Save Briar East Woods

06/15/2026

06/03/2026

Leah discusses an infamous invasive found in Briar East Woods and beyond: garlic mustard! 🌱🚫

Visit savebriareastwoods.com to learn about the fight to save Hammond's ancient dune woodland.

05/28/2026

Ken discusses the ever-changing reasons the city of Hammond has fabricated to fund the boondoggle Governors Parkway. Meanwhile, they cancel the Grand Avenue pedestrian bridge, leaving schoolchildren in Hammond are without a way to safely get over trains.

Visit savebriareastwoods.com to learn more.

05/26/2026

"You may not be listening to us, but we're listening to you."

Mary Schons exposes how Mayor McDermott and Councilman Dave Woerpel are now claiming that kids don't climb over trains in Hammond, the entire rationale for building the $13 million Governors Parkway bridge.

Visit savebriareastwoods.com to learn more

05/22/2026

Mary Schons asks the Common Council how Hammond couldn't find $2.7 million to fund the pedestrian bridge to get children safely across a hazardous railroad crossing, but can still hand over twice as much for the Governors Parkway bridge a mile away.

Visit savebriareastwoods.com to learn more.

05/19/2026

When Mary expresses her disapproval that the city has millions of dollars to fund the Governors Parkway bridge but not the pedestrian bridge on Grand Avenue, where the project is actually needed, Council President Janet Vanecz complains, "Is anybody ever happy?"

"People don't usually come to public expression because things are going great," Mary says. "If you don't want the job, I have a simple solution for you."

Visit savebriareastwoods.com to learn more.

05/14/2026

Ken Rosek discusses the routine silencing of Hammond residents who want to talk about Briar East Woods.

Visit savebriareastwoods.com to learn more.

05/11/2026

Hammond City Council President Janet Venecz hassles Mary Schons as she takes the stand for public comment.

"I wanted to remind the City Council that the Mayor is not your boss. You don't work for him, and he can't fire you.

Whenever these things come up, you have to ask yourself, 'Is this something that will be good for my constituents?' But if we're talking about spending millions of dollars on something that doesn't address the safety issue, maybe it's not such a great project to go ahead with."

Visit savebriareastwoods.com to learn more and get involved.

05/08/2026

UPDATE: We are no longer accepting donations for the garage sale at this time. Thank you to everyone who donated! 😊

What we need from you now is for you to post the garage sale flyer in your neighborhood coffee shop, library, or church, and share on social media.

We also need to borrow your tables, a clothes rack or two, and strings of banner flags to let the world know we're having a garage sale. If you can loan any of these items, please contact [email protected].

Thank you for all your help! We hope to see you May 22-23 at the garage
sale! 🌳