Animal Corner

Veterinary expenses are mounting as Region residents help a rescued pit bull recuperate.  The Humane Society of Northwest Indiana reports that "Romeo’s wounds look horrible," but he is doing better and is responding to antibiotics and is still on pain medication.

"His wounds have been cleaned but in the process of cleaning the wounds the vet found many more puncture wounds. One wound is deep within his sinus cavity which is a concern, but is treatable. Part of the ear may have to be removed because of the intense infection. He also has many older healed wounds on his legs.

"His wounds must be treated and cleaned every day which is a painful process, but through it all Romeo is loving and wags his tail. Dr. Sheena Dadkah from the Munster Animal Hospital is his attending veterinarian commented that “Romeo’s whole weight is his big heart.” And that he is “so loving and sweet!”  “Everyone at the Munster Animal Hospital has fallen in love with him”

Romeo has many weeks of care ahead of him. We would like to thank everyone who has donated so far to “Romeo’s Rescue Fund”.

If you would like to donate to “Romeo’s Rescue Fund” please click on the paypal link.

https://www.paypal.com/ cgi-bin/ webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted _button_id=ZWJB76C2LAP7U

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Green Zone

Porter County, Indiana – The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County will help Porter County residents with their spring cleaning by providing a One Stop Drop collection event that will accept old and unwanted appliances, electronics, tires and household hazardous waste.

The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the Porter County Expo Center/Fair Grounds, 215 E. Division Road, Valparaiso.
Restrictions or fees may apply. For more information, call the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County, 465-3694, or visit www.ItMeansTheWorld.org to learn more.

The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission will be at the event to present new environmentally friendly 2.5-gallon gas cans to residents who bring their old gas cans in for disposal at the collection. Limit one new gas can per vehicle/family, while supplies last.

The One Stop Drop is an opportunity for residents to properly discard materials that are harmful to the environment. Appliances accepted include refrigerators, stoves, dish and clothes washers, dryers, water heaters, air conditioners, freezers, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, furnaces, and just about anything metal. Water softener holding tanks will not be accepted.

Not only do old appliances contain hazardous components, including used oil, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury, they are much less energy-efficient. Additionally, the refrigerant used in refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, water coolers and air conditioners is extremely harmful to the environment and must be extracted safely.

Many companies certified to remove refrigerants from appliances often charge for the removal of this toxic substance, leaving residents to dispose of the remaining appliances. Once old appliances are brought to the One Stop Drop, the refrigerant is extracted and properly discarded. The appliances will ultimately be taken apart and recycled.

According to Indiana law, households can no longer mix unwanted computer monitors, computers, televisions, printers, computer peripherals (such as keyboards and mice), DVD players, video cassette recorders, or fax machines with trash that is intended for disposal at a landfill or intended for disposal by burning or incineration.

Electronics can contain lead and other toxic materials that pose serious threats to human health. Porter County residents can bring their old electronic devices to the May 18 event for safe disposal. Accepted items include anything with electrical cords or run by batteries.

Porter County residents also can drop off electronics at the Valparaiso and Boone Grove compost sites any time during their hours of operation. Additionally, Porter County residents can drop off their electronics at the following locations: Portage Street Department: 2302 Hamstrom Road, 762-4564; Valparaiso Public Works: 406 Don Hovey Drive, 462-4612; Porter Street Department: 550 Beam Street, 926-2771. Residents should call the departments to determine hours of operation. Visit www.ItMeansTheWorld.org for more information, or call 465-3694.

Leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive ingredients are considered to be “household hazardous waste” or “HHW,” and require special care when they are discarded.

Improper disposal of household hazardous wastes can include pouring them down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or in some cases putting them out with the trash, which can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health.

HHW items accepted at One Stop Drop include aerosols; anti-freeze; oil; batteries (household and automotive); corrosives; mercury containing products (fluorescent tubes, CFLs, thermometers, thermostats, etc.); oil-based paint, thinners and solvents; pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and other poisons; diesel fuel, gasoline, kerosene, other flammable liquids; ammunition and expired medications.

Explosives, commercial hazardous waste and radioactive materials (like smoke detectors) will not be accepted. Old smoke detectors should be sent back to the manufacturers for recycling. Though latex paint is not considered household hazardous waste, it will be accepted at the collection thanks to the district’s intergovernmental agreement with the City of Hobart for paint recycling.

Approximately 300 million used automobile and truck tires are discarded by Americans annually. At landfills, tires take up large amounts of space and have been known to damage landfill linings. Around town, discarded tires become prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes and rodents that carry diseases such as West Nile virus and encephalitis.

Tire storage piles pose fire hazards that are extremely difficult to extinguish.  Burning tires release toxic gases into the air and leave behind a hazardous oily residue that pollutes streams and ground water. Once recycled, the rubber in tires can be used for paving material, fuel, mulch, floor mats, drain pipes, and more!

Porter County residents can dispose of their first four tires up to 20 inches for free at the One Stop Drop. The disposal fee for each additional tire up to 20 inches is $3. Residents can dispose of tires from 20 to 25 inches for $5 each, and tires over 25 inches for $15 each.

The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County is a government agency dedicated to improving the environment and quality of life for Porter County residents by providing convenient, voluntary waste reduction services. Visit www.ItMeansTheWorld.org for more information or call 465-3694.

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Laura's Blog

May is National Bike Month -- and Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission is helping to spread the word about the benefits of riding a bike ...for yourself and for the environment !

Fun fact from NIRPC... Did you know the bicycle remains the most popular transportation mode in the world?

NIRPC has a bike map filled with information on Region bike trails... the Northwest Indiana Regional Greenways and Blueways Map !

On behalf of NIRPC, join Indiana 105 as the Great Futures Family Bike Ride hosted by Boys and Girls Clubs of Porter County this Saturday gets ready to roll on the Prairie-Duneland Trail this Saturday morning, May 11th.

I'll be broadcasting from the check-in location at Countryside Park in Portage, from 7:30 to 8:30 am. It's a non-competitive bike ride, for families of all ages and riding abilities, featuring free bike safety helmet inspections and free helmet fittings, and free refreshments along the trail.

Note: Walk up registrations are welcome if you cannot register online by May 9th.

Proceeds benefit the nearly five-thousand youth served by Boys and Girls Clubs of Porter County.

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Animal Corner

From Lake County Parks:

Lake County Sheriff's Animal Adoption and Control Center's 2nd Annual Bicycle Ride Fundraiser ride will begin at 11 am from Oak Ridge Prairie County Park and follow the Oak Savannah Trail. Riders and non-riders are invited to participate on June 8 to raise funds for spay and neuter programs. The $20 cost includes a t-shirt, lunch, and live entertainment. For details, call the LCACC at 219-769-7016.

Oak Ridge Prairie County Park is located at 301 South Colfax Street in Griffith, IN 46319. Travel Main Street in Griffith to Colfax, then turn right (south) on Colfax for 1/2 mile to the park gate on the east side of the street.

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Green Zone

From Lake County Parks:

A Hoosier River Watch Workshop at Gibson Woods will be held on Saturday, May 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for ages 18+.  Register early for this free workshop as space is limited to 12 participants.  Deadline is May 22.  Call 219-844-3188.

Volunteers are needed to monitor streams and rivers in Indiana for water quality. Participants will learn how to conduct chemical tests, calculate water flow, identify invertebrates, record data and enter the findings on to the data base. Information from the data base is used to monitor trends in the water quality of Indiana’s waterways. The Hoosier River Watch workshop will provide you with the resources and skills needed to become a part of this important project.  Dress for the weather including waders or shoes that can get wet and bring a sack lunch with a drink.

Gibson Woods Nature Preserve is located at 6201 Parrish Avenue in Hammond, IN 46323.  From I/80-94 take Cline Avenue north to the169th exit then west to Parrish and north to the park.  GPS coordinates: 41.599352,-87.45186

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