Working Smarter: Bilingual phlebotomist has plans for Nicaragua

Marissa Ramirez, of Wheatfield, is a single mom who just graduated from Ivy Tech Community College and works as a phlebotomist at Porter Regional Hospital. Ramirez hopes to one day open a women's health care clinic in impoverished Nicaragua.

Working Smarter: Bilingual phlebotomist has plans for Nicaragua

Marissa Ramirez is a single mom who just graduated from Ivy Tech Community College and works as a phlebotomist at Porter Regional Hospital. Phlebotomists draw blood.

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The 30th Annual Cedar Lake Summerfest will feature food, rides, live musical entertainment, and games, fireworks and extravagant laser light shows.

Lowell has proud past, bright future

A fountain sprays streams of water from a pond in Lowell's Evergreen Park. The pace of Lowell's growth has been instrumental to the charm and success of the town with the steady rise of both residential and commercial development in this town of about 10,000 residents.

Lowell has proud past, bright future

Lowell's Town Hall is undergoing improvements that include new gutters and downspouts, paving and an expansion of the parking lot.

Lowell has proud past, bright future

The sign greeting visitors and residents on Ind. 2 on the east side of Lowell. The pace of Lowell's growth has been instrumental to the charm and success of the town, with the steady rise of both residential and commercial development in this town of about 10,000 residents.

Lowell has proud past, bright future

Matthew Czaszewicz, 14, of Lowell, fishes Tuesday in the town's Evergreen Park.

Lowell has proud past, bright future

Lowell's downtown main street, Commercial Avenue, offers a variety of retail merchants and services.

Sue Peterson

Lowell Town Administrator Sue Peterson

Illiana Heating and Cooling

Tom Krygsheld, center, owner of Illiana Heating and Air Conditioning Inc., stands in front of the business' new building on Wicker Ave. with general manager Kevin Frump, left, and sales manager Dan Krygsheld.

Local farmers markets provide a link between customer, farmer

Scott May, of Crown Point, looks over herbs with LE Garden's Linda Ebert, of Wheatfield, while Karen Yankauskas, right, of Hebron, works at the Crown Point Farmers Market. Local farmers markets are growing. Vendors sell fresh produce, plants and other items, often produced locally, directly …

Crown Point farmers market

Anthony Schifino, right, of AJ Specialties in Merrivllille runs a booth that offers scarves and other items Saturday at the Crown Point Farmers Market.

Local farmers markets provide a link between customer, farmer

Kali McGuckin and Rich Olson, right, both of Chicago, sell cheese from the Stamper Cheese booth at a recent Crown Point Farmers Market. Stamper represents southwestern Wisconsin cheese makers, and sells exclusively at farmers markets, Olson said.

Centier Bank adds ‘sparking eastern gateway’ to downtown Crown Point

Linda Eyermann, of Valparaiso, creates a painting of the east plaza at Centier Bank's new building during a reception as the Schafer Trio entertains guests.

Centier Bank adds ‘sparkling eastern gateway’ to downtown Crown Point

About 50 people attended Centier's reception Thursday at its new building on East Joliet Street. The reception included live jazz music, live art painting and a raffle.

Hammond Boys and Girls Club celebrates new technology lab

Denise Wright, associate director of Junior Achievement of Chicago's Northwest Indiana operations talks to Hammond Boys & Girls Club members in the club's new technology lab. "Do what you're good at, do what you love," she told youths Thursday prior to a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new lab.

Hammond Boys and Girls Club celebrates new technology lab

Members of the Hammond Boys & Girls Club participate in an Ask The Expert session featuring Hammond current and former residents who are successful in their careers. The session preceded a ribbon cutting ceremony for the club's new technology lab that was created through a donation from …

Come to Crown Point and Join the Fun!

CROWN POINT Amy Carter, of the Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce and owner of Not Tutu Shabby, a Courthouse shop walks with children and their parents during the annual Hub Dollie Parade around Crown Point's Square and the Old Courthouse.

Jack Campbell, Chesterton High School baseball coach

Jack Campbell has coached baseball at Chesterton High School since 1970. The baseball team went 20-6 this season, including a 13-1 record in the Duneland Athletic Conference, winning the title for the first time since 1985. Campbell was inducted into the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches …

Funset at Sunset

Ethan Adams, 9, of Valparaiso, balances on a cable in the Mohawk Walk at Sunset Hill County Park during a team-building activity as part of the park's Camp Funset. Helping is Hayden Hughes, 9, of Valparaiso, left, camp counselor Shelbie Sullivan, of Chesterton, and Liz Hedger, 8, of Crown Point.

Funset at Sunset

Abraham Paluch helps children identify jewel weed, a plant that can be used to sooth exposure to poison ivy or mosquitoe bites, during a walk in the woods and compass instructional at Sunset Hill County Park.

Funset at Sunset

Porter County Parks naturalist Rex Hood leads kids on a nature hike Wednesday while they carry a list of plants and animals to identify during Camp Funset at Sunset Hill County Park. Activities at the camp include archery, art projects, farm animals, gardening, nature hikes, team-building ex…

Funset at Sunset

Porter County Parks and Recreation Program Director Nichole Schaefer-Murray gives hay to children so they can feed Tickles the horse Wednesday at Sunset Hill County Park. About 60 kids are participating in the camp that meets from Monday through Thursdays unitl Aug. 2.

Jack Campbell, Chesterton High School baseball coach

Jack Campbell has coached baseball at Chesterton High School since 1970. The baseball team went 20-6 this season, including a 13-1 record in the Duneland Athletic Conference, winning the title for the first time since 1985. Campbell was inducted into the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches …

Camaro hits Porter County Sheriff's Department squad car

Porter County and Valparaiso authorities respond to a traffic accident Wednesday morning in which a Porter County Sheriff's Department squad car was struck near the roundabout on Vale Park Road at Silhavy Road. The late-model Chevrolet Camaro that hit the police vehicle came to rest on a ten…

Crown Point High School graduation

Gaduates from Crown Point High School's class of 2013 participate in the 131st commencement Tuesday night at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza.

A turning of the tassles

Crown Point High School 2013 graduates listen to teacher Jennifer Bianchi speak during the the 131st annual commencement Tuesday night at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza. Principal Chip Pettit welcomed the class, relatives and friends after the CPHS senior choir sang the national anthem to …

A turning of the tassles

More than 500 graduates from Crown Point High School's class of 2013 participated in the 131st annual commencement Tuesday night at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza. Principal Chip Pettit welcomed the class, relatives and friends.

A turning of the tassles

Crown High School Principal Chip Pettit speaks Tuesday night during the 131st annual commencement for Crown Point High School's class of 2013 at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza.

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Floating laboratory provides Lake Michigan lessons

Shirley McIntire, a science instructor on the W.G. Jackson educational research vessel, looks through a sediment sample from the bottom of the Port of Indiana Monday with Belinda Merkelis, of Calumet City, center, and Susan Swarner, of Valparaiso, during a morning onboard the boat.

Floating laboratory provides Lake Michigan lessons

Andy Martin, of Valparaiso, prepares a water sample that checks for the turbidity of transparency of water from Lake Michigan. Martin was participating in the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's cruise Monday onboard the vessel W.G. Jackson at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor.

Floating laboratory provides Lake Michigan lessons

Science instructor Michele Smith, left, works Monday with Madison Gallegos, of Munster, and Krysta Koralesky, of Chesterton, in checking ph levels of water samples from Lake Michigan onboard the W.G. Jackson educational research vessel.

Floating laboratory provides Lake Michigan lessons

Bob Marx, of Whitehall, Mich., and a deckhand on the W.G. Jackson, brings up a top-water sample Monday during a cruise near the Port of Indiana. The vessel is part of Grand Valley State University's Annis Water Resources Institute and houses an onboard lab.

NWI casinos drop in May

May revenues at Majestic Star's two casinos in Gary dropped a combined 6.4 percent from the previous year, according to the revenue report of the Indiana Gaming Commission.

Job Fair at Ivy Tech

Nearly two dozen businesses with representatives greet prospective job candidates Wednesday during a career fair at Ivy Tech Community College Valparaiso Campus.

Rallying to keep six-day mail service

Indiana state Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon speaks Sunday during a rally with about 50 residents and postal service workers from Indiana, Illinois and Michigan at the Highway of Flags Memorial to protect Saturday mail delivery.

Rallying to keep six-day mail service

Bob Dugan, of Hammond and a 30-year postal worker, listens Sunday to Rep. Pete Viscloskey's Chief of Staff Mark Lopez during a rally to support Saturday mail delivery that demanded Congress deliver a better plan to strengthen the Postal Service for the future.

Rallying to keep six-day mail service

Cathy Bodnar, a postal worker in Highland holds her granddaughter, Katarina Hackett-Parker, 4, of Highland as they rally along with about 50 other residents and postal service workers from Indiana, Illinois and Michigan on Sunday at the Highway of Flags Memorial in an effort to try to protec…

Times/Pepsi Bolwing Classic Finals

Mike Kozy celebrates a strike in the second game of men's class A bolwing during championship rounds of the Times/Pepsi Classic bowling tournament Sunday at Olympia Lanes.

Times/Pepsi Bolwing Classic Finals

Mike Kozy bowls in the second game of men's class A division during championship rounds of the Times/Pepsi Classic bowling tournament Sunday at Olympia Lanes bowling alley.

Times/Pepsi Bolwing Classic Finals

Elliot Smith bowls in the third round of championship bowling during the Times/Pepsi Classic bowling tournament Sunday at Olympia Lanes.

Times/Pepsi Bolwing Classic Finals

Sammy Krucek bowls in the third game of championship rounds of the Times/Pepsi Classic bowling tournament Sunday at Olympia Lanes.

Times/Pepsi Bolwing Classic Finals

Nick Garreffa bowls in the third game of class A championship rounds of the Times/Pepsi Classic bowling tournament Sunday at Olympia Lanes.

Times/Pepsi Bolwing Classic Finals

Shawn Quinn bowls in the second game during championship rounds of the Times/Pepsi Classic bowling tournament Sunday at Olympia Lanes.

Times/Pepsi Bolwing Classic Finals

Chuck Podkul bowls during the second round of championship bowling during the Times/Pepsi Classic on Sunday at Olympia Lanes.

New Chicago building on its proud past

New Chicago kicked off its water system improvement project in late February with a groundbreaking ceremony near the water tower on Cleveland Avenue. The first phase of the project represents a $6 million effort to upgrade the town's aged water distribution system. It includes the rehabilita…