GRIFFITH

Disaster relief loan office is open at Town Hall

The Small Business Administration will have office hours in Griffith Town Hall this week so victims of the recent tornado can apply for low-interest federal disaster loans.

The office opens today and will remain open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday until further notice. It will be open this Saturday only, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Griffith Town Hall is located at 111 N. Broad St.

The administration will make low-interest loans of up to $200,000 available to homeowners. Up to $40,000 may be available to homeowners and renters to repair or replace damaged personal property. In both cases, the loans can be made only toward damage not covered by insurance.

The disaster relief applies to Lake, Porter, Jasper and Newton counties.

Businesses and private nonprofits can receive up to $2 million. For businesses only, economic injury disaster loans of up to $2 million are available to help meet working capital needs caused by storm damage.

ST. JOHN

Damaged Chase bank branch reopens lobby

The lobby is open at a St. John bank that sustained major damage when a car plowed through one set of doors and out the other on Thursday.

The Chase bank branch, 9600 Wicker Ave., reopened its drive-through and ATM lane on Friday, but the lobby had remained closed. It is now open for business as usual, although some additional repairs are needed and will be finished this week, Chase spokeswoman Nancy Norris said.

No one was hurt last week when a Merrillville man accidentally crashed his 2005 BMW sport utility vehicle through the glass doors of the bank. The driver was not cited.

HAMMOND

Healthy Start office relocated to Grand Ave.

The Northwest Indiana Healthy Start office has been moved to 6939 Grand Ave.

Information about the move is available by calling Community Outreach Coordinator Avis Rogers-Dumas at (219) 090-3939.

SCHERERVILLE

Officials seek input on town's future growth

Schererville officials are asking residents for input on the town's comprehensive plan.

The Department of Planning and Building will host the meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 26 at Schererville Town Hall, 10 E. Joliet St.

Organizers will discuss the past, present and future of Schererville. The Arsh Group, which has a contract with the town to develop its comprehensive plan, will guide discussion.

HAMMOND

Statue replica featured at Mayor's Night Out

This week's Mayor's Night Out will include a presentation on the Statue of Liberty replica by representatives of the engineering and architectural firm of American Structurepoint Inc.

The firm will focus on determining the structural and architectural needs involved in erecting the 130-foot replica of the statue on Boy Scout Island at Wolf Lake.

Mayor's Night Out with Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at Irving Elementary School, 4727 Pine Ave.