🌱 Patch AM: How Boeing turned one Gary school day into pure holiday joy

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:

• How Boeing turned one Gary school day into pure holiday joy
• What led to a 15-year sentence in this Gary shooting case?
• Gary helped launch Indiana’s problem-solving courts—what’s happening with them now?

Also on today's calendar: A Charlie Brown Christmas and 3 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Breezy and much colder, with a high of 28 and low of 23 degrees.
• Saturday: Breezy with periods of sun, temps: high: 45, low: 15. ⛄️ Brr!
• Sunday: Sunny and colder, with a high of 33 and low of 22 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Boeing employees host gift giveaway at Gary elementary school (chicagotribune.com) — Hundreds of students at Banneker at Marquette Elementary in Gary received wrapped gifts, stockings, and cupcakes this week thanks to donations from Boeing employees. With Boeing’s executive flight operations based at Gary/Chicago International Airport, company volunteers say supporting Gary families during a stressful holiday season is a priority, while school leaders hope the visit builds lasting memories and stronger community ties.
   

2. Gary man gets 15-year split term for role in drug dealer slaying (chicagotribune.com) — A Gary man has been sentenced to a 15-year split term for his role in a fatal 2023 drug-related shooting on Delaware Street, following guilty pleas in related cases. Lake County prosecutors detailed how the victim from East Chicago was lured to the Gary apartment building, while the judge emphasized the planning involved and the impact on both families and children left behind.
   

3. Indiana's problem-solving courts look for alternative ways to fund efforts (theindianalawyer.com) — Indiana’s problem-solving courts, first launched in Vigo County and Gary in 1996, are expanding and seeking new nonprofit funding to keep people in recovery on track. From housing help to car repairs, these courts use grants and donations to remove small financial barriers that can derail sobriety, while state leaders debate how best to balance justice and treatment.
   

4. Thomas George Prall (dailyjournal.net) — Gary readers may recognize the Prall family through Lillian Christ of Gary, whose husband, Vietnam veteran and Indiana real estate leader Thomas George Prall, has passed away at 83. His life spanned Marine Corps service, building a major Indianapolis brokerage, and decades of family gatherings in Indiana, with funeral services set for December 22–23 in Greenwood and Martinsville.
   

📸 Around Gary

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Gary

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• DJ Nasty Boy Noel
  Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, 5400 W 29th Ave, Gary
  9:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Sunday December 21

• A Charlie Brown Christmas
  Black Oak Baptist Church , 6502 W 25th Ave , Gary
  3:00 pm

Tuesday December 23

• Gary Truck Driving Recruiting Event at Schneider
  Schneider National Gary , IN , Gary
  5:00 pm

Friday December 26

• The Disco Circus
  Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana , 5400 W 29th Ave , Gary
  9:00 pm
• The Disco Circus at Hard Rock Cafe
  Hard Rock Cafe , 5400 W 29th Ave , Gary
  9:00 pm
• THE DISCO CIRCUS at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary, IN!
  Hard Rock Cafe , 5400 W 29th Ave , Gary
  9:00 pm

📣 Gary Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Friday December 19

• Mahjong Meet Up
  Lake Station-New Chicago Branch of the Lake County Public Library , 2007 Central Ave , Lake Station
  1:00 pm
• Teen and Tween Meet the Cube: Ages 7-15
  Hobart - Children's Program Room
  3:30 pm
• HSH Booth at Merry Market
  Great Oaks Banquets & Events , 13109 Wicker Ave , Cedar Lake
  4:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Knitting & Crochet Club
  Lake Station-New Chicago Branch of the Lake County Public Library , 2007 Central Ave , Lake Station
  10:00 am
• Craft and Chat
  Lake Station-New Chicago Branch of the Lake County Public Library , 2007 Central Ave , Lake Station
  1:00 pm
• TRELL'S "Off The Record" Listening Party
  Tiny's Coffee Bar , 555 S Lake St , Gary
  7:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• “Do you know us?
  All these dogs came in today (December 17) Location found: Gary Location now: Gary Animal Control After a mandatory three-business-day stray hold,… (Nextdoor Fairbanks)
• Warmin' Up
  With today's temperatures suppose to be in the low 40's, the shelf ice is returning to its liquid state. Right now, though, it looks pretty cool. … (Nextdoor Miller Beach)

• McDonald's Restaurants posted a job opening for Custodian - 7853 in Gary. Apply here.
• Long John Silver's, LLC posted a job opening for Team Member in Gary. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Gary here.

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: I don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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