Springboro residents can recycle their Christmas lights and all other strand lights through Feb. 1.
Collection barrels are available 24/7 in the lobbies of the Springboro Municipal Building, 320 W. Central Ave., and at the Springboro Performing Arts Center, 115 Wright Station Way, for residents to drop off their unwanted lights and light strands.
The city is partnering with the Warren County Solid Waste Management District in coordinating this program. STAFF REPORT
REGION
Schedule a screening mammography in January
Premier Health is making it easier for busy women to get their annual mammogram screening with its mobile mammography coach that travels to businesses, public venues and events throughout Southwest Ohio.
Equipped with advanced imaging equipment, the coach offers traditional 2D and Genius 3D Mammography technology to detect breast cancer.
The coach is owned and operated by Atrium Medical Center in Middletown.
The following dates and times are open for appointments in January:
• Wednesday, Jan. 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Monroe Medical Center, 35 Overbrook Drive, Monroe;
• Thursday, Jan. 26, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at SureCare Medical Center, 360 W. Central Ave., Springboro.;
• Friday, Jan. 27, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Miami Valley Hospital Imaging – Springboro, 630 N. Main St., Springboro; and
• Monday, Jan. 30, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Trenton Family Medicine, 3590 Busenbark Road, Trenton.
Premier Health welcomes partnerships with area businesses and event organizers to bring the mobile mammography coach to their locations in the community. For more information about how to bring the coach to your event or site, email [email protected] or call (844) 453-4199.
BBC Wildlife Magazine faces social media backlash from users moaning about lack of trigger warning on photo of baby baboon clinging onto its dead mother in jaws of leopard
Users were offended when BBC Wildlife Magazine posted image on Instagram
Taken by photographer Igor Altuna in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park
Some users said they were going to unfollow the magazine
By Harry Howard For Mailonline
Published: | Updated:
It is a stark image that shows how nature really is red in tooth and claw.
But a photograph posted by the BBC of a leopard carrying a dead baboon in its jaws – as the primate’s baby clings in terror to her corpse has upset some on social media.
Some users on Instagram were offended that BBC Wildlife Magazine did not issue a ‘trigger warning’ when they revealed the image, which was posted to promote the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest.
One wrote: ‘Yes it’s nature blah blah blah but JEEEEEEZ!!! My #BlueMonday was sh*** enough without needing this punch in the face!!!’
Another said: ‘I’m unfollowing. You absolutely should not have posted this without a warning!’
It is a stark image that shows how nature really is red in tooth and claw. But a photograph posted by the BBC of a leopard carrying a dead baboon in its jaws – as the primate’s baby clings in terror to her corpse has upset the more sensitive among us
The photograph was taken by Igor Altuna in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park.
The leopardess’s cub played with the baby baboon for more than an hour before killing it.
Responding to the BBC’s post, another person complained: ‘I loved seeing animals and wildlife but not this horror.
‘Most of us are not used to this behaviour, so it’s necessary to respect sensibilities and warn about the content. It is empathy.
A fourth wrote: ‘I agree with a lot of you that this should have come with a warning first.
Some users on instagram were offended that BBC Wildlife Magazine did not issue a ‘trigger warning’ when they revealed the image, which was posted to promote a nature photography award shortlist
‘Also had a terrible day and I’d prefer to have a choice in what I see. So also unfollowing.
‘For those of you who are saying things like “people can’t cope with anything these days/it’s brutal Mother Nature etc” it’s the people that are coping with a lot, maybe really horrible things/information on the daily that don’t want to see things like this to add to their pain or hardship, in the feed.
They added: ‘I only follow uplifting things to balance my world. My job is hard and harrowing at times.
‘I’d have liked to have had the choice, like many others have said. No need to be disrespectful or ignorant to peoples daily struggles is there.’
However, others were critical of those who complained about the lack of a content warning.
Others were critical of those who complained about the lack of a content warning
Another said: ‘Don’t follow nature then. It’s what happens! Yes, its a compelling image. But, don’t forget that Cheetah [sic] is just doing what comes naturally. It has to kill to survive & has probably got cubs of its own to feed’
One wrote: ‘Amazing shot. Also amazed that people feel the need to comment that this image needs a “warning.” It’s neither graphic nor tasteless, it’s reality.
‘This is nature, and nature is just as brutal as it is beautiful.
‘BBC Wildlife is a publisher that shares nature media, and this photo is documenting a rare and incredible moment…in nature.
If you can’t handle this photo, definitely don’t ever go on safari.’
The image was posted to promote the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022 – People’s Choice Award competition.
There are 25 shortlisted images in total, chosen from 38,575 entries sent in from around the world.
Voting closes at 2pm on Thursday, February 2.
The contest began in the 1960s and was first run by the BBC’s Animals magazine- which is now called Wildlife magazine.
The contest grew increasingly popular and by the mid-1980s, it had joined forces with the National History Museum, who now runs the competition and its accompanying exhibition.
On Dec. 9, the Cary-Grove Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new location for Kellwood Studio Photography.
Kellwood Studio Photography offers wedding, maternity, family, newborn, and corporate photography services, serving the greater Chicago Metro area and beyond.
Owner Kellyann Harmon opened Kellwood Studio Photography in 2007. Now, the new studio location adds a new element to her repertoire of photography options, in addition to on-site photography, and her Promiseland Farm, where Harmon does her unique nature and animal photography sessions, like Bunnies and Chicks in the Spring, and Unicorn mini sessions in the summer.
“I love the opportunity to make new friends and bless my clients with fabulous memories for generations to come,” says Harmon, “I love to learn new styles, new techniques, and new ideas that I can create either with my camera or in the postproduction design arena.”
Harmon started taking photos of people and animals when she was just 11 years old. “I fell in love with taking photos after seeing the smiles I brought people showing them their images,” says Harmon, “I spend most of my days meeting people brainstorming with them a creative photography session experience and love every minute of it. For me, what I do is so much more than just a job, it’s something I picture myself doing for years to come because it allows me to intersect with people on a personal and intimate level for a moment in time, and I honestly couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”
To learn more about Kellwood Studio Photography and Kellyann Harmon, visit www.kellwoodstudiophotography.com or www.instagram.com/kellwoodstudiophotography/. She can also be reached by phone at (224) 303-4020.
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The Cary-Grove Area Chamber of Commerce is a business organization of over 540 local business members and professionals, community and non-profit groups and area leaders dedicated to a prosperous local economy and a high quality of life for area residents. The Chamber provides programs and resources to help local businesses succeed and coordinates community events such as Cary Cruise Nights, Halloween Walks and Merry Cary Holiday Parade and Festival. The Cary-Grove Chamber is located at 210 Crystal St., Ste. A, in Cary and has a full business resource center for community residents and local businesses.
The winners of the annual Dog Photography Awards have been announced, an annual competition open to professional, amateur and student photographers from around the world and (of course) their furry friends.
More than 1400 entries from 50 countries were received in the competition, which has four categories, Portrait and Landscape, Studio, Action and Dogs and People. Entrants competed for a prize pool of €2000, split amongst the four categories.
Melbourne photographer Russell Charters was the sole Australian representative in the honours, coming third place in the Dogs and People category, for his image Walking the dog along the beach.
Dogs and People category. 3rd Place – Russell Charters – Australia. Walking the dog along the beach. Charters’ image is a photo taken of his partner walking their dog, Luna. DJI Mavic Air 2, 1/100s @ f/2.8, ISO1000.
The competition was judged by Audrey Bellot, Claudio Picolli, Iza Lyson, Heike Williams, Travis Patenaude and Anne Geier.
You can see all the category winners and runners-up below, along with more finalists on the DPA website.
Action – 1st Place Winner – Francesco Junior Mura – Italy. “The first obstacle of the course is the moment I prefer most of all. There, where it all begins, where the bond between Human and Dog is expressed in such a clear way by such a magnetic look, where you can see the power of dog’s muscles contracting and releasing energy at every handler’s nod. Agility Dog is trust Agility Dog is respect Agility Dog is togetherness This photo was taken during an Agility Dog competition in Italy.” Sony A9 + 70 200 2.8 GM2 1/2000 iso 3200 200mm.Action – 2nd Place – Kjara Kocbek – Slovenia. Canon 5D mark III, Canon 70-200mm 2.8L IS II f/3.5, 1/1250, ISO 200, 200mm Taken at sunrise in Slovenia.Action – 3rd Place – Julia Haßelkuß – Germany. ISO 80 f/1,4 1/2500s Sony Alpha 7 MIV Sigma Art 35mm. “I took this picture during our vacation in Norway. It was very foggy that day, so I wanted to create a friendly and sunny look.”Studio – 1st Place Winner – Su Kaye – United Kingdom. “Just trying to do something different from the norm and create something unique in my studio and a new style. Not something I’ve seen other people doing and has created a great response and good reactions.” Title: Things are looking up Olympus EM1 IIStudio – 2nd Place – Jane Thomson – Canada “Mimi’s backstory”. Fuji X-T3, Fujifilm 18-55mm (at 40mm) F11. 1/250s, ISO 160.Studio – 3rd Place – Daniela Schmid – Germany. Canon EOS 90d F/6.3 ISO 250 1/250s.Portrait – 1st Place Winner – Dalia Fichmann – Switzerland. The avalanche rescue dog. “Away from the pistes, away from the hustle and bustle, enjoying the softness of the powder snow, the untouchedness .. The dark side of it: every year people are buried by avalanches. The search in rough terrain is usually very difficult. The avalanche rescuedogs are often the first responders, fighting their way through the avalanche cones on their four paws with a lot of perseverance to look for the buried people, who are sometimes buried several meters under the snow masses. In Melchsee- Frutt (Switzerland) I accompanied the rescue teams for a day. To capture the moment when the dog finds the buried person and digs through the snow, I lay down with the camera in a small, dark ice cave and let the dogs search for me.”Portrait – 2nd Place – Sophia Hutchinson – United Kingdom. “This shot of Amber my Dalmatian is so special to me as this was one of the first walks we were able to do off lead since her two leg operations. It fills me with emotion seeing her so independent and captivated by the beauty of nature and wildlife.” Sony A7R III, 85mm f/1.4 lens. 1/1000s @ f/1.4.Portrait: 3rd Place – Joanne Liu – Canada. These photos are of Greenland Dogs (Greenlandic: Kalaallit Qimmiat, Danish: Grønlandshund) in Ilulissat, Greenland behaving naturally on the land provided to them by the government. There used be 30,000 Greenland Dogs and now there are only around 15,000. In Greenland they are exclusively used as working sled dogs. Climate change has reduced their use in favour of skidoos, which are better able to handle marginal ice conditions. Puppies up until about 6 months of age are allowed to roam untethered in order to socialize them and are friendly and playful. Adults are chained and kept separate. Housing and veterinary care is provided by the government. A Canon R5 and 100-400 mm lens at f5 to f5.6 was used to take all three photos in September 2022.Dogs and People category – 1st Place Winner – Sabrina Theden – Germany. Unconditional Love. Canon EOS R6, Sigma 135mm f1.8 Art lens. 1/400s @ f1.8, ISO 1600. Captured in a railway museum.Dogs and People category. 2nd Place – Sarah Ebner – Switzerland. Canon 6D Mark II & Sigma 85 mm 1.4 EX DG HSM lens. 1/800s @ f2.8, ISO 100.
Leading partnership developer Lovell has welcomed two new employees to its South Wales and West partnership team, who will help to support its community and social value objectives, in line with its projected growth plans, and provide career opportunities for local people.
James Whitelegg has joined the company as a Regional Training Manager, and Meriel Gough as a Community Development Coordinator. Both James and Meriel work from the developer’s regional head office in Cardiff, and cover all its developments in South Wales and the West.
James joined Lovell with years of experience in training and education, having begun his career teaching new recruits in the Armed Forces and more recently working as a further education tutor, helping people into employment or education.
As Regional Training Manager, James implements regional training and development programmes, organises training events, meets with training providers and apprentices, and facilitates the business’ national training programme.
James said: “I applied for this role as I wanted a new challenge, and Lovell has a reputation of being an outstanding employer. Since I joined the company, Lovell has been amazing to work for and the team are very supportive.
“My favourite part of my new job is meeting the apprentices and trainees on site, and seeing them progress.”
Meriel, from Newport, has supported local communities in Wales for many years. At Lovell, she works across the developer’s eight active sites, engages with the local communities, and champions the Considerate Constructors Scheme.
Meriel commented: “I have wanted to link grassroots community groups and locally-based charities with privately-owned organisations for quite some time, as I believe the community could benefit immensely from this support. I applied for this role at Lovell as I knew I could make a difference here.
“Every day is a new adventure, I take a lot of pride in my role of linking people together and helping them to become stronger.
“Lovell has been very welcoming, appreciative and encouraging as an employer, and I’m looking forward to furthering my role here.”
James Duffett, regional managing director at Lovell, said: “We are delighted to welcome James and Meriel to our growing team. They are both very valuable additions to the company, bringing with them a wealth of expertise.
“At Lovell, we put the community at the heart of all we do, and strive to provide local people with a path into the construction industry. Meriel and James are hugely important in helping us continue our mission of supporting local communities and fulfilling our social value commitments.”
Outside of work, James is an avid sportsman and has played rugby for North England, British Army and Welsh reserves. Meriel enjoys hiking, nature photography and researching her family ancestry.
To find out more about careers at Lovell, visit https://corporate.lovell.co.uk/careers/.
For further information on Lovell and the homes available, please visit https://www.lovell.co.uk.
The increased military activity has raised concern that Moscow might use its neighbour to mount a renewed ground offensive on Ukraine.
Belarus has said the joint air force drills it will begin with Russia on Monday are defensive in nature, but the exercises are taking place as concerns grow that Moscow is pushing Minsk to join the war in Ukraine.
“The exercise is purely defensive in nature,” said Pavel Muraveyko, first deputy state secretary of the Belarusian Security Council, according to a post on the Belarusian defence ministry’s Telegram app on Sunday.
“It will be a set of measures to prepare our and Russian aviation to carry out the relevant combat missions.”
The exercises, which will continue until February 1, will involve training for “aerial reconnaissance, deflecting air strikes, air cover of important objects and communications”, Muraveyko added.
The build-up of Russian troops in Belarus, combined with a flurry of military activity in the country, is an echo of developments just before Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine when Moscow used the country as a springboard to launch the attack.
The latest build-up has triggered fears in Kyiv and the West that Russia could be set to use Belarus to mount a new ground offensive on Ukraine.
Ukraine has continuously warned of possible attacks from Belarus, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that the country must be ready at its border with Belarus.
The Kremlin has denied that it has been pressuring Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to take a more active role in the conflict in Ukraine. Minsk has said it will not enter the war.
Since the start of the war, Belarus has conducted numerous military exercises, including large-scale comprehensive drills in late August and a number of smaller ones on its own or jointly with Russia.
Together with Moscow, Minsk has also been adding weaponry and military equipment to the drills.
Unofficial Telegram military monitoring channels have been reporting a series of fighters, helicopters and military transport planes coming to the country since the start of the year — eight fighters and four cargo planes on Sunday alone.
The Reuters news agency was not able to verify the reports. The Belarusian defence ministry said only that “units” of Russia’s air force have been arriving in Belarus.
“During the tactical flight exercise, all airfields and training grounds of the Air Force and Air Defence Forces of the Armed Forces of Belarus will be involved,” the ministry said in a statement.
Muraveyko said the situation on the country’s southern border — the border with Ukraine — was “not very calm,” and that Ukraine has been “provoking” Belarus.
“We’re maintaining restraint and patience, keeping our gunpowder dry,” Muraveyko said. “We have the necessary set of forces and means that will respond to any manifestations of aggression or a terrorist threat on our territory.”
Last week, an official at Russia’s foreign ministry, Aleksey Polishchuk, warned that while the military drills with Belarus were designed to prevent escalation, Moscow’s closest ally could join the war effort if Ukraine “invaded”.
Sofia Lagerkvist and Anna Lindgren, of Swedish design studio Front, have created ‘Pebble Rubble’, a modular seating system inspired by rocks for Moroso, with textiles created in collaboration with Kvadrat Febrik.
Nature has been a recurring theme throughout the work of the studio: living in Sweden, ‘nature is always around the corner,’ the designers say. Over the past several years, the pair have worked to develop a body of work inspired and informed by nature, which has now resulted in the ‘Pebble Rubble’ system for Moroso.
Taking themselves to Swedish forests to photograph and scan the environment (as well as working with an international network of scientists and researchers), Lagerkvist and Lindgren gained an understanding of the architecture of the forest and its living systems.
‘Pebble Rubble’ sofa element, from £5,970; pouf, from £1,570, both by Front, for Moroso, upholstered in ‘Arda’ fabric, by Front, for Kvadrat Febrik
(Image credit: Tom Hancocks)
‘As children in our native Sweden, our playground was the forest, and we imagined rocks, moss and fallen trees to be furniture and places for the body to rest and occupy,’ say the designers of their process.
The pair worked with Moroso and Kvadrat Febrik to recreate natural surfaces on textiles using 3D scanning and photography: the upholstered volumes of ‘Pebble Rubble’ mimic weathered rocks, and are combined into traditional furniture functions that include sofas, armchairs and stools. The system is composed of 15 modules (seats and backrests) and three additional stools: together, they allow a multitude of compositions to create functional seating.
‘It’s an interplay between design and nature that is very important in these times,’ says Patrizia Moroso. ‘We have so much to learn from nature.’
frontdesign.se (opens in new tab) moroso.it (opens in new tab) kvadrat.dk (opens in new tab)
A doctored image has been repeatedly shared in Urdu-language tweets and Facebook posts that falsely claim it shows the “US ambassador to Pakistan” posing after hunting Pakistan’s national animal, the markhor goat. The original photo has appeared in multiple reports about an American man who supposedly paid tens of thousands of dollars to hunt the markhor in Pakistan. This photo had been digitally altered to insert the image of the US consul general in Lahore — not the US ambassador as the posts claim.
“This photo is a true reflection of Pakistan’s situation,” reads part of the Urdu-language caption to the doctored image shared on Twitter on December 24, 2022.
“The markhor is lying under the American ambassador just like [Pakistan’s secret service] are also lying under American policies,” it adds.
The image purports to show US diplomat William Makaneole posing with a markhor, a large mountain goat with distinctive spiralling horns.
Makaneole is the US consul general in Pakistan’s second most populous city Lahore. The US ambassador to Pakistan is Donald Blome — whose photo is shown here.
The post circulated as tensions grew between the United States and Pakistan following the ousting of former prime minister Imran Khan in a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
Khan has alleged that his ousting was orchestrated by the United States in a “regime change” conspiracy, and that the current leadership is an “imported government of crooks”.
Analysts say no evidence has proven this, but the anti-America message resonates deeply in parts of Pakistan.
Screenshot of the doctored image shared on Twitter. Taken January 13, 2023
The doctored image was also shared in similar posts on Twitter here, here and here; and on Facebook here, here, here, here and here.
But the original photo does not show Makaneole; it has circulated since at least 2016 in reports about foreign trophy hunters in Pakistan.
American trophy hunter
Google reverse image and keyword searches found the photo published in a report by the local news organisation Pamir Times on December 15, 2016.
The photo is uncaptioned, but the report reads: “Fred Rich, a hunter from Texas USA, successfully hunted a Markhor trophy in Chitral today.”
“The US national paid USD 100,000 to get the trophy,” it adds.
Pakistan’s national animal has been classed as “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, but hunting is allowed for people willing to shell out tens of thousands of dollars for a trophy hunting permit.
AFP reported that these permits provide a financial incentive for local communities to prevent poaching.
The photo was also published in a report on markhor trophy hunting by The Express Tribune newspaper on November 27, 2018.
Neither the Pamir Times nor The Express Tribune mentions trophy hunting permits being bought by American diplomats.
A similar photo from a different angle was posted on Twitter here by journalist Benazir Samad on December 29, 2016.
“#Markhor trophy hunting #Chitral: American citizen Fred Rich obtained the hunting permit from the #wildlife department for US $100000,” reads the tweet.
Below is a screenshot comparison of the doctored image (left) and the photo that appeared in the Pamir Times in 2016 (right):
Screenshot comparison
Makaneole’s image
A search on the verified Facebook page of the US Consulate General Lahore found Makaneole’s image was taken from this photo published on February 24, 2022.
The caption to the album that contains the photo reads: “CG Makaneole participates in the launch ceremony of PakTESOL, a platform for the Pakistani English Language Teaching (ELT) community in collaboration with Allama Iqbal Open University and University of Education Lahore.”
Below is a screenshot comparison of the doctored image (left) and Makaneole’s photo published by the consulate (right):
Screenshot comparison
A spokesperson from Makaneole’s office also told AFP the altered image was “fake”.
“The image is not Consul General Makaneole. He has not hunted in Pakistan, and no diplomat currently serving at the U.S. Consulate in Lahore has gone hunting in Pakistan,” Karl Rogers, spokesperson from the US Consulate General Lahore, said on January 14, 2023.
Online posts carrying the doctored image were also debunked by Pakistan’s Geo News here.
Norwalk is a populous city in Los Angeles County, California.
It’s a bustling residential district just several miles from Downtown Los Angeles, allowing this place to blossom into a great community with a strong local economy.
While not mainly known for its tourism, Norwalk has a couple of exciting parks and city attractions that make for a great day trip when visiting Los Angeles.
Lots of its underrated spots are free of charge, so you’ll have no problems adjusting your budget to visit the city.
Here’s a list of the free things to do in Norwalk, California:
Kick Back and Relax at Norwalk Park
Northwalker, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Norwalk Park is one of the epicenters of the community, known for various free amenities you can enjoy as a visitor.
If you’re into skateboarding, Norwalk Park has a decent skatepark that doubles as a BMX biking area.
It’s also a common place to kick back and enjoy a nice clear day in California, as it has plenty of benches and greenery.
Northwalker, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Several other free attractions are within walking distance from Norwalk Park, making this a must-visit if you’re planning to go.
You can find this city park along Norwalk’s Sproul Street, parallel to the Santa Ana Freeway.
See the Historic Gilbert Sproul Museum
Gilbert Sproul Museum is one of the city’s greatest historical treasures, found within Norwalk Park.
Gilbert Sproul is considered the first resident in Norwalk, with his house dating back to 1870.
Now, you can see this historic home, once a ranch around 400-plus acres in size.
You can take photos of this beautiful house, which is fenced in the corner of Norwalk Park.
Then, you can also go on tours where you can see the 19th-century artifacts that mostly show the lifestyle of Sproul that revolved around his ranch.
One of the highlights of this tour is the house’s kitchen, which is neatly preserved to its 1870 appearance.
If you’re raring to tour the Gilbert Sproul Museum, time your trip accordingly, as the city government only holds it every first Sunday of the month.
Bring the Kids to Holifield Park
Northwalker, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Holifield Park is another public park in Norwalk with something unique in store if you’re traveling with the little ones.
Equipped with modern and intricately designed playgrounds, Holifield Park isn’t your run-of-the-mill playground.
What makes this an exciting attraction for children is its unique rocket ship-like play structure, along with a kiddie zipline that’s sure to bring out the joy in many children.
Northwalker, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
There are more things to do here for the adults, including a basketball court and a baseball field.
The field, in particular, is a popular spot for city tournaments and leagues, so that you may stumble upon a live game during your visit.
Holifield Park can be found along Excelsior Drive.
Northwalker, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Check Out Local Art at Mary Paxon Art Gallery
Mary Paxon Art Gallery is another attraction you can visit for free that’s just a stone’s throw away from Norwalk Park.
Located inside the city’s Cultural Arts Center, Mary Paxon Art Gallery houses various artworks done by the promising local talent of Norwalk.
If you’re wondering who the gallery’s namesake is, it’s a member of the Norwalk Arts Commission and one of the greatest artists to hail from the city.
You’ll find all sorts of art mediums here, ranging from paintings to sculptures of all kinds.
As a fantastic place for art enthusiasts, Mary Paxon Art Gallery won’t take much of your time, making this a great addition to your Norwalk itinerary.
See the Architecture at Norwalk Civic Center
Matt Gush / Shutterstock.com
Norwalk Civic Center is in the heart of Norwalk’s business district, in the stretch of Norwalk Boulevard.
As one of the green, open spaces in the business district, Norwalk Civic Center is a great stopover before or after you do some urban exploration.
The civic center is intricately designed and constructed to harmonize its aesthetic with its neighboring buildings, such as Norwalk City Hall and Norwalk Courthouse.
There are a couple of exciting statues and some benches, with a generally peaceful ambiance.
If you’re lucky, you may stumble upon an event, as Norwalk Civic Center is one of the most popular places where locals congregate.
Enjoy Recreational Activities at Gerdes Park
Gerdes Park is located along Gridley Road, one of Norwalk’s best recreational spaces.
Sports is an everyday activity in this sizable park among its locals, particularly baseball and basketball, thanks to its great courts and fields.
There are even bleachers in this park, which is great if you’re not looking to play but would like to sit back and enjoy watching a local game.
Besides, Gerdes Park is another famous spot for picnics and barbecues because of its proximity to the residential areas of Norwalk.
There is lots of greenery and a kiddie playground, making this one of the best all-rounders for families.
Enjoy Quiet Time at Norwalk Library
Northwalker, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Norwalk Library is another nearby destination just a few steps away from Norwalk Civic Center.
The public library offers one of the best locations for a quiet place to do some work or spend a few hours in peace.
There are computers and study tables to help you get the job done, along with a professional staff ready to help.
The brutalist architecture of Norwalk Library also gives it a unique aesthetic that should be a great addition to your photo gallery.
The Norwalk Library is a great all-rounder for families looking to spend a few quiet hours.
Learn Local History at the D.D. Johnston-Hargitt House Museum
Once the home of one of the first families to settle in Norwalk, the D.D. Johnston-Hargitt House Museum is an essential piece of Norwalk history.
This historic home was built in 1891 by Darius David Johnston, credited with pioneering Norwalk’s first school system and investing in its first real industry: a cheese factory.
Today, this Victorian Eastlake-style house contains the Johnston-Hargitt family’s heirlooms and memorabilia, offering a unique glimpse into local history.
Beautifully preserved, the D.D. Johnston-Hargitt House Museum is Norwalk’s only nationally registered landmark.
Visit in the afternoons on the first and third Saturdays of the month to join free docent-led tours that bring the house to life.
This fantastic museum can be found along Mapledale Street near Holifield Park.
See the Holiday Carnival at Norwalk Town Square
Matt Gush / Shutterstock.com
The Norwalk Town Square is one of the most popular destinations in Norwalk, and its yearly Holiday Carnival is the highly anticipated events in the city.
As free event geared towards children and parents, the Holiday Carnival features a unique set of festivities highlighted by the city’s own Santa Claus.
In previous years, the entrance of Santa Claus was pretty crazy, as he arrived to see the children via helicopter!
Matt Gush / Shutterstock.com
Activities abound during the Holiday Carnival for children, and the festivities make this event a feel-good place even for adults.
Even if you’re not going during Christmas, there are plenty more year-round events at Norwalk Town Square.
You can find Norwalk Town Square along Pioneer Boulevard.
Hang Out at Robert White Park
Another famous city park in Norwalk is Robert White Park, which you can find along Hoxie Avenue.
Geared towards the nearby residential areas of Norwalk, Robert White Park is an excellent city park known for its basketball courts, walking trails, and playgrounds.
Robert White Park is a great place to take your dogs for a nice walk.
The park also gets plenty of shade in the afternoon, making this a popular hangout spot and picnic ground.
Add this park to your itinerary for a place to spend some downtime during your visit.
Other Nearby Things to Do
Explore the El Dorado Nature Center
RingDeer Enterprises / Shutterstock.com
El Dorado Nature Center is one of Norwalk’s best nearby attractions that won’t cost you a single penny, only a 12-minute drive south of the city.
Found in Long Beach, California, El Dorado Nature Center is a haven for nature enthusiasts because its sprawling lands are home to diverse flora and fauna.
Its hiking trails are its bread and butter, offering some of the best areas to do nature photography.
Demi Lucas, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
You’ll find lush woodlands, lakes, and creeks along the hiking trails that span around three miles long.
There’s also a visitor center here with exhibits.
Take Photos of the Old South Gate Train Bridge
Norwalk is close to the Los Angeles River, and one of the best places to see the river is the Old South Gate Train Bridge.
This bridge is in Los Angeles, California, 18 minutes from Norwalk.
This area isn’t your run-of-the-mill tourist attraction, as it’s more for the curious adventurer into the abandoned aesthetic and photography.
As an extremely rundown trestle bridge, Old South Gate Train Bridge is a fantastic place to do some rustic photography involving the Los Angeles River.
It’s full of rust and graffiti, and the place generally feels desolate, giving you a unique experience as you explore this area.
It’s a great place to ride a bike as well, as there are tracks here that locals use.
Old South Gate Train Bridge makes a fantastic addition if you’re in the mood for something quirky during your trip.
Bring Your Dog to Hollydale Regional Park
Close to the Old Gate South Bridge, Hollydale Regional Park is a more family-oriented place along the Los Angeles River that’s only 13 minutes from Norwalk.
One of the unique aspects of this place is its dog park, which Norwalk doesn’t have.
Here, you can let your dog run loose without spending any fee.
The greenery is spacious and a popular place to socialize your dogs in case they’re still in their training stage.
Besides the dog park, Hollydale Regional Park has substantial open spaces popular for sports and picnics.
Ride a Bike at Wilderness Park
Eight minutes from Norwalk lies Wilderness Park, found in the neighboring city of Downey, California.
Unlike the parks in Norwalk, Wilderness Park offers sprawling biking trails thanks to its sizable area.
The place is one of the most gorgeous treasures near the immediate area of Norwalk because of its picturesque ponds hosting ducks and geese.
It’s also right along the San Gabriel River, accentuating its natural beauty even more.
You can easily jog or stroll around this beautiful park.
Visit the Whittier Museum
Located just 15 minutes from Norwalk is the Whittier Museum in the city of Whittier, California.
As a museum with free admission, this is one of the best museums in Los Angeles County to learn about its urban history.
You’ll find many artifacts and relics dating as far back as the 19th century in this quaint museum.
A couple of art exhibits are also in Whittier Museum.
This small museum should be a fantastic addition to your itinerary.
Final Thoughts
While Norwalk isn’t mainly a famous tourist hotspot, many things to do in the city and surrounding areas warrant a spot in your itinerary.
If you’re convinced to go, use this list of the free things to do in Norwalk, California, as your budget-friendly guide.
Plan your trip today!
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