Crawpuppies rock region stages

VALPARAISO | Region rock band the Crawpuppies has been hitting the stage since 1995, mixing original tunes with covers of pop rock bands and entertaining audiences throughout Northwest Indiana.

Day of Service

Teams of Ben Franklin eighth-graders and teachers spent the day out in the community including helping clean up the yard at Family House in Valparaiso as part of their day of service.

Day of Service

Ben Franklin eighth-graders' day of service included spending time at Banta Center playing bingo with its senior members.

Day of service spotlights community connections

VALPARAISO | Ben Franklin Middle School eighth-graders recently spent a day of service out in the community creating new connections and giving back.

Kids Power dog tour supports animal shelter

VALPARAISO | Kids Power is bringing the dog days of summer to spring.

Food swappers celebrate Cinco de Mayo

CHESTERTON | NWI Food Swap members celebrated Cinco de Mayo in style with their second food swap event at the Chesterton Public Library.

Food swappers celebrate Cinco de Mayo

CHESTERTON | NWI Food Swap members celebrated Cinco de Mayo in style with their second food swap event at the Chesterton Public Library.

ISP team honors fallen heroes

CHICAGO | Members of the Indiana State Police along with their family and friends joined thousands at the Gold Star Families Memorial and Park for the 9th annual Run to Remember.

ISP team honors fallen heroes

Bark for Life supports American Cancer Society

VALPARAISO | The Canine Country Club is hosting a Bark for Life and Dachshund Derby event June 1 to help support the American Cancer Society.

SMALL-BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Compton Customs, Highland

The owner of Compton Customs designs and builds furniture using traditional dovetail joinery and local or exotic hardwood as well as offers special cabinetry work.

Portage Senior Health Fair

12th Annual Portage Senior Health Fair

PORTAGE | Gwen Kiser, community relations director at Miller's Senior Living Community encourages a grip tester at the 13th annual Portage Senior Health Fair. The fair, sponsored by Mayor James Snyder and the mayor's advisory committee on senior services, featured various vendors, screenings…

DeLaney McGinley continuing achievements at Lewis University

DECATUR, ILL. | Lewis University’s DeLaney McGinley, of Valparaiso, is marking a personal best and top effort for all female throwers at Lewis this year. She recently won the hammer throw (44.85m/147'2") to lead the Flyer women’s track and field team at the Millikin University Big Blue Track…

Bark for Life

Bark for Life supports American Cancer Society

VALPARAISO | The Canine Country Club is hosting a Bark for Life and Dachshund Derby event on Saturday June 1 to help support the American Cancer Society.

Kids Power dog tour supports animal shelter

VALPARAISO | Kids Power is bringing the dog days of summer to spring.

Senior Health Fair Thursday in Portage

PORTAGE | The Mayor’s Advisory committee on Senior Services in Portage is hosting its 13th annual Senior Health Fair from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday May 2 at Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Road.

Promise connects best friends after diagnosis

CHESTERTON | Best friends Diane Santiago and Denise Francis have a lifetime of shared experiences built on a friendship that began in high school.

Feeding animals at Sunset Hill Farms

Children help feed Lucy the goat at a recent Feeding Time at the Farm event at Sunset Hill Farms.

Mayor seeks support, votes for symphony’s “Magic Baton” competition

LAPORTE | Mayor Blair Milo is vying for an opportunity to conduct the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra.

LaPorte Mayor Blair Milo

Tri Kappa book sale

Day of beauty fund-raiser honors Bach, raises awareness

VALPARAISO | Anna McDonald hopes a day of beauty will not only honor the memory of Amanda Bach but also will bring awareness to dating violence and relationship abuse.

Amanda Bach

Sunset Hill Farm County Park feeding time

Kids had a chance to feed the animals at Feeding Time at the Farm at Sunset Hill Farm County Park.

Feeding time at Sunset Hill Farm County Park

VALPARAISO | Mr. T and Lucy had special servers on a recent morning.

Most Vital Seniors

The 2012 Most Vital Seniors include, from left, Kathleen Miller (1st Place); Martha Willis (2nd Runner-up) and Donna Mokol (1st Runner-up).

Comfort Keepers to recognize most vital seniors

PORTAGE | Comfort Keepers of Portage is accepting nominations for its Most Vital Senior Award.

SMALL-BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Wings Aviation and Epic Limo

VALPARAISO | Wings Aviation has taken flight since owner Brian Sheely launched the business out of the trunk of his car.

Jupiter Jayde

Jupiter Jayde (Jayde Petersen) celebrates science during a show at the Cooks Corners Elementary School science fair.

A celebration of science at Cooks Corners Elementary School

VALPARAISO | Cooks Corners Elementary School hosted its first science fair in conjunction with its laboratory-themed book fair Friday.

American Sign Language Club

Karen Donah, right, interprets presenter Jan Pool's words into ASL during a recent club event at Cornucopia Coffee Company in Valparaiso.

ASL Club brings together culture, language

VALPARAISO | Blending cultures and languages, Purdue University North Central American Sign Language Club continues to connect community members through its events.

Helmets to Hardhats, apprenticeship program help vets work after service

PORTAGE | With a father and grandfather in the industry, David Brightwell Jr. knew at an early age he wanted to work as an ironworker. After serving in the Army, he has followed in their footsteps to become the third generation of his family with the Iron Workers Local 395.

SPOTLIGHT: Packaging, shipping business adds eBay consignment service

US 30 Postal Express is helping customers navigate the world of online auctions with a new eBay consignment service.

Club members swim to triumphant season

VALPARAISO | Valparaiso Swim Club members are celebrating a season of success.

Mayor, community members to celebrate successes, look to future

LAPORTE | While Mayor Blair Milo may not be able to pinpoint her top accomplishments, she can speak to the joint effort that went into all of the year’s successes.

Michigan City in Bloom

OE achievements

Ben Spurr hugs DSP Kyle Ribar before they receive their awards.

OE achievements

Carl Rice Jr. is recognized on stage with Julia Hess.

Opportunity Enterprises celebrates achievements

Valparaiso - Community members united to celebrate Opportunity Enterprises' mission and goals as well as the individuals and businesses that have made an impact in the last year during an event at Strongbow Inn.

Edgewater Systems leader helps organization, youth reach place of growth, change

At first, Danita Johnson Hughes was a bit hesitant to take the lead at Edgewater Systems for Balanced Living in Gary.

New partnership nurtures entrepreneurs' ideas in Gary

GARY | Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson discovered during sessions of her 15 minutes with the mayor initiative that many residents had entrepreneurial aspirations.

Collaboration cultivates entrepreneurial spirit in Gary

GARY | Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson discovered during sessions of her 15 minutes with the mayor initiative that many residents had entrepreneurial aspirations.