Portage enjoys both commerce, recreation

Eli Martin-Eberhardt, 16, left, and his sister Sylvie Martin-Eberhardt, 13, lean into the wind at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk on Oct. 30.

PHIL WIELAND: If we believe the Mayans, Santa won't be flyin'

Just in case the world didn't end today, as some believe the Mayans predicted, I offer this rhyme as a substitute disaster.

Call for paper snowflakes for Newtown answered by C.P. girl, 7, and mom

Erika Wagner, of Crown Point, is organizing a group to make paper snowflakes Jan. 5 at First United Methodist Church in Crown Point and sending them to the Sandy Hook Parent Teacher Association as part of a national show of support for the school.

Call for paper snowflakes for Newtown answered by C.P. girl, 7, and mom

Erika Wagner, of Crown Point, and her son, Julian, 2, make paper snowflakes to send to the Sandy Hook Parent Teacher Association as part of a national show of support for the school.

Call for paper snowflakes for Newtown answered by C.P. girl, 7, and mom

Erika Wagner, of Crown Point, holds her son Julian, 2, as he admires a snowflake made for Sandy Hook students.

Sandy's East Coast victims aren't waiting for federal aid

Can anyone tell me why the people who have lost everything on the East Coast have not rioted, raped or robbed each other? It is because they are hard working individuals who don't wait for the government to do everything for them like down in New Orleans.

Plight of dispossessed strikes chord

Allison Swarens, 9, left, and her best friend Zelia Hubbell-Schmidlin, 8, walked their Lowell neighborhood with this sign to raise money for Hurricane Sandy victims on the East Coast. The girls raised $64 to help people devastated by the storm.

Plight of dispossessed strikes chord

Allison Swarens, 9, left, and her best friend Zelia Hubbell-Schmidlin, 8, walked door to door in their Lowell neighborhood with this sign to raise money for Hurricane Sandy victims on the East Coast.

Strong winds blowing through region in Sandy's wake

Waves crash as the sun sets Tuesday at Marquette Park in Gary.

Strong winds blowing through region in Sandy's wake

People visit the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore's Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk on Tuesday to see the strong waves and wind.

Strong winds blowing through region in Sandy's wake

Waves crash as the sun sets Tuesday at Marquette Park in Gary.

Strong winds blowing through region in Sandy's wake

Valerie Farley, left, Elizabeth Ryan, center, and Brittany Childers take photographs Tuesday of high waves at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore's Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk.

Strong winds blowing through region in Sandy's wake

Eli Martin-Eberhardt, 16, left, and his sister Sylvie Martin-Eberhardt, 13, lean into the wind Tuesday in Portage near Lake Michigan.

Strong winds blowing through region in Sandy's wake

Waves crash over a break wall Tuesday in Portage.

Skyler Adams as Danny Zuko opposite Emma Ritchie as Sandy

Skyler Adams is Danny Zuko opposite Emma Ritchie as Sandy in "Grease" at Paramount Theatre in Aurora until Oct. 7.

Seeing red

SEEING RED - - Laura Riggle, 12, of Valparaiso, plays the title role of Annie in the musical of the same name opening July 31, 2010 at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville. She is joined on stage by Shelby the Dog, of St. John, who is playing her best canine friend Sandy.

Little Orphan Annie has a home at Star Plaza

For the last show actor John Boss played at Star Plaza Theatre he was sporting a lot of extra hair. This weekend, he's leaving the curly hair wigs to his younger and much shorter female co-star.

Following his commands

FOLLOWING HIS COMMANDS - - After July 1, 2010 auditions, Shelby of Dyer, Ind. has been selected to star as Sandy in the musical "Annie" at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, Ind. and also starring Laura Riggle in the title role.

Favorite friends

FAVORITE FRIENDS - - After July 1, 2010 auditions, a canine has now been selected to star as Sandy in the musical "Annie" at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, and also starring Laura Riggle (pictured) in the title role.

OFFBEAT: Shelby the Dog will make a dandy Sandy for Star Plaza's 'Annie'

It was earlier this month that I alerted readers that producers at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville were on the hunt for a clever and cute canine to share the spotlight for Star Production's staging of "Annie."