PUC success story encourages grads to impress early in workplace

Jeff Gardner, president and CEO of Windstream Corp., who graduated from Purdue University in 1983, speaks Sunday afternoon at the Purdue University Calumet commencement ceremony at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville.

Valpo parks honor legendary supporters

Bob Urschel, right, shakes hands with long time friend and colleague Robert Pasquella at the "Celebrating Friends and Legends" reception Thursday evening at Valparaiso's Butterfield Pavilion. The event was held by the parks department in honor of Bill Alexa and Bob and Nancy Urschel.

Valpo parks honor legendary supporters

From left, Joyce Alexa, Sharon Douglas, Herb Douglas, and Bill Alexa pose for a photo at the "Celebrating Friends and Legends" reception which was held at Butterfield Pavilion in Valparaiso Thursday evening.

Linden log cabin finds a new home

Bob Riggs, John Hodson, and Ray Lawson begin to dismantle the Linden log cabin in Portage's Countryside Park Saturday morning. The cabin, which had been in Ray Lawson's family for over 100 years was bought by the Kankakee Valley Historical Society and will be reassembled in South County.

Linden log cabin finds a new home

Bob Riggs, John Hodson, and Ray Lawson begin to dismantle the Linden log cabin in Portage's Countryside Park Saturday morning. The cabin, which had been in Ray Lawson's family for over 100 years was bought by the Kankakee Valley Historical Society and will be reassembled in South County.

Wetland preservation lesson sinks in

Jen Birchfield of the not-for-profit organization Save the Dunes demonstrates to local residents Saturday how area watershed pollution drains into the Little Calumet River and ultimately into Lake Michigan.

Valpo firefighters raise funds with ice cream

Firefighters Robert Cree and Nick Nondorf pose with children at the Baskin-Robbins store on Calumet Avenue in Valparaiso on Wednesday evening. Firemen from Fire Station No. 2 in Valparaiso visited the store as part of a fundraising event.

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

Amy Lukas (left) and Mary Catterlin stand next to their hand-carved dugout on Oct. 1, 2012, on the Lake Michigan shore in Beverly Shores, shortly after returning from a three-month trip around the lake in the boat, which Mary began building four years earlier. The boat is featured in a new e…

Porter County's festive life

People lined Chesterton's streets to watch the parade during last year's Wizard of Oz Festival.

Smart economic growth, development in Chesterton

People lined Chesterton streets last September to watch the Wizard of Oz Festival parade. The festival needs a new sponsor if it is to continue.

Smart economic growth, development in Chesterton

Taylor McCorkel, a freshman at Chesterton High School, paints one of the playhouse floats in last year's Homecoming Parade. Each class had a playhouse to paint. It then was auctioned off for specific charities after the parade. The school's building trades class built the playhouses.

Volunteers help light up the sky in Beverly Shores

Family, friends and representatives from Wilderness Inquiry, a nonprofit nature adventure organization, meet Amy Lukas, left, in hat, and Mary Catterlin at Broadway Beach in Beverly shores after they returned last fall from a trip around Lake Michigan in a handmade canoe that Mary began buil…

Trustee's office serves Union Township

Wheeler High School held its homecoming parade in October before a football game. The parade began at Union Center Elementary School and proceeded to the high school.

Job growth, Fitness Fridays, teamwork make LaPorte great

LaPorte Mayor Blair Milo speaks in September at a news conference before a groundbreaking ceremony at the Thomas Rose Industrial Park. The event was held in honor of the 137-acre expansion of the park.

Parks enhance our quality of life

People gather at Central Park Plaza, awaiting the arrival of the Valparaiso High School homecoming parade.

Wicked Witch of the West Costume Character Marching in 2012 Wizard of Oz Fest Parade

An army of costumed characters from "The Wizard of Oz," including The Wicked Witch of the West, are staples at the annual Wizard of Oz Festival, which celebrated a 31st year in Chesterton in 2012. The festival could end this year if a new sponsor is not found.

Women Lawyers Association

Judge Karen Coulis of Lowell, Kelly Kopulos of Valparaiso, and Rehana Adat-Lopez of Crown Point

Women Lawyers Association

Melissa Cohen of Porter, April Etheridge of Crown Point, Sean Kenyon of Valparaiso, and Kim Peil of Merrillville

Women Lawyers Association

Lisa Beck of Hebron, Melanie Dunajeski of Dyer, and Leane Cerven of Munster

Women Lawyers Association

Judge Julia Jent of Portage, Melissa Cohen of Porter, Magistrate Mary DeBoer of Valparaiso, and Commissioner Lisa Moser of Valparaiso

Women Lawyers Association

Karen Antink of Crown Point with Diane and David Schneider of Munster

Women Lawyers Association

Magistrate Kathy Belzeski of Schererville, Debra Lynch Dubovich of Highland and Julie Glade of Merrillville.

Women Lawyers Association

Magistrate Mary Deboer of Valparaiso, Judge Roger Bradford of Portage, and Judge Mary Harper of Valparaiso

Dunes-dwelling groundhogs

Park Ranger Cliff Goins gives a puppet show presentation on groundhogs in honor of Groundhog Day to a group of children and parents Saturday afternoon at the Indiana National Lakeshore's Douglas Center in the Miller area of Gary.

ACF Chefs of NWI

Kerry and Carrie McGuire of Highland withNancy and Joe Trama of St. John.

ACF Chefs of NWI

Prakuthi Makam of Chicago and Philip Crist of Chicago

ACF Chefs of NWI

Sean Sexton of Griffith and Morgan Crist of Highland

ACF Chefs of NWI

Heidi Crist of Griffith and Elida Abeyta of East Chicago

ACF Chefs of NWI

Sue Reitan of Crown Point, Mandy Merkel of Crown Point and Terri Williams of Crown Point

ACF Chefs of NWI

Chef Jim Galligan of Valparaiso, Jack Mix of Dyer, Nicolas Luna, and Harry Karahalios of Crown Point

Faces of My People

Raymond A. Thomas of Chicago

Faces of My People

Gerry Bowman and Marilynn Hanson of Valparaiso

Faces of My People

Eddie and Barbara Jackson of Hobart

Faces of My People

Ellen Silberman of Valparaiso

Faces of My People

Minakshi Ghuman of Valparaiso

Faces of My People

Frank Szczepanski and Sahra Nwaera, both of Valparaiso with Willis Uzzell of Chicago

Faces of My People

Louise Beuchley of Valparaiso

Faces of My People

June Brauer of Valparaiso

Faces of My People

Dr. Steve Simpson and Geraldine Barron-Simpson of Gary

A New Allegiance: Longtime Irish fans end up at Alabama

The Gorman family, longtime Notre Dame football fans, now cheer for the University of Alabama. From left are Ryan, Lindsay, Viki and Gary Gorman. Ryan and Lindsay Gorman are undergrads at the Tuscaloosa, Ala., campus.

A New Allegiance: Longtime Irish fans end up at Alabama

The Gorman family, who were longtime Notre Dame football fans, now cheer for the University of Alabama, the school that both of their children attend. From left are Lindsay, Viki, Gary and Ryan Gorman. Lindsay and Ryan Gorman are undergrads at the Tuscaloosa, Ala., campus.

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

A large group of people gather on the beach on New Year's Day at Portage Lakefront Park to participate in a cold jump in the lake. The event was coordinated by Real Life Church of Portage. Temperatures at the beach were around 28 degrees.

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

Marcia Smedley, of Wheeler, who is a member of Real Life Church of Portage, jumped into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan on New Year's Day along with dozens of other people as part of an event coordinated by the church. Temperatures at the beach that day were around 28 degrees.

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

Real Life Church of Portage coordinated a jump on New Year's Day into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan. Many people completely submerged themselves, while others took a few steps into the water and decided to turn back. The temperature at the beach was around 28 degrees.

Toy aisle's their beat

Michael Doneff, 10, eyes merchandise Wednesday evening as Portage police Sgt. John Ryan looks on at the Portage Walmart.

Toy aisle's their beat

Portage police Sgt. Mark Monks helps Benjamin Smith, 4, and Abrianna Smith, 8, find presents during the Shop with a Cop event Wednesday at the Portage Walmart.

Downtown Chesterton celebrates Progressive Open House with music, bargains

Nicole Groceman, 10, from front left; Ryan Groceman, Meg McCarel, Lydia Sandoval, Cindy Deadman and Summer Bokodi, 7, sing Christmas carols in downtown Chesterton on Thrusday evening. The caroling, part of the Duneland Chamber of Commerce's 2nd Progressive Open House, was coordinated by the …

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Stan Zolodz, left, of S4 Motorsports, lets children sit inside one of the three Bandelero cars he had downtown Saturday morning at Valparaiso's Central Park Plaza during the Touch A Truck toy drive hosted by the Valparaiso Parks Department, the Dunes Leathernecks Detachment Marine Corps Leag…