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Northwest editioN reachiNg seNiors iN illiaNa: cook, lake & Porter couNties
August 2025
Vol. 29, No. 5
www.seniorlifenewspapers.com
TIME TO WEED — Master Gardeners Carol Cooper, left, and Deb Sarver pull weeds from the rose garden at Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest in Valparaiso. The two women are among 4050 volunteers who donate their time annually at the arboretum.
NATURE VOLUNTEER — Dave Cooper of Wheatfield pulls weeds from the rose garden at Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest in Valparaiso. Cooper has also graded roads, worked in other gardens, painted and assisted at Gabis outdoor concerts.
Gabis volunteers key to operation of
LIVING LABORATOR Y
Text and Photos By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer
With 300 acres of varied terrains, Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest has plenty of room for volunteers, with plenty of chores available. Fortunately, Gabis has a dedicated corps of volunteers lending their time and talents at the Valparaiso site. Retirees Mark Pleitner of Valparaiso and Cory Gale of Crown Point spent part of this particular morning replacing the wood on a trailer. On other days, they might build shelving, remove invasive plant life, work on picnic tables, paint indoor artwork for children’s playhouses or assist at the center’s Acorn Concert Series. A retired machinist, Pleitner noted, “I like the different projects. I like working on things to make them better.” Retired from commercial printing, Gale just likes being outdoors. “I enjoy coming out here and seeing the diversity of projects,” said Gale, who also leads golf cart tours around Continued on page 2
CARPENTRY WORK — Volunteers Mark Pleitner, left, and Cory Gale replace wood on a trailer at Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest in Valparaiso. Volunteers perform a variety of tasks at Gabis, including carpentry, gardening and leading tours.
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Porter County Office:506 Evans Avenue Lake County Office:
County 1st Office: Lake Plum County Office: 409Porter E. Lincolnway, Floor Creek Center Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 57 Street, Suite 203 409Franklin E. Lincolnway, 1st Floor Creek Center Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 222Plum Indianapolis Blvd., Suite 207 Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 222 Indianapolis Blvd., Suite 207 Phone: (219) 548-0980 Phone: (219) 548-0980 Schererville, Indiana 46375 Schererville, Indiana 46375 , LLC Phone: (219) 548-0980Fax: (219) 548-0993 Fax: (219) 548-0993 Phone/Fax: 227-4884 Fax: (219) 548-0993 Phone/Fax: (219)(219) 227-4884 *Certified as an Elder Law Attorney the National Elder Law Foundation *Certified as an Elder Lawby Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation
Connie Bauswell, CELA* Connie L.L.Bauswell, CELA* www.conniebauswell.com www.conniebauswell.com