Cloudy night no hindrance for dunes stargazing enthusiasts

CHESTERTON | When admiring the heavens, you can’t let a few clouds get in your way.

Cancer teaches compassion lesson at Portage Relay for Life

PORTAGE | Two years ago, Heather Gubocki participated in Portage Relay for Life for all those afflicted with cancer.

Portage school marks first commencement

PORTAGE | A new day dawned Friday evening for 62 high school graduates at the first commencement ceremony at New Vistas High School in Portage.

Teachers honored at Boone Township

HEBRON | The Boone Township School Board meeting Tuesday night honored retiring educators.

Be 'of service to others,' speaker tells Wheeler High grads

UNION TOWNSHIP | Wheeler High School Principal Don Gandy made history at the high school’s commencement ceremony Sunday afternoon.

Morgan Township High: A school that nurtures success

MORGAN TOWNSHIP | Senior class President Lucia Calderon summarized in one sentence what many may have been thinking.

Boone Grove senior wins award, has bigger fish to fry

PORTER TOWNSHIP | Brandon Benninger is too young to have a “bucket list,” but that doesn’t mean he isn’t already achieving his dreams.

SMALL-BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Black Pearl Bakery

When Michelle Vogt added to her family, she couldn't have known the event would lead to a burgeoning home-based business.

Twins serve as guest speakers at Valparaiso High School commencement ceremonies

VALPARAISO | Graduating seniors at Valparaiso High School were seeing double at commencement ceremonies Friday evening.

Work isn't finished, teacher tells Chesterton High grads

CHESTERTON | The Chesterton High School gymnasium became a sea of maroon robes as the Class of 2013 marched in to Elgar’s "Pomp and Circumstance" at the 123rd annual commencement Thursday evening.

Early shoppers dig in to Valpo farmers market

VALPARAISO | The best of homemade and homegrown brought shoppers out to opening day of this season’s Central Park Plaza Market downtown.

Bark for Life raises funds for cancer society

VALPARAISO | “Call to the Post” played over the loudspeakers as the competitors eyed each other at the starting line and their handlers tempted them with treats.

Hebron remembers those who sacrificed for their country

HEBRON | Twenty white crosses and one Star of David formed the backdrop for the Memorial Day service at the Hebron Cemetery Monday morning.

Scout project ensures Memorial Wall area looks its best

CHESTERTON | To qualify for Eagle Scout status, Logan Castro would have to put 150 hours of community service into a project.

Indiana Memorial Wall service honors fallen warriors

Chesterton | More than 100 people assembled at the Indiana Memorial Wall at Porter Avenue and Ind. 49 for a Memorial Day service Sunday afternoon.

Heritage of Heroes pays tribute to soldiers

VALPARAISO | Local businessman Bill Wellman regaled the crowd assembled Saturday with a story about seeing fellow Hoosier and war correspondent Ernie Pyle during his service in World War II.

Runner, walker input first step in Sunset Hill Farm trail mapping

VALPARAISO | Nature enthusiasts and outdoor athletes had an opportunity Wednesday to provide input on a new trail map for Sunset Hill Farm County Park.

PNC graduation honors inspirational students

VALPARAISO | The family and friends of graduates were among the first to be congratulated at the 45th commencement of Purdue North Central.

Museum's new exhibit a labor of love

VALPARAISO | For some, the community is a new friend. For others, it’s in their blood.

Portage High prom a special treat

PORTAGE | Baylen Shanks-Meile couldn’t contain his excitement as he was waiting for his high school prom to start.

Belgian Malinois stars at Valpo Police 5/K9 run

VALPARAISO | Cairo doesn’t realize he’s a chick magnet.

Gloria Dei fiesta marks holiday

VALPARAISO | Authentic home-cooked Mexican food highlighted the Cinco de Mayo celebration Sunday at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Wetland preservation lesson sinks in

CHESTERTON | Protecting the watershed was the lesson Saturday at the Shirley Heinze Land Trust Wetlands Preserve, where Save the Dunes hosted a learning event for adults and children.

Runners strut their stuff for animal shelters, rescues

VALPARAISO | “A lot of mud and a lot of hills.”

Organizations unite at Be Kind to Animals Celebration at Porter County Expo Center

Valparaiso | With a pink bow around her neck, Wanda worked the room, collecting money for her favorite charity.

Eighth annual Earth Day event in Porter County highlights environment information

MORGAN TOWNSHIP | “Amazon Bob” held Whoosier, the Eurasian eagle owl, while kids lined up to pet him.

Region residents become part of Arctic environmental message

VALPARAISO | A love letter showed up on the shore of Loomis Lake at Rogers Lakewood Park Saturday morning.

Boone Grove school board hears success stories

BOONE GROVE | Two presentations kicked off the Porter Township school board April meeting Thursday evening.

New reading books chosen by Hebron teachers

HEBRON | At the school board’s April meeting, Hebron Elementary School principal James Martin announced that the school reading teachers have selected a new reading textbook.

VU students help clean up Valpo roads

VALPARAISO | Saturday’s chilly temperatures created the perfect day for spring cleaning — indoors.

PNC students paint papier-mache eggs with seniors in service project

VALPARAISO | When Purdue North Central professor Gay Lyn Birkholz asked her students to plan a semester project, she didn’t realize they’d set the bar so high.

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

VALPARAISO | The story of two young Northwest Indiana women — and a tree that became a boat — made its debut at the Porter County Museum of History Sunday afternoon.

School board recognizes Boone Grove bowling team

BOONE GROVE | The Porter Township school board recognized the Boone Grove High School girls bowling team at its March meeting.

Law students raise money for local animal rescue

VALPARAISO | There were no cats on the catwalk, but there were some in the crowd.

St. Patrick's Day holiday adds a special flair to Shipshewana on the Road

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | There was plenty of wearin’ – and spendin’ – o’ the green at Shipshewana on the Road on Sunday at the Porter County Expo Center.

Christopher Lawford talks about addictions at Valpo dinner

VALPARAISO | A “moment of grace” 27 years ago saved his life.

Handmade benches honor ecological pioneer

PORTER | Nature lovers gathered Saturday to prepare for warmer weather and to honor the legacy of a famous ecologist.

Food swap offers taste of culinary diversity

VALPARAISO | Tables were laden with homemade Greek yogurt, blueberry jam, almond poppy seed muffins, canned green beans, and Irish soda bread. Across the small room, others offered banana bread, chocolate chip bars, cranberry salsa and braided bread.

Former neo-Nazi speaks at Valpo forum

VALPARAISO | His time serving in the U.S. military didn't make him a racist, T.J. Leyden said, but it made him "a better racist."

Chellberg Farm hosting Maple Sugar Time

PORTER | Embers crackled in a brightly burning campfire and snow fell on the hushed forest as sugar water boiled in bowls made of hollowed-out logs.

Kids get their kicks at inaugural Youth Sports Expo

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | The inaugural Youth Sports Expo was a hit Saturday at the Porter County Expo Center, organizers said.

Group sounds off on gun rights

VALPARAISO | Not a seat was left in the small room at the Holiday Inn Express where people gathered Saturday to organize support for gun rights.

Porter Twp. school board honors math bowl teams

BOONE GROVE | The Porter Township school board honored the 4th and 5th grade math bowl teams from Boone Grove elementary at its meeting Thursday evening.

Hebron school board hears updates on music, curriculum

HEBRON | The Boone Township school board recognized the Hebron High School band at its meeting Tuesday evening.

Hebron Winterfest gets kids, adults out of the house

HEBRON | A bright, sunny winter day greeted folks who ventured out for a day of fun at Winterfest on Saturday.

Polar plunge at VU raises $20,000 for Special Olympics Indiana

VALPARAISO | Eye of the Tiger. Smoke on the Water. Born to Be Wild.

Chaplain at Port of Indiana ministers to 'invisible population'

PORTAGE | Marshall Bundrun loves his work so much, he does it without pay.

Valpo ice fishing derby draws 165 anglers

Valparaiso | Not many folks would pay $10 to get in line at the crack of dawn for a chance to sit on a frozen lake for seven hours in 20 degree weather.