Shaking Things Up: Chicago Shakespeare Theater giving audiences mix of old and new favorites for new season

Long before Chicago Shakespeare Theater announced the theater's 2013-14 Season in March, discussions and drama behind the scenes about production preferences began two years ago.

Waves of success: Radio One founder Len Ellis named Columbia College Alumnus of the Year

VALPARAISO | Len Ellis, the broadcaster behind creating what is now Northwest Indiana's most successful chain of sister radio stations, is being honored by his alma mater Columbia College Chicago in May as Alumnus of the Year for 2013.

OFFBEAT: Local readers with WW II memories join Honor Flight

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

D.215 teachers receive recognition for excellence

Two Thornton Fractional High School District 215 teachers have been recognized for their abilities in the classroom, the district announced in separate news releases.

PUC students inducted into engineering honor society

HAMMOND | Sixteen Purdue University Calumet students were recently inducted into Tau Alpha Pi national honor society for engineering technology students.

Longtime Crete schoolteacher receives Golden Apple honors

CRETE | Victor Ostarello learned earlier this week that his wife, Denise, was going to be honored Wednesday as one of the Chicago area’s best educators. Yet he managed to keep quiet.

Lan-Oak Park District seeks nominations for Vince Award

When I first moved to Lansing, one thing I got excited about was the Lan-Oak Park District. I looked forward to having children and enrolling them in programs at the park district.

PUC residence hall earns ‘School of the Year' honor

HAMMOND | Purdue University Calumet earned Indiana Residence Hall Organization School of the Year recognition at the recent IRHO conference.

Ind. Senate names two with region ties top interns

INDIANAPOLIS | An Indiana University student from Ogden Dunes and an aide to state Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, were selected by the Indiana Senate last week as outstanding interns of the 2012 legislative session.

South Suburban Hospital announces local MVP winners

HAZEL CREST, Ill. | Advocate South Suburban Hospital has honored five associates as MVP Value Leaders for the first quarter of 2012. The MVP, which stands for Mission, Value and Philosophy program, recognizes associates, physicians and volunteers who go above and beyond in demonstrating Advo…

Church honors Sunday School teachers

CROWN POINT | Three dedicated Sunday School teachers were honored recently at Trinity Lutheran Church and School.

MetroSouth Medical receives 8 awards for marketing

BLUE ISLAND | MetroSouth Medical Center recently received eight Pinnacle Awards from the Illinois Society for Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations.

Valparaiso transit center

Valparaiso has applied for a $25.9 million federal grant to build a $32.3 million bus transit center at Lincolnway and Morgan Boulevard. The corner property where a Round the Clock Restaurant stands would have to be acquired for the project, which would include retail and housing components.

Valparaiso transit center

Valparaiso has applied for a $25.9 million federal grant to build a $32.3 million bus transit center at Lincolnway and Morgan Boulevard. The corner property where a Round the Clock Restaurant stands would have to be acquired for the project, which would included retail and housing components.

Col. Wheeler salute to vets

Students and staff at Colonel John Wheeler Middle School gather in the Crown Point school's gymnsaium to honor local miltary veterans during their Veterans Day program.

Col. Wheeler salute to vets

Christian Ahearn, of Crown Point and a soldier in the U.S. Army, lifts his sister, Mackenzie, 12, a Wheeler Middle School student, during the Colonel John Wheeler Middle School's Veterans Day program. It included presentations of prose by students, and musical selections performed by the eig…

Col. Wheeler salute to vets

Gordan Bates, of Crown Point, looks at a Veterans Day card given to him by Wheeler Middle School student Maja Dorsuleski, 13, Friday during the school's Veterans Day program. At 87-years-old, Bates was the oldest veteran who attended the program.

Col. Wheeler salute to vets

Students and staff at Colonel John Wheeler Middle School recite the Pledge of Allligience during the school's Veterans Day program.

PSC earns accolades at public relations conference

CHICAGO HEIGHTS | Prairie State College received a gold and two silver medallion awards of excellence at the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations District 3 conference held last month in Detroit, Mich. Members of the Communications and Marketing Department accepted the awards …

D.201-U Communications Department recognized for excellence in communications

CRETE | The Crete-Monee School District 201-U Communications Department is back on top after being recognized at the state and national level for excellence in communications.