Valparaiso Habitat for Humanity home building

Valparaiso Habitat for Humanity volunteer Kent Gomez helps stabilize the frame on an in-construction Habitat home on Saturday.

Valparaiso Habitat for Humanity home building

Valparaiso Habitat for Humanity volunteer Ron Kuker measures framing on Saturday during a home building project in Valparaiso.

Valparaiso Habitat for Humanity home building

Carol Rodriguez carries planks with her husband Tony, in back, as they help build their future home with Valparaiso Habitat for Humanity volunteers on Saturday.

Walk to End Lupus Now helps families pay bills

Walk to End Lupus Now walkers make their way Saturday through the Lake County Fairgrounds as part of the fundraising event. Participants were treated to entertainment and activities and were given a choice between a one- or three-mile walk.

Walk to End Lupus Now helps families pay bills

Walk to End Lupus Now walkers make their way across the covered bridge Saturday at Crown Point's Lake County Fairgrounds as they participate in the fundraising event.

Slain teen honored at M'ville Go Green event

The family of slain 14-year-old Depree Mims, from right, father Depree Dalton, mother Naomi Mims and sisters De Janae and Depreecia help plant a tree in memory of their loved one Friday during the Go Green event at Pruzin Park in Merrillville. Depree Mims was shot and killed March 27 after a…

Slain teen honored at M'ville Go Green event

John Wood Elementary School second-graders rush to gather recyclable goods under a parachute Friday during an activity at the Go Green event at Pruzin Park in Merrillville.

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Burns Harbor - "The Gem", built by Treasure Homes in The Village at Burns Harbor, is the first building in Indiana to be awarded an "Emerald Level" National Green Building Certification.

Valparaiso University softball celebration

Valparaiso University softball players celebrate after taking the 2012 Horizon League Championship against Loyola University.

Valparaiso police honor fallen officers

Valparaiso police Capt. Mike DeHaven, right, inspects Officer John Cordova's police vehicle on Wednesday during the Valparaiso Police Department's National Police Week memorial service and inspection.

Valparaiso police honor fallen officers

Valparaiso Police Department officers hold their hands up as they renew their oath to protect on Wednesday during the department's National Police Week memorial service and inspection.

Valparaiso police honor fallen officers

Valparaiso Police Chief Michael Brickner speaks Wednesday during the department's National Police Week memorial service and inspection.

Fifth-graders competing for first

Portage fifth-graders compete in the 100-meter dash during Tuesday's Portage Township Schools fifth-grade track meet event at Portage High School.

Fifth-graders competing for first

Crisman Elementary fifth-grader Gillian Galinsky participates in the long jump Tuesday during the Portage Township Schools fifth-grade track meet event at Portage High School.

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Valparaiso softball player Joylyn Ichiyama celebrates with her son Jayden and her team after VU won the 2012 Horizon League championship.

Elvis brings a hunka burnin' love to seniors on Mother's Day

Entertainer Curt Lechner, dressed as Elvis, serenades Golden Living Center residents and visitors on Sunday during a special Mother's Day performance at the retirement community in Portage.

Elvis brings a hunka burnin' love to seniors on Mother's Day

Entertainer Curt Lechner, dressed as Engelbert Humperdinck, serenades resident Esther Splittgerber on Sunday during a special Mother's Day performance at the Golden Living retirement community in Portage.

Elvis brings a hunka burnin' love to seniors on Mother's Day

Entertainer Curt Lechner, dressed as Elvis, performs for Golden Living Center residents and visitors Sunday during a special Mother's Day celebration at the retirement community in Portage.

Mail carriers help Stamp Out Hunger

U.S. Postal Service worker Amy Tackett picks up donated goods along her route Saturday in Hobart as part of the national Stamp Out Hunger drive.

Mail carriers help Stamp Out Hunger

Hobart mail carrier Amy Tackett picks up a bag of items donated Saturday as part of the national Stamp Out Hunger drive. U.S. Postal Service mail carriers conduct the annual drive to collect food and supplies for local food banks.

Chesterton European Market is back and Colman's Mustard prepares for 200th year

Ernest Jeff twists pretzels at the Ben's Soft Pretzel stand during the opening day of the Chesterton European Market on Saturday.

Union Township approves school referendum; Hebron proposal dies by 4 votes

Union Township School Board Vice President Julie Giorgi reacts Tuesday after learning the school referendum passed.

Union Township approves school referendum; Hebron proposal dies by 4 votes

Union Township Schools Superintendent John Hunter, center, pores over vote results Tuesday with Union Township committee for the referendum co-chair David Fry, far right.

Union Township approves school referendum; Hebron proposal dies by 4 votes

David Fry, left, and Donald Kirincic, members of a committee for the referendum, celebrate Tuesday after school referendum passed.

Union Township approves school referendum; Hebron proposal dies by 4 votes

Union Township parent volunteer Melissa Kirincic, right, celebrates Tuesday with Union Township School Board Vice President Julie Giorgi after the school referendum passed.

Chesterton's Meg Modesto

Chesterton sophomore Meg Modesto is 8-1 this season at No. 1 singles.

Wizards visit Portage for hoops fundraiser

Portage High School volleyball player Allison Bachman chases down Harlem Wizards player Loonatik during a charity basketball game between the Harlem Wizards and Portage High School faculty and students Monday at Portage High School.

Wizards visit Portage for hoops fundraiser

Portage School Board member Jessica Bailey attempts to grab the ball from Harlem Wizards player King Arthur on Monday during a charity basketball game between Portage High School faculty and students and the Wizards at the school.

Indiana Dealer Summit

Visitors listen during a presentation at Monday's during the Indiana Independent Auto Dealers conference at Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City.

Indiana Dealer Summit

R. Scott Waddell, commisioner at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles Indiana, speaks to the crowd on Monday during the Indiana Independent Auto Dealers conference at Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City.

Hub Run draws more than 1,600

Participants in the 2K fun run/walk take off from the starting line Sunday during the Hub Run in downtown Crown Point.

Hub Run draws 1,600 participants to Crown Point

Participants in the 33rd annual Hub Run 5K take off from the starting line on West Joliet Street on Sunday in Crown Point. The event helps support Southlake Family YMCA financial scholarships for discounted memberships and youth day camps.

Crown Point celebrates National Day of Prayer

The Crown Point Christian School choir sings patriotic songs Thursday during Crown Point's National Day of Prayer event on the square.

Crown Point celebrates National Day of Prayer

Participants bow their heads in prayer Thursday at the beginning of Crown Point's National Day of Prayer event outside of the Old Lake County Courthouse. The event, which was organized by the local National Day of Prayer Committee, featured local religious leaders and a performance by the Cr…

Clark Middle School students learn healthy social media habits

Social media coach Dean DeLisle, of Forward Progress, introduces himself to students at Clark Middle School.

Clark Middle School students learn healthy social media habits

Social media coach Dean DeLisle talks with students Thursday during a presentation on the importance and dangers of social networks at Clark Middle School in St. John. DeLisle's presentation covered various social networks and their importance in finding a job or being accepted to college in…

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Anya Haynes, 5, and her mother Lynn fish off of Wolf Lake Pier.

Taking steps to raise dimes for healthy babies

Elizabeth Campbell holds her daughter Chloe, who was born 6 weeks premature, on Sunday before participating in the March for Babies in Valparaiso. The Campbells were ambassadors for this year's march, which raises money for the March of Dimes to help prevent premature births, birth defects a…

Taking steps to raise dimes for healthy babies

Participants make their way around the path at Valparaiso's Old Fairgrounds Park during Sunday's March of Dimes March for Babies. About 800 walkers stepped off from the David Butterfield Pavilion at Old Fairgrounds Park on a five-mile trek through downtown Valparaiso.

City humane officer ramps up care for abused, neglected animals

Gary police Sgt. Darlene Breitenstein sits with Max, a 2-year-old American staffordshire terrier, recovered from abusive ownership, recently at the Humane Society of Northwest Indiana in Gary. The Gary Police are working with the Humane Society to help track abused and neglected animals.

City humane officer ramps up care for abused, neglected animals

A picture of sores caused by a collar around the neck of 2-year-old Staffordshire terrier Max is displayed on a computer screen at the Humane Society of Northwest Indiana in Gary. The dog was rescued from an abusive ownership through a partnership with the shelter and the Gary Police Department.

City humane officer ramps up care for abused, neglected animals

A 2-year-old American Staffordshire terrier, Max, enjoys attention recently at the Humane Society of Northwest Indiana in Gary.

Munster has always tried to do things right

Stephen Jadrnak, of Hammond, left, and Grasie Noworyta, of Chicago, view art last April during the 38th annual South Shore Arts high school art exhibit and reception at Munster's Center for Visual and Performing Arts.

Miller Market brings fresh produce and food to Miller area

Fresh fruits and vegetables sit on display at the Miller Beach Market.

New trail and learning center open at National Lakeshore

Gallistel Language Academy student Kimberly Perfecto, 6, helps with a sand structure on Saturday with other students at The Paul H. Douglas Center's new Nature Play Zone.

New trail and learning center open at National Lakeshore

Lake Station Cub Scout Joshua Swartz, 10, helps set up a shelter with other Scouts on Saturday during the grand opening of The Paul H. Douglas Center's new Nature Play Zone at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Gary.

Region's senior housing projects expected to rise as citizens age

Kathy Keene, left, holds up a poster and pictures of a village in Austria for her mother, Katharina Makara, on Friday in Katharina's room at the Residences at Deer Creek in Schererville.

Region's senior housing projects expected to rise as citizens age

Katharina Makara, of Residences at Deer Creek in Schererville, smiles Friday as she spends time in the facility's cafe. Residences at Deer Creek is among several new senior living facilities in the region.

Region's senior housing projects expected to rise as citizens age

Schererville resident Katharina Makara makes her way to her room Friday at Residences at Deer Creek. “It's nice,” said Makara, who moved into Deer Creek in March. “The atmosphere — you can joke. You can talk.”