Creating your own indestructible self

As one of the country’s top physicians, Dr. Alex Lickerman was leading quite a blessed life. He had just turned forty years old, and the future never looked brighter both personally and professionally. He sat down to enjoy a delicious Sunday brunch…and within hours, his world turned upside down.

Top 10 tips for a healthy spine

Most of us take the health of our spine for granted . . . until something goes wrong. Luckily, there are ways to make sure your spine stays in tip-top condition throughout the years.

SPINE CARE: The time to exercise your spine

The solution to your back problem just might not need to be solved via a complicated surgery or a list of over-the-counter medications. Rather, a prescription for pure and healthy living can often be the answer to your spinal woes.

20 UNDER 40: Matt Valuckis

Last summer, local graphic designer Matt Valuckis was stopped in his tracks.

20 UNDER 40: Tara Tauber and Jared Tauber

She was just a little girl when she actually realized what her father did for a living. She was sitting in the living room of her childhood home, listening as her father would practice his opening statement for a trial he had coming up. Every once in a while, he would take his eyes off of h…

20 UNDER 40: Colleen McCoy-Cejka

With a Starbucks coffee in her hand and the dreams and aspirations of her students ever present in her mind, Bishop Noll Institute principal Colleen McCoy-Cejka likes to begin her day standing just outside the doors of the school. There, she can take in the fresh air and hear the excited voi…

20 UNDER 40: Alfred Martin

It was a pact among six young men. A pact made long before they could probably fully grasp the challenge that would await them.

20 UNDER 40: David Hein

It was early in the morning when David Hein received the news. He turned on the police scanner in his home to get more details. Another shooting had taken place. The number of people killed was fuzzy. Yet, the impact the shooting would have on the community was not. And while the shooting to…

From wine neophytes to oenophiles -- online

Based on a deep love of wine and an even deeper love for sharing a good deal, the brother-sister team of Joe and Stephanie Pellar, who grew up in Northwest Indiana, recently launched the flash-sale site, MyWineDeal.com, with the intentions of making true wine connoisseurs of their customers.

Gamma Knife continues to do the impossible at Neuroscience Institute

It was a headache William Muirhead could not escape. For years it would plague him from the early morning hours into the darkness of the night. He would find himself blaming the headache on everything from stress to his hectic schedule, until the day he and a team of doctors finally discover…

Methodist Hospital's Multi-Specialty Computer-Assisted Surgery Suite offers precision treatment

Some of us couldn’t fathom driving far without taking advantage of our vehicle’s GPS system. It points us in the right direction no matter the circumstances, and leads us to our destination both safer and easily than ever before. There's comfort in having a GPS at our side.

Keeping the senior brain active key to well-being

It’s a fact of life that growing older means physical changes that most of us could do without. In fact, common aches and pains seem to be just a part of "growing up." Yet, there are countless muscles that men and women can work to strengthen as they get older . . . none being quite as impor…

Making the transition from home to nursing home

It’s one of the most challenging times between a parent and child. The aging parents have shown signs that they can no longer safely live in their home without supervision.

Advances in cardiac care at Methodist Hospitals mean better outcomes for patients

Their day started out much like ours. They woke up, ate breakfast and hopped in the car to accomplish some of the tasks of the day.

Radio legend Steve Dahl gets away from it all at his New Buffalo home

It was the early 1980s and broadcasting legend and dad of three Steve Dahl was watching his career take off. Yet, the guy needed a vacation . . . desperately.

Don't let insomnia keep you awake at night

It's true . . . babies aren't the only ones who can't seem to sleep through the night these days. Many adults are finding the seemingly simple act of falling asleep quite the hassle in a world that never seems to stop moving. Whether it's the high-tech gadgets we cling to throughout the day …

PROFESSIONALS TO WATCH: Showcasing the Region's talent

Similar to about every other kid growing up and watching television in the 1980s, West Side Theatre Guild Director Mark Spencer loved the Huxtable family.

PROFESSIONALS TO WATCH: A passion for life

The start of 2012 greeted Chelsea Whittington with an opportunity she simply could not pass up. Not only did it give the already successful public relations professional the chance to return to her hometown of Gary, but also the incredible opportunity to work alongside the City of Gary's fir…

PROFESSIONALS TO WATCH: Powering the future

Being the new kid in town is something that has never fazed local executive Kathleen O'Leary. The daughter of a career army officer, O'Leary spent much of her childhood moving from place to place, constantly finding herself adapting to new people and conditions.

PROFESSIONALS TO WATCH: A vision for giving

No matter the time of the day or the season of the year, the VandeVelde house is a place of competition.

Shoe wars—Why your feet deserve better than flip-flops this summer

The urge to slip them on during the first 70-degree day is strong. Affectionately known as flip-flops, this ultra casual footwear can allow you to feel the refreshing gentleness of the grass and the warmth of the sun on your bare and achingly pale winter feet. They are easy to slip on and a …

Bed issues: Why changing your mattress might help you kiss back pain goodbye

Yet another night of tossing and turning leaves you in a haze for the day ahead of you. Perhaps it's stress or drinking that last cup of coffee too late in the day. No matter the reason, more and more people seem to be complaining that they simply can't get a good night of sleep these days.

Williams Eye Institute & Hearing Center continues the tradition of unsurpassed hearing and vision services

It's difficult to truly appreciate the world we live in without good eyesight. And as we get older, changes in both our vision and hearing can not only be aggravating, but also keep us from enjoying all life has to offer.

Proper Planning is Everything in Lawn Care

As with most things in life, proper planning is everything. Lawn care is no different according to Nick Shaw, director of Lawn Doctor. Right now most of us could care less about our lawn and landscaping care but putting together your plans now makes it easier to execute them during our busy …

Round the Clock Restaurant’s very own Jan Watson celebrates 35 years on the job

On a cold January 3rd in 1977, twenty year old Jan Watson entered the newly opened Round the Clock restaurant in Schererville and asked for a job application. Watson wanted to become a waitress.

ATI Physical Therapy opens up new clinic in Merrillville

The reasons they walk through the doors of ATI Physical Therapy are many. For a few, it was a car accident. For some, it was a sports injury. For others, it was a recent operation that required extensive therapy. And while they might all have different reasons for being there, each of these …

Welch’s Stop and Shop continues on tradition of unsurpassed customer service

Back in 1953, Edward Welch opened Welch's Stop & Shop in Griffith in the hopes of providing customers with the very best in high quality food and exceptional customer service. Years later, Edward's son David continued the tradition, working tirelessly to create the store that is now one …

Online support groups offer knowledge and help in time of need

There once was a time when one could feel very alone in this world. But these days, there are countless online groups where people can come to gain not only knowledge, but the priceless emotional support of others.

Networking for support: Online groups offer knowledge, help in time of need

There once was a time that one could feel very alone in this world. Whether dealing with something as serious as a life-threatening illness or as common as a baby who won't sleep through the night, many have found times in their lives when they were positive no one could possibly understand …

Regis Philbin shares his gratitude

Out of all the celebrities and dignitaries Regis Philbin has come to know, perhaps no one person or thing has received as much credit for his success as has the University of Notre Dame.

Regis Philbin Shares His Gratitude

"Mom, Dad—don't say anything. You've waited a long time for this, so now I'm going to tell you what it is I want to do for the rest of my life. Come with me."

Beautiful backdrops: Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan offer engaging landscapes

These days, the backdrop of one's wedding photos can tell your love story like never before.

The art of play: People of all ages need to have fun

As children, the idea of "playing" was a natural part of our youth, something we probably took for granted at the time. But then one day, we all woke up and became adults.

The Art of Play: People of all ages need to have fun

As a child, you spent countless hours playing. Whether it was tossing around the football outside in your backyard or singing into your hair brush in your bedroom to your favorite song, the idea of "playing" was a natural part of your childhood . . . something you probably took for granted a…

Ways to get outdoor exercise in the chilly months

Unfortunately, the weather is a fact of life for Northwest Indiana residents during the wintertime, and the reason why many exercise plans find their way off track during the cold months.

There are still ways to get outdoor exercise in the chilly months

It's cold, it's dreary . . . and the last thing you want to do is get your sneakers on and head to the gym. Unfortunately, the weather is a fact of life for Northwest Indiana residents during the wintertime, and the reason why many exercise plans find their way off track during the cold mont…

Organizational tips to keep it a stress-free holiday

The concrete reasons behind why we all seem to get so frazzled during the holiday months are many. In fact, while most can attest to feeling more "stressed out" during the holiday season, some people can actually find themselves in quite a serious emotional state.

Confessions of a 39-year-old vegetable phobe

The vision is vivid in my mind: Everyone has finished dinner, but my 6-year-old self impatiently sits at the family table, begging my mom to let me go out and play with my friends before it gets too dark. "Just eat three more carrots, and then you can go," my mom says as she begins to wash t…

Ideas for losing weight when the weather gets chilly

Chances are you are similar to countless people in the Midwest who find it much easier to stay on their fitness and diet plan during the warmer months. Yet, with some adjustments, you can continue to lose weight and stay healthy as it gets colder.

Today's couples look for ways to be more eco-friendly

The current mantra to "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" has evolved from a simple push to improve the environment in which we live to an actual trend amongst many local brides and grooms. From the elimination of wrapping paper at the wedding shower to the utilization of local and seasonal food and…

Staying safe on Halloween

These days, it can be argued that Halloween is just about as much fun for the adults as it is for the kids. Yet, this holiday filled with ghouls and goblins can turn a bit too scary if the adults in charge don't take the proper measures to ensure their kids stay safe and sound. Whether it's …

Ideas for losing weight when the weather gets chilly

So, you spent the summer swimming, running and eating the most delectable and luscious fruit and vegetables from the farmers' market. But once the temperatures begin to fall, along with the snow, do you find that your fitness goals also take a tumble?

The struggle to stop smoking

The American Cancer Society is marking the 36th Great American Smokeout on November 17, and countless Americans will wake up with the good intentions to quit smoking forever. Yet the decision to stop smoking is often the easiest part. People are quite surprised by the physical and emotional …

Summer safety tips for children

The carefree days of summer are now upon us, calling kids of all ages to run outside and bask in the warmth of the sun. Yet, as the temperatures rise, often so do the trips to the local emergency rooms and urgent care centers.

The benefits of berries

While there might not be any such thing as a "super food," berries are a simple, easy-to-pop-in-your-mouth kind of fruit that truly packs a punch when it comes to your overall health.

The importance of healthy habits for kids

Countless American children are currently living with the struggle of being overweight. In fact, obesity among both children and adults has become one of this country's biggest crises to date.

How social media is changing the wedding industry

Before any of us knew what a "tweet" was or how to "de-friend" a friend, a newlywed's search for a photographer, florist or wedding planner was often a long and tedious task. Yet, these days, the incredible growth of social media has made it much easier to find and really get to know a weddi…

Wish Upon a Wedding

As the world's first nonprofit wish-granting organization providing weddings for couples facing terminal and serious life-altering illnesses, Wish Upon a Wedding has been making dreams come true since its inception just over a year ago. Thanks to a network of volunteers and donations by vari…