Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Why did Gary wait two weeks for power after the storm?
And on the Gary Patch calendar - The Wellness Retreat: A Festival Where Mind, Body, and Music Meet

Hey there, Gary! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Why did Gary wait two weeks for power after the storm?
- How Gary's power district handled the derecho—and what leaders want changed
Also on today's calendar: The Wellness Retreat: A Festival Where Mind, Body, and Music Meet and 7 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you call advice from a cow ? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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- Monday: Breezy with a quick shower, with a high of 66 and low of 55 degrees.
- Tuesday: An a.m. shower; mostly cloudy, temps: high: 65, low: 56.
- Wednesday: Cloudy, with a high of 65 and low of 55 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• 'We Were Pretty Much Left Behind': Gary Storm Survivor Aja Bridges Recounts How Nearby Communities Got Power Back Sooner But Gary Waited For Two Weeks (shinemycrown.com) — Gary residents are still grappling with how a recent storm left them without power for about two weeks while nearby, wealthier communities saw electricity restored within a day. Local activist and longtime resident Aja Bridges describes feeling that Gary was de‑prioritized by utility NIPSCO, highlighting how the outage magnified existing economic challenges and raised questions about whether lower‑income communities receive equal attention after major weather disasters.
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• Region leaders offer lessons from Aug. 11 derecho (chicagotribune.com) — Local and regional leaders are pressing NIPSCO for better communication and clearer restoration timelines after the Aug. 11 derecho, with Gary's power district a key focus. Officials noted that Portage, Gary, and Burns Harbor share the Gary district, yet residents struggled to get outage information while nearby Schererville had its own district and clearer estimates. They're now urging every city, town, and township to have a direct NIPSCO liaison.
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📸 Around Gary
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Gary
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- The Wellness Retreat: A Festival Where Mind, Body, and Music Meet →
1521 S. Linn White Dr., Northerly Island, Chicago, IL 60605,
11:00 am
Saturday October 17
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Chanute Aquatorium Society Presents: 35 & Still Alive Hawaiian Beach Party →
Aquatorium, 6918 Oak Avenue, Gary - Chanute Aquatorium Society Presents: 35 & Still Alive Hawaiian Beach Paty →
Aquatorium, 6918 Oak Avenue, Gary - Farmer's Market →
600 Richard Gordon Hatcher Blvd. (formerly Grant St.), Gary
10:00 am - LIBIDO FUNK CIRCUS returns to Hard Rock Northern Indiana in Gary, IN →
Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, 5400 W. 29th St., Gary
9:00 pm - LIBIDO FUNK CIRCUS returns to Hard Rock Northern Indiana in Gary, IN! →
Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, 5400 W. 29th St., Gary
9:00 pm - The 6th Annual City Wide Book Fair Presents The 5 Dimensions of Creativity →
Gary Area Career Center, 1800 East 35th Avenue, Gary - Dialogue Wine Bar Presents: Wine and Words →
Dialogue, LLC, 601 South Lake Street, Gary - CHN's Annual Breast Cancer 5K Walk "Step into Hope" →
Marquette Park Beach, 1 N. Grand Blvd., Gary - Hardrock Casino →
5400 W. 29th Avenue, Gary
9:00 pm
Friday September 25
Saturday September 26
📣 Gary Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Redevelopment Commission →
Hobart City Hall Meetings - Hobart IN 46342
8:30 am - Hobart Sanitary District →
Hobart City Hall Meetings - Hobart IN 46342
5:00 pm - Contractor's Licensing Board →
Hobart City Hall Meetings - Hobart IN 46342
6:00 pm
Monday September 21
Tuesday September 22
Wednesday September 23
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Same Sky, Different Beat
You will be able to readily tell that I was not on the beach at sunset last night. The moon, however, did not care. It shines just as brightly… (Nextdoor Miller Beach) - Rain Day and a Cape May
Over an inch of rain has fallen since last night (1.1"). Right now the wet stuff is gently and steadily falling. The beach looked pretty gray (#1 -… (Nextdoor Miller Beach)
- FirstCash, Inc. posted a job opening for Retail Assistant Store Manager - 2277 in Highland. Apply here.
- Wendy's posted a job opening for Shift Manager in East Chicago. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Gary here.
🗞 Nearby News
Hammond
- Hammond emerges as serious contender for Chicago Bears stadium after land assembly, state backing (tippahnews.com)
- Lansing History: Fords, funerals, and furniture — all in the old 'DeYoung building' (thelansingjournal.org)
- Evergreen Park quilling workshop brings ancient art to life (chicagotribune.com)
Ok Gary! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Beef Tips (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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