Lakeshore PBS won seven Communicator Awards, including two Awards of Excellence, the contest's highest honor.
The Merrillville-based Public Broadcasting Station affiliate took home a slew of trophies at the recent 28th annual Communicator Awards, staged by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts. The television station that broadcasts on channel 56 over the airwaves in Northwest Indiana and greater Chicagoland also took home five Awards of Distinction in the contest.
Lakeshore PBS’ locally produced series “Friends & Neighbors” and "Eye on the Arts" both received awards. It also won in the branded contest category for its promotional video “Lakeshore PBS: We’re Here for You.”
“Our goal has always been to give a voice to the people who call Northwest Indiana home by sharing these stories with the world, so to continue to receive such prestigious accolades doesn’t just reflect the talent of our team but also the diversity and inspiration that can be found within our unique community,” Lakeshore Public Media’s President and CEO James Muhammad said.
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Lakeshore PBS also recently won Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards, Public Media Awards and Telly Awards. It won Communicator Awards from a pool of more than 4,000 entries in what's billed as "the largest and most competitive awards program honoring creative excellence for communications professionals."
Past Award of Excellence recipients include leading companies like Walt Disney, Mattel, State Farm, T-Mobile and Pepsico.
“While they recognize the technical craft of what we do, their values align so closely with our own at Lakeshore PBS," said Tony Santucci, vice president of production for Lakeshore PBS. "The AVIA reveres the impact of the work and for us that is just as much about recognition from our audience as it is about recognition from our peers."
In addition to the airwaves, Lakeshore PBS also broadcasts on DirecTV, Dish Network and AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity and online.
For more information, visit LakeshorePBS.org.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Olive Garden, Tacos and Burritos, El Jimador, Dunkin, Midwest Express Clinic, Batteries Plus Bulbs opening
Opening soon
The long-awaited Olive Garden will open soon in Highland after a brief delay.
Originally slated to open on May 9, the sit-down Italian chain restaurant, known for its unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks, will open at the corner of Main Street and Indianapolis Boulevard at 11 a.m. May 23.
The Orlando-based restaurant known for its retired "When You're Here, You're Family" slogan took over the former Old Country Buffet at 10445 Indianapolis Boulevard in the Highland Grove Shopping Center. It did about $1.8 million in renovations to the 10,179-square-foot restaurant building at the busy corner.
'A long time coming'
"We couldn’t be happier that Olive Garden is finally opening. It’s been a long time coming. Olive Garden is a favorite of many people around Northwest Indiana," Highland Redevelopment Director Kathy Deguilio-Fox said. "And, from calls and comments that we’ve received we have residents that are big fans of Olive Garden and anxious for it to open. Certainly it’s a great addition to the town of Highland and we believe it should increase traffic in and around the Highland Grove Shopping Center as well."
Olive Garden serves family-style meals and an array of pasta dishes like lasagna, spaghetti, fettuccine alfredo, chicken parmigiana, shrimp scampi, five-cheese ziti and chicken and shrimp carbonara.
Slightly delayed
The chain originally planned to go to Schererville's new Oak District, where Chick-fil-A and LongHorn Steakhouse just opened a short distance down Indianapolis Boulevard. It chose Highland instead because it had an easier time obtaining a liquor license that will allow the vino to flow freely. Construction was delayed for months because of supply chain shortages of construction materials.
The chain, owned by Darden Restaurants, also has locations in Lansing, Michigan City and Hobart at the Southlake Mall.
For more information, call 219-513-4291.
Open
A new Dunkin has opened in downtown East Chicago.
The standalone doughnut and coffee shop with a drive-thru is located at 4600 Indianapolis Boulevard just north of Casa Blanca across from city hall. The chain also has another East Chicago location at 1705 E. Columbus Drive in the Indiana Harbor neighborhood.
The New England favorite serves doughnuts, bagels, croissants, breakfast sandwiches, avocado toast, hummus toast and a variety of coffee drinks served both hot and cold.
It's open from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
For more information, call 219-221-9152.
Coming soon
El Jimador Mexican Cuisine serves authentic Mexican fare in Crown Point and Hobart.
It will soon open its third Northwest Indiana location at 111 Broadway Street in Cedar Lake.
The chain serves tacos, burritos, fajitas, flautas, enchiladas and a land and sea dinner in a Hacienda-style environment. Its new Cedar Lake location will be in front of the Strack & Van Til across from Hanover Central High School.
Open
After months of construction, Tacos & Burritos Rancho Grande recently opened at the site of the former Golden Crown diner at 17904 Torrence Ave. in Lansing.
The Mexican restaurant also has a location at 3444 Ridge Road in downtown Lansing where a vintage Fox Deluxe Beer ad was uncovered on the brick wall during renovations of the dining area. It's a counter-serve chain that stays open late and serves street food like tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, tostadas, gorditas, tortas, sopes, quesadillas and enchiladas.
Former Golden Crown site
Customers get a number of protein options that include carne asada, pollo, pastor, carnitas, barbacoa, chorizo, cecina, ribeye steak, fish, beef tongue, tripe and cheese-stuffed poblano peppers. The premium options like ribeye cost a little extra.
The newly built standalone restaurant on Torrance Avenue just south of Interstate 80/94 has a drive-through and juice bar. It will serve beer and margaritas in the dine-in area.
Also a downtown location
Tacos and Burritos is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Relocated
Batteries Plus Bulbs relocated in Schererville.
The electronics retailer moved from the Crossroads of America intersection of Indianapolis Boulevard and U.S. 30 about two miles north to 13 U.S. 41. It's now located in The Shoppes at Schererville shopping center, between La Carreta Mexican Restaurant and TGI Fridays. It's in the strip mall in front of JOANN Fabric and Crafts, which is accessible by the stoplight in front of the Lowe's home improvement store.
Batteries Plus Bulbs sells thousands of specialty batteries and lighting products, such as CFL, halogen, fluorescent and LED bulbs. One can find batteries for phones, tablets, laptops, cameras, baby monitors, alarm systems, hearing aids, cordless power tools, wheelchairs, e-readers and sump pumps as well as for vehicles like cars, trucks, snowmobiles, boats, golf carts, RVs and ATVs.
Part of a chain that also has locations in Merrillville, Homewood and Tinley Park, the store also repairs electronics, such as cracked iPhone screens and tablets on the fritz. It will fix Apple, Samsung and other major brands. It also provides key fob programming and cutting for spare keys or keyless entry remote.
Batteries Plus Bulbs is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, call 219-464-1800 or visit batteriesplus.com.
Open
Midwest Express Clinic expanded to a second location in Crown Point.
The urgent care clinic that started in Munster and has multiple locations across Northwest Indiana opened a new clinic at 129 E. 107th St. in Beacon Hill. Midwest Express clinic offers primary, preventative and urgent care services.
People can go there to get treated for a cold, for wellness exams, to get a B-12 injection, to get vaccinated or for a school or sports physical. The chain also has locations in Cedar Lake, Dyer, Griffith, Hammond, Merrillville, Munster, Hammond, Portage and Schererville.
The clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.
For more information, visit midwestexpressclinic.com.
Open
Edgewater Health recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its newly opened clinic in Cedar Lake.
Several dignitaries celebrated the grand opening of the clinic at 9855 Lincoln Plaza Way in the Summer Winds Plaza.
The new clinic will focus on family medicine and women's health. Scores of community leaders attended the ceremony, which was followed by an open house and facility tours.
“We are excited to expand our services to this community and look forward to establishing new relationships in Cedar Lake,” said Dr. Danita Johnson Hughes, CEO of Edgewater Health.
The clinic will provide routine checkups, screenings, wellness education and chronic disease management. People can go there for gynecological, first trimester obstetrical and newborn care.
“In Cedar Lake, we saw a need that is perfect for Edgewater Health’s approach: We believe it is essential to treat the whole person rather than just a condition, and our focus on family medicine and women’s health is a perfect fit,” Hughes said.
If you would like your business to be included in a future column, email joseph.pete@nwi.com.
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Joseph S. Pete
Business Reporter
Joseph S. Pete is a Lisagor Award-winning business reporter who covers steel, industry, unions, the ports, retail, banking and more. The Indiana University grad has been with The Times since 2013 and blogs about craft beer, culture and the military.
