Education called key in early cancer detection

VALPARAISO | Allison Robertson hopes to educate more women about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Sandy Ragon receives complete makeover thanks to nonprofit group

VALPARAISO | Sandy Ragon thought she and her daughter, Nicole, were getting facials Friday morning.

Fundraiser to honor, remember Gabriel Rocha

PORTAGE | Joshua Rocha, of Hobart, hopes people never forget his father, Gabriel Rocha.

Valparaiso woman sells hair for $4,000

VALPARAISO | Debra Yerga may have lost 31 inches of hair, but she is now $4,000 richer.

YMCA kicks off campaign fund

PORTAGE | The Portage Township YMCA kicked off We Build People, its annual support campaign, with a breakfast Wednesday morning.

Clients honored at Celebration of Achievement

VALPARAISO | Opportunity Enterprises hosted its Celebration of Achievement breakfast at Strongbow Thursday morning.

Let's get crackin'

VALPARAISO | Dr. Brian Hold hopes to have a lot of appointments on Friday at his chiropractic practice, Hoosier Chiropractor.

Boyce has 'Caring Designs' for women

VALPARAISO | Margy Boyce loves to be creative and has a flair for fashion designs when it come to decorating homes.

Road to Life Church service planned in Hobart

HOBART | Road to Life Church in Chesterton is going on the road Sunday.

Friends 'roast' Boys & Girls Club President Chuck Leer

VALPARAISO | About 150 people attended a "roast" at Strongbow Inn for Chuck Leer, who is leaving the Porter County Boys & Girls Club after 40 years as its president.

Valpo woman part of NBA all stars weekend in Houston

VALPARAISO | Abby Johnston and her mother, Madeline, are in Houston for the NBA All Star game.

Read-a-thon to help boy with leukemia

UNION TOWNSHIP | Four days after Colin Mosley's first birthday his family found out he had leukemia. Now 3-1/2 years old, he is having complications from the bone marrow transplant he received in 2010.

Portage Community Garden taking root for charities

PORTAGE | Members of Portage Community Garden will be growing vegetable for local food pantries this year.

Valparaiso Goes Red for women

VALPARAISO | Valparaiso University's Harre Union was a sea of red Friday morning for Go Red for Women.

Banta Knitters group creates robes, blankets, shawls for good causes

VALPARAISO | Every Thursday a group of ladies gets together to knit and crochet items they eventually donate to good causes.

These kids know their parts of speech

VALPARAISO | The St. Paul Middle School speech team has a lot to be proud of. The 47 members of the team won all three of their meets this season.

Holiday program helps elderly in Porter County

VALPARAISO | Lynne was thrilled to have a Christmas tree in her home this holiday season.

Christmas for the Elderly surpasses its goal

VALPARAISO | The Christmas for the Elderly program raised $45,297.50 to help people in the community this holiday season.

Fundraiser to help defray medical costs for sick baby

UNION TOWNSHIP | Kendyll Pennington has watched her mom and stepdad take care of their son for the past six months and is amazed by their faith.

Ray could use some assistance

HEBRON | Ray, 59, hopes he can one day be more mobile.

Lifeline helps Sandra feel safe, secure

PORTAGE | Knowing she can get help at the push of a button, Sandra, 71, feels safe in her home.

Christmas for the Elderly: Woman hopes to be home after the holidays

VALPARAISO | Karen is getting ready to head back to the hospital. She will be spending the Christmas holiday in the hospital as she undergoes artificial stem cell replacement in her foot and leg.

Fundraiser planned for Chesterton boy, 5, battling brain cancer

CHESTERTON | A year ago Rusty Schultz, of Valparaiso, and his family got some news that has changed their lives.

Hoping to get better and help others

VALPARAISO | Jeffrey hopes to regain his strength and one day volunteer again.

Staying positive helps Ernest

WHEATFIELD | Ernest, 82, loves to smile and is happy-go-lucky but he can still use some assistance with a shower chair and a walker with wheels.

Making life easier for Daniel

PORTAGE | Daniel doesn't get around like he used to.

Christmas tree will brighten the holidays for Lynne

VALPARAISO | Lynne would love to have a Christmas tree in her home for the holidays for Zachary Binx and Carter.

One step at a time: Visiting Nurse Association collecting money for Christmas for the Elderly program

VALPARAISO | Courage. Brenda has a lot of that to get through her daily routine.

Portage pastor and his dog provide relief to those who are affected by disasters

Tim Engel and Barnabas recently traveled to the East Coast to see the damage that was affecting people through Hurricane Sandy.

Annual Christmas for the Elderly program kicks off this holiday season

SOUTH HAVEN | Don, 87, would not be able to live alone without help from the Christmas for the Elderly program. He received help a couple of years ago including a lift chair, Lifeline and a companion homemaker.

Center offers help for those with Alzheimer's, dementia

VALPARAISO | Donna Krawczyk has been taking care of her 88-year-old mother, LaVerne McGuirl, for about 10 years and knows what it's like to work full time and be a caregiver.

'The 39 Steps' begins tonight

PORTAGE | "The 39 Steps," a comedic-whodunit based on the Alfred Hitchcock film, will be performed on stage at Portage High School beginning tonight.

Non-perishables needed for Sandy relief effort

VALPARAISO | Vale park Animal Hospital has been busy collecting donations for Hurricane Sandy Relief.

Porter County Give Day raises more than $186,000 to help nonprofit organizations

VALPARAISO | Porter County Give Day brought in $186,038 to help 17 local nonprofit organizations that address homelessness or provide shelter services. This total reflects all donations — online, in person and the match pool.

Porter County Give Day raises more than $100,000

VALPARAISO | Myron Knauff, 93, was happy to donate Thursday morning to Porter County Give Day.

New booklet shows off woodcarving creations

PORTER COUNTY | Chuck Herman loves to carve wood creations and enjoys being in the Duneland Woodcarvers club.

Valpo High grad volunteers to photograph presidential debate

Valparaiso High School graduate Julia Chappell joined 600 other journalists last week as they watched the second presidential debate at Hofstra University.

Time to dance 24 hours away

VALPARAISO | Dona Henry remembers her mom telling her stories about dancing in a marathon back in the 1930s in Gary. And because of those stories Henry is planning a 24-hour dance marathon to benefit Chicago Street Theatre.

Youth group plans chili cookoff, silent auction

CHESTERTON | The NET (New Experiences Together) Youth Ministry presents a chili cookoff and silent auction from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 5 at Chesterton United Methodist Church, 434 S. 2nd St.

Lexi Elisha to open for Clint Black on Dec. 1 at LaPorte Civic Auditorium

VALPARAISO | Pop country singer and Northwest Indiana artist Lexi Elisha will open for country superstar Clint Black at a benefit concert in December.

Valpo firefighters to host benefit concert

VALPARAISO | Sevenglory, Red Umbrella and Urbanites will perform Christian and secular music at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Porter Amphitheater in Central Park Plaza.

Valparaiso Doll & Bear Show returns to Expo Center

VALPARAISO | The Valparaiso Doll & Bear Show will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Porter County Expo Center, 215 Division Road.

Local company helps family of Chesterton boy fighting cancer

CHESTERTON | Mimi and Adam Schultz are overwhelmed with the outpouring of kindness people have showed their family over the past few months.

Valpo YMCA hosts program for special needs children

VALPARAISO | Every Tuesday and Thursday, about 20 youngsters get together at the Valparaiso Family YMCA to show what they can do.

Parents plan fundraisers in honor of son

CHESTERTON | Lisa Hood hugged the bear her son, Bret Laczynski, held during his last days at hospice.

Donation helps child with life-threatening syndrome

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | Janis Adinolfi is grateful her son will be receiving a portable defibrillator this week -- thanks to the Valparaiso Lions Club.

A Buick century: 1908 Buick Model F has been owned by Obermeyer family for 104 years

VALPARAISO | Don Obermeyer sat in his car and waited for his brother, Jim, to crank up the engine.

Shenna Reeves benefit planned for Sunday

SOUTH HAVEN | A benefit for Shenna Reeves will be held Sunday at American Legion Post 502, 429 W. County Road 750 North.

Former Olympian visits Boys & Girls clubs

SOUTH HAVEN | Former Olympian Dick Tillman visited the South Haven and Valparaiso Boys & Girls clubs Monday to talk about his experiences as an alternate in sailing in the 1976 Olympics.