Panoramanow

09/10/2026

A good article. This event is going on THIS Weekend at a NIPSCO facility in Gary. It is a Bipartisan event even though it is put on by a Republican candidate. I hope to see you there . . .

Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO's) widespread, prolonged power outages across Northwest Indiana following severe storms in August 2026 are not

09/09/2026

Air Fair! this Sun! Sept 13, Touch a truck, Kids Zone, & More!

La Porte Airport Pancake Breakfast!

All you can eat pancakes: $10/person

Flights available: discovery flights from Flight Saga and Open Door Aviation AND helicopter rides from Cleveland Helicopters!

Come on out to the La Porte Airport for pancakes, flights, live radio, touch a truck, kidzone, and more! Entrance to the event is free, parking is free, pancakes are $10/person, flights vary from $60-100.

Pancakes are 7am-noon, everything else will be here until 3pm Central.

09/09/2026

Nipsco Protest, Sat. Sept. 12th, 2-5pm
Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO’s) widespread, prolonged power outages across Northwest Indiana following severe storms in August 2026 are not entirely due to the storm. Many Folks were two weeks and longer without power.

Under Indiana utility rule 170 IAC 4-9, electric companies are legally required to maintain strict vegetation-management programs.

The Failure: NIPSCO claims to operate on a 4-to-6-year tree-trimming cycle. However, Preston Ruby Ruby4 Gary, Indiana argues that NIPSCO neglected utility corridors and utility easements throughout Gary. PLUS, failures to the Utility Easements Maintenance, Infrastructure Preparedness, Restoration Capabilities, Restoration Management, and the overall resiliency of the electrical system, especially in Gary.

“The storm caused damage, but years of inadequate maintenance made recovery harder. Northwest Indiana Residents pay a substantial utility bills and Extra Delivery Charges, and in return they have every right to expeect a system (And management) that is properly maintained, stocked with recovery supplies, and capable of recovery from major weather events,” stated Preston Ruby.

The Impact: Because overgrown oak trees were left unmanaged, they collapsed into primary power lines during the storm. Furthermore, the lack of clearing meant NIPSCO trucks couldn’t navigate local roadways, forcing linemen to manually climb poles and heavily delaying grid recovery

The Protest is Demanding Accountability on Vegetation Management: The fact is that NIPSCO is legally and financially liable for storm-related electrical damage. The utility company failed to fulfill its Indiana regulatory obligations to maintain a 4-to-6-year tree-trimming and vegetation cycle within its easements, which drastically amplified the storm damage and delayed grid recovery.

There’s More Than Just Vegetation Removal . . .
According to Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) records, NIPSCO charges its customers $233.62 per 1,000 kWh, making it the highest electrical rate of any utility provider in Indiana.

Nipsco’s has spent years and years of corporate cost-shifting maintaining his profit dividends for shareholders and management. However, ratepayers have already funded infrastructure maintenance through escalating delivery fees, NIPSCO should be absorbing the costs of restoring secondary service lines damaged by their unmaintained easements.

Additionally, consumer groups note that NIPSCO is facing intense scrutiny for double-charging roughly 4,000 Northwest Indiana residents for natural gas.

The protest is not directed at the linemen, contractors, first responders, or field crews who worked long hourse restoring service after the storm. Rather the focuses is on corporate policies, infrastructure planning, maintenance decisions, regulatory accountability, and Executive Leadership.

Storm Relief Efforts: Alongside the political pushback, this protest has sponsored the United Cajun Navy to run a series of localized storm relief care package giveaways to aid Gary families still reeling from the outages.

What Residents Are Demanding:
* Greater accountability and transparency
* Consistent and verifiable vegetation and easement maintenance.
* Improved Storm Preparedness and infrastructure resiliency
* Faster and more Effective restoration procedures (directed by the executive department)
* Greater Scrutiny of Utility Rates and Delivery Charges.
* Better communications with customers, organizations, and government entities during outages
* Public accountability from NIPSCO Leadership and State Regulators
* Long-term solutions that prevent Northwest Indiana Communities from experiencing the same failures during the next major storm

“We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for reliable service, responsible maintenance, transparency, and accountability that Northwest indiana Customers are already paying for. Our Community, our power, our voices, our future,” continued Preston Ruby.,

Media is Invited to attend and speak with residents and attendees. Local leaders are invited to speak as well.

Organizing Public Protests: The campaign has organized a formal public protest.

Date/Time: Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM CDT.
Location: 1460 E. 15th Ave., Gary, IN 46402.

09/09/2026

Brewski Fest is Rescheduled for Oct. 17th
Brewski Fest – a celebration of Retro “old school” beers – such as Schlitz, Old Style, Strohs, Hamms, PBR, Papst Blue Ribbon and more!


Northwest Indiana communities were built with hard work and beer! After working long shifts, gathering to drink beer has been a way of life for generations, taking a break from an otherwise busy and challenging life.

Come join us at Central Park Plaza .for a day filled with your favorite brews and good vibes. Get ready to sip, savor, and socialize with fellow beer enthusiasts. Pay tribute to the Classic Beers of our past. Enjoy a cold can of PBR, Strohs, Old Style, Hamms, as you check out our 70s car show and jam to the music of The Crawpuppies and The Brew R***e powerhouse band!

LIVE MUSIC beginning with "The Brew R***e" featuring Lou Samaniego (Chris & Lou band), Bill Romer (Head Honchos), Mike Ferri (Who Dat Dere Band) and Chris Georgeff (Pawns/ Compass) coming together for an unforgettable time!

So, join us to celebrate the beers of our past and present!
f you can’t bring your dad – at least dress like him!! Suggested attire: Beer can shirts and beer can hats and any retro look is welcome.

More info: www.brewskifest.org

09/08/2026

Delivering the Sept Magazine Downtown and took these photos of the

09/08/2026

It’s with sad news we just found out that Larry Brechner has passed. He will be missed.
Larry A. Brechner was a longtime Northwest Indiana arts professional, fine-art photographer, musical theater director, producer, and media host. He is best known as the co-host and producer of Art On The Air, alongside Ester Golden, where he interviewed artists, musicians, authors, and other creative voices from Northwest Indiana, Chicago, and beyond. With more than 40 years of experience in theater and arts education, Brechner has directed hundreds of theatrical productions and was a member of the Indiana Thespian Hall of Fame.
Larry is also well regarded in the theater community for his outstanding work plus has also has worked professionally as a lighting designer/technical director with many area theater companies. This includes his tenure as the Theatre Administrator at The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, plus as the Production Manager/Resident Lighting Designer for Theatre at The Center, the resident professional Equity theater from 1992 to 1998. Over his entire career as Auditorium Director/Lighting Designer he has done 300 professional/community concert events and over 1000 school concert/events.
Active in the local community, Larry serves on the Board of Directors for Lakeshore Public Media (TV / Radio), where he is often seen as an on-air pledge/auction host, and has held board of director positions on South Shore Leadership Center (Leadership Northwest Indiana), Purdue Calumet Experiential Learning Advisory Board, Chesterton Art Center Lakeshore Public Media
Larry is married to Carol Lynn (who also serves as MTC Co-Producer/Director and previously for 14 seasons as Producer/Director of Munster’s Wilbur Wright Theatre Company). Larry is a recognized photographic artist with many gallery exhibits to his credit, and has earned his Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.) in Theatre Studies.

Larry said of his induction into the Hall of Fame, “I am truly touched and humbled at being nominated by current and previous students, parents, colleagues, and friends for this honor. I am thankful, privileged, and blessed, in some small way, to have been a part of their lives.”

09/08/2026

Here's a photo of Larry A Brechner With an Interview on WVLP-LP 103.1 FM in April of 2025 talking about his . We are re-running this show to Honor Him This Friday, At Noon, on http://www.wvlp.org streaming live worldwide. We are one of the only interviews talking about his Photography business, and his style, his techniques and his overall philosophy of when A simple photo becomes "fine Art." New Perspectives-Original Fine Art Photography by Larry A Brechner His Photography business was called New Perspectives. An you can visit his website at http://www.breach.com

09/07/2026

Here’s a story we published about Larry Brechner in 2016

During the annual Indiana Thespian Chapter’s State Conference held at Vincennes University on January 22-24, 2016, two long serving theater educators were recognized for their excellent service by induction into the Indiana Thespian Hall of Fame on January 23. Included, as part of this cerem...

09/07/2026

It’s with sad news we just found out that Larry Brechner has passed. He will be missed.
Larry A. Brechner was a longtime Northwest Indiana arts professional, fine-art photographer, musical theater director, producer, and media host. He is best known as the co-host and producer of Art On The Air, alongside Ester Golden, where he interviewed artists, musicians, authors, and other creative voices from Northwest Indiana, Chicago, and beyond. With more than 40 years of experience in theater and arts education, Brechner has directed hundreds of theatrical productions and was a member of the Indiana Thespian Hall of Fame.