Runner, walker input first step in Sunset Hill Farm trail mapping

VALPARAISO | Nature enthusiasts and outdoor athletes had an opportunity Wednesday to provide input on a new trail map for Sunset Hill Farm County Park.

PNC graduation honors inspirational students

VALPARAISO | The family and friends of graduates were among the first to be congratulated at the 45th commencement of Purdue North Central.

Museum's new exhibit a labor of love

VALPARAISO | For some, the community is a new friend. For others, it’s in their blood.

Portage High prom a special treat

PORTAGE | Baylen Shanks-Meile couldn’t contain his excitement as he was waiting for his high school prom to start.

Belgian Malinois stars at Valpo Police 5/K9 run

VALPARAISO | Cairo doesn’t realize he’s a chick magnet.

Gloria Dei fiesta marks holiday

VALPARAISO | Authentic home-cooked Mexican food highlighted the Cinco de Mayo celebration Sunday at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Wetland preservation lesson sinks in

CHESTERTON | Protecting the watershed was the lesson Saturday at the Shirley Heinze Land Trust Wetlands Preserve, where Save the Dunes hosted a learning event for adults and children.

Runners strut their stuff for animal shelters, rescues

VALPARAISO | “A lot of mud and a lot of hills.”

Organizations unite at Be Kind to Animals Celebration at Porter County Expo Center

Valparaiso | With a pink bow around her neck, Wanda worked the room, collecting money for her favorite charity.

Eighth annual Earth Day event in Porter County highlights environment information

MORGAN TOWNSHIP | “Amazon Bob” held Whoosier, the Eurasian eagle owl, while kids lined up to pet him.

Region residents become part of Arctic environmental message

VALPARAISO | A love letter showed up on the shore of Loomis Lake at Rogers Lakewood Park Saturday morning.

Boone Grove school board hears success stories

BOONE GROVE | Two presentations kicked off the Porter Township school board April meeting Thursday evening.

New reading books chosen by Hebron teachers

HEBRON | At the school board’s April meeting, Hebron Elementary School principal James Martin announced that the school reading teachers have selected a new reading textbook.

VU students help clean up Valpo roads

VALPARAISO | Saturday’s chilly temperatures created the perfect day for spring cleaning — indoors.

PNC students paint papier-mache eggs with seniors in service project

VALPARAISO | When Purdue North Central professor Gay Lyn Birkholz asked her students to plan a semester project, she didn’t realize they’d set the bar so high.

Women's dugout canoe, lake voyage featured in museum exhibit

VALPARAISO | The story of two young Northwest Indiana women — and a tree that became a boat — made its debut at the Porter County Museum of History Sunday afternoon.

School board recognizes Boone Grove bowling team

BOONE GROVE | The Porter Township school board recognized the Boone Grove High School girls bowling team at its March meeting.

Law students raise money for local animal rescue

VALPARAISO | There were no cats on the catwalk, but there were some in the crowd.

St. Patrick's Day holiday adds a special flair to Shipshewana on the Road

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | There was plenty of wearin’ – and spendin’ – o’ the green at Shipshewana on the Road on Sunday at the Porter County Expo Center.

Christopher Lawford talks about addictions at Valpo dinner

VALPARAISO | A “moment of grace” 27 years ago saved his life.

Handmade benches honor ecological pioneer

PORTER | Nature lovers gathered Saturday to prepare for warmer weather and to honor the legacy of a famous ecologist.

Food swap offers taste of culinary diversity

VALPARAISO | Tables were laden with homemade Greek yogurt, blueberry jam, almond poppy seed muffins, canned green beans, and Irish soda bread. Across the small room, others offered banana bread, chocolate chip bars, cranberry salsa and braided bread.

Former neo-Nazi speaks at Valpo forum

VALPARAISO | His time serving in the U.S. military didn't make him a racist, T.J. Leyden said, but it made him "a better racist."

Chellberg Farm hosting Maple Sugar Time

PORTER | Embers crackled in a brightly burning campfire and snow fell on the hushed forest as sugar water boiled in bowls made of hollowed-out logs.

Kids get their kicks at inaugural Youth Sports Expo

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | The inaugural Youth Sports Expo was a hit Saturday at the Porter County Expo Center, organizers said.

Group sounds off on gun rights

VALPARAISO | Not a seat was left in the small room at the Holiday Inn Express where people gathered Saturday to organize support for gun rights.

Porter Twp. school board honors math bowl teams

BOONE GROVE | The Porter Township school board honored the 4th and 5th grade math bowl teams from Boone Grove elementary at its meeting Thursday evening.

Hebron school board hears updates on music, curriculum

HEBRON | The Boone Township school board recognized the Hebron High School band at its meeting Tuesday evening.

Hebron Winterfest gets kids, adults out of the house

HEBRON | A bright, sunny winter day greeted folks who ventured out for a day of fun at Winterfest on Saturday.

Polar plunge at VU raises $20,000 for Special Olympics Indiana

VALPARAISO | Eye of the Tiger. Smoke on the Water. Born to Be Wild.

Chaplain at Port of Indiana ministers to 'invisible population'

PORTAGE | Marshall Bundrun loves his work so much, he does it without pay.

Valpo ice fishing derby draws 165 anglers

Valparaiso | Not many folks would pay $10 to get in line at the crack of dawn for a chance to sit on a frozen lake for seven hours in 20 degree weather.

Local gun owners rally support for 2nd Amendment rights

PORTAGE | Six friends and co-workers stood along Willowcreek Road on Saturday as cars whizzed past, drivers honking their horns.

An art show for the ages

VALPARAISO | Customers who frequent Blackbird Café in downtown Valparaiso are used to seeing the work of local artists on the walls.

Hebron school board reorganizes

HEBRON | Re-elected Boone Township school board members David Molchan and Peter Blank were sworn in at the group’s meeting Tuesday evening.

Valpo chamber honors Nalli, Thorgren as leaders

VALPARAISO | Local business leaders Jonathan Nalli and Rob Thorgren were honored at the Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce’s annual Salute to Leadership dinner Saturday evening.

Valparaiso dog featured on Chicago TV

VALPARAISO | Piper has been discovered.

A chilly New Year's tradition: Real Life church members, friends take plunge into frigid waters

Portage | While most folks curled up on the sofa New Year’s Day after a night of festivities, a few brave souls stripped down to their bathing suits at the Portage Lakefront Park and Riverwalk beach Tuesday at noon.

St. Teresa of Avila holds annual Christmas feast

VALPARAISO | Sam Conrad, 8, went from table to table with a tray of shrimp and cocktail sauce.

Gospels come alive at Miller's Senior Living center in Portage

PORTAGE | Portage police directed traffic on Lute Road as cars streamed into Miller’s Senior Living to see the gospels of Luke and Matthew come alive.

Boone Grove superintendent says state funding to district is decreasing

BOONE GROVE | Porter Township Schools Superintendent Stacey Schmidt provided an “educational moment” at the district’s board meeting Thursday night.

Arts, crafts show draws 212 vendors, 10,000 shoppers to Expo Center

VALPARAISO | The scents of warm sugared almonds, fresh baked cookies and cinnamon candles greeted holiday shoppers Saturday at Shipshewana on the Road at the Porter County Expo Center.

Portage gets into the holiday spirit

PORTAGE | Stephanie Meyer placed her 3-month-old daughter, McKenna, in St. Nicholas’s lap while grandmother Susan Crum readied her camera.

Re-enactors keep Swedish, French Christmas traditions alive

PORTER | St. Lucia smiled and carried a tray of buns and coffee into “papa,” who was resting in bed, while Marilyn Arvidson recited a poem.

Robert Frost comes alive at season's final Sinai Forum

Michigan City | Emmy award-winning actor, director and writer Gordon Clapp became Pulitzer prize-winning American poet Robert Frost on Sunday in the last program of the Purdue University North Central Sinai Forum.

Porter County Animal Shelter adoption event a rousing success

Valparaiso | Scarlett charmed everyone who walked through the door.

Eager shoppers embrace wonders of Mistletoe Market in Chesterton

Chesterton – The scent of pine and fir wafted through the hallways of Westchester Intermediate School, as the Mistletoe Market welcomed eager holiday shoppers Saturday.

Here Comes the Dress: Organizations sponsoring wedding dress drive

Valparaiso | They’re not borrowed or blue, but they’re old and will become new.

Shoppers flock to Christmas Craft Show at Woodland Park in Portage

Portage | While thousands of area shoppers waited in long lines at big box stores and malls, others enjoyed no waiting while browsing through homemade gifts at Saturday's Christmas Craft Show at Woodland Park.