Tim McGuire accepts check from Portage Exchange Club

Portage Exchange Club President Peggy Berbesque presents a check to Tim McGuire to help defray costs for the Challenger League Little League team.

Portage Exchange Club donates to Challenger League Little League team

PORTAGE | Tim McGuire, coach of the Challenger League Little League team, addressed the Portage Exchange Club on Wednesday, May 15.

Jackie Gray accepts check on behalf of Family and Youth Services Bureau

Jackie Gray, Director of Development and Community Relations of Family and Youth Services Bureau, accepts a check on behalf of the FYSB from Portage Exchange Club president Peggy Berbesque, as co-worker Mary Sandlin looks on.

Jackie Gray addresses Portage Exchange Club

PORTAGE | Jackie Gray, Director of Development and Community Relations of Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), addressed the Portage Exchange Club at the May 1 breakfast meeting. She was introduced by Mary Sandlin, who is a member of Exchange and also part of FYSB. Gray gave a brief over…

Outstanding Seniors

2013 Student of the Year Lauryn Sanders, PHS Assistant Principal and Exchangite John Zack, 2013 ACE Award Winner Stephon Wilkins, and Portage Exchange Club president Peggy Berbesque

Exchange Club honors two outstanding PHS students

PORTAGE | The Portage Exchange Club honored two outstanding PHS seniors at its May 8 breakfast meeting at Miller’s Senior Living Community. Lauryn Sanders was selected as the Portage Exchange Club Student of the Year. This award is given to a student who previously was recognized as a Studen…

Student of the Year, Lauryn Sanders

Portage Exchange Club president Peggy Berbesque presents a check and a plaque to the 2013 Student of the Year, Lauryn Sanders.

ACE Award Winner, Stephon Wilkins

Portage Exchange Club president Peggy Berbesque presents a check and a plaque to the 2013 ACE Award Winner, Stephon Wilkins.

Portage YMCA

Isis and Drake Spruth show off their new Kids ID cards at the YMCAs Healthy Kids Fair on April 20. Mother Sara Spruth brought them to the Fair.

Portage YMCA

Officer Dave Schultz helps a young man get a good copy of his fingerprint for the Kids ID Card at the YMCAs Healthy Kids Fair on April 20.

Portage YMCA

Everyone is all smiles as a young resident gets his Kids ID card from the Portage Police Department.

Portage YMCA

Portage Exchange Club members Abby Holstein, Ed Gottschling (with coffee cup) and Jerry Bryant (in white shirt) work the table for the Kids ID Card at the YMCAs Healthy Kids Fair on April 20 as a mother registers her children.

Portage YMCA hosts kids event

PORTAGE | It was a great day for kids to get a jump on summer! On Saturday, April 20, the Portage YMCA hosted a free community event from 10 a.m. to noon. There were sports and crafts and healthy snacks with vendors offering lots of free goodies.

Danny Gonzalez and Warren Lewis

RN Danny Gonzalez shakes hands with Portage Exchange Club President Elect Warren Lewis

Portage Elementary School fifth grade track meet is May 14

PORTAGE | The Portage Elementary School fifth grade Track Meet is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14th at the Portage High School Football Stadium beginning at 3:45 P.M. Students from all eight elementary schools have been selected by their PE teachers for their performance to represent their sch…

Danny Gonzalez speaks to Portage Exchange Club

PORTAGE | The Portage YMCA has partnered with St. Mary Medical Center to provide its members with outstanding programs and nursing care.

Danny Gonzalez

RN Danny Gonzalez addresses the Portage Exchange Club.

Heather Rudd address Portage Exchange Club

Heather Rudd addresses the Portage Exchange Club on the topic of special needs children in the public school system.

Heather Rudd addresses Portage Exchange Club

PORTAGE | On Wednesday, April 3, Portage Exchangite Heather Rudd addressed the members of the club on a topic close to her heart: helping parents get the services they need for their special needs children in the public school setting.

Portage Exchange honors top PHS seniors

Left to right, Assistant Principal Brett Munden, Nick Blue, Gabriela Pearman, Diamond Curry, Kaitlyn Steers, Assistant Principal John Zack and Portage Exchange Club President Elect Warren Lewis

Portage Exchange honors outstanding PHS seniors

PORTAGE | On every second Wednesday during the months of September through March, the Portage Exchange Club welcomes four outstanding PHS seniors as their Students of the Month. The students are selected by the high school administration based on their academics, extracurricular activities, …

Portage High Thespian Drama Club presents Legally Blonde

PORTAGE | Portage High School’s Thespian Drama Club will present the Spring Musical, Legally Blonde The Musical! the next two weekends at the PHS East Auditorium. The show brings to life a delightful musical version of the adored 2001 film, starring Reese Witherspoon and Luke Wilson. It foll…

Golf Outing

Bill Proctor Golf Outing

Portage Exchange Club's 2013 Bill Proctor Memorial Golf Outing

PORTAGE | It is that time of year once again! The annual Portage Exchange Club’s Bill Proctor Memorial Golf Outing will be held Monday, May 13, 2013, at The Brassie Golf Club in Chesterton starting at 10:00 a.m.

Ed Gottschling and Warren Lewis

Ed Gottschling shakes hands with Warren Lewis, President-Elect of the Portage Exchange Club, following Gottschlin's presentation about city government. Lewis presided in place of President Peggy Berbesque who was unable to attend the meeting.

Portage Exchange Ed Gottschling

Ed Gottschling speaks to the Portage Exchange Club at the March 27 meeting at Miller's Senior Living Community

City Councilperson Ed Gottschling speaks at Portage Exchange Club

PORTAGE | Former City Councilperson Ed Gottschling was the speaker at the March 27 Portage Exchange Club Meeting. Gottschling, a 19-year member of the Exchange Club, served four consecutive terms (16 years) on the Portage City Council. He discussed the workings of a municipal government, Por…

St. Peter Youth food pantry collection

At the end of a long day of collecting donations, Portage Food Pantry President Judy Mollway poses for a photo with Abbey Doughtery and Kyrie VanderLugt as Pantry volunteers Pat Peters and Kathy Mendoza look on

St. Peter Youth

Abbey Doughtery; Kyle, Kyrie, Ray and Amy VanderLugt; Pat Peters; and Kathy Mendoza all helped with the St. Peter Youth Food Collection for the Portage Food Pantry at Al's Supermarket

St. Peter Youth food collection

Ray VanderLugt watches as an Al's customer contributes money toward the St. Peter Youth Food Collection for the Portage Food Pantry at Al's Supermarket.

Portage Exchange and St. Peter Lutheran youth group collect food pantry donations

PORTAGE | On Monday, March 25, 2013, the St. Peter Lutheran Church youth group, S.P.Y. (St. Peter Youth) helped the Portage Food Pantry stock its shelves by asking for donations at Al's Supermarket on Rt. 6 and McCool Road. Youth Leaders, Ray and Amy VanderLugt and their son Kyle, daughter K…

Aylesworth Elementary Student Council penny wars

Aylesworth Elementary Student Council penny wars

Portage Exchange Club, PHS MCJROTC

Aylesworth Elementary Student Council penny wars

Aylesworth Elementary Student Council holds penny wars

PORTAGE | During the month of February, Student Council members at Aylesworth Elementary school in Portage helped those who need it the most: other children fighting childhood cancer. They raised funds by holding a “Penny War Challenge” at the school.

Portage Exchange Club, Portage High School MCJROTC hold fundraiser

PORTAGE | The Portage Exchange Club, the Portage High School MCJROTC cadets and Applebee’s Restaurant teamed up for another successful fundraiser.

Portage Exchange Club

PHC MCJROTC

March students of the month

Josh McClelland, Jennifer Leary, Yanitza Soto, Briana Ammeson, Assistant Principal Michael DePasquale, and Major John Johnston attended the March 13 meeting of the Portage Exchange Club.

Portage Exchange Club March students of the month

PORTAGE | The Portage Exchange Club welcomed four outstanding MCJROTC cadets as Students of the Month for March. Assistant Principal Michael DePasquale and ROTC instructor Major John Johnston accompanied the students.

Barnabus the comfort dog

Barnabas the Comfort Dog

Barnabus the Comfort Dog

Barnabus the comfort dog

Barnabus the Comfort Dog attends Portage Exchange Club meeting

PORTAGE | The Reverend Tim Engel, pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Portage, and golden retriever Barnabus the Comfort Dog were guest presenters at the February 20 breakfast meeting of the Portage Exchange Club.

VFW Commander Ray Lewis

VFW Commander Rex Lewis addresses the Portage Exchange Club at their February 6 breakfast meeting at Miller's Assisted Living meeting room.

Portage Exchange Club welcomes VFW Commander Rex Lewis

PORTAGE | The Portage Exchange Club welcomed VFW Commander Rex Lewis as its guest speaker on February 6. Lewis has served 15 years (not continuous) as Post Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9323 located at 2750 Central Avenue in Lake Station. He was 1st District Commander in 1…

Students of the Month

Marcus Rogers (Automotive Technology), PHS Assistant Principal John Zack, Cloe Carda (Early Childhood Development, Eric Premil (Industrial Technology), Portage Exchange Club President Peggy Berbesque.