extra helping of sponsorship dollars this year, but the gesture likely won't smooth over bad feelings between the SSCVA and the City of Hammond. The SSCVA board at its Wednesday meeting voted 10-0 to give Pierogi Fest a $10,000 sponsorship after finding an extra $5,000 in its budget. The SSCVA in April voted to give the wildly popular festival $5,000 while giving Festival of the Lakes $15,000, the Post-Tribune previously reported. During discussion before the vote, Board Member Bernie Grisolia said that Mayor Tom McDermott Jr. had given back the $15,000 for Festival of the Lakes and wants to see it given to Pierogi Fest. McDermott did that because 'there were hurt feelings between Whiting and Hammond' over the money, Grisolia said. 'If we take the $15,000 back, we'll be giving Pierogi Fest $25,000,' SSCVA Board President Andy Qunell said. 'Are we not sponsors for Festival of the Lakes, then?' asked Board Member Chris Cash, who's the general manager for the Ramada Conference Center in North Hammond. 'I don't want people to think we're not supporting Festival of the Lakes.' Qunell then moved to approve the $10,000 for Pierogi Fest and said Hammond should still accept some of the money and that he would call McDermott even though the SSCVA's relationship with him is 'strained right now.' SSCVA Treasurer Matt Malony added that Qunell should make clear it the SSCVA never intended to slight Whiting. McDermott, however, told the Post-Tribune on Wednesday that Qunell's effort would be a 'loaded proposition.' 'This whole thing was botched, completely mishandled from the beginning,' McDermott said. 'I love Whiting, and we never wanted to take any sort of money away from them, so (SSCVA) can keep the money. 'We pay $2.5 million to the CVA each year — that's 50% of their budget — and they want to give us $15,000? That's a pretty crappy return.' This year's smaller SSCVA sponsorships for the two prompted President and CEO Phil Taillon in April to consider changing the process by which festivals asked for sponsorships, the Post-Tribune reported. Having previously paid $20,000 for a high-level Festival of the Lakes sponsorship, the organization's vote to give $10,000 to it this year and $5,000 to Pierogi Fest was directly tied to the SSCVA's lawsuit between it and former President and CEO Speros Batistatos. Grisolia at that meeting asked whether the board would consider giving Festival of the Lakes $15,000 since $10,000 is 'kind of an insult.' Chief Financial Officer Nicole Wolverton concurred with Taillon that the money isn't there right now. In other business, CFO Nicole Wolverton said the SSCVA collected $398,000 of Innkeeper's tax for March, about $33,000 less than last year. So far, the SSCVA has collected $1.6 million, or $100,000 less year-to-date. Some of the lower revenues, at least on Hammond's end, could be attributed to a function BP Whiting hosted where many of their contractors were staying in hotels, Cash said; as such, revenues are 'hard to make up' at the start of the year. But Taillon wasn't too concerned yet. 'Tourism is down all over, so to be where we're at right now isn't a bad place,' he said.
CBS News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
"Five for Fighting" performing at 2025 Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Indiana
"Five for Fighting" will perform on the main stage at this year's Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Indiana, in July. Pierogi Fest, the wackiest festival in America, runs from July 25 to July 27 and honors Eastern European culture through food. Starting as a small festival in 1993, Pierogi Fest now sees millions of visitors each year. The "Five for Fighting" singer John Ondrasik will perform on the main stage on Saturday, July 26th, at 8:30 p.m. The singer is known for his chart-topping songs "Superman," 100 Years," "Chances," and "The Riddle." CBS News Chicago is a proud media partner of the event.
