Dumpster Diving Decor: Upcycling and repurposing are today's high-end design

Where most people see a broken stereo cabinet, the artisans at Junk Evolution in South Bend see a mobile bar.

Porter County GIVE Day Raises $186,038 for homelessness

VALPARAISO | They came. They clicked. They gave. Porter County GIVE Day, the giving holiday on Nov. ember 8th raised $186,038, including 955 gifts and $63,455 in matching funds and prizes “We’re thrilled on behalf of the 17 nonprofit organizations that will benefit from this extraordinary ge…

Mayors Proclaim Nov. 8 Porter County GIVE Day

VALPARAISO | What if the entire county joined together on a single day to help fight homelessness? That’s exactly what Portage Mayor James Snyder and Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas are encouraging. They each signed a proclamation naming Nov. 8 as Porter County GIVE Day – a single day when donat…

Porter County GIVE Day to help 17 local nonprofits and will be matched on Nov. 8 only

VALPARAISO | More than 360 people are homeless in Porter County, and 148 of them are children, according to Caroline Shook, chief executive officer of Housing Opportunities. To help those struggling with homelessness, the Porter County Community Foundation has introduced Porter County GIVE D…

Porter County GIVE Day

The Porter County Community Foundation will host Porter County GIVE Day to raise money and awareness about homelessness. In support of the effort, Mayor James Snyder/Portage Mayor's Ball contributed to the GIVE Day match pool. Mayor Snyder also proclaimed Nov. 8 to be Porter County GIVE Day …

Mayors Proclaim Nov. 8 Porter County GIVE Day

PORTER COUNTY | What if the entire county joined together on a single day to help fight homelessness? That’s exactly what Portage Mayor James Snyder and Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas are encouraging. They each signed a proclamation naming Nov. 8 as Porter County GIVE Day – a single day when do…

Point. Click. Give! Introducing Porter County GIVE Day Nov. 8

PORTER COUNTY | Your gift to 17 local nonprofits is matched on Nov. 8 only.

Helping Children Succeed Through Challenge

VALPARAISO | Providing for three children can be challenging for any parent, but for Laurie Bruck, the challenge is extraordinary. Not only is Bruck a single mother, but she’s also unable to walk, making it difficult to earn enough money to support herself and her three children. Fortunately…

Local man reaches his potential with the help of OE’s Supported Living Program

VALPARAISO | At the age of 50, Bob Cloyd was unable to speak, dress himself, or take care of his own needs. For his entire life, Cloyd’s mother had been there, helping him with each daily task. And then in 2011 she died, leaving a huge hole in Cloyd’s life.

Running on (nearly) bare feet: A look at the trend afoot

Barefoot running is picking up speed in the running community these days, though it's a trend that's been afoot for many years. In fact in 1960, Ethiopian Abebe Bikila won the Olympic Marathon in bare feet. These days most "barefoot" running is actually done in shoes called minimalist that m…

Valley Kitchen & Bar focuses on fresh ingredients from local sources

The opening of the Valley Kitchen & Bar in October was more than the beginning of another new eatery in Valparaiso. For owners Cory and Blair Muro, the venture is a dream come true. Valley's commitment to locally grown, fresh ingredients is a recipe that combines Blair's background in ho…

Journeyman Distillery mixes it up in Three Oaks

Just a few years ago Bill Welter was working in the family banking business in Valparaiso, envisioning a long future with the bank. Then, the bank sold. Welter soon began a new journey, which led him to launch Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, which opened in October.

Happy (nontraditional) holidays: Inject some Asian flair into the festivities

We've all seen A Christmas Story and the Parker family's riotous initiation into dining on "Chinese turkey" for the holidays. Even if your neighbor's dogs don't sneak in and steal your perfectly roasted turkey, why not plan a holiday meal with a nontraditional twist? Here are four ways to in…

O Tannenbaum! Cut your own tree and create a memory

Ahh, that fantasy Christmas. The holiday picture revolves around the tree, glowing with lights, decorated with treasured ornaments, smelling of pine and candy canes. For purists, the centerpiece of this holiday celebration can't be a tree chosen from a big-box parking lot or a forever-green …

Not so sweet on sugar: The downsides extend beyond your waistline

Surprise! Your birthday cake may be aging you and it has nothing to do with the candles. It's the sugar. Experts across the board are telling us that sugar isn't sweet when it comes to our bodies and the problems add up as American consumption of sugars has reached 22 teaspoons per day.

Not so sweet on sugar: The downsides extend beyond your waistline

Surprise! Your birthday cake may be aging you and it has nothing to do with the candles. It's the sugar. Experts across the board are telling us that sugar isn't sweet when it comes to our bodies and the problems add up as American consumption of sugars has reached 22 teaspoons per day.

Breakthroughs in back pain

Today's innovations in spine care offer many options for pain management and minimally invasive techniques that can have you back on your feet faster than imagined just a decade ago.

Back in Action: Innovations in Spine Care

It might be a sharp stab. It might be a dull ache. But sooner or later, eight out of 10 of us will have back pain, according to the National Institutes of Health. Yet, don't assume an aching back will bring you to your knees or extensive surgery is inevitable. Today's innovations in spine ca…

Dental innovations to make you smile

Many dental innovations are worth smiling about these days, including ways to brighten your teeth, make dental visits more comfortable and even prolong your life, said Dr. Jim Arnold, dentist and owner of Smiles by Arnold & Associates in Chesterton and Valparaiso, and Naperville, Ill.

The persistent summer ritual of drive-ins

They were the place to be in the ‘50s and ‘60s--to grab a burger, catch a flick, or smooch with a date. Drive-ins were an American classic with more than 4,000 drive-in theaters and even more drive-in restaurants dotting the national landscape.

Using your 'other' hand benefits your brain

Recently I had surgery on my hand, leaving me functionally single-handed for a time. Here's the bad news: I'm right-handed and I was left a lefty. I soon learned that my two hands may look the same, but the left one does not behave as well as its preferred sister. I struggled. I looked ridic…

Tooling up your training

When it comes to fitness, there's no substitute for sweat. Real men work hard. But local fitness experts have some ideas for making your workouts smarter and better.

Tooling up your training: Local experts share training secrets

When it comes to fitness, there's no substitute for sweat. Real men work hard. But local fitness experts have some ideas for making your workouts smarter and better. Take a look at the tools and gadgets these real men advocate for maximum training.

After-hour athletes cut loose with extreme sports

We all need a way to release the tension of the workaday world . . . a way to cut loose a bit. But these weekend warriors have taken their relaxation to an extreme. Check out what some of your neighbors are doing in their free time.

Local runner keeps racing after open heart surgery

Attend any running event in Northwest Indiana and chances are you'll see Polly Theising warming up. Theising, 60, of Valparaiso has been running since 1999—including two Chicago Marathons.

Graphic images to cover cigarette packages soon

American cigarette packages will get their biggest facelift in history this year. Designed to escalate efforts to reduce smoking, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will begin requiring realistic graphic images to cover half the surface of each package by June 2011. Some of the proposed i…

How and Why to Quit Smoking

Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. The impact on Indiana is even greater, as the state ranks fifth in the nation for highest smoking rates, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.