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$$PLAIN_TEXT_PREVIEW$$
The Village in Burns Harbor
NEWSLETTER 6/16/2026
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Pictured: Bounce Into Summer’s Jump City Pirate Ship Combo |
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Pictured: Mulch in Triangle Park’s Pollinator Garden |
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Good day, neighbors,
There are two announcements before we get to the main news and events:
Mulch, Pesticides, and Lakeshore Justin Roseberry’s May 23 POA Meeting Recap
Mulch, Pesticides, and Lakeshore
Gazebo Park, Triangle park, and Playground Park have been mulched (including the trees along Burns Boulevard at the entrance). The Garden Committee spread mulch themselves in the pollinator beds to keep the plants from getting buried. Lakeshore completed the mulching of Picnic Park on Daniels Court and Triangle Park including providing the Garden Committee with mulch to hand mulch the beds with new plant starts. Special thanks to Tracy and Scott MacDonald for bringing all the equipment and working long hours in the heat to complete the mulching, and thanks to Mary and Bryn Warner for helping out.
There is some mulch left over by Triangle Park that’s been covered with a tarp. Please come on down with your wheelbarrow and take what you need for your yard. The pile is just to the south of the pergola on Harbor Way.
Justin Roseberry’s VBH POA Meeting Recap for May 23, 2026 Save the Date – Bounce into Summer: Bounce into Summer is Friday, June 26th from noon to 5:45 p.m. We have the same lineup of bounce equipment as last year — obstacle course, sunset bounce house, the pirate ship combo, and the dual axe throw. Tables and chairs are provided, but bring your own canopy if you plan to stay awhile. We'll have two food vendors on-site: Scoopin' Around (waffle cones, lemon shake-ups, sundaes, and milkshakes) and Ken's Dawgs — they take cash, card, and digital payments. Wristbands are required for all bounce activities, and waivers need to be signed by a parent or guardian (not the child). And a friendly reminder: board members aren't babysitters, so please plan to be with your kids while they're playing.
A Note about Recent Vandalism: Some minors from the neighboring subdivision have come into VBH and done real damage at the hammocks — hooks pulled out of posts and screwed into a tree, mulch dumped into the swings, and landscaping stones thrown and chipped. The hammocks are down for now. The parents of two of the kids involved have been identified, and we'll be pursuing reimbursement for damages going forward if culprits can be identified on video. Thank you to Burns Harbor Police Department for intervening with these issues. With cameras as common as they are, please remind kids — yours or visiting — that the neighborhood is watched. We'll be looking into adding cameras at the hammock area, and neighbors with existing cameras facing that direction, please keep them on. More to come in the Facebook group and a follow-up post.
E-Bike and Scooter Safety: We've had several close calls — kids going the wrong way down one-way streets and high-speed e-bikes on the sidewalks. With school out next week, please take a few minutes to talk with your kids about safe riding. The Indiana law about e-bikes states that helmets are required for everyone under 18, all classes, and no one under 15 may operate a Class 3 e-bike (pedal-assist that goes up to 28 mph). Golf carts require a driver's license. We don't want to see anyone get hurt.
Mulch, Pesticides, and Lakeshore: Gazebo Park has been mulched (including the trees along Burns Boulevard at the entrance); Triangle Park is still pending. The Garden Committee will be spreading mulch themselves in the pollinator beds to keep the plants from getting buried. On the pesticide front: Lakeshore won't post warning signs before spraying and can't give us advance notice, so we're looking at discontinuing applications entirely and requesting no glyphosate going forward. If you have strong feelings either way, the June meeting is a good time to weigh in.
Parking in the Alleys: As a friendly reminder, please park on the street or on your parking pad — not in the alley itself. Even when you're not fully blocking it, it makes things tight for neighbors who are trying to get through.
Village Architectural Review Committee (VARC) at the June POA Meeting: The VARC team will be at the June POA meeting. If you've had questions about VARC-related matters and/or you want to understand the process for getting or replacing street trees, this is the meeting to attend. Little Library and the Gardens: Big thank you to Sarah and her dad for repairing the Little Library — it's looking great. Thanks also to Tracy and Sarah for all the planting work around it, and to the additional neighbor who offered to help water. Scott walked the neighborhood recently and posted photos of the beautiful gardens around VBH — it's true, we have a lot of green thumbs here. If you'd like to get involved in the Garden Committee, just reach out at the next meeting.
As always, thanks for being part of the community. See you on June 26th!
— Justin Roseberry
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In this issue:
VBH events and news: June 23: POA Meeting June 26: Bounce Into Summer June 27: Garden Committee Meetings July 3: 4th of July Celebration — America’s 250th July 22: POA Meeting September 12: Pinewood Derby & Cook-off Pet etiquette Fire pit rules
Around town: Neighborhood Kid Entrepreneurs
*Please note that for all Burns Harbor Park Department events, Lakeland Park is located at 1200 Lakeland Park Drive, Burns Harbor, IN 46304. For more information, go to the Burns Harbor Park Department’s Facebook page.
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TUESDAY, JUNE 23 @ 7 P.M. @ TRADITIONS CLUBHOUSE JUNE POA MEETINGJoin us for our June POA Meeting on Tuesday, June 23 at 7 p.m. at Traditions Clubhouse where we’ll discuss POA event updates and status updates on 1st American maintenance requests. Plus all VARC members will be in attendance. |
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FRIDAY, JUNE 26 FROM NOON TO 5:45 P.M. @ TRIANGLE PARK BOUNCE INTO SUMMERJump City is coming back with their inflatable fun: an obstacle course, the pirate ship combo (for bouncing, climbing, and sliding), the sunset bounce house and the dual axe throw. Parents will need to sign a waiver, and kids will need a wristband to bounce: no exceptions. While there will be some board members present, they are not the babysitters for the day. Parents/families are required to be present supervising their own kids. Some tables and chairs will be provided. It is recommended that you bring a pop-up canopy if you'll be there for a while. There will be two vendors available for purchasing food and beverages:
For questions, please contact Angel at AngelBernahl@gmail.com. |
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QUARTERLY MEETINGS THE 4TH SATURDAY OF THE MONTH STARTING JUNE 27 GARDEN COMMITTEE MEETINGSLooking for a way to get involved and make a lasting impact right here in our neighborhood? The Garden Committee is looking for fresh faces and green thumbs! Our core focus is collaboratively developing long-range, cohesive, and sustainable landscaping plans for our beautiful community parks. Whether you are a master gardener or just love spending time outdoors, your voice and help are welcome.
We meet quarterly on the 4th Saturday of the month. Join us to help plan the future of our green spaces. Here is our upcoming schedule: If you can’t make the planning meetings, don’t worry! There are plenty of other fun, hands-on ways to support our neighborhood ecosystems: Take ownership of a specific neighborhood plot to keep it looking its best by adopting a garden bed. Come out for casual, community weeding dates. It’s a great way to chat with neighbors! Assist with planting and caring for new trees coming to our community. Help us with future pollinator garden events. Tag along on trips to local nurseries, botanical gardens, or nature preserves.
Ready to dig in? Show up to our next meeting on Saturday, June 27 in Triangle Park by the pergola , or contact Mary Warner at mwarnerinks@gmail.com for more information. Let’s grow something beautiful together! |
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FRIDAY, JULY 3 FROM 5:45 P.M. @ RTE 20 AND BURNS BLVD. FOR THE PARADE 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION — AMERICA’S 250THWhat: Fourth of July Celebration
When: Friday, July 3 at 5:45 p.m. lineup, parade at 6 p.m. Dinner to follow after parade
Where: At Route 20 and Burns Boulevard for the parade and at Playground Park for dinner
Join us on July 3 for our annual Fourth of July Celebration! Decorate your bikes, scooters, golf carts, wagons, and yourselves and head to the flagpole at the neighborhood entrance to be in the parade. Line up begins at 5:45 p.m. The parade starts at 6 p.m. and will proceed from Route 20 down Burns Boulevard. We need a cheering section too, so come out to your porches, line the streets, and give them a hand before heading to Playground Park to experience catering by Bay City Tacos. Dinner will be served from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in Playground Park. Food is first come, first serve. The main dishes will be catered by Bay City Tacos, which will be on-site cooking that’s served buffet-style. The menu includes make-your-own tacos and burrito bowls (steak, pork, chicken, and veggie options), Mexican street corn, cilantro lime rice, beans, mac and cheese, and all the fixings. Traditions Apartments is providing cases of water & mixing packets. The POA will be be providing some other beverages too, TBD We kindly ask if every family attending can bring a dessert to share as there will be no catered dessert options. Store bought is fine. Local caricature artist Nate Biancardi & DJ Josh from Party DJs will be the entertainment. There are some leftover items from the prior years glow party that will be available but no new supply will be purchased. |
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 PINEWOOD DERBY & COOK-OFFMark your calendar for Saturday September 12th and start thinking of your car design. If you need a car kit you may contact Erin Childress at Erin130@hotmail.com or 765.430.3065. We can discuss going back to a chili cook-off or staying with the recent soup cook-off at upcoming POA meetings. Further details to come. |
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PET ETIQUETTEAs part of our effort to promote a peaceful and respectful environment for everyone, we’d like to send out a gentle reminder regarding pet ownership responsibilities, as outlined in the community’s operating principles (The Village Book).
While pets are a valued part of many of our households, we ask that owners be mindful of their pet’s behavior throughout the neighborhood. As stated in The Village Book, domestic animals that become a nuisance—such as those roaming freely or disturbing neighboring properties—may be required to be leashed or otherwise appropriately restrained. This helps ensure all residents are able to enjoy their property without unexpected disruptions.
Additionally, we kindly ask that all pet owners take a moment to clean up after their animals during walks or time spent outdoors. This simple act of courtesy goes a long way in maintaining the cleanliness and appeal of our shared spaces. Thank you for doing your part to help keep our neighborhood safe, clean, and enjoyable for all.
If you have questions or wish to discuss the matter, please do not hesitate to call me at 219-464-3536, extension 328; you may also email me at russell@1stpropertymanagers.com
— Robin Russell
See the map below for the Village in Burns Harbor’s pet waste stations. |
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VBH PET WASTE STATIONSVBH pet waste stations are supplied with waste bags for your animal and can be found at the following locations*: Triangle Park North (Clifford Way and Harbor Way) Triangle Park South (Harbor Way and the side street to Harbor Way alley) Playground Park (south toward Sherman Avenue) Village Square (east toward Harbor Way) Weaver Way (south of Canfield Lane) Canfield Lane and Daniels Court Park
*The orange and white paw print icons mark each station’s location. |
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FIRE PIT RULESThe fire pit is available for anyone’s use. Please note the following: You need to provide your own wood. Shorter lengths of dry wood are preferred. This is a smokeless fire pit design. The amount of smoke produced depends greatly on how well the fire is built. It is always recommended to let the fire burn out on its own, unless there’s an emergency. NEVER use the fire pit lid to extinguish the fire as it can damage the lid and may cause the pit to fill with smoke, which can result in creosote building up and potentially dripping onto the surface that the pit is setting on. Do not pour water on your fire because it will make a mess of the ash and clog up the airflow system at the bottom of the fire pit. Since you’ll not be leaving the fire pit burning until it dies, it’s important to never leave your fire unattended. An adult MUST be present until the fire is burned out.
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SATURDAY, JUNE 27: KIDS’ 1K FUN RUN @ 5:15 P.M. TO 5:45 P.M., FOOTLOOSE 5K RUN @ 6 P.M. TO 8 P.M. 2026 FOOTLOOSE 5K & KIDS 1K FUN RUNJoin the Burns Harbor Park Department on June 27 for their Footloose 5K & Kids 1K Fun Run! This gnarly 5K run/walk celebrates the most righteous decade of all time! Celebrate the days of big hair, neon colors, leg warmers, headbands, and some of the best party music ever recorded. Gather up your totally tubular 80's gear, invite your gal pals and homeboys, and come on out to Lakeland Park.
Schedule of events:
Early Packet Pick Up is on Friday, June 26 from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. at the Extra Mile Fitness Co., 3400 Calumet Avenue, Valparaiso, IN. The Footloose 5K Run/Walk is on Saturday, June 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 1200 Lakeland Park Drive, Burns Harbor, IN US 46304. There’s a Kids’ Fun Run (ages 3 to 11) from 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. at the same location as the 5K.
For more details and to register, please go to the Run Signup Page. If you have any questions about this race, please contact the race director at kburton@burnsharbor-in.gov.
Please note: There is an after party from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Leroy’s will host beer, wine, and spirits and there will be food vendors. Dirty Buoys will be the live music. There will be a fireworks show at dusk. |
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NEIGHBORHOOD KID ENTREPRENEURSSee below for our neighborhood kid entrepreneurs: Angelo Bernahl’s business is called Green Clips. Please see his business Facebook page for more details: Green Clips. For questions or to schedule, please call or text his mom, Angel, at 219.248.5594. Liam Hipp is trying to earn money to pay for his driver’s education class. He’s willing to pick up dog poop from your yard at a reasonable price. He’s also open to doing any other minor odd jobs he can help with. You can reach his mom, Nicole Hipp, at 219.680.8215 for more info & to get connected. Emily Clark provides babysitting services. Emily is 15 years old & loves kids. She is first aid certified, has experience babysitting, & working with younger children. Rates are negotiable based on the number of children & hours, but the starting rate is around $10/hour. Call or text her mom, Chris, at 785.871.5680 for more info & to get connected. New services Emily is also offering: hair braiding & custom press on nails Em (@pressons.byem) • Instagram photos and videos. Bonnie Clark’s services include dog walking and pet sitting. Bonnie is 13 years old and loves animals. She has experience pet sitting for cats and is eager to learn about caring for other small animals. She is also an experienced dog walker with her own large dog and some smaller neighborhood dogs. Call or text her mom, Chris, at 785.871.5680 for more information. A&D Pressure Washing Heroes (Asher Shell & David Delgau) trash cans ($25 each & cans must be empty), driveways & patios (priced by size). Text 219.730.9477 to schedule. Heroes will need access to water & electricity.
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QUESTIONS? CONCERNS?Please contact the POA board or the property manager.
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Image attribution is as follows: Cover image: Pirate ship photo courtesy of Justin Roseberry and Pollinator Garden photo courtesy of Tracy Tomak Make it happen photo from Pexels by Bich Tran Bounce Into Summer photo courtesy of Justin Roseberry 4th of July Celebration photo courtesy of Mary Cecilia Nolan Car with ribbon on calendar new car concept photo from Vecteezy Cally photo courtesy of Justin Roseberry Pet Waste Station photo courtesy of Sarah Ciciora Fire Pit photo courtesy of Justin Roseberry 2026 Footloose 5K and Kids’ 1K Fun Run flyer courtesy of Kim Burton from the Burns Harbor Park Department Couple running photo by David Brown on Pexels Happy boy walking dog photo by Sam Lion on Pexels
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