GUEST COMMENTARY: Ethics training pays off, but doesn't cost much

What has the Shared Ethics Advisory Commission done lately? Quite a lot but never enough. The commission is composed of seven member communities -- Crown Point, Dyer, East Chicago, Highland, Munster, Schererville and Whiting. We are a nice mix of urban and suburban, large and small. We welco…

Helping Hands partnership raises $40,000 for children

Celebrating the Helping Hands donation of $40,000 toward Christmas toys for needy children are, from left, Bob Scott, of Lake Area United Way; Tom DeGiulio, board chair of The Salvation Army; Brad Vosberg, of First Midwest Bank; Major Russell Sjögren, of The Salvation Army; Tom Keilman, of B…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Obama's immigration policy is right on target

Immigration — always an emotional issue — is back on the front burner with President Barack Obama’s recent announcement of a partial change in federal policy. The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on Arizona’s “show your papers” law will no doubt further inflame passions.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Government should borrow more to build stronger economy

Everyone agrees, so it must be right -- we have to lower the federal deficit and national debt. Can everyone be wrong? Well, yes and no.

Rotary honors Cohens for service to PUC and Hammond

Howard and Patti Cohen, from left, receive the Heinze Vocational Service Award from Calvin Bellamy, Hammond Rotary’s Vocational Service chairman, and Jim McNabney, president of the Hammond Rotary Club.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Shareholders are taking charge

The media have been flooded with campaign ads focused on state and federal elections. These elections are, of course, important, but there is another series of elections that impact almost all of us -- the annual elections for boards of directors of major American companies.

GUEST COMMENTARY: If you can afford it, buy some economic recovery

Oh, what are we to do? Unemployment is high and doesn't seem to be going down. Many additional people are underemployed, working only part time. Still others have given up altogether.

GUEST COMMENTARY: What do we need government for anyway?

To hear some of our political leaders talk, the government, especially the federal government, is too big, too inefficient, too intrusive and possibly too corrupt. It seems the only good thing government can do, according to some of these officials, is cut taxes and "get out of the way." Man…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Ethics in local government needed, available

Ethics in local government is not an oxymoron. In fact, the vast majority of municipal employees want to do the right thing and are proud of the service they render. However, the devil is always in the details.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Jenkins' persistent message must be continually told

There is no shortage of role models from the worlds of sports, entertainment, business, government and religious life. But too many of today's "heroes" teach a false way of living.

Thoughts for my friends in Porter County

Lake and Porter County residents are next door neighbors. At 30,000 feet, you can hardly tell us apart. Prevailing weather and wind patterns know no boundaries. Our air is your air; your weather is our weather. We share Lake Michigan and various watersheds. A flooding Little Calumet River th…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Ethics group's training plan really works

The conviction of East Chicago Mayor George Pabey raises questions once again about local government ethics in Lake County. Is there something in Lake County's DNA that causes local government corruption?

GUEST COMMENTARY: Mindless fear is tearing apart fabric of society

Great controversy is swirling about the proposed Islamic Cultural Center a few blocks from the site of the World Trade Center, also known as ground zero. But controversy is not limited to that New York City location. Similar debates are occurring in response to mosque construction in Califor…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Real Americanism is rooted in volunteerism

What do the 63 million who volunteer know about life that the self-seeking, me-first, I'm-keeping-score people are missing? Maybe it's as simple as a triangle -- not a Hollywood love triangle; just a plain, straightforward triangle. Let's look at the three sides of that triangle.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Offer incentives for streamlining local government

When it comes to streamlining local government, many ideas have already surfaced. Combine 911 centers -- that seems sensible. Handle sewage on a regional basis -- why not? Create a single county executive with an expanded county council -- it’s worked elsewhere. Consolidate fire and maybe ev…

GUEST COMMENTARY: When it makes sense to pay taxes

What would it take for you to agree to a modest increase ($100 or so) in property tax? Personal safety, maybe? Or a civic improvement to increase the resale value of your home? What about a project improving the quality of life in your community?

Changes need in pitch for improved region mass transit

The obvious conclusion from the recent transit referendum is that mass transit is dead. After all, where the vote was held, the voters overwhelmingly rejected the formation of a four-county transit district. The people seem to have spoken. But does that mean the case is closed and the issue …

GUEST COMMENTARY: There's more to teaching than the subject taught

It's back to school time, and Indiana's Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett has been going around the state outlining his vision for the future of Hoosier education. And there's no time like the present to think about this important and complex issue.

Gary's success is important to all of us

Should I care about Gary? After all, I live in Munster and work in Schererville. Most of my volunteer activities are with organizations based in Hammond or Merrillville. So, why does Gary matter to me? Well, let's count the ways.

Resolutions for the region to pursue in 2009

This is the time of the year when we make and perhaps briefly remember our New Year's resolutions. Here are a few wishes that I really hope Northwest Indiana can at least begin fulfilling in 2009.

The Electoral College concept is obsolete

At last we are in the final phase of the protracted 2008 presidential election cycle and our attention turns once again to the Electoral College, the body that actually elects the president. Let me say that again: The American people do not elect the president. Instead, we vote for a slate o…

A new way to spark job growth

We've heard for years how the new international economy is taking shape here in Indiana. Discussion and debate often center on job losses and the departures of corporate headquarters from our communities.

Honor innovators leading the way to region's future

For a very long time, the future of Northwest Indiana was easy to predict. We thought our giant mills and refineries would always provide the bulk of local jobs. This was what we had and it was all we needed for about a hundred years.

Cooperation is good, but we need consolidation

Northwest Indiana's future is bright. Our older industries have reinvented themselves and are now exciting 21st century ventures. Our smaller businesses are also growing and learning to serve international customers. A comprehensive structure exists locally to promote entrepreneurship. So No…

CEOs lead community, workers, too

For 24 years, I was chief executive officer of Bank Calumet. To be honest, I would have preferred to continue for another several years, but everyone knows it's not management but the owners who decide when it's the right time to sell. Be that as it may, over the years, what did I learn abou…

Partnerships with schools are good business

For many years, Bank Calumet has worked to enrich the educational experience of local students. Our officers make frequent classroom presentations.

20/20 vision: 20 years forward, then 20 years back

Let's fast-forward to February 2026, where this scenario might occur:

One person can make a tremendous difference in lives

Can one person really make a difference? Consider Marla Ruzicka. If you looked at her picture, you would see a California blond with a broad grin in her 20s.

Dawn of a new era in the region

We've all heard about the challenges facing Northwest Indiana: heavy reliance on aging industries, brownfields and urban decay, and of course the much talked about brain drain. But the facts don't necessarily match this familiar list of negatives. After all, our heavy industry has modernized…

What we need now is 20/20 foresight

Sometimes information and insights seem to come to us backward. The historian can tell us precisely how the last war was won. Last year's stock market movements can be exactly explained by economists. Pathologists authoritatively report what caused a person's death. We even have an expressio…