VALPARAISO

VALPARAISO

Author to speak about no-kill animal shelters

Author Nathan J. Winograd will discuss no-kill solutions for cats and dogs during a free seminar from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Valparaiso University Student Union, 1400 Chapel Drive.

The seminar comes on the heels of efforts to reduce the number of euthanized cats and dogs at the county animal shelter.

Winograd wrote the book "Redemption," which is the story of animal sheltering losing its way in the United States and the effort to put it back on track through a no-kill response.

The seminar is free, but registration is required at www.pawincpc.com.

PORTER TOWNSHIP

Cost of breakfast, lunch at schools to increase

The Porter Township School Corp. board approved the district's first increase of school meal prices since 2003. Breakfast prices will rise 15 cents and lunch prices will go up 25 cents at all class levels. The cost of milk will also increase by 15 cents.

PORTER TOWNSHIP

2 elementary schools change their start time

Students at Porter Lakes Elementary and Boone Grove Elementary schools will start school 10 minutes later each day in the coming school year.

The change, combined with having teachers start 10 minutes earlier, will create a 40-minute block each morning for teachers to consult in teams, plan and communicate with parents, Superintendent Nick Brown said.

The new student drop-off time will be 8:25 a.m. At the end of the day, students will leave five minutes earlier, at 3:15 p.m.

Teachers will begin their days at 7:45 a.m. The teacher end time also will increase by 10 minutes, to 3:30 p.m.

There will be no change at the middle and high school levels, and bus schedules can accommodate the change, Brown said.

PORTAGE

Seminar at city YMCA will take aim at clutter

Porter-Starke Services will host its Lunch & Learn series Aug. 19 with an informative educational lecture titled "Clearing the Clutter" from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Portage YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Road, Portage.

Robyn Werberig, of Porter-Starke Services, will be the featured presenter.

Explore the "stuff problem" from the inside out, learn some organizational tips and make room for a more peaceful, relaxing and enjoyable life.

Porter-Starke's Lunch & Learn Series is offered quarterly in Valparaiso, Portage and Knox.

The monthly educational seminars feature informative and practical mental health and wellness topics.

Mental Health America of Porter County offers 1.5 continuing education credits for $5. There is no charge for the presentation. RSVP is required for attendance and to place a lunch order.

For more information, call (219) 476-4502 or e-mail aroof@porterstarke.org.