While plans are taking shape to establish a Friends of Porter Park group, the Porter Park Board says it is ready to see more community events take place.

Just weeks after resolving a battle with the town council over jurisdiction of park employees, Board President Rondi Wightman felt optimistic about renewing cooperation and was excited to see the park department quickly filling up its roster with events and festivals.

Wightman rejoiced that the park gets to stay an independent entity and said things have improved just in the short time the conflict was resolved. She thanked community members for their “overwhelming” support.

Wightman took the time to clear up any misinformation that the parks are responsible for the demise of certain events such as the Taste of Porter. She stated the parks do not put on these events; its role is to provide the space.

Community based events are still hatching with the Easter Egg hunt, the Halloween Boo Bash, and the Christmas party planned.

The board welcomed any group to feel free to approach them with ideas or to brainstorm with them.

“We want the community to bring ideas to us,” said Wightman, who feels the cooperation could foster a sense of community spirit.

The board on Tuesday approved multiple requests from groups wanting to use the community building and grounds at Hawthorne Park.

Approaching the board was Liz Tilden who received approval to hold a beer festival at Hawthorne that will be hosted jointly by local businesses Pat’s Liquor and Leroy’s Hot Stuff. The date is set for Oct. 15 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tilden said the event will be only for those ages 21 and over and tickets will be limited. Proceeds would go to benefit the park and the Porter Fire Department, she said.

All three board members present on Tuesday -- Wightman, Patty Raffin and Jessie Campaniello -- gave a nod to the request at a rental agreement of $450 which includes the use of the community building.

Wightman said the board would be happy to advertise the event on the town’s website.

Tilden asked if the drainage remedy construction potentially planned for Hawthorne would interfere with the event and was told by the board it would be unlikely.

State Park Little League received authorization 3-0 to use the ballfield for its 2011 season from March 16 to Oct. 31. League President Steve Engel said practice has already begun and the first game for juniors will be May 2.

Engel also mentioned plans are up in the air on whether concessions will be available this year for the league due to lack of labor. He said the league met difficulty in manning the booth last year.

Two members from the Northwest Indiana Pagan Association were also granted use of the building 3-0 to hold its Witch’s Ball event on Oct. 22 in time for Halloween. The pair said they had used the building two years ago and the event was very well received by those who attended.

Use of the park was also granted unanimously to the Chesterton Art Center for their 53rd annual Chesterton Art Fair. Art examples and classes will take place at the festival scheduled this year for Aug. 6 and 7.

Listen up, kiddies! Starting at 1 p.m. sharp on April 16, you had better bring with you the biggest basket you can grab to Hawthorne Park because there will be about 120 dozen Easter Eggs to find -- that’s 1,440 eggs.

Park Administrator Stephanie Miller graciously thanked the Jewel-Osco store for donating 90 dozen of the eggs. The remaining 30 dozen have been donated by others or given back after the hunt last year.

Prizes will be given to two lucky participants in each of the three age categories -- ages 1-3, 4-6, 7-9 -- who will all hunt at the same time. Pictures will be taken of the winners. Refreshments will also be served inside the community building along with a visit from the Easter Bunny.

“Bring a camera!” said Miller, who said residents can find all information on the town’s website, www.townofporter.com

Miller said last year’s hunt saw nearly 300 children and this year could have an bigger turnout since it will not clash with the schools’ spring break.

Members of the Lakeshore Drifters 4-H club and their parents have agreed to help hide the eggs in the morning. Later that day, some members will assist in a garlic mustard pull sponsored by John Beckman at the wetlands north of Ackerman Dr.

Anyone interested in helping out may contact the parks at 921-1687.

Porter Parks Superintendent Jim Miller reported walls in the basement of the community center have been painted and cleaned. The space was once occupied by the Westchester Neighbors Food Pantry which recently moved to the Duneland Resale Shop.

The board is still pursuing possible uses for the space which could become a steady source of income for the park

“Let’s get those creative juices flowing,” said Wightman.

Miller said he also spent time this past month checking fire safety equipment and taking an inventory of Park tools and equipment.

New clocks were also placed at the community center from Kohl’s who sold the clocks at a discounted price.

The Chesterton Building and Trades class headed up by Jeff Larson will assemble a new 20-by-20-foot pole barn for the park which will be located along the ballfield. The building will be used to help store equipment and machinery.

Labor will be “donated” by the class, which Miller estimates to save the park nearly $4,000 in labor costs which pleased board members.

On top of that, an additional $4,000 in labor work will also be provided by Ellis Electric on wiring work around the gazebo. Miller however said $1,516 will be needed to purchase supplies which will come out of the building fund.

Miller also told the board he will soon be issuing a job advertisement for a seasonal part-time grounds person. The worker will start on April 13 through the end of October for approximately 10 to 30 hours a week.

Raffin said the Branding Leadership Team for Porter is meeting with local businesses to brainstorm ideas.

The board approved the BLT use the community building free of charge to hold a workshop session for community members on Wednesday, April 6 at 6 p.m.

The team was also penciled in for weekends surrounding the Fourth of July weekends for 2012 to hold a community festival or celebration at Hawthorne Park. Miller said she will wait for the town council to decide to have the Fourth of July celebration before or after July 4 since it falls on Wednesday that year. The BLT event will then fall on the weekend opposite of what the town decides.

Also on Tuesday:

• The board again postponed signing off on an approved list of caterers it will recommend to renters of the facility. The board has received approval of the process from town attorney Patrick Lyp and is currently reviewing the list in anticipation that a vote will be taken soon. Raffin said it should be noted renters are not obligated to use the list as some events have their own food brought in. All businesses on the caterer list are local.

• Campaniello said last weekend’s community game night was “not extremely well-attended” but was enjoyed by those who did attend. She noted that the event is growing.

• A review of the current use of Prisoner and Community Together community service workers is being undertaken with the help of town council liaison Jon Granat. Wightman felt it was necessary to know the background of PACT workers since children use the park. Miller said these are not serious offenders and have saved the parks over $100,000 in labor.

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CORRECTION: A story in the Wednesday, March 16, 2011 edition of the Chesterton Tribune incorrectly reported that the Porter Park Board was waiting to get approval from Porter town attorney Patrick Lyp before they could vote on a list of caterers that will be recommended for those who rent the Hawthorne Community Center.

The story should have reported the board had received approval from Lyp and is currently reviewing the list in anticipation of a vote that will be taken soon.

The Tribune regrets the error.

Posted 3/16/2011