Brett Riley

Dominic's shoe repair

Dominic Petulla owns and runs Gold Star Shoe Repair and Hat Cleaning in Camden, N.J. He started working by his father's side at the store when he was 10-years-old, over 65 years ago.

Northwest Indiana Forum Promotes Region Advantages

A view of interstate 80/94 looking eastbound from Wentworth Ave. in Lansing, Ill.

Region racial divide blurring -- slowly

Alicia Rios, center foreground, and her husband, Oscar Rios, to her left, both Mexican-American, have lived in Crown Point for 12 years. Before that they lived in Merrillville for 20 years, moving there from East Chicago in 1979. They pose for a portrait with their family and neighbors in Cr…

Lake County developing north and south

A welcome to Indiana sign greets drivers going into Dyer on U.S. 30. A number of regional groups are cooperating on an advertising campaign to highlight the area's transportation infrastructure, proximity to Chicago, work force and facilities. Illinois' recent 46 percent corporate income tax…

T.F. North junior Sylvester Tolliver shoots around the defense

T.F. North junior Sylvester Tolliver shoots around the defense of Lemont senior Evan Bridwell in T.F. North's 67-20 win on Friday.

T.F. North senior Deandre Lowery and junior Sylvester Tolliver fight for a loose ball

T.F. North senior Deandre Lowery and junior Sylvester Tolliver fight for a loose ball against Lemont senior Jeff Gurrister in T.F. North's 67-20 win on Friday.

Lemont junior Clayton Tittle passes around the defense

Lemont junior Clayton Tittle passes around the defense of T.F. North junior Torin Washington in the Meteors' 67-20 win on Friday.

Lemont head coach and former T.F. North coach Rick Runaas

Lemont head coach and former T.F. North coach Rick Runaas watches his team during Lemont's 67-20 loss to the Meteors on Friday.

T.F. North senior Deandre Lowery shoots against the defense

T.F. North senior Deandre Lowery shoots against the defense of Lemont sophomore Erick Rydberg during T.F. North's 67-20 win on Friday.

Sharon's Cakes

Sharon Komes, owner of Sharon's Custom Designed Cakes, works with Taleyah Lumas, 12, right, of Evergreen Park, Ill., and Kailyn Santos, 11, left, of Blue Island, Ill., during a kids cake decorating class at Komes' business in Crete.

Sharon's Cakes

This pizza cake was decorated by Kailyn Santos of Blue Island, Ill., during a class at Sharon's Custom Designed Cakes.

Sharon's Cakes

Pictured is a display wedding cake made by Sharon Komes, owner of Sharon's Custom Designed Cakes in Crete.

VFW national leader visits Hobart post

Dan Davis, far left, of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6841 in Lowell, studies his camera Tuesday while VFW State Commander of Indiana Gene Kijanowski, from left, VFW National 2011 Junior Vice Commander in Chief Bill Thien and VFW State Judge Advocate for Indiana Jim Thiel pose for a photogra…

VFW national leader visits Hobart post

VFW National 2011 Junior Vice Commander in Chief Bill Thien, center, prays with VFW members from local posts Tuesday before having lunch at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5365 in Hobart. Thien encouraged VFW members to update their technology in the hopes of attracting younger members.

POTW Jan 16th-Jan 22nd - Service

Army National Guard Cadet Jesse Thomas presents JoAnn Smith-Aldrich, right, with the flag draped over her father, cadaver donor Estle Loomis, during a memorial for Loomis and other donors at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Gary, Friday, Jan. 14.

Brett Riley

Reeling Illinois in businesses

The Indiana welcome sign is shown above Interstate 80/94 looking eastbound from Wentworth Avenue in Lansing. A number of regional groups are cooperating on an advertising campaign to highlight the area's transportation infrastructure, proximity to Chicago, work force and facilities.

Reeling in Illinois businesses

A welcome to Indiana sign greets drivers going into Dyer on U.S. 30. A number of regional groups are cooperating on an advertising campaign to highlight the area's transportation infrastructure, proximity to Chicago, work force and facilities. Illinois' recent 46 percent corporate income tax…

BEARS REVENUE

Jeff Bridges, left, co-owner of Bridges Scoreboard Restaurant & Sports Bar, talks to customers Amie DeRolf, center, and David Brock at the Griffith bar Wednesday. Bridges is scheduling extra employees to handle anywhere from 200 to 300 patrons for Sunday's big game.