https://www.spartaindependent.com/pets/meet-benjamin-IF5986802 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-06-29T10:47:31-04:00 Meet Benjamin https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/benjamin_4-10873723_20260629104732.jpg https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/local-news/project-self-sufficiency-honors-volunteers-community-partners-XE5987033 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-06-29T11:57:12-04:00 Project Self-Sufficiency honors volunteers, community partners https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/mosaic-awardees-2026_4-10874277_20260629115714.jpg Project Self-Sufficiency honored individuals, businesses, and organizations for their extraordinary volunteer efforts during the past year. https://www.spartaindependent.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/proposal-to-honor-francis-hopkinson-advances-DE5987207 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-06-29T12:10:33-04:00 Proposal to honor Francis Hopkinson advances https://www.spartaindependent.com/entertainment/skylands-juried-art-exhibit-opens-with-awards-for-regional-artists-DE5987410 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-06-29T12:18:40-04:00 Skylands juried art exhibit opens with awards for regional artists https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc1794-alan-spector-two-birds-open_4-10874494_20260629121850.jpg Alen Spector won the Open Award for "Two Birds." https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc1804-lori-dagostina-lemon-limes-a_4-10874617_20260629121851.jpg Lori Dagostina won the Acrylic Award for "Lemon Limes." https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc1811-cara-bufanio-patio-in-puglia_4-10874620_20260629121853.jpg Cara Bufianio won the oil painting award for "Patio in Puglia." https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc1817-joel-leibowitz-red-door-with_4-10874623_20260629121854.jpg Joel Leibowitz won the mixed media ward for "Red Door with Wisteria." https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc1827-ann-smiga-greene-last-blooms_4-10874626_20260629121855.jpg Ann Smiga Greene is shown with her piece, Last Blooms of Summer. https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc1838-gaias-shell-annalyse-tattoli_4-10874629_20260629121856.jpg Annalyse Tattoli poses with her scuplutre, Gaia's Shell. https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc1846-david-von-doehren-mt-washing_4-10874632_20260629121858.jpg David Von Doehran won an award for his Mt. Washington weather photography. https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc1854-john-sayers-tustees-award-dr_4-10874635_20260629121859.jpg John Sayers won the Trustee Award for Dropneck Trailer with Crane. https://www.spartaindependent.com/entertainment/fairgrounds-hosts-rock-ribs-ridges-FE5987564 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-06-29T12:33:59-04:00 Fairgrounds hosts Rock, Ribs & Ridges https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc-7020_4-10874751_20260629123404.jpg Viola Judge, Kristy Zierenberg, Keri and Phil Brodhecker, all of Newton, pose for a photo. https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc-7026_4-10874756_20260629123406.jpg Festival attendees wait for the performance to start. https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc-7021_4-10874759_20260629123408.jpg Items were for sale. https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/local-news/sparta-vfw-holds-celebration-HH5988449 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-06-29T13:50:45-04:00 Sparta VFW holds celebration https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc-6744_4-10875398_20260629135049.jpg Curvey and Belinda Purkett pose for a photo. https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc-6743_4-10875409_20260629135051.jpg Brian Grace, Larry McKeon, Elisa McKoeon and Delores Grace, all of Sparta, pose for a photo. https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc-6741_4-10875412_20260629135054.jpg Nora and Annie Lynch of Sparta pose for a photo. https://www.spartaindependent.com/entertainment/van-kirk-homestead-museum-to-host-patriotic-jazz-concert-BH5988470 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-06-29T13:54:24-04:00 Van Kirk Homestead Museum to host patriotic jazz concert https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/florian-schantz-2023-a_4-10875420_20260629135428.jpg Florian Schantz https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/business/sparta-books-launches-find-waldo-scavenger-hunt-IH5988497 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-06-29T13:58:52-04:00 Sparta Books launches Find Waldo scavenger hunt https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/sports/local-college-athletes-post-strong-spring-performances-across-multiple-programs-CH5988657 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-06-29T14:05:13-04:00 Local college athletes post strong spring performances across multiple programs https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/business/root-runners-marks-five-years-EH5988754 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-06-29T14:14:09-04:00 Root Runners marks five years https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/img-5532_4-10875667_20260629141414.jpg https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/img-5534_4-10875740_20260629141415.jpg https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/img-5533_4-10875741_20260629141416.jpg https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/img-5535_4-10875742_20260629141417.jpg https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/img-5531_4-10875743_20260629141417.jpg https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/local-news/kitchen-garden-tour-returns-july-26-IN5953695 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-06-29T16:43:06-04:00 Kitchen Garden Tour returns July 26 https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/asyhsa-shiitake-logs_4-10876857_20260629161010.jpg Tour-goers learn how Venjara grows shiitake mushrooms on logs. Photo: Becca Tucker