nwiNOW_LakeEdition by The Times of NWI

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LAKE COUNTY PAGE BB2 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010

THE TIMES

OVERVIEW COMMENTARY

BY PAUL MULLANEY

Hats off to our unsung heroes urdue fans toasted their former quarterback, Drew Brees, this month for reaching the ultimate hero status in his profession. Long ago placed on a pedestal, Brees’ stature was elevated even more by leading his New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl victory and being honored as the big game’s MVP. The previous week, Beyonce walked off with six Grammys, the big winner in the annual music awards show and an even bigger singing hero now in the eyes of her many fans. We even get made-for-TV heroes as reality programs conjure up “heroes vs. villains” drama. But on the hundreds of thousands of stages that make up everyday life in Lake County, we have our own heroes — real heroes, most of them unsung. They are the real survivors, determined to beat the odds and make life better for their families, their neighbors, their friends and, often, brothers and sisters they’ve never met. So often on the pages of this newspaper we read about public corruption, political shenanigans, the blatant disregard for people’s rights and the worst types of crime. Do those we consider our leaders really lead? To whom do we — or can we — really look up? There are plenty of heroes in your midst, those helping draft the blueprint to success by making a difference in your neighborhood, in your workplace, in your school, in your place of worship, in your towns and cities. They surround you, perhaps, more than you realize. So here’s a shout out to heroes throughout Lake County. Hats off to all of you. You won’t read your name, but you’ll know it’s for you. To the volunteer youth sports coach, scout leader and dance instructor, for keeping our young ones steered in the right direction. To the parent who works long hours in hopes of providing a better life for the family. To the religious leader, the faithful, the professional and the civilian for traveling to foreign lands to offer those in desperate need some of their time, talents or treasure. To the American who helps gather and ship items of appreciation and words of thanks to our troops, wherever they may be serving. To the teacher who dedicates extra time and energy without compensation to assist the student who needs the extra help. To the first responder who sacrifices to assist a brother or sister in need. To the neighbor who watches the homes on the block to protect the interests of those in the neighborhood. To the volunteer who gives to ease the suffering of a senior citizen. To the business owner willing to be patient in tough times to keep loyal customers. To the public servant who doesn’t let politics get in the way of being a real public servant. To the student who works hard in and out of the classroom to ensure he or she will contribute to society in the future. To the civic group member who flips pancakes in his or her spare time so a stranger can benefit. To all of you who are making a difference, true heroes in our communities. Thank you!

Paul Mullaney is managing editor of The Times.

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

NATALIE BATTAGLIA | THE TIMES

The 12 Pipe Still at BP will be replaced by newer towers as part of the modernization project. BP Products North America, a division of London-based BP PLC, is conducting a $3.8 billion expansion of its Whiting Refinery to much fanfare around the region.

COUNTY INDUSTRY STILL DRIVES NWI Service economy has taken up some slack BY BILL DOLAN bill.dolan@nwi.com, (219) 662-5328

ake County remains the playground and economic engine for most of Northwest Indiana, even as the current recession depresses business revenues and keeps unemployment high. A recent survey of merchants found them slightly more optimistic about their prospects. The steel industry saw its operations drop to a fraction of normal use and then rebound to about a 65 percent level while the glut of houses for sale shrank as 2009 wore on. Vince Galbiati, former Northwest Indiana Forum president, said, “Conservatively, the commerce that’s driven by our primary industries is in excess of $40 billion in what we provide the state.” Lake County has seen hard times before. Automation and competition from heavy industry around the world caused steel jobs, primarily in Lake County, to crash from 66,400 to less than a quarter of that amount in the last 29 years. Tens of thousands of residents left the area or commute to work outside of Northwest Indiana. But, Lake County still provides hundreds of thousands of jobs, thanks to its native industry and its ready access to Chicago’s markets. “We always try to leverage off our proximity,” Galbiati said. “One of the largest advantages of Northwest Indiana is the proximity to a major metropolitan area.” U.S. Steel Corp. Gary Works, ArcelorMittal’s Indiana Harbor plant and the BP Whiting Refinery continue to dominate the local economic landscape. “When you have large industrial energy production and steel manufacturing facilities, like Northwest Indiana does, because they are so large and command so much money and huge employment bases, it is not only a huge chink of Northwest Indiana’s economy, but of also the American economy,” Galbiati said. “They are all an economy unto themselves.” Gary Works has an annual raw steelmaking capacity of 7.5 million tons. ArcelorMittal boasts its East Chicago facility is the largest steelmaking complex in North America with raw steelmaking capacity of 10 million tons annually. BP is undergoing a $3.8 billion modernization project that will increase its motor fuels production by about 1.7 million gallons daily and refine more oil from Canada. “The refinery in Whiting is one of the largest in the United States,” Galbiati said. “So when British Petroleum put their

U.S. Steel Gary Works, above, and ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor East, left, are important players in Lake County because of their job opportunities. The county also is popular because of its ready access to Chicago’s markets. “We always try to leverage off our proximity,” VInce Galbiati said. “One of the largest advantages of Northwest Indiana is the proximity to a major metropolitan area.”

investment into re-engineering that plant, that is permanent infrastructure.” Lake County’s 19 cities and towns and countryside contain not only industrial might but also a hard-nosed urban diversity — 1 in 3 residents belongs to a minority — in addition to suburban prosperity and open space. The county was once an unremarkable corner of Indiana until about a century ago when it became the workshop of the Midwest. Gateway Park near Fifth and Broadway in Gary chronicles the 47 distinct ethnic groups that crossed the world to work in the county’s steel mills and related plants. Hundreds of miles of highways radiate east, west and south of the county’s commanding position on Lake Michigan’s south shore, making Lake County a hub of transportation for the Midwest. County residents can climb aboard the state’s only commuter rail line, the South Shore. Lake’s industrial movement left a toxic inheritance of nine Superfund sites and hundreds of more minor brownfields to be cleansed. The county’s air quality has improved from the dark days of before the Clean Air Act, when mill dust lay thick on the sidewalks in Gary and East Chicago.

The county now must meet more stringent air pollution marks for ozone and fine particulate matter. “Primary industries like oil and energy production and steel continue to reduce their labor dependence because of changing technology,” Galbiati said. “So it becomes very difficult for labor, not having other industries to go to.” The service industry has taken up some of the slack for lost industrial jobs. Its floating casinos in Lake Michigan are the most spectacularly example. The Ameristar Casino and Hotel in East Chicago, the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond and the Majestic Star Hotel and Casinos in Gary, which opened a decade ago, are among the flashiest examples of the county’s postindustrial development. The economic downturn, aggravated by the closing of its Cline Avenue because of structural weakness of the elevated access road, forced Majestic Star Casinos into bankruptcy and trimmed Lake County’s total gaming revenue by more than 20 percent, according to state figures. However, the four floating casinos still managed to generate more than $290 million in taxes and fees by attracting nearly 10 million customers to roam its more than five acres of gaming space packed with 9,400 gaming devices and tables, eat at their 15 restaurants and bed down in 590 hotel rooms. They employed more than 5,200. “What the Forum works on hard is finding the next generation of industry. What we are taking a look at is advanced manufacturing and advanced logistics,” Galbiati said. “We believe those two in combination together produces more manufacturing jobs, more service jobs.”

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LAKE COUNTY ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

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LAKE COUNTY PAGE BB4 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010

THE TIMES

K-12 EDUCATION

JOHN LUKE PHOTOS | THE TIMES

Merrillville High School sophomores Brianna Fotonos, left, and Michael Rhoades work on dissecting a crayfish in Jeff Yelton’s zoology class. About 30 students grabbed their shellfish from a bucket of water and began taking notes, making sketches and taking the small, freshwater crustacean apart as part of their science course. Twenty-one schools in Lake and Porter counties were among the 188 schools statewide that earned Four Star awards for 2008-09.

Local schools pass the test County schools brave economic storm with new programs, outlook

LEFT: Merrillville High School junior Daniella Douglas holds a crayfish while teacher Jeff Yelton gives direction to students in his zoology class as students work on dissecting and identifying the anatomy of crayfish. School superintendents say they are working hard not to cut programs but to look at operational expenses that can be trimmed to reduce budgets.

BY CARMEN MCCOLLUM carmen.mccollum@nwi.com, (219) 662-5337

There’s been lots of discussion about cuts in education, particularly at the K12 level where $300 million has been slashed from the state budget. But local superintendents say there are still plenty of good things happening in education. They say they are working hard not to cut programs but to look at operational expenses which can be trimmed. Superintendents point to the graduation rates which climbed in 2009. Indiana’s graduation rate was 81.5 percent, climbing 3.7 percentage points. Many local school districts did even better, ranking in the upper 80s and 90s. All but three high schools in the area showed improvement. Educators also are pleased that 21 local schools in Lake and Porter counties were among 188 schools statewide that earned Four Star awards for 2008-09. Many schools are doing a very good job, said Merrillville Superintendent Tony Lux. “We’re facing higher expectations and higher standards with fewer dollars,” he noted. As a result of the budget cuts, Hobart Superintendent Peggy Buffington said the district is doing some very innovative things at the elementary level. In the fall, the district will unveil an early learning center at George Earle Elementary School. All kindergarten students will be housed at the elementary school. Buffington said Hobart schools will have to cut 5 percent or more than $1 million from its budget. She said putting kindergartners in one building and moving the first- through fifth-graders to other buildings will increase class size slightly and reduce the number of teachers needed, ultimately saving the district some money. Buffington expects there will be nearly 300 kindergarteners at George Earle Elementary. She said the Parents as Partners program, along with an early child development center will be housed at George Earle. “Kacey Allen will remain as principal. There will be a number of resources there for parents and children,” Buffington said. River Forest Superintendent James Rice PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

BELOW: Merrillville High School students work on a dissection project.

said he is very proud of the alternative school program developed with the Lake Station school system. The two school districts partnered to make the program possible and retain students who otherwise might have dropped out of school. “These students have been able to earn credits, graduate and get their diplomas,” Rice said. “It was very successful last year and our numbers show it’s going to be successful this year. We initiated this program about a year and a half ago.” The graduation rate at River Forest jumped from 61.6 percent in 2008 to 70.4 percent in 2009 while the graduation rate at Lake Station Edison went from 64.4 percent to 71.9 percent, showing that more students graduated from both schools. As a result of considerable research and planning, River Forest schools also were able to qualify all three of its elementary schools for Title I programming, which provides extra help in reading. In the past, students had to qualify for the extra help, Rice said. Now that all three elementary schools are considered Title I schools, all students are entitled to the same services. Rice said that designation allows them to offer assistance to all 898 students as needed. In just a few months, East Chicago Superintendent Michael Harding said the city’s schools already are seeing success

with two new programs that have been implemented — Fast ForWord and Read 180. Both programs started in November for grades two through nine. Grade 10 will be added next year, he said. Harding is also excited about the strategic planning process the district has embarked on, which will include East Chicago community members, businesses, parents and students. Highland Superintendent Mike Boskovich said his district is enthusiastic about its curriculum mapping and Response to Intervention processes that are under way. “I think our district is very ahead of the

curve with RTI, and we’re doing a lot with that program,” he said. Response to Intervention is a way to help at-risk students before they fall behind and are considered disabled. Educators say it will reduce the number of children who are placed in special education programs and get them the help they need to be successful. “Curriculum mapping is our way of having an articulated curriculum for K-12. We’re actually mapping what we teach and how we teach. “What that does is show gaps in instruction and how we can improve student learning by narrowing those gaps,” Boskovich said.

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LAKE COUNTY ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010 | PAGE BB5

CHHS builds teamwork into students’ healthcare education

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Anyone who visits a doctor, undergoes medical tests, or receives treatment at a hospital or clinic, quickly understands that healthcare is a team endeavor. Physicians, nurses, medical technicians, physical therapists, and even billing specialists all play an important role in the overall care and recovery of the patient. Yet, at many colleges and universities, students who study for careers in these critical healthcare fields do so without gaining any meaningful understanding of the other players’ roles on the team. There is typically little interaction between student doctors and student nurses, for example, or between student doctors and future social workers. At most schools, radiological-science students never have the chance to work with human anatomical donors in a gross anatomy lab. Most pre-med students won’t have any learning experiences inside of a medical school until after they finish their undergraduate studies. And health information management students may not even find themselves in the same academic division as their other healthcare colleagues.

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That is NOT how healthcare education is practiced at the Indiana University Northwest College of Health and Human Services (CHHS).

CHHS makes IU Northwest the only school in Northwest Indiana where future healthcare professionals can undertake interactive learning with students from other disciplines, including medical students. Student healthcare teams work together in classroom, lab and ﬁeld activities that impart medical knowledge, technical expertise, and a fundamental understanding about what great healthcare means for patients and for practitioners.

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“The goal is to have the members of the medical team work together and pool their training early in their careers, so that all of them can improve their understanding of what each member of the team brings to patient care,” said CHHS Dean Patrick Bankston, Ph.D. “We believe, because of that interaction, that they will learn each other’s strengths and have respect for one another, and that this will produce a higher quality of care for the patient.”

CHHS incorporates outstanding academic programs in nursing, dental education, radiological science, social work, and health information management into one uniﬁed academic unit. The IU School of Medicine – Northwest (IUSM-NW), the region’s only medical school, is located on the Northwest campus, and its student doctors serve as valued partners in CHHS learning initiatives.

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“One of the reasons we thought the College of Health and Human Services was a good idea was that we wanted to cement the relationship between the undergraduate curriculum at IU Northwest and the medical school,” said Bankston, who is also the assistant dean and director of IUSM-NW. “We thought some of the things we were doing in our educational system might be enhanced by the presence of nursing students, social work students and others.”

Many IUSM-NW med students enroll in that program after completing their pre-med studies in the IU Northwest College of Arts and Sciences (COAS). In addition to medicine, other COAS pre-professional programs include: dentistry; optometry; and physical or occupational therapy. Pre-professional students at IU Northwest have the opportunity to attend seminar lectures at the medical school and perhaps even assist med-school faculty with research. Team learning takes many forms at CHHS. One program offers med students, nursing students and Master of Social Work students the opportunity to collaborate on patient evaluations. CHHS also brings in guest speakers for topical programs like “Spirituality and Medicine” in order to give healthcare students a broader perspective on patient care. Another popular program is the International Human Cadaver Prosection Seminar, in which radiologicalscience students assist in taking films of the med school’s anatomical donors for the benefit of the firstyear medical gross-anatomy students. Prosection involves the physical preparation of body donors for the teaching of gross anatomy, and IU Northwest undergrad CHHS and pre-med students are among the 40 or so volunteers each year who spend several days learning and carrying out this fascinating process. In 2009, IUSM-NW and CHHS partnered with Methodist Hospitals Imaging Services to take MRI and CT scans of the body donors, in addition to the x-rays and ultrasounds that were taken in the CHHS radiology lab. The images allowed students and faculty to identify tumors, implants and other important physical features within the donors.

{ For more information on the

College of Health and Human Services at IU Northwest Visit the web at

www.iun.edu/~chhs/ Call (219) 980-6566

“Medicine requires a team-based approach,” explained IUSM-NW Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology Ernest Talarico, Ph.D., course director of human gross anatomy and coordinator of the prosection program. “This prosection experience, and the experience of taking x-rays, CTs and MRIs, lets the students know what their key counterparts do and the importance of their roles in patient care. “It facilitates learning from different perspectives,” Talarico added. “The students are actually teaching each other. They have to go through problem-solving as a team.”

Even in a tough economy, healthcare professionals remain in high demand at hospitals, clinics and physicians’ ofﬁces across Northwest Indiana. There is a great need for skilled and thoughtful team members who know how to work together to produce the best possible outcomes for patients.

At IU Northwest, healthcare students who will work together tomorrow learn together today. It’s an educational approach that can mean better results for the students, better care for their patients, and a better quality of life in Northwest Indiana.

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LAKE COUNTY PAGE BB6 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010

THE TIMES

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LAKE COUNTY ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010 | PAGE BB7

BY THE NUMBERS

JESSICA A. WOOLF | THE TIMES

A Community Hospital tour guide talks about the hospital's history in the region before walking tourists through the hospital's new ER department. The hospital is one of the top employment providers in Lake County and recently invested $40 million to remodel its building.

Fast facts and data for Lake County Location Lake County is located in Northwest Indiana. The county is bordered on the south by Newton and Jasper counties. The county is adjacent to Porter County on the east, Lake Michigan to the north, and the state of Illinois to the west.

Population counts by decade and current estimate POPULATION

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008

368,152 513,269 546,253 522,917 475,594 484,561 493,800

CHANGE % CHANGE

NA 145,117 32,984 -23,336 -47,323 8,967 9,239

NA 39.4% 6.4% -4.3% -9.0% 1.9% 1.9%

Population projections 2010

2015

2020

2025

Population projections 493,297 493,776 496,191 503,203 511,783 Change since 2005 479 2,894 9,906 18,486 Percentage change since 2005 0.1% 0.6% 2.0% 3.7% SOURCE: INDIANA BUSINESS RESEARCH CENTER

Population estimates by age in ’08 NUMBER

Preschool School age College age Young adult Older adult Older (65 plus)

NUMBER PERCENTAGE DIST.

American Indiana or Alaskan Native alone 1,998 0.4% Asian alone 5,797 1.2% Black alone 128,692 26.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Island alone 334 0.1% White alone 351,052 71.1% Two or more race groups 5,927 1.2% HISPANIC OR LATINO Non-Hispanic or Latino 420,545 85.2% Hispanic or Latino 73,255 14.8% SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

TONY V. MARTIN | THE TIMES

Educational attainment

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

2005

Population estimates by race and Hispanic origin in 2008

34,907 92,719 43,957 124,118 133,727 64,372

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Households in 2000

PERCENT

Graduates of Purdue University Calumet receive their diplomas at the university’s 59th fall 1990 2000 commencement exercises at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville. PUC is on a list of the top 10 Total Population 25 and older employers in Lake County. 298,552 310,220 Less than ninth grade 28,126 19,734 Commuting patterns: Top five Per capita income over time Ninth to 12th, no diploma 51,055 40,137 counties receiving workers from 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 High school graduate (or equivalent) county, 2007 Total per capita income 114,913 115,681 $14,225 $18,295 $22,707 $26,675 $31,833 COUNTY NUMBER PERCENT Some college, no degree 51,708 68,204 Illinois 44,844 74.3% Change since 1987 $4,070 $8,482 $12,450 $17,608 Associate’s degree 14,528 16,157 Out of state 7,095 11.8% Percentage change since 1987 Bachelor’s degree 23,476 33,327 Porter County 6,883 11.4% 28.6% 59.6% 87.5% 123.8% Graduate or professional degree LaPorte County 1,218 2.0% 14,746 16,980 SOURCE: BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS Tippecanoe County 304 0.5% SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

7.1% 18.8% Commuting data, 2007 8.9% Tax filers who live in county and work 302,954 25.1% 286,577 27.1% Tax filers who work in the county Tax filers who live in county and work in 13.0% county 240,616 Tax filers who live out of the county and work in county 45,961

NUMBER

PERCENT

Total households 181,633 Family households 127,036 Married with children 39,029 Married w/o children 49,444 Single parents 20,558 Other 18,005 Nonfamily household 54,597 Living alone 46,784 Avg. household size 2.67 Avg. family household size 3.81

100% 69.9% 21.5% 27.2% 11.3% 9.9% 30.1% 25.8%

SOURCE: INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

Commuting patterns: Top five counties sending workers into county, 2007 COUNTY

Porter County Illinois Jasper County LaPorte County Newton County

NUMBER

PERCENT

22,315 13,848 3,137 2,047 1,648

51.9% 32.2% 7.3% 4.8% 3.8%

SOURCE: INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

SOURCE: INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

Income and wage

Median family income in 2008 $59,983 Median household income in 2008 $49,835 NUMBER PERCENT. Average wage per job in 2008 $40,243 Total workers age 16 and older Wage Growth since 1998 32.1% 208,957 100% SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU AND BUREAU OF LABOR Travel to work 204,749 98% STATISTICS Car, truck, or van 192,232 92% Traveled alone 168,666 80.7% Some of the major employers in Carpooled 23,566 11.3% Lake County (in alphabetical order) Ameristar Casino East Chicago Used public transportation 6,707 3.2% BP America Inc., Whiting Motorcycle, bicycle, walked, other Calumet College of St. Joseph, Whiting 5,810 2.8% Community Hospital, Munster Worked at home 4,208 2% Horseshoe Casino, Hammond Avg. travel time (minutes) 27.1 Methodist Hospitals, Merrillville Avg. travel time using public trans. (minutes) NiSource Inc., Merrillville 64 Purdue University Calumet, Hammond SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU St. Anthony Medical Center, Crown Point St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers, Hammond

Travel to work in 2000

SOURCE: INFOUSA DATABASE

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LAKE COUNTY PAGE BB8 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010

THE TIMES

ow the area’s largest independent grocery operator, Strack & Van Til traces its Northwest Indiana heritage to two local entrepreneurs – Ernie Strack and Nick Van Til – who each opened grocery stores in the Calumet Region more than 80 years ago. The men shared a vision of bringing the freshest food to Northwest Indiana communities and combined their expertise in the ﬁrst Strack & Van Til store which opened in October 1960 at 45th Street and Cline Avenue in Highland. Today, that commitment to community, customers and quality has helped the chain bring economic growth to the Region as well as helping customers save on their food budgets. The Strack & Van Til company includes 14 Strack & Van Til stores, one Key Market, two Town & Country stores and 13 Ultra Food stores in Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland. This full-service grocery and fresh good store chain is committed to the complete satisfaction of their customers and to being recognized as the leading full-service food store, exceeding customer expectations today, and into this new millennium. “We’re proud that we continue to grow,” says David Wilkinson, Strack & Van Til president. “We care about what the consumer wants and we adjust to their demands.” Wilkinson says customers are vital to the company’s success. “We can do this because we really believe you can build or lose a business one customer at a time,” he says. “So we value what every customer has to say.” With today’s economic conditions, the Strack & Van Til company has worked diligently with its suppliers to offer more sale items on the most-purchased items every week. “We offer over 8,000 sale items each week throughout our stores,” Wilkinson says. “We recently added a new private label line called ‘Always Save’ to give our customers an alternative to the major brands and to help them stretch their food dollars,” he says. The “Always Save” line includes items in all food categories that are priced very competitively. Strack & Van Til is also successful because of the dedicated efforts of the company’s associates and the commitment to their training and development, Wilkinson says. Customers regularly compliment store managers on the polite, friendly and efﬁcient service they receive from associates. In addition, Strack & Van Til remains dedicated to the communities it serves by supporting organizations and events that enhance the quality of life. “We’ve supported the public for over 80 years,”

“

Wilkinson says. “Being part of the community is very important to us.” The opening of the newest Strack & Van Til store in East Chicago at Indianapolis Boulevard and Chicago Avenue one year ago demonstrates this commitment to community. By investing in the city and its citizens, Strack & Van Til also has become an integral part of East Chicago’s economic rebirth. The Highland-based company spent about $5 million renovating the former grocery and drug stores and adding on to the building, Wilkinson says. It is the 30th store in the Strack & Van Til chain. “This is the largest, newest, full-service grocery store in East Chicago,” he says. “It helps with the redevelopment of the downtown.” The 46,000-square-foot store at 4725 Indianapolis Blvd. opened its doors on Jan. 15, 2009. Inside, customers ﬁnd an extensive grocery section, a huge produce section of fruits and vegetables, a 56-foot long self-service meat and seafood department, a full-service meat counter with butchers and an Almira’s Bakery. “There are more than 35,000 different items in the store,” Wilkinson says. Although the design is similar to other Strack & Van Til stores, this newest location offers items unique to East Chicago, including an expanded hot food area, an array of international foods. Shoppers are also able to pay bills and cash checks at the store’s customer service department. Payments for NIPSCO, cellular phones, cable TV, East Chicago water bills and other utility bills are taken in that department. This store has also brought job opportunities to the community. Strack & Van Til employs 150 fulland part-time associates at the East Chicago store, with an emphasis on hiring city residents, he says. In the past year, Strack & Van Til has also made major improvements to its Web site, www.strackandvantil.com, including pop ads for easier viewing, Wilkinson says. Now customers can use that Web site to: s Create their shopping lists from weekly ads s Access more than $100 in manufacturer coupons each month s Add coupons from the weekly ads to their shopping lists s Locate hard-to-ﬁnd specialty items s Find 60,000 recipes to help with meal planning s See weekly meal suggestions s View 70 cooking videos

”

FOR MORE INFO:

STRACK & VAN TIL 2244 45th St. Highland, IN 46322 219-924-7588 www.strackandvantil.com

12 NORTHWEST INDIANA LOCATIONS SERVING YOU INDIANA Crown Point 10851 Broadway Crown Point 200 Franciscan Dr. East Chicago 4725 Indianapolis Blvd Hammond Van Til’s, 2635 169th St. Hammond 115 Sibley St. Highland 9632 Cline Hobart 7760 East 37th Ave Merrillville 7201 Taft St. Munster 12 Ridge Rd. Schererville US Routes 30 & 41 St. John 9825 Wicker Avenue Whiting 1836 Calumet Ave. PLUS 2 OTHER CHICAGOLAND LOCATIONS ILLINOIS Chicago 2627 N. Elston Ave Plainfield 2300 IL Rt. 59

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010 | PAGE BB9

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Where locals share favorites. your local social networking destination Not only can I keep up with friends and family, but I can shop the Marketplace and write reviews on my favorite places.

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LAKE COUNTY PAGE BB10 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010

THE TIMES

" ! "

Northwind Crossings Business Park Ameriplex at the Crossroads " "

NIPSCO.com

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LAKE COUNTY ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010 | PAGE BB11

Sunset Harbor and The Moorings bring renewed vitality to Cedar Lake

sk any long-time Lake County resident about Cedar Lake and watch their faces light up with memories. Some will recall idyllic, lazy summer days spent boating, ﬁshing and swimming, others will remember dancing the night away at the Midway Ballroom over the lake, and others will think of time spent in a small “doghouse” cabin during church camp. Even residents as far as Indianapolis, South Bend and Chicago can recall fun visits to Cedar Lake. No doubt about it, the lake brings fond memories back to so many people. The town of Cedar Lake has gone through many changes since the late 1800s, and now it looks forward to new development that marries the natural surroundings with luxurious living.

HISTORY Cedar Lake is a natural lake, a relic of a time when glaciers dominated the landscape. When the glaciers retreated, melt water filled a claylined depression. Potowatomi Indians hunted and fished along the lake as they traveled through the region on their way to Illinois. European settlers came to the area in 1834, largely to hunt. A hunting lodge from that era still stands, now updated with modern siding. The Monon railway came in the 1870s (the tracks are still visible) bringing visitors from as far as Indianapolis, South Bend and Chicago. Hotels lined the shore, and city folk, looking to get away from the heat of the urban areas, found Cedar Lake’s breezes welcoming and refreshing. Hotels sprung up along the lake, numbering 55 in the resort heydays. Once Labor Day passed, and visitors went home, industry leapt in to fill the void. Ice was harvested from the lake and sent by train to the meat packing industry in Chicago. After WWI, tiny little one-room cottages were built up along the lake, and after WWII, GIs came to work in the steel mills, settling

TION D INFORMA MODEL AN SUNSET HARBOR R CENTER FO ore Dr. Sh ke La 6 1320 IN 46303 Cedar Lake, 219.757.3700 living.net ke www.cedarla TS SALES EVEN ICE OF PRET O N LY R EA OORINGS FOR THE M ngsoncedarlake.com ori www.themo EDULE OF FOR A SCH EVENTS E K ommerce CEDAR LA hamber of C C ke La Cedar 219.374.6157

with their families along the lake. Many couples met and became engaged at the Midway Ballroom, a vast dance hall on a pier over the lake that hosted big bands such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Benny Goodman. The ballroom burned down in the ‘90s, and a plaque now stands in its place. In the ‘50s and ‘60s, a population boom and increased use of agriculture created pollution and fertilizer runoff, which caused green algae to bloom across the surface of the water. Cedar Lake residents worked hard to reverse the damage by becoming a town in 1970 in order to secure funding for the cleanup. Environmental restoration has continued since, including stream bank stabilization and dredging. Today, Cedar Lake is bustling with fun and activities for all in the summer, including festivals, Fourth of July ﬁreworks, golf courses, parks and museums. And it has a serene atmosphere in the winter. With a population of around 10,000 (and growing), Cedar Lake continues to charm visitors and residents with its beauty.

SUNSET HARBOR AND THE MOORINGS Called Chicagoland’s favorite new escape, Sunset Harbor is an exclusive gated community with private balconies; a lakeside inground, heated pool; a private beach; boat slips and lake access. Far from a rustic vacation cabin, the builders considered every detail of lakeside living. The airy open ﬂoor plan of the luxury condos invites entertaining, and the ﬁreplaces are the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the sweeping views over the lake. A jetted tub and separate shower are relaxing after a long day of waterskiing and boating. Only 45 minutes from Chicago, Cedar Lake is easily accessible. “Many people live here yearround, and others as a weekend retreat,” says Peter Ruffing, director of residential sales and marketing for WPM. WPM Construction, LLC, brings their attention to detail to The Moorings on Cedar Lake, a proposed luxury community with a nautical bent, located close to the Sunset Harbor site with several condos situated near the Lighthouse restaurant. With the anticipated ground breaking in late summer, the dwellings in The Moorings on Cedar Lake will have access to nearby docks and moorings off the walking and jogging trails throughout the natural landscaping. Bill Wellman, senior vice president of

communications for Whiteco Industries, Inc, is one of the weekend residents at Sunset Harbor. He feels the atmosphere of Cedar Lake has changed in a very positive way. “The Lighthouse restaurant is bringing people in from all over, and that’s largely from word-of-mouth. And people are seeing what a wonderful and beautiful area this is,” he says. “We eat a lot at the bar and we love hearing where people are from. There was a wedding last year upstairs in the banquet room, and the bride came over on a boat. Well, all the activity in the place just stopped! Everyone wanted to see that bride. I suppose the Lighthouse has given Cedar Lake a yacht clubhouse without any dues to pay. Living here is also affordable. Where else can you get a condo near the lake at $325,000 to $400,000?” Wellman feels development for Cedar Lake is the way forward. “The more activity we have here, the more the area goes up in popularity and in opportunities. I wouldn’t be surprised to see little arty shops open up along the way.”

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LAKE COUNTY PAGE BB12 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010

THE TIMES

Here for the Recovery in Lake County Where people and businesses grow together

n Lake County, WorkOne Northwest Indiana is the best single contact point for businesses seeking the right people, and people hunting for the right jobs. WorkOne offers job seekers no-cost resources to help with their job search and

they offer employers the tools and resources to grow and develop their workforce. RESOURCES FOR SKILLING UP Whether it’s an individual wanting to gain skills to secure a better job or change careers, or an employer with employees needing to complete their degree or certiﬁcation, WorkOne can help! With funding from the Department of Labor, WorkOne offers grants to eligible individuals and employers for training and education in one of the region’s high-growth, in-demand industries, including healthcare services, manufacturing, informational technology, transportation & warehousing, and several professional services. Career Advancement Accounts (CAAs) are excellent for employers to train workers—qualifying them to get up to $3,000 per worker for training or education. Workforce Acceleration Grants (WAGs) provide lower income level students, who are in need of additional funds, up to $3,000 to complete their course of work in order to obtain a degree or certiﬁcation.

HELPING KIDS STAY IN SCHOOL WorkOne provides support to Lake County’s Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program. JAG is aimed at youth and implemented in 700 high schools, alternative schools, community colleges, and middles schools across the country and United Kingdom. The JAG mission is to keep young people in school through graduation, while providing work-based learning experiences that will lead to career advancement opportunities or enrollment in a post-secondary institution that lead to a rewarding career. JAG schools currently include East Chicago Central High School, Lew Wallace High School, Gary Roosevelt High School and Hammond High School.

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Another youth initiative that WorkOne supports is the Multiple Education Pathways (MEP) Blueprint program in Gary. This initiative helps support youth who are atrisk of dropping out of school or already have dropped out, by building pathways that encompass various alternative education models, strategies and best practices. One important objective of the program is that atrisk youth be provided access to education and career opportunities available with the intent that all Gary youth will have a career plan. A vital element of the MEP work is a convergence and leveraging of educational assets to support multiple education pathways that move students to post-secondary education and career pathways, while integrating education strategies that may cut across multiple Gary schools and community colleges. Leading the initiative along with commitments are the Mayor of Gary, Gary Community School Corporation, Gary Educational Leadership Council, Gary Chamber of Commerce, Community Organization for Families & Youth (COFFEY), Legacy Foundation, Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, and the Center of Workforce Innovations.

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BEN 4175

LAKE COUNTY ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010 | PAGE BB13

Peoples Bank reﬂects

heritage of Northwest Indiana ‘You First Banking’ philosophy builds rapport with customers, reinvests in community

wo philosophies have carried Peoples Bank through a century of service and allowed the bank to thrive in every economic climate—building rapport with customers and reinvesting in Northwest Indiana communities. And Peoples’ story is woven into the fabric and history of the region. Three generations of the Bochnowski family have been at the helm of Peoples Bank since John Bochnowski helped found the community bank in 1910. A Polish immigrant who came to Northwest Indiana at the turn of the 20th Century to work in the area’s heavy industry, John Bochnowski demonstrated a strong work ethic and honesty in business dealings that became the cornerstone of Peoples Bank, says his grandson, David Bochnowski, chairman and CEO of Northwest Indiana Bancorp and Peoples Bank. “He arrived in East Chicago with $13 in his pocket,” David Bochnowski says. “My grandfather’s day job was in the foundry business, but he also ran a saloon, which housed the only safe in the neighborhood. He would safeguard money for his customers in the classic European tradition.” Eventually John Bochnowski formalized his operations and founded the predecessor of Peoples Bank, which started in a storefront on Magoun Avenue in East Chicago. The bank’s first permanent site was built near the intersection of 149th Street and Indianapolis Boulevard. A century later, Peoples still has a retail branch across the street from that original location. “Grandpa was a great influence in my life. He lived just a half a block away from where I grew up, so I was around him all the time,” David Bochnowski says. “He had a strong work ethic, doing his job 24/7, before anyone was using that phrase.” Ben Bochnowski had that same drive, his son says. “Up until his retirement from Peoples Bank in 1976, my father modeled the around-the-clock work ethic needed to run a community bank.” Peoples started as a bank that only provided bank deposit accounts, but in the 1930s that focus shifted to residential lending. Four decades later, Peoples began growing its commercial lending portfolio. The bank added a wealth management division in the David A. Bochnowski, 1980s in a push to diversify Chairman and CEO of Northwest its income sources. Indiana Bancorp and Peoples Bank In 1984, Peoples had its initial public stock offering and became a publicly traded company. But it was important for the company not to loose its roots, says David Bochnowski, who started at the bank in 1981. At least two family members have always sat on the bank’s board of directors. The bank’s headquarters moved from East Chicago to Hammond and later to Munster in 1985.According to Bochnowski, bank officials saw Munster as a growing community and an anchor for the business because of the available land. Today, Peoples Bank has 11 banking centers in Lake and Porter counties—Crown Point, Dyer, East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, Hobart, Merrillville, Munster, Schererville and Valparaiso. The newest bank-

“

It’s our pledge to always put your concerns ﬁrst. It’s banking that is driven by relationships, not just transactions, so that we’re here for you as your needs continue to grow and change.

”

Peoples Bank Corporate Center

ing center in Valparaiso opened in June 2009 and had $9 million in balances in just its first six months of operation, Bochnowski says. And the community bank continGrand opening in Woodmar of the Hammond ues to grow. A Banking Center of Peoples Bank in July 1955. groundbreaking will be held in At left is Ben Bochnowski, Peoples Bank the spring for a 12th banking president and chairman from 1953 to 1976. John Bochnowski, Peoples Bank founder, is center in St. John, and bank second from right. officials are also looking to open other banking centers in Valparaiso and Chesterton. “We see growth in these communities where customers are looking for traditional banking,” Bochnowski says. That traditional banking includes the commitment to customers that Peoples Bank calls “You First Banking.” “It’s our pledge to always put your concerns first. It’s banking that is driven by relationships, not just transactions, so that we’re here for you as your needs continue to grow and change,” Bochnowski says. “If you need to talk to the CEO, you get to talk to me. If you call to ask a question, you get an answer without delay because decisions are made locally and not at corporate headquarters somewhere on the east or west coasts,” he says.

eoples Bank serves customers who want a brick-andmortar bank where they can visit and talk personally to the staff. Others never see the inside of the bank Secure online banking services offer customers the convenience of using their personal computer to access account information and initiate transactions electronically from the comfort of home or office. “We have up-to-date facilities for both types of customers,” he says. “We’re committed to delivering what products people want in the way they want to receive those products. With a $1 million a year budget for technology, we’re making the investment to constantly update and maintain our service to our customers.” Traditional products such as savings, checking and money market accounts, and certificates of deposit are available to both consumers and businesses. Personal lending products such as mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, vehicle loans and personal loans are available as well. As a certified SBA (Small Business Administration) Lender, Peoples offers The lobby and teller cages at the East Chicago Banking Center of a variety of loans to help small busiPeoples Bank in 1953. nesses with their unique borrowing needs and cash flow requirements. “Whatever the size of your business—small, medium, or large— we offer a wide range of options for managing your finances,” says Bochnowski. “We make loans; provide cash management, checking, and savings accounts; and service your commercial card needs. Plus, there are a number of ways to access your accounts remotely so you can keep your business running smoothly and efficiently.” “The employees of Peoples Bank are your neighbors, raising families here in Northwest Indiana just like you,” Bochnowski says. “As we celebrate 100 years of community banking today, we remain committed to responding quickly and effectively with service and solutions to meet your financial needs right now, tomorrow and into the future.”

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LAKE COUNTY PAGE BB14 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010

THE TIMES

OUTDOORS AND ATHLETICS

DRAWINGS AND RENDERINGS PROVIDED BY DESIGN ORGANIZATION, INC.

A passion for sports in Northwest Indiana has helped to bring plans for a new sports complex to Crown Point in an area between North and South streets, the president of Bo Jackson Elite Sports said. Jim Thompson, who along with former Major League Baseball player John Cangelosi and former two-sport superstar Bo Jackson formed the company, said the group is excited about bringing the state-of-theart facility to Lake County that will compete to serve as hosts for local, state, regional and national athletic tournaments.

A partnership for success Crown Point, Bo Jackson venture banking on youth sports facility BY KATHLEEN QUILLIGAN kathleen.quilligan@nwi.com, (219) 662-5331 CROWN POINT | A sports super star and a

community dedicated to its youth sports seemed to be the perfect combination to both the city of Crown Point and Bo Jackson Elite Sports. The private company and the city have signed a letter of intent to join forces and create the Bo Jackson Legacy Athletic Center in Crown Point. It will be the second Bo Jackson Elite Sports facility, and it is scheduled to open sometime in 2011. Jim Thompson, president of Bo Jackson Elite Sports, said under a worst-case scenario the facility will open at the end of summer 2011, and under a best-case scenario the project will break ground this spring. Crown Point created the Youth Sports Commission in 2007 to look at the youth sports needs of the city and to design a facility that could operate 12 months a year. Scott Shahbaz, treasurer of the Crown Point Junior Bulldogs football organization and member of the commission, said he’s heard from parents and kids on Junior Bulldogs teams and they’re excited about the project. In 2009, the league had about 580 kids and has seen an increase of about 120 kids a year for the past few years. “I think it will satisfy the need for the whole city with that name and those type

of year-round facilities,” he said. “It’s nothing but an upswing, to be honest.” Bryan Dominguez, president of the Crown Point Soccer Club, as well as president of the city’s Youth Sports Commission, said the commission will continue to be a big part of the process. “They want to make sure our needs aren’t lost, and make sure that Crown Point residents and youth sports are aware of what’s occurring,” he said. At the project’s announcement in November, Thompson said children in the Midwest are at a disadvantage because they need to practice 12 months a year to be able to compete for scholarships. However, the facility helps combat that problem. The first of the facility’s two buildings will be a 12,300-square-foot building that will house the Crown Point Parks and Recreation Department, a community room, an athletic apparel store and a food court. The second building will be a 155,904-square-foot dome with space for two full-size baseball and softball fields, four soccer fields, four youth football fields, four full-sized basketball courts and eight full-sized volleyball courts. The city has approved contracts with DVG Inc. for site engineering, project management and construction administration and with Valparaiso-based Design Organization for the actual design of the facility, including architectural, mechanical and structural needs. The partnership between Crown Point and Bo Jackson Elite Sports will be a public and private venture for the complex, which is scheduled to be built on a 91acre piece of city-owned property on the

Featured guest Bo Jackson addresses the audience during the 2009 KeyBank Gridiron Legends Luncheon Series at the Palais Royale in South Bend. Jackson, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, played professional baseball and football. JIM RIDER | SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

former site of the city’s water plant. The location is easily accessible from two interchanges along Interstate 65 — the existing one at U.S. 231 and the one under construction at 109th Avenue. The 109th work is expected to be completed in June. City officials have said the project, combined with the new interchange, will lead to economic growth for Crown Point. “I’m very excited. It will be a good thing for Crown Point and Northwest Indiana,” City Councilman Andrew Kyres said. “It still has to go through some hoops and hurdles.” Mayor David Uran has said the project is a priority for 2010 and the city is work-

ing on nailing down a few moving pieces before a contract between the city and Bo Jackson Elite Sports can be signed. “It’s an exciting proposal and certainly welcome in Crown Point,” City Councilman Bob Corbin said. “As in any project like this, there are many things going on at the same time, and the trick is to keep moving forward to hit all the moving targets to solidify them.” Thompson said no one has pushed for a contract yet, but he’s comfortable with the project and the people with whom he is working. “We’re working on several opportunities, and none is closer to my heart and fruition than Crown Point.”

Lake County’s outdoors offerings ‘great’ County offers many ways to get to nature BY BILL DOLAN bill.dolan@nwi.com, (219) 662-5328

If you want to explore the outdoors, the Lake County Parks and Recreation Department offers more than 5,700 acres of parks. Deep River Waterpark on the Lake and Porter County border draws hundreds of thousands annually to its water slides and pools. The Buckley Homestead in Lowell is PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

a popular living history farm. Lemon Lake near Cedar Lake, Stoney Run near Winfield and Lake Etta in Gary feature paved trails, basketball, volleyball, softball, disc golf, basketball, soccer, sledding, fishing, picnic, playground and other recreational facilities. Gibson Woods Nature Preserve in Hammond and Oak Ridge Prairie in Griffith provide nature trails, fishing and wildlife viewing. Whihala Beach in Whiting offers Lake Michigan beachfront. The Grand Kankakee Marsh features remote bayous along the Kankakee River. Northwest Indiana has more than 75

miles of paved trails dedicated to biking and hiking, connecting communities with future plans to link up with trails in neighboring Illinois and Michigan, according to Mitch Barloga, transportation planner for the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission. The trails include the Erie Lackawanna/Conrail Trail, which runs from Hammond through Griffith, Schererville, Merrillville and Crown Point and eventually east to rural Hebron; the Oak Savannah/Prairie Duneland Trail, which runs from Griffith through unincorporated Calumet Township through Gary, Hobart,

Portage and Chesterton; the Little Calumet River Trail from Highland to Gary; the Marquette Trail running across Gary’s Miller section; and the Calumet Trail running from the town of Porter to Michigan City. Barloga said NIRPC now is looking for funds for a 9.6-mile path that will connect the west and east units of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, running from the terminus of the Marquette Trail at County Line Road through Portage, Ogden Dunes, AmeriPlex at the Port and Burns Harbor before connecting with the Calumet Trail in Porter.

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LAKE COUNTY ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010 | PAGE BB15

Center for Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery, LLC:

Dr. Bethany Cataldi’s Center for Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery, LLC was established in Northwest Indiana as a way to bring the region exceptional comprehensive ear, nose, and throat surgical physician services, as well as advanced facial plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery. In addition to treating disorders of the ear, nose, and throat, the center also provides comprehensive evaluations and diagnostic testing for sinus and vocal cord disorders.

r. Bethany A. Cataldi, D.O., surgeon and owner of the Center for Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery, LLC in Munster, Indiana is committed to providing exceptional care and service in treating her patients, and says that treating the whole person is critical to her high level of care. “My philosophy in treating a patient is that treatment should be directed at treating not only the disease or pathology but also any social, environmental, and familial factors that may affect the patient’s care. Consequently, I spend as much time as necessary with each patient in my practice. I do not delegate any patient care or treatment to my support staff or an ancillary practitioner,” says Cataldi. This level of care means the dedication and loyalty of her patients, who spread their satisfaction to other patients through referrals. “My practice has been able to sustain in great part due to the wonderful support of my patients and the generous support of my referring physicians. I am grateful that existing patients will refer friends or family who have ear, nose, or throat or cosmetic surgery needs to me. For individuals to direct other people they know to my ofﬁce with their conﬁdence that I will provide exceptional care for their patient, family member, or friend is very moving. It motivates me to strive to do my best at every opportunity to care for a patient. The growth in the Region has certainly allowed me the opportunity to be able to offer my services to more new residents in Northwest Indiana and, more importantly, to be able to treat those individuals who require an otolaryngologist’s care,” Cataldi says. The Center for Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery, LLC will continue to bring exceptional service and dedication to the community for years to come, investing in our region’s economy and technology. “We would certainly like to continue our growth and development, and I believe that growth accompanies exceptional patient care. So I plan on continuing on a path of delivering the best care that I can for my patients. Of course I will continue to integrate new technologies and techniques into my practice as they become available. However, how I treat my patients has not changed nor will it change simply because my practice has a larger patient base. I will always adhere to my long-standing principle that a patient’s condition and illness will determine how I will treat that individual and how much of my time will be dedicated to that treatment. The health and well being of each and every one of my patients is paramount, and I will devote as much time as necessary to treat each of my patients regardless of how many might be scheduled on a given day. Moreover, each patient should be assured they will be seen and diagnosed by me,” says Cataldi. But economic times are tough, and Dr. Cataldi says that she has witnessed its impact on individuals and families in Northwest Indiana. Her practice has seen a notable increase in the incidences of sinus diseases and of vocal cord and throat cancers that is attributable to patients’ heavy use of tobacco possibly due in part to the stresses brought about by the economy. Additionally, Dr. Cataldi warns others not to follow in the same path as some of her patients who come to her too late. She notes that there has been an increase in the number of patients with serious disorders of the ears, nose, or throat who have waited

CENTER FOR OTOLARYNGOLOGY AND FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY, LLC 9120 Columbia Ave., Suite A Munster, IN . 219-836-4820 www.indianaent.com

to see her or another physician, and in doing so have put themselves further at risk by delaying necessary diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, these patients who have chosen to wait in getting treatment frequently require more serious and oftentimes more invasive surgical procedures that might have been prevented had they been diagnosed and treated sooner. “It is critical that individuals with persistent coughing and/or hoarseness in their throat, or are experiencing sinus pain or having difﬁculty breathing or sleeping should consider being evaluated by an otolaryngologist. I advise my patients that prevention is a cornerstone to healthy living and that prevention includes seeing the proper physician at the ﬁrst sign of trouble,” Cataldi says.

Facial Plastic Surgery Above and Beyond Such a comprehensive approach to patient care also applies to the facial plastic surgery component of her practice as well. As a female facial, head & neck plastic surgeon, Dr. Cataldi is especially in tune with the issues of beauty and aesthetics requested by her patients. “When considering any mini face-lift or wrinkle reduction procedures, rather than speaking broadly to large groups of potential candidates in a seminar setting, I prefer to direct my attention to and evaluate what EACH individual needs in a private and open dialogue to address each patient’s specific and unique concerns. My experience has shown that an honest ‘one-to-one’ approach with patients is best when it comes to cosmetic procedures, and it is clearly evident in the results,” says Dr. Cataldi. It is with a dedication to helping these individuals and all others in need that Cataldi has focused her life upon the provision of her expert care. “I am committed to providing my services to the communities of Northwest Indiana to ensure that its residents are as healthy as possible. Consequently, my office provides ear, nose, and throat care to persons with AND without health insurance. I am aware of the issues faced by individuals and families without health insurance, and my office will try to work with patients to develop a mutually agreeable plan so that I am able to provide them with the care they will require. I am of the firm belief that a healthier patient equals a healthier Northwest Indiana, and as a surgeon in the specialty of Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery, I’d like to do my part to see that a healthy Northwest Indiana continues on its path of growth and progress for the years ahead. As a matter of fact, it’s my privilege to do so,” she says.

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LAKE COUNTY PAGE BB16 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010

THE TIMES

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6100 Southport Road Portage, IN 219.762.4767 phone 219.764.3542 fax or visit us at www.rba-nwi.org

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THE TIMES

HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT

NATALIE BATTAGLIA PHOTOS | THE TIMES

New townhouses line the streets in the Centennial Homes subdivision in Cedar Lake. The town is among the top south Lake County communities continuing to see progress, and Century 21 broker associate Kim Odegard said she is seeing some significant increase in production, sales and closings despite the market conditions.

Pendulum starting to swing Lake County showing progress, north to south

LEFT: Centennial Homes subdivision in Cedar Lake is a work in progress with 660 home sites in a diverse setting of townhomes, paired cottages and single-family homes.

BY SUSAN BROWN susan.brown@nwi.com, (219) 662-5325

Melody Sanchez, president of the board of the Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors, is high on housing and development prospects in Lake County. “We look forward to a growth year in 2010,” Sanchez said. “Whiting has remained a strong community with its downtown shopping area, new lakefront development and proximity to Chicago’s East Side,” Sanchez said. “East Chicago is excited in seeing the revitalization getting under way.” Sanchez credited Hammond’s College Bound and Home Bound initiatives for encouraging home ownership in the city. The new commercial development along Indianapolis Boulevard is progressing, along with a new Robertsdale development announced in December, she said. Highland is moving toward completion of its Seberger Farms subdivision as are plans for redevelopment of the north end of town. Griffith continues to be a good resale community with a new development in progress at the town’s far south end, Sanchez said. At the other end of the county, development of new subdivisions continues with “cautious optimism” despite the economic downturn, with builders feeling confident enough to start some speculative homes, Sanchez said . Among the top South Lake County communities continuing to see progress is Cedar Lake, where Century 21 broker associate Kim Odegard said she is seeing some significant increase in production, sales and closings despite the market conditions. Odegard cites the Centennial project by Olthof Homes as just one example. Started a few years ago, Centennial is a work in progress with 660 home sites in a diverse setting of townhomes, paired cottages and single-family homes. With its scenic setting and affordable prices, the project has generated a lot of traffic and sales, Odegard said. “They have tremendous value,” she said. “Not only are the homes affordable, with townhouse starting at some $140,000 and single-family homes at $160,000, but they offer upgrades to suit most budgets and styles. “In my opinion, Cedar Lake is going to be the next up-and-coming area for homeowners,” Odegard said. Similar resort-style amenities also are available at Olthof’s Hamilton Square project in Crown Point, she said. Both PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

BELOW: “(These homes) have tremendous value,” Century 21 broker associate Kim Odegard said. “Not only are the homes affordable, with townhouse starting at some $140,000 and single-family homes at $160,000, but they offer upgrades to suit most budgets and styles.

projects will in the near future offer walking trails and a clubhouse with a fitness center and swimming pool. Odegard said both projects may not see completion for a couple of years but will offer great prices ensuring the opportunity for homeowners to grow equity. Randy Palmateer, business manager for the Northwest Indiana Building Trades Council, agrees things are looking up. “Generally speaking, we’re seeing movement finally in the residential section,” Palmateer said. Palmateer said the tax incentives initiated last year to aid home buying are showing some result, though home builders are mostly still shying away from building speculative homes. Like others in the industry, Palmateer said many home builders are waiting for existing inventory of the homes to be sold before starting to build again. Union contractors are faring better overall than nonunion contractors who focused on the residential sector and “put all their eggs in one basket,” he said. “We have commercial and light industrial along with the houses,” Palmateer said. The building trades are seeing activity among all three urban housing authorities with revitalization projects that include multi-unit housing, he said. “We’re seeing movement there,” he said. “We’re seeing 2010 looking better than 2009, and 2011 should be even better.” Outside of the urban scene, the Lake County Community Economic Development Department is showing an influx of federal funds that will aid the county’s 16

small cities and towns and unincorporated areas. The county will benefit from about $6 million in federal stimulus funds to be used for housing-related programs to stabilize neighborhoods and foreclosed properties, Executive Director Milan Grozdanich said. All of which reflects the eternal optimism of the chairman of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, Leigh Morris. “From the RDA’s standpoint, investments in lakeshore development will encourage investment by the private sector,” he said. “Opening up the lakeshore and cleaning up blighted areas clears the way for development in the adjacent areas.” “All we have to do is look toward Chicago,” he said. “They cleaned up their blighted areas, and now new development

is occurring all around there.” Morris said Whiting, Gary, East Chicago, Gary and Hammond all have the potential for stimulating private sector investment. Morris cited the potential of the Gary/Chicago International Airport, high-speed rail and expansion of commuter transportation to south county as boons for all of Northwest Indiana. “It’s really the transit-oriented development that occurs when new locations are established that makes the biggest difference in the economy,” Morris said, again citing the booming suburbs north and west of Chicago. “The biggest elephant in the room is the negative feelings about the region,” he said. “We have so much going for us in Northwest Indiana. The positives so far outweigh the negatives.”

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LAKE COUNTY PAGE BB20 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010

THE TIMES

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CEDAR LAKE

Gem of a town is polishing its image Residents’ positive attitudes make things happen in Cedar Lake BY MELANIE CSEPIGA Times Correspondent CEDAR LAKE | The can-do spirit of Cedar

KYLE TELECHAN | THE TIMES

Emily Yzaguirre, left, and Bryan Seberger load onions into a row of boxes full with food items as part of the Cedar Lake Eagles’ Christmas Basket program for local families in need.

About Cedar Lake Population 9,279 Median age 33.6 years Median household income $43,987 in 1999 dollars Median home value $97,200 Median travel time to work 28.9 minutes SOURCE: CENSUS 2000 (2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY ESTIMATES NOT AVAILABLE)

said. Kindness is a difficult commodity to measure, but Dickson said it is in ample supply in Cedar Lake. “I think tough times bring us together. This past Christmas was one of the roughest I’ve been involved in,” she said. “The food pantry is great. Project Love treats people like it’s a grocery store. That is a meaningful reflection of this community.” Miedema said she couldn’t be happier with the decision to move to Cedar Lake.

LAKE CO.

231

Area of detail

Brunswick Cedar Lake ILLINOIS INDIANA

Lake residents runs as deep as the lake around which the town revolves. Those coming to town from the west travel on a vastly improved portion of West 133rd Avenue, which will be completed to U.S. 41 in the project’s second phase. Entering from the east past Lemon Lake County Park, visitors are greeted by the appealing pastels of the Sunset Harbor condominiums jutting upward against the pristine azure backdrop of the lake. With its curb appeal enhanced, the town has seen 61 new home starts in 2009 and welcomed many more new residents to existing housing. Tami Miedema moved from Tinley Park, Ill., to Cedar Lake’s Havenwood subdivision five years ago. “We live in a beautiful subdivision,” Miedema said. “I was so happy to see the West 133rd renovation. ... It gives our little town some pizazz.” Mary Joan Dickson remembers spending summers since she was 7 in Cedar Lake before moving to the town when she in eighth grade. “The lake’s been our life,” she said. “We all swim like fish, go boating and play hockey.” Dickson, the Cedar Lake parks superintendent, said that while the lake may be the town’s crowning glory, the people are its gemstones and greatest resource. “The whole community comes together in times of trouble — churches, schools. People offer their homes. It marvels you,” Dickson said. “People are so empathetic.” The nurturing children receive from residents who make up the schools, youth organizations and churches creates productive, young citizens, Dickson said. “Even the kids have ownership. I think they are a great resource. The volunteering they do is awesome. And when they come back and get involved, it means a lot,” she

41 THE TIMES

“People are moving in left and right. It’s definitely a good move to come here,” she said. “It’s a small community, and I like that. Everyone here has been very, very welcoming.” TONY V. MARTIN | THE TIMES Dickson is optimistic about the town’s The Lighthouse Restaurant opened in 2009 on future. “If we let our master plan lead us, our Cedar Lake as part of the town’s move to revitalize opportunities are endless.” the lakefront.

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THE TIMES

CROWN POINT

Projects help city to grow Sports facility, road improvements in works BY KATHLEEN QUILLIGAN kathleen.quilligan@nwi.com, (219) 662-5331

Area of detail

Merrillville Crown Point

PORTER CO.

Crown Point saw movement on three projects in 2009 that will help the community grow in 2010. Last year, the county seat of Lake County announced a new youth sports facility, broke ground on a new interchange along the well-traveled Interstate 65 and scheduled road improvements to Broadway, one of the community’s fastest-growing corridors. In November, the city announced a partnership with the Bo Jackson Elite Sports to build a year-round sports facility along North Street in the city. In the works since 2002, the new interchange was put on the fast track with federal earmarks. The city also paid some of the project’s expenses and will get reimbursed by the Indiana Department of Transportation. The project broke ground in August and is scheduled to be completed in June. Improvements at intersections along Ind. 53, also known as Broadway, will include the addition of turn lanes and traffic signals and resurfacing. At a public hearing late last year, INDOT officials said the agency anticipates construction to start this summer and end in summer or fall 2011. That project can’t come soon enough for Jamey Baltzersen, a member of the Chamber of Commerce-led New East Side Business Alliance and the owner of the Edward Jones office at 11426 Broadway. “The intersection improvements are absolutely phenomenal,” he said. “The important thing is that (INDOT) can do it in a way that leaves minimal impact to businesses.” He said the new interchange also will lead motorists into Crown Point and give them a taste of the city. “The Broadway corridor is an introduction. They may not know it is also

LAKE CO.

CROWN POINT | Despite a slow economy,

THE TIMES

About Crown Point Population Median age Median household income Median home value Median travel time to work

23,027 38.7 years $62,556 $179,000 27 minutes

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY THREE-YEAR ESTIMATES

KYLE TELECHAN | THE TIMES

historic and there’s great shopping downtown,” he said. “Signage is a key part of that.” While a large part of the city’s growth is on its east side by Broadway, resident Karen Shook, who was named the city’s resident of the year by the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, believes the downtown is key to keeping the city vibrant. “We need to keep the downtown viable,” said Shook, who helped organize the Pumpkin Festival, sponsored by the city’s three historic foundations. “We have a jewel of a courthouse that draws people in and there’s things to do when they get there.” She said the Pumpkin Festival, which is scheduled again for October, and other events in the city showed through the number of volunteers involved that the residents still care about their community. “We still see people standing up to help with projects in the community,” she said. “I like to see the community staying with the notion of being a community, not the

Riley James Frasier, left, dressed as the Lion from the Wizard of Oz, and Connor Zencka, as Yoda, walk past a line of pumpkins near Crown Point’s Old Courthouse during the city’s Pumpkin Festival. The festival, which is scheduled again for October, and other events in the city showed residents still care about their community through the number of volunteers involved. Shoppers enjoy a free carriage ride around the Old Lake County Courthouse square in November. Residents have said they want to keep Crown Point’s downtown viable because of the large draw the courthouse is to many tourists. TONY V. MARTIN | THE TIMES

notion that it’s a bunch of people who keep that spirit alive that says we still care don’t know their neighbors. I hope we about our town.”

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THE TIMES

DYER

Sharing resources, being proactive Town looking to draw business, lower expenses

DYER | Through efforts toward achieving

partnership, Dyer is pushing forward to succeed in this economy. In a move that brought leaders from all over Lake County to a discussion of community sharing, Dyer hosted a meeting regarding possible consolidation of community resources. “The consolidation meetings were done to help prepare for the future conversations of sharing services if the revenue continues to decline,” Town Manager Joe Neeb said. “Dyer has reached out to its neighbors to create a dialogue on sharing of services.” The town also has started working more closely with some strategic business partners for more concise efforts in stormwater and operational services, Neeb said. Even the building where the consolidation meeting took place is part of Dyer’s strategy to survive the bad economy. By renovating town-owned space and doing most of the work itself, the town completed Plum Creek Center for less than half of what it would have cost from scratch. “This provided an alternative to the community center and allowed for the Parks Board to do more improvements to the existing park system,” Neeb said. The town also is taking a proactive approach to control benefit costs. For the past five years, Dyer has provided a wellness screening for its employees. Employees and benefits is the largest expense for the town. “It is important to provide ways to keep them healthy and productive,” Neeb said. “Over the last two years, our health insurance costs have increased by less than 1 percent.” The town also plans to increase the life expectancy of its streets, allowing it to get ahead of the curve on street maintenance, JIM BIS | THE TIMES having purchased a piece of equipment called the “total patcher.” It will pay for Retiring U. S. Navy Lt. Chris Lucka, third from front, is escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders onto itself in a short time, he said. Calumet Avenue for a Welcome Home party in Dyer.

Area of detail

Dyer ILLINOIS INDIANA

BY VANESSA RENDERMAN vanessa.renderman@nwi.com, (219) 933-3241

LAKE CO.

St. John 231

THE TIMES

About Dyer Population 13,895 Median age 38.4 years Median household income $63,045 in 1999 dollars Median home value $141,000 Median travel time to work 32.6 minutes SOURCE: CENSUS 2000 (2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY ESTIMATES NOT AVAILABLE)

Dyer, which recently was honored by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns for its green efforts, also works beyond the walls of Town Hall to help its residents in this economy. A page on the town Web site is called “Keep Dyer Working.” It is available to business owners and residents to post job openings and resumes. The Town Council hosted a series of neighborhood meetings in various residential areas, as an informal way to speak about the issues facing Dyer. “Rather than wait for an issue to have a meeting, the agenda for the meetings was built by the residents,” Neeb said. The Town Council and Economic Development Commission are taking a proactive approach in bringing new business to Dyer. In 2010, Dyer will continue its efforts by instituting a campaign to attract complementary businesses. “Last year, with the institution of the business license, we utilized the information to compile a complete business listing for Dyer,” Neeb said. “We have about 575 businesses with over 50 different places to eat.”

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THE TIMES

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THE TIMES

DYER

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DYER

Dental Insurance. Is It Really Worth it? No Bull, No Bias Approach to Dental Insurance. Dear Northwest Indiana Resident,

Every day, untold numbers of dental patients are upset because their dental insurance plan did not pay a greater portion of their dental bill. More often than not, when told their insurance will pay 80 percent, it ends up paying less than 40 percent. Subscribers are persuaded into believing this is because their dentist charged too much. In other words, the dentist gets the blame. To quote a past dental director for the Delta Dental Plan of Minnesota, Dr. Bruce Keyworth, “There ain’t no such thing as dental insurance!” We all understand that insurance is purchased to protect us from unpredictable financial loss. If an individual demonstrates evidence of a pre-existing condition, for example, they immediately become uninsurable or the policy is rated. On the other hand, a dentist can tell you what is wrong with your teeth, what needs to be done to fix them, what it will cost, and pretty much how long the work will last if you take care of it. In other words, something as “predictable” as dental care is not really insurable. While traditional dental plans vary benefits, they all say the reason they do not pay more is because the dentist charged more than the “normal fee.” According to the Dental Association, this is untrue. When 20 major dental insurance underwriters were asked to define “normal fee,” no two of their explanations were the same. When these same underwriters were asked to calculate specific treatment payments within a geographical area, their payments differed by as much as 135 percent. Few realize that employers, and not the insurance companies, determine what is paid for. Most will provide dental benefits to their employees, but only at a minimum cost. With overhead costs skyrocketing, dental plans have become “tailor-made” to deliver increasingly limited benefits to employees. The best example of this is the benefit amount an insurer pays toward eligible charges during a 12-month period. This is called the “yearly benefit.”

THE TRUTH ABOUT DENTAL INSURANCE When dental insurance began over 40 years ago, yearly benefits averaged $1,000. Keep in mind this was also at the time when yearly premiums were 10 times lower than today. Twenty years ago, a gold crown (“cap”) cost about $120. Today it costs 10 times that amount. Dental insurance should be paying $9,000-$10,000 per year just to have kept pace with inflation. In today’s cost-competitive environment, when insurance becomes inadequate, patients stop having preventive care done and their dental costs will rise. Another way dental insurance companies profit at the expense of patients is by floating the claims submitted by dental offices. “Floating” is accomplished by unnecessarily delaying claim payment by requiring needless written narratives and x-rays from the dental office. What most patients don’t understand is that dental insurance companies will Deny, Downgrade, Destroy, and Delay payment for the claims that should have been paid for the services rendered. Few realize that the longer an insurance company can “hold” your claim money, the longer they can keep it invested and make money with your money. Ironically, it takes less than two weeks for an insurance company to “deny” a claim, but often several months to pay one. Every year they make a chunk of that $60 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR by denying claims even when they know claims are legitimate. And that’s the plain and simple truth. But when they sell a product that has very little value, why do consumers allow them to keep ripping them off? If you keep reading and you still want to keep your Dental Insurance, we’ll be shocked! Let us give it to you straight. Dental insurance is not worth it. Dental insurance has reached a point where its real value is questionable. Premiums have increased faster and more than benefits. According to the Minnesota Dental Association, just to handle the paper work costs dentists more than 30 cents on the dollar. Dental insurance hybrids, or modified plans, have become so prevalent that they have created enormous amounts of confusion for both dentist and patient. This raises the cost of dental service tremendously to the consumer. Underwriters have created so many exclusions and conditions that traditional dental insurance plans have become basically “unhealthy.” We know, for example, that as a person ages, their overall health is directly related to their nutrition. We know that nutrition is enhanced by the ability to chew food properly, and for that you need teeth. What people do not realize, however, is that competition between dental insurance companies today has created dental plans that interfere with a dentist’s ability to provide thorough and consistent prevention-oriented care.

HOW DENTAL HMOs COMPARE What about dental HMOs? Dental HMOs, or “DMOs” not only do not promote dental care, their operation these past years has severely tarnished a respected profession. HMO’s early claim to fame was centered around their effort to reduce hospital stays. Since so little dentistry is performed in hospitals, HMOs have had no impact there. HMOs have reportedly reduced dental costs by avoiding many different forms of treatment, but this “deception” may well come back to haunt them. The U.S. “Doctrine of Informed Consent” legally governs health-care professionals when they discuss care with patients. Dentists that do work for HMOs and who have failed to provide all viable treatment options to their patients, may be held accountable. A bigger question is whether or not the HMO itself will share in this accountability? A recent article in Forbes, November 16, 2009, described the difference between dental insurance and dental discount plans. It made some great points that I would like to mention here. According to this article, “The average individual dental insurance plan costs $654 – and that’s for a limited network of providers …” Even using one of these plan’s chosen (i.e., cheapie) dentists, you’ll have a 20% co-pay for routine ﬁllings and a 50% co-pay for crowns and bridges.” Your beneﬁt is two free cleanings per year

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and an exam. Reading the ﬁne print you will quickly realize that the yearly treatment cap ranges between $1,000 and $1,200, and implants usually are not covered. The waiting periods are usually long, some as long as 18 months, prior to getting basic coverage for exams, x-rays, and extractions, and they have missing tooth clauses. We are solely responsible for our body’s health. With a few exceptions, such as genetic disorders, most health issues are preventable! The same goes for the mouth. I explain this to my patients as the DENTAL CYCLE. For some odd reason it was accepted that you get decay, you will need lots of ﬁllings, then crowns, root canals, extractions, and eventually dentures. It was the natural progression of a mouth. Well, it is not.

DENTAL INSURANCE FALLS SHORT Dental Insurance has mostly focused on the resulting mess neglect has caused, including fillings to remove cavities, crowns to fix broken teeth, and extractions for gum disease. These are but a few examples. Why did you need that filling in the first place? Why do you have gum disease? Your insurance will only pay for two cleanings a year but your dentist and hygienist say you really need three to four, so who do most patients listen to? Yes, you guessed it, the insurance company. So, don’t be surprised if in a few years of “supervised neglect” by your dentist you now have active gum disease, bone loss, and now you need “deep cleanings.” Teeth get looser, root surfaces get exposed and become sensitive, tissue recedes and reveals “longer teeth” with black spaces between them. Now you wonder how you got there? All along you had the “cavities” fixed, right?! Wrong. It is not about fixing the resulting issues but fixing the reason behind the issues. And that happened years ago now when your dentist said you needed to be seen three to four times a year but your insurance only paid for two. Sound familiar? For this reason we do not allow insurance companies to run our practice or tell us what to do. We work for our patients, nobody else. Our sole goal as clinicians is to inform you about your personal oral health, why you are where you are, and how you can improve your situation and hopefully keep your teeth and gums healthy for the rest of your life. The type of care you need and receive from our office is based upon the professional judgment of the doctors and the clinical team (doctors and hygienists) and not the coverage you receive from a dental benefit plan. We do not believe it is in your best interest to compromise any recommended care in order to accommodate an insurance program. We do believe it is appropriate to discuss your care plan’s advantage and disadvantages with you the patient, NOT your insurance company, since you are the one responsible for your oral health. Today’s dental plans are designed only to assist with the costs of dental care. It is very important to understand that dental plans are not in business to make sure you receive the care you need—their only responsibility is the pay for the services your employer has purchased.

WHY CHOOSE DYER FAMILY DENTISTRY At Dyer Family Dentistry we feel that there is no care that our patients can’t afford. With our stimulus savings and other payment options, especially interest-free financing, we can make any care affordable to our patients. Patients can save more money on their dental care than their allotted amount a year given by their insurance. We are a highly successful practice with a great pool of patients that is growing daily. As a courtesy to you, our team members will do a complimentary benefit check to assess your benefits under your plan as well as complete the dental portion of your claim form and submit it on your behalf to ALL dental insurances. So, now to answer the question that started this letter, Is Dental Insurance Worth The Premium? Not in our opinion, especially if you are young and have taken good care of your teeth. All you really should need on a yearly basis is two to four cleanings and an exam with x-rays. That alone is significantly less than most premiums pay, even at the best dental practice. So what if you have an accident and break your four front teeth? Won’t insurance pay for that? Nope. They protect themselves from paying by having a ridiculously low yearly max towards treatment. You would still end up paying most of it out of pocket. For years you paid into this insurance, padded their pockets, and then when you need them most, they say sorry. What if you had seen a dentist that helped you avoid gum disease, cavities, and tooth wear and instead put all of the money that you would have given to insurance companies into a savings account? Yes, you would have plenty saved up for emergencies as well as maybe a nice vacation. Furthermore, you would have healthy teeth and a resulting healthier body since you learned how important it is to avoid gum disease and decay in the first place. You would probably have many less fillings and saved many hours in dental office visits. What this country needs is a class on prevention of disease, bad habits, and quick fixes. We at Dyer Family Dentistry for one have chosen a different approach to dentistry that we feel has benefited our patients significantly. If you want to come out of the dental cycle, feel free to contact us with questions or just call us today at 219-227-4509 to make an appointment with our wonderful $19 New patient exam and X-rays and come experience the difference yourself. Also, check out our Dental Stimulus offers in the newspaper on the next page to see that this stimulus will save you and your family more money on dental care then what dental insurance allows annually. Also check us out at www.DyerFamilyDentistry.com and see what others are saying about us! You will be pleased. We are open over 70 hours a week for your convenience!

To your health,

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THE TIMES

GARY/EAST CHICAGO

Demolishing abandoned properties a top priority Mayor: City must make way for development in order to survive future

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About Gary Population Median age Median household income Median home value Median travel time to work

BY LAURI HARVEY KEAGLE Lauri.Keagle@nwi.com, (219) 852-4311

When referring to Gary, Mayor Rudy Clay is fond of saying “the best is yet to come.” “In 2009, we accomplished some things, but I’m glad it’s gone,” Clay said. The city faced a host of challenges in 2009, including declining casino revenues, the closure of the Cline Avenue bridge and foreclosures that strained the already cash-strapped city. But Clay said the year also was spent planning for a better future for the city. “We’ve planted a lot of seeds,” he said. “In 2010, those seeds are going to grow, and Gary’s going to soar like an eagle.” Clay said his top priority for 2010 is demolishing abandoned properties and getting them back on the tax rolls. “The No. 1 priority is we can’t have economic development with all these abandoned houses,” Clay said. “You cannot have a good city when you have abandoned housing all over the place because it breeds things like crime, drugs.” Gary was awarded $9 million through Community Development Block Grants but can only use 10 percent for demolition. Clay said the city is appealing to U.S. Housing and Urban Development officials for an exception to the rule. The demolitions also hinge on $24.7 million in federal funds requested by U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., for the demolition of 1,124 properties in the city. Bayh requested the funds in June, but they have yet to be received by the city. One priority for demolition is the former Ivanhoe Projects on 11th Avenue just west of Chase Street, which Clay

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84,236 37.1 years $27,526 $70,800 24.6 minutes

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JUDY FIDKOWSKI | THE TIMES

The Ivanhoe Projects on 11th Avenue west of Chase Street were closed in 1965 and have been shuttered since. Gary Mayor Ray Clay said that plans are in the works to tear the projects down and put townhomes in their place in a gated community. That was the prime example Clay gave of demolitions being a top priority in the city for 2010. described as “an eyesore.” “There’s no reason, at least I can’t think of any reason, that a city in the state of Indiana should look like that,” Clay said. “It’s not going to look like that anymore.” Plans are under way to raze those buildings and replace them with townhomes in a gated subdivision, he said. Developers also have invested $7 million to tear down abandoned buildings in the 700 block of Broadway with plans to create buildings with mixed-use housing on top of street-level retail, Clay said. The project is expected to break ground in the spring. “That’s going to spark other business people to develop on Broadway,” he said. The Gary/Chicago International Airport also has plans in the works, centered

on removing idled railroad tracks on the property, Clay said, enhancing the airport’s ability to land larger planes. The blueprint for Gary’s future lies largely in a project unveiled by Chicago’s Metropolitan Planning Commission in October. The commission, in cooperation with The Times’ One Region, One Vision project, plans to conduct public meetings on what is needed to drive the city forward while also examining previous studies. The hope is to secure grant funding and present findings to the city by summer, with shovel-ready projects planned by fall. Chuck Hughes, executive director of the Gary Chamber of Commerce, said collaborations are what will drive the city and region to success. “If there is to be a rebirth of the region,

GREGG GEARHART | THE TIMES

The Gary/Chicago International Airport has plans in the works, centered on removing idled railroad tracks on the property, enhancing the airport’s ability to land larger planes. we have to rely on ourselves to make that happen,” Hughes said.

People of NWI are the show at Carnegie E.C. pushes to redevelop Harbor neighborhood

The Carnegie Arts Center, which will be housed in a 97-year-old library building, is the cultural centerpiece of a push to redevelop the city’s weathered Harbor neighborhood. The city has invested more than $10 million to makeover the Main StreetBroadway corridor as part of a revitalization plan that included 75 new townhomes that were completed in 2009 on Pulaski and Deodar streets.

BY DAN HINKEL dan.hinkel@nwi.com, (219) 852-4317 EAST CHICAGO | You probably won’t see any

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TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS | THE TIMES

About East Chicago Lake Michigan

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East Chicago ILLINOIS INDIANA

national touring bands at Carnegie Arts Center in East Chicago after it opens this year. The venue’s main performance space has a capacity just north of 100 people, too cramped for any big money act. Instead, organizers hope the people of Northwest Indiana will provide the entertainment. Carnegie Arts Center Executive Director Lisa Woodruff said she wants to “not say no to anyone” who wants to use the new center’s classrooms, film lab and theater space for art shows, music rehearsals or other projects. The center is not just about displaying art and hosting established professional creators. Woodruff hopes the center can cultivate creativity. “We hope that many residents of WOODRUFF the community find that it’s an interesting place to come,” Woodruff said. “It’s not only for East Chicago, but for the community of Northwest Indiana.” The Carnegie Arts Center, which will be housed in a 97-year-old library building, is the cultural centerpiece of a push to redevelop the city’s weathered Harbor neighborhood. The city has invested more than $10 million to makeover the Main StreetBroadway corridor as part of a revitalization plan that included 75 new townhomes that were completed in 2009 on Pulaski and Deodar streets. Another 50 townhomes are planned to start construction this year on Main Street. A new police substation opened in the Harbor in November. A new water treatment plant is scheduled to go online in 2011 in the Harbor. “We’ve seen steady and continual progress,” city spokesman Damian Rico said.

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Programming at the Carnegie Arts Center remained uncertain in January as Woodruff focused on the more immediate matter of seeing the building’s interior Planners for the Carnegie Arts Center tour the old finished. Woodruff said center organizers library building where it will be housed. The will try to plan programs that have appeal venue’s main performance space has a capacity of across the region. She also wants the cena little more than 100 people, but organizers hope ter to serve its most immediate neighbors. to draw residents to the center often. “I think that the East Chicago commu-

Population 31,371 Median age 29.5 years Median household income $29,631 Median home value $87,800 Median travel time to work 22.7 minutes SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY THREE-YEAR ESTIMATES

nity will be very pleased with the representation of art and available offerings at the Carnegie,” Woodruff said. The center should add to quality of life in East Chicago, but Woodruff also said the art center can offer more tangible benefits to the region. The arts can spur tourism and stimulate local economies, Woodruff said. She isn’t trying to mint superstars, but she hopes the center can demonstrate that arts jobs, such as her own, do exist. “The arts are a very powerful economic tool and can really create the heart of the community,” she said.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010 | PAGE BB31

GARY

Gary, Indiana

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Yet Come’ To

Born of the Industrial Age at the dawn of the 20th century, Gary was planned as a modern industrial city by the United States Steel Corporation and its subsidiary, the Gary Land Company.

oday, more than 100 years later, steel production and fabrication remain major industries, while opportunities abound for continued industrial and commercial development. Sixteen distinct neighborhoods are home to Gary’s population of more than 100,000. Within the city’s 50.5 square miles, there are 50 established parks and two major bike and pedestrian trails that are part of the regional bike trail system running from Illinois through Indiana to Michigan. Recreational opportunities include 4.5 miles of shoreline along Lake Michigan, a popular air show and an independent league baseball team and Gleason Park, an 18 hole golf course. The city is also home to major educational institutions, including Indiana University Northwest, Ivy Tech and the Gary Career Center. An academic option, Thea Bowman Leadership Academy for grades K-10 is now in its ﬁfth year of operation with more than 600 students.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

es ins | The Tim John J. Watk

Gary’s location puts the city squarely in the logistical heart of the Chicagoland area and in close proximity to economic markets throughout the Midwest. All the area’s major highways criss-cross the city, including I-80/94, I-90, I-65, U.S. 12 and U.S. 20 and State Road 912. Railroad lines provide both freight and passenger service to Gary. The Gary/Chicagoland International Airport is the third major airport in the Chicago area. The Port of Indiana is just 8.5 miles from Downtown Gary and connects the area to the Atlantic Ocean via Lake Michigan through the St. Lawrence Seaway. Prime and shovel-ready land is available in Gary, which is critical to developers. In addition, all the necessary infrastructure is already in place for residential, commercial and industrial development. For example, NIPSCO supplies the area’s energy needs. The Indiana American Water Company provides water and water infrastructure to a large From top: Beach portion of Northwest view; Hope VI Indiana. And the Gary Duneland Village Sanitary District processes Miller Section; waste and storm water Bufﬁngton Harbor. for Gary and a number of surrounding communities. A business-friendly city administration works with developers and entrepreneurs. Successful businesses have found a home in Gary, including The Fresh County Market on Grant Street and the Borman Expressway. This newly renovated building has been transformed into a thriving, successful grocery store that attracts customers from the surrounding neighborhood and other communities.

HOUSING Gary’s architectural history includes homes designed by such giants as Frank Lloyd

Mayor Rudy Clay

Wright. Among the city’s 16 distinct neighborhoods are Morningside, Horace Mann, Miller Beach and Small Farms. Recently, the city has experienced an upswing in residential rehab and inﬁll residential construction. In addition, Gary received two rounds of funding through the federal government’s Hope VI program. As a result, two new neighborhoods have opened with a variety of housing choices – Duneland Village in the Miller section and the Downtown Horace Mann Apartments.

RECREATION & ENTERTAINMENT When the Gary SouthShore RailCats play at the U.S. Steel Yard, the fans come out in droves. From top: Aerial During the 2009 season, view of Broadway one million of those Municipal Buildings; fans flocked to the Marquette Lagoon; games. In addition to the The Jacksons’ home; fun, affordable, family U.S. SteelYard entertainment of RailCats baseball, fans enjoy theatre-like, field-level seating. The U.S. Steel Yard features 6,000 comfortable, chair-back seats, and three conveniently located concession stands serve up ballpark food and beverages. Gary’s South Shore Air Show at Marquette Park is the largest free event in Northwest Indiana. The U.S. Thunderbirds will headline performances at the 2010 show slated for July 10 and 11. This year’s show will also feature U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the Lima Lima Flight Team, Dacy-Kazian Wingwalking Team, Lucas Oil Pitts and Bill Stein. The boyhood home of Michael Jackson at 2300 Jackson St. has also become a magnet for fans since the King of Pop’s untimely death in 2009. People from all over the world have visited the home, wanting to be close to where the legend started. Historic Marquette Park is undergoing a renaissance thanks to a $28 million grant to the City of Gary by the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority. The master plan is a significant milestone in the history of the park and will include 12 projects. Among those projects is the restoration of the recreation pavilion; completing renovations on the Aquatorium, including the courtyard and addition of an aviation history museum; making improvements to a children’s playground; restoring the Father Marquette statue and landscaping at the park’s entrance; improving Lake Street Beach and restoring the From top: Hope VI lagoon. downtown Horace Mann Apartments; Gary’s two casinos at Gary Air Show; Buffington Harbor offer a Aerial view of variety of gaming options, downtown Gary including slots and video poker, table games and a baccarat room as well as dining, entertainment and hotel accommodations. Under the leadership of Mayor Rudy Clay, Gary honors its rich history and is poised for its next century. As the mayor says, “The best days are yet to come!” For more information about the future of the Steel City, log on to www.gary.in.us.

Kyle Telechan | The Times

Are

Photos courtesy of chameyer@sbcglobal.net unless otherwise indicated Beachview Promenade

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GARY

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THE TIMES

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010 | PAGE BB33

GRIFFITH

Town works to transform Broad Street into a thriving business district

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Rail sale provides funds to revitalize downtown

Griffith

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About Griffith BY LU ANN FRANKLIN Times Correspondent GRIFFITH | Railroads figure prominently in

Griffith’s history and future with tracks crisscrossing the town and train traffic expected to increase with the sale of the EJ&E to Canadian National. But officials negotiated benefits to reduce the impact on residents, including eliminating train whistles and creating a system that alerts the town’s emergency dispatch center where train traffic is at all times. The deal struck with CN provided $6.5 million to Griffith, and now “the town that came to the tracks” is using that settlement and other funds to revitalize its downtown. Griffith became the first municipality in Lake County to participate in the Main Street Program sponsored by the state of Indiana. The town’s acceptance into this economic revitalization effort was announced in April. The Main Street Program provides assistance to re-energize downtown and commercial business districts. Road reconstruction along Broad Street from Ridge Road to 45th Street has been among the most visible part of this revitalization effort, Town Council President George Jerome said. “We’re replacing the storm and sanitary sewers and all the sidewalks during the reconstruction,” he said. “We will continue from 45th Street to Main Street with the spring construction season.” This reconstruction will narrow Broad Street from 45th Street south to Main JOHN J. WATKINS | THE TIMES Street with two lanes for traffic and space The former EJ&E railroad crossing at Broad Street in Griffith is among the top five busiest intersections in for additional parking. the area. Train traffic is expected to increase with the sale of the EJ&E to Canadian National. Officials The town also will replace the alunegotiated benefits with CN, including $6.5 million in concessions that will be used to revitalize the area. minum street lights with decorative light-

Population 17,334 Median age 35.8 years Median household income $50,030 in 1999 dollars Median home value $108,600 Median travel time to work 27.4 minutes SOURCE: CENSUS 2000 (2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY ESTIMATES NOT AVAILABLE)

ing similar to that in Central Park. Griffith’s downtown revitalization program began two years ago and includes a facade program, he said. “We will match up to $10,000 that merchants spend on redoing the facade on their buildings. We created a revitalization committee to work with the merchants and an architect to see what facades would be best,” Jerome said. Currently this facade program is limited to the 100 to 400 blocks of North Broad Street. “We’d like to move to other parts of Broad Street,” he said. This focus on downtown became part of September’s Rock & Rail Fest that stretched along Broad and Main streets. Food and entertainment brought people to the festival that won recognition from Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, Jerome said. Griffith’s declining population prompted school officials to close Franklin Elementary School at 201 N. Broad St. However, the town will take possession of the building when negotiations are completed, Jerome said. A forum will be held to get input from residents about what to do with the site. “Part of it will probably be a community center and would be the cornerstone of the downtown revitalization,” he said.

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THE TIMES

HAMMOND

New projects help rebuild community Hammond sees growth, even during downturn BY JEFF BURTON jeff.burton@nwi.com, (219) 933-3246 HAMMOND | Breathing new life into old

NATALIE BATTAGLIA | THE TIMES

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., center, reads headlines from a 1907 Lake County Times newspaper as Orak Shrine Potentate William S. Bailey, left, of Ogden Dunes, and Executive Director of City Planning Phil Taillon look on. Residents, city officials and members of the Orak Shrine opened two cornerstones of the Masonic Temple, which was demolished to make way for a new charter school. can Structurepoint currently is working on a unique design of the development. “That will be a very nice development,” Jacobson said. Eyes also are focused on the city’s longtroubled downtown district. Improvements outlined in a recent comprehensive redevelopment plan adopted by the city are beginning to take shape, Jacobson said, with the construction of the Hammond Academy for Science and Technology on the site of the long abandoned Masonic Temple. The city also is preparing to begin implementing suggestions on signs and

About Hammond Population Median age Median household income Median home value Median travel time to work

75,704 33.6 years $37,528 $98,700 26.4 minutes

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beautification in downtown Hammond and is investigating the move of City Hall to the former Calumet National Bank Building.

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storefronts has helped Northwest Indiana’s second-largest city weather the recession and further its quest to rebuild a sense of community. From Robertsdale to Hessville and points in between, 2009 was a year of steady growth, and the city has plenty of projects in the works that will begin taking shape in 2010, Economic Development Director Beth Jacobson said. “We’ve been fortunate. We’ve had a few new projects in Hammond,” Jacobson said. The former Woodmar Shopping Center is inching forward with a new redevelopment plan from Praedium Development, Jacobson said. The first phase of the plan will include new outlots along 165th Street at Indianapolis Boulevard as well as a redone parking lot and new ornamental lighting. Unlike the original agreement, the current Carson Pirie Scott building will remain. One area already seeing growth is the former Interstate Plaza, now Gateway Promenade, on Indianapolis Boulevard, just south of Interstate 94. A new Aldi discount grocery store opened in January in a portion of a the long-vacant Kmart building. Dennis Rosebrough from the Indiana Department of Motor Vehicles said the agency also is planning to open a new location there in the coming months. Demolition also recently started on the former Builders Square hardware store and adjoining strip mall in the rear portion of Gateway Promenade, which will be the site of a new multiscreen movie theater, Jacobson said. To the east, the site of the former River Park apartment complex also is positioned for redevelopment in 2010. Jacobson said two hotels are committed to building in the coming year, and the city has seen an interest in businesses interested in constructing offices space in the area at the southeast corner of Kennedy Avenue at I94. Jacobson said consulting firm Ameri-

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THE TIMES

LOWELL

Small town with room to grow Residents want to keep their small-town vibe BY MELANIE CSEPIGA Times Correspondent

HEATHER EIDSON |THE TIMES

Lowell High School Principal Adrian Richie comforts player Brandon Grubbe (6) after the Red Devils lost 23-9 to the Evansville Reitz Panthers in the 2009 IHSAA Class 4A state football tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Lowell players Jeremy Crocker, left, and Nathan Cleveland, right, walk with the team. needed goes to the heart of his hometown. “You ask for help and you get it. It’s inspirational,” Kuiper said in Sept. 2008. “I think it was proved the day of the flood.” Unlike in some areas, Austgen said businesses, schools and town government work well together in Lowell. “They’re not out for themselves,” Austgen said. “They’re out for the whole community.” Kuiper serves as the Lowell Town Council president and is one who wants to maintain the small-town character of Lowell while encouraging appropriate growth. “We own our own services, so I think we’ll always be a small town, no matter how large we grow,” Kuiper said. “Our character is that of a small town.” Despite tough economic times, the

About Lowell Population 7,505 Median age 34.2 years Median household income $49,173 in 1999 dollars Median home value $112,800 Median travel time to work 28.5 minutes SOURCE: CENSUS 2000 (2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY ESTIMATES NOT AVAILABLE)

town has managed a number of improvements through successful grant applications and a traditional conservative fiscal policy. A $1 million street paving project that covers 39 streets and the nearly $1 million Ind. 2/Burr St. Project to redesign, widen and improve the dangerous inter-

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Lowell’s small-town image is one of which local folks are proud and one they continue to cultivate — even as they welcome growth. “It’s a place to feel comfortable going for an evening walk,” said Jim Langen, who counts five generations of Lowellians in his family. “My opinion has always been that Lowell is one of a few communities that has its own personality. It is its own center,” Residents can find most of what they need in the town, and what they can’t find is only a few minutes away thanks to Interstate 65 and U.S. 41, the longtime Realtor said. Carrie Ann Austgen, the Lowell Chamber of Commerce president, has lived in the town all her life. “It’s a small town; you’re all intertwined,” she said. “People stick together and help out.” Austgen believes that the comfort of hometown living with all the warm attributes it represents are just what families are looking for now. “Life is so busy. I think people want to go back. They want a community,” she said. Langen said the town’s motto, “The Friendly Town with Friendly People,” is sincere. “I think Lowell’s makeup is much more diverse now,” he said. “Not as many people can say they grew up here.” Newcomers have a number of social communities from which to choose, including churches, schools and civic groups that welcome involvement — and the high school’s athletic events. “On any given Friday night in the fall, you can expect half of the people at a sporting event,” he said. “That speaks volumes.” The Lowell Red Devils’ gridiron success is a true point of pride for the town, he said. Austgen’s Lowell High School classmate, Phillip Kuiper, said folks’ willingness to provide a helping hand when

Lowell THE TIMES

section top the list. And the Tri-Creek School Corporation is now building a new middle school which will open its doors in the fall.

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HIGHLAND

Town uses 100 years of experience as its template

“Highland is a progressive community with an eye to the future and always with a focus on the town’s most important asset: its people.”

Town highlights heritage, future plans during centennial celebration

extend throughout this year and feature a variety of events, Griffin said. Pat Popa, co-chair of the Highland Centennial Committee, said those upcoming special celebrations will include a gala in April, an old-fashioned country picnic at Main Square Park complete with sack races and carriage rides in June, a bike tour in August and the popular Scarecrow Contest in the fall. Nature also will celebrate Highland’s centennial, Popa said, because town residents have been planting fuchsia tulip bulbs that will bloom in early spring. This bright pinkish purple is a color theme for the official centennial logo, which features the number one followed by two tulips to create the number 100. Highland boasts a well-regarded school system and 20 parks encompassing 198 acres. The Lincoln Community Center offers year-round programs for everyone from small children to senior citizens, and houses a 36,000 square foot field house. Town officials are also active in attracting businesses to Highland. The Redevelopment Commission outlined a plan for the Redevelopment District in 2006 that includes creating a positive town image through well-designed, high-quality development. “Highland is a progressive community with an eye to the future and always with a focus on the town’s most important asset: its people,” Griffin said.

BY LU ANN FRANKLIN Times Correspondent HIGHLAND | The town rose from the waters

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Munster Highland ILLINOIS INDIANA

that stretched beyond the sandy ridge found by the area’s first settlers, Michael and Judith Johnston, in 1848. As settlers drained away the water, rich farm land emerged. Later, railroads brought commerce, and the settlement along the “Highlands” ridge grew. From that heritage, Highland has evolved into a vibrant town of more than 20,000 residents, and this year, residents are celebrating its 100th year of incorporation. Clerk-Treasurer Michael Griffin said Highland has a “sense of accomplishment as a community that we have endured for 100 years. We look back on what we’ve done and look forward to what we will do.” That spirit is reflected in “A Classic Never Goes Out of Style,” the newest South Shore poster by Highland artist Judith Mayer. The poster was unveiled in October at the town’s centennial celebration kickoff. Mayer also is known for her design work on the new downtown Highland sign at the intersection of Highway Avenue and Ridge Road, just east of Indianapolis Boulevard. The painting captures the “Just Around the Corner Along the South Shore” theme of the poster series – commissioned by South Shore Poster Arts Management, a partnership between the Northwest Indiana Forum and South Shore Arts – said John Cain, executive director of South Shore Arts. “It harkens back to the simpler life of the 1950s, and the colors create quite a nostalgic feeling,” he said. Highland’s official incorporation date was April 4, 1910, and the celebration will

MICHAEL GRIFFIN, clerk-treasurer

THE TIMES

About Highland Population Median age Median household income Median home value Median travel time to work

24,082 42.8 years $59,877 $154,300 25.1 minutes

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY THREE-YEAR ESTIMATES

TOP: Artist Judith Mayer, left, and co-chair of the Highland Centennial Committee Pat Popa reveal a new South Shore poster highlighting the town of Highland. The poster was unveiled in October at the town’s centennial celebration kickoff. BOTTOM: Desks with internet-connected computers sit in the middle of the newly redesigned Lake County Public Library branch in Highland. Currently, 17 computers are available to the public, 11 more than were available before the renovations. KYLE TELECHAN PHOTOS | THE TIMES

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HIGHLAND

THE TIMES

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HOBART/LAKE STATION

A city for making memories Hobart is poised for additional development Area of detail

BY DEBORAH LAVERTY deborah.laverty@nwi.com, (219) 762-1397, ext. 2223

Hobart

PORTER CO.

and have a memorable experience in downtown Hobart, the chamber’s executive director, Mike Adams, said. Adams, who moved to Hobart three years ago, recalled a warm Thursday night last summer when he bought fresh produce at the Summer Market by the Lake, had dinner at the End Zone, heard live music at a lakefront concert festival and finished by viewing a movie at the Art Theater. “I thought to myself, ‘This is the perfect storm.’ It was a nice time,” Adams said. There’s a good, positive energy in downtown Hobart these days with some new events, such as festivals and a motorized boat race, that “will knock people’s socks off,” Adams said. He credits the city’s success at drawing people downtown to the Special Events Committee, which was formed in mid2008 with that purpose in mind. There have been other positive things going on in the downtown, including the opening of a new brewery called Brickworks Brewing Co. “All indicators are positive. Ultimately this is the DNA of Hobart. We’ve survived the bad times, and we’ve survived this bad time and in some cases flourished. It’s a cyclical process,” he said. It will be a year of positives with some long-awaited projects coming to fruition, Mayor Brian Snedecor said. “There’s going to be a lot of great things happening this year,” Snedecor said. One of the major projects this spring is the remodeling of the former middle school into a complex for courts, police and the community. City officials also are poised to go forward with repairs to the Lake George spillWisconsin Street, from Old Ridge Road The year will also include a number of way and to build a new community center, both of which were damaged when the road improvements, such as the second to 10th Street, is another stretch of road downtown was flooded in September phase of work on 61st Avenue from Col- earmarked for improvements, as well as Lake Park Avenue. orado Street to Deep River Estates. 2008.

LAKE CO.

HOBART | Residents can stay close to home

65 30 THE TIMES

About Hobart Population Median age Median household income Median home value Median travel time to work

24,082 41.3 $58,353 $135,900 27.4 minutes

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY THREE-YEAR ESTIMATES

LEFT: Shoppers browse the plants at the Deb's Garden booth at Hobart’s Summer Market on the Lake near Lake George. The market features food, craft and garden vendors on Thursdays until October. TONY V. MARTIN | THE TIMES Commercial growth should progress in an area north of the U.S. 30 corridor along Mississippi Street. The infrastructure is in place for the Silverstone Crossing development, a 230-acre development that will yield 500,000-square feet of commercial and retail space when completed. That area will also see the start this year of the 144,000-square-foot Hobart Sport Center, which will be attached to the existing 124-room Hilton Garden Inn. Catalyst Sports Performance director Tony Czapla said the structure can be converted to accommodate traditional sports like baseball, football and soccer, plus martial arts, track and field, volleyball, wrestling and extreme sports, along with a host of trade show and large group convention gatherings.

Lake Station on path of progress Several major projects planned in 2010 for city BY DEBORAH LAVERTY deborah.laverty@nwi.com, (219) 762-1397, ext. 2223

Area of detail

LAKE STATION | Bill Westmoreland has

LAKE CO.

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

PORTER CO.

Lake Station called Lake Station his home for the past 80 50 years. His roots and that of his family run deep. 6 65 “We’re glad to be part of the city of Lake Station,” Westmoreland said. It’s the community where he went to THE TIMES school, where he currently works as a city sewer inspector and where 10 years ago he About Lake Station and his wife built their home. 13,948 “I’m really excited about what’s going Population on right now. The new mayor has a lot of Median age 32.9 years things in the making, and I see a lot more Median household income progress than I have in the past,” West$36,984 in 1999 dollars moreland said. $73,600 He said he especially likes that resi- Median home value dents pull together, especially during Median travel time to work 24.3 minutes times of disaster, like the flood that devasSOURCE: CENSUS 2000 (2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY tated the city in September 2008. SURVEY ESTIMATES NOT AVAILABLE) “It’s a small city with a big heart,” Westmoreland said. As a part of the city’s building departOne objective involves the beautificament, he’s witnessed firsthand residents tion of Grand Boulevard Lake. and officials working together to fix The initial improvements, which homes damaged by the flood or tear down began last fall, included removing severruined buildings. al dead or damaged cottonwood trees. “We’re working on getting those torn During future phases, the lake will be down,” he said. cleared through dredging and Westmoreland said he’s “The trees will then stocked with fish. even seen some residents The transformation also finally bear includes a boat rental area, a recently building new homes in one of the city’s new subdivipicnic area and a gazebo. sion, River Walk, despite the the fruit, and The city also plans to proweak economy. ceed with development of a we’re digging “Construction has slowed regional walking and bike riddown, but there were some for more.” ing trail that will connect with new starts last year,” Westpaths in neighboring cities, MAYOR KEITH moreland said. Soderquist said. SODERQUIST Mayor Keith Soderquist The city can go forward agrees the year ahead will be a with the project because of a productive one for the city thanks to sev- $400,000 grant received from Northeral grants received in the past two years. western Indiana Regional Planning “The trees will finally bear the fruit, Commission for its Rails to Trails projand we’re digging for more,” Soderquist ect. City officials are dredging the trail, said. which will be completed in four phases,

JOHN LUKE | THE TIMES

Local sculptor Ryan Matijevich, of Lake Station, carves tree trunks and stumps into shapes of people along the Grand Boulevard Lake. The city is working to revitalize the area by creating walking paths and removing old trees, which were not in good shape. New trees will be planted to replace them. Lake Station city worker Jim Gill operates the arm on one of the city's new garbage trucks. The city recently replaced its fleet as it grows. KYLE TELECHAN | THE TIMES

Soderquist said. The trail, which will start near the Lake County Public Library’s Lake Station/New Chicago branch, will extend east to Portage and eventually to the Indiana Dunes. Another major project set to start this year is the construction of a new municipal complex that will house City Hall, the Police and Fire departments, city courts

and the utilities and safety services. The project, set to start in the spring, will be financed for about $11.6 million. Once the complex is built at Grand and Central avenues, plans are to vacate and possibly tear down some of the city buildings off Central Avenue and Ind. 51, Soderquist said. “It will be a good year,” Soderquist said.

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THE TIMES

LAKE STATION

The City of

Lake Station “

If every resident makes a conscious effort to recycle, I believe we can turn this goal [increasing recycling by 30%] into reality.

MAYOR KEITH SODERQUIST AND CONGRESSMAN PETE VISCLOSKY

”

Keith Soderquist Mayor of Lake Station

RIVERVIEW PARK POOL

GRAND BLVD. ENHANCEMENT PROJECT

LAKE STATION’S FINEST, SWAT TEAM

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

RECYCLING PROGRAM

www.lakestation-in.gov

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LAKE STATION

ake Station’s 14,000 residents are paving the way for the future, making the kinds of infrastructure and revitalization investments that will help future development for the entire region.

Among Lake Station’s investments in infrastructure are the city’s new state-of-the-art trash collection system, the first of its kind in Lake County; computer network installation; a $1.9 million sewer project overhaul on three major lift stations; and a new sewer camera truck, allowing public works employees to perform their own inspections. The municipal complex will be upgraded and a focus on development for Lake Station’s commercial properties also has the city poised for the future. Mayor Keith Soderquist has led the city’s progress and at the end of last year introduced a new trash collection system that includes a 65-gallon recycle roll-out can for each residence in addition to the standard 96-gallon trash can. “This system will enhance the appearance of our streetscapes while increasing the overall efficiency of the city’s trash collection services,” says Soderquist. The automated trash collection system is operated through a fleet of new garbage trucks, each manned by a single city employee. The trucks use a mechanized “arm” to lift the new trash cans, empty the waste and return the can to its original, curbside position. The trucks can pick up trash at roughly 1,000 homes a day per truck. Soderquist challenges Lake Station residents to increase their amount of recycling by 30% with the new cans and collection system for a cleaner environment, a savings of tax dollars and a greener future. “If every resident makes a conscious effort to recycle, I believe we can turn this goal into reality,” he says.

Lake Station’s technology upgrades have led to a streamlining of services for the city. The city’s computer network installation replaces systems that were 15 years old and has led to more efficiency and accountability. This network enables all city departments, including police, fire, courts, emergency, clerks, utilities, building, codes, animal control and zoning to operate on an internal network. The city’s Web page enhancements allow a free flow of information from the municipality to city residents and the Mayor’s e-corner brings up-to-date communication to the region. A grant of $154,000 through Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub has enabled Lake Station to improve its police radio communication system, meaning better emergency response for all. In a grant secured from Congressman Pete Visclosky, Lake Station has received funds for a $1.9 million sewer project, completed in 2009. The project funding included $400,000 in matching local dollars from the city to upgrade three main lift stations. These upgrades have resulted in improvement in the quality of life for thousands of Lake Station residents. The project also extended the sewer from the Old Hobart Road River Walk. The river walk is among the projects experiencing a revitalization in Lake Station. Plans call for a walking path and lighting here, and support the long-term growth of the city. The City of Lake Station is also redeveloping Grand Boulevard Lake. This beautification consists of cleaning up around the lake and building up the banks that have been washed away. Damaged trees will be replaced with aesthetically pleasing foliage along a one-of-a-kind walking trail around the lake that boasts species identification markers for community education. This trail will connect to the Field of Dreams. Stimulus funds are being used for road resurfacing along Central Avenue and Liverpool, two major roadways in the city. The city has also acquired a $700,000 grant from the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission for trails throughout Lake Station, which will be equipped with lighting and a walk/ bike trail. Designs will be completed this year and construction is slated to begin in 2011. In addition to improving the sewer system and beautifying the city, Lake Station is taking

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

further steps to attract local commerce and visitors. Lake Station supports renovation to local shopping areas and stores, and is dedicated to attracting new business to the city, including the North Shore Medical Facility, a new library branch on Central Avenue, and a complete renovation of Central Plaza. Plans for the Field of Dreams outdoor sports complex include bringing in baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and track facilities to attract visitors from all over the country. The Field of Dreams outdoor complex, which will accommodate the Lake Station Little League, will be completed for the spring season 2011 and is being funded by revenues from the Cingular tower, billboards along the highway, and future revenues. The old compost facility, that was located in the park, has now moved to a new location north of I-80/94. The Field of Dreams will be operated by the Lake Station Parks Department. Work begins this spring on the new $8 million government complex at the intersection of Grand Blvd. and Fairview Ave. This facility targets LEED certification for energy efficiency and is designed to reduce overall energy costs by 40%. Energy produced by wind power will operate parking lights. The complex will be home to city hall, police and fire departments, city courts, ambulance, and utilities and safety services. This will streamline operations for the city and eliminate buildings that are no longer energy-efficient and expensive to maintain, Soderquist says. On the second floor of this new building, the city will operate a small rental facility to increase revenues. The facility will also feature an outdoor venue for family movie nights and farmers’ markets. The new construction will also lead to additional commercial development along this busiest intersection in the city.

Lake Station has received a number of grants over the past year and will continue to throughout 2010, demonstrating the region’s commitment to the city. Lake Station’s growth is supported by many entities through 13 different grants, totaling $6.2 million, with $542,000 of that coming from matching city funds. See chart below. Lake Station is a city poised to take on the future, with progressive initiatives in residential services, commercial development, and infrastructure improvement. Lake Station is making it goal number one to improve the quality of life for all Lake Station residents.

LAKE STATION GRANTS These grants are double the total amount of the City’s general fund.

s A $1.9 million grant in 2008 to renovate three major lift stations as well as replacing sewer lines s A $270,000 CMAQ vehicle grant in 2009 to purchase new squad cars and other municipal vehicles s A $1.2 million grant in 2009 for reconstruction of County Line Road and Central Avenue s Gerry Scheub 911 monies in 2008 totaling $154,000 to renovate Lake Station’s dispatching system s A $30,000 recycle grant in 2009 to roll out recycling containers s A $25,000 grant in 2008-2009 to a new exhaust system for the city’s ambulance department s A $500,000 Flood Mitigation Grant obtained through U.S. Rep. Peter Visclosky in 2009 s A $25,000 grant to purchase police vests in 2009 s A Police Pull Over Grant in 2008-2009 for DUI and drug control s NIRPC grants of $780,000 awarded in 2010 and 2011 for walk/bike trails through Lake Station with lighting and benches s $450,000 in stimulus monies from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to be used for Central Avenue resurfacing from the new Lake Station Library to Union Street and to include intersections and 52 ramps in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2010 and 2011 s An additional $425,000 in stimulus funds for Liverpool Road storm drains and the widening of the road, including curbs from Liverpool Bridge to New Jersey Street s And $140,000 in extra stimulus funds for new storm drains throughout the area north of Central Avenue and east of Clay Street

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THE TIMES

MERRILLVILLE

Town focuses on improvements Flooding fix, progressive management top the list BY CHAS REILLY chas.reilly@nwi.com, (219) 662-5324 MERRILLVILLE | Whether it’s alleviating

KYLE TELECHAN | THE TIMES

A construction worker drives a water pipe down Taft Street in Merrillville as part of the city’s installation of a new water line. City officials hope to help properties along Taft Street from flooding issues by replacing culverts from just north of U.S. 30 to 63rd Avenue.

About Merrillville Population Median age Median household income Median home value Median travel time to work

32,160 37.2 years $50,552 $129,900 28.3 minutes

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Hobart

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY THREE-YEAR ESTIMATES

A new landscaping ordinance could force developers to submit landscaping plans before they receive town approval for proposed projects. Town officials said the ordinance could help improve Merrillville’s appearance.

Merrillville

PORTER CO.

services the community currently provides. “It’s not going to be an easy, quick fix,” Hardaway said. While improving the town budget is the main priority for Merrillville, town leaders continue to look for other ways to enhance the municipality. Merrillville officials are in the midst of drafting potential ordinances that could mandate progressive stormwater management methods and landscaping plans for future developments. New stormwater management regulations could require new developments to provide adequate space to hold water to prevent flooding and use methods to naturally filter water.

LAKE CO.

flooding issues, enhancing the community’s appearance or correcting its financial situation, Merrillville officials are contemplating ways to improve the community. The town’s Stormwater Management Board has been considering multiple opportunities to reduce flooding in Merrillville. Bud Crist, president of the Board, said properties along Taft Street would benefit if the town can move forward with a project that would involve replacing culverts on Taft Street from just north of U.S. 30 to 63rd Avenue. The project is expected to cost $1.1 million, and town officials have asked U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., if federal funds intended for new water lines in Merrillville can be used instead for the Taft Street project. Town officials said Visclosky secured $496,000 for new water lines in Merrillville’s 6th Ward, but Merrillville can’t proceed with the work because Indiana American Water Co. decided not to match funds for the project. Merrillville leaders have had conversations with Visclosky’s office about the issue, but a decision hasn’t been made. In January, the board also approved a drainage study in the Lincoln Gardens and Southbrook subdivisions in west Merrillville and a study in the Country Club Heights and Meadowdale subdivisions, which are located in north Merrillville. Crist said he hopes to have the studies back by the spring so the board will know what has caused flooding in residences and streets in the subdivisions and how much the solutions will cost. Town Council President Richard Hardaway said it can be hard for the town to plan major projects because of Merrillville’s current cash shortage. He said councilmen are seeking ways to improve Merrillville’s financial situation that won’t cause a negative impact to the

THE TIMES

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MERRILLVILLE

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010 | PAGE BB43

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THE TIMES

MUNSTER

Sustainable growth part of new plan Town preparing for next 20 years by strengthening infrastructure for growth

LEFT: Children participate in an easter egg hunt in April at Centennial Park in Munster. The park offers residents and visitors an array of recreational choices that include soccer fields, a playground, a clubhouse with banquet facilities and a restaurant with outdoor seating, outdoor pavilions, an entertainment stage and gardens.

BY LU ANN FRANKLIN Times Correspondent

BELOW: Centennial Park was host to many festivals and events in 2009, including the Munster Music Fest in July. TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS | THE TIMES

About Munster Population Median age Median household income Median home value Median travel time to work

24,057 43.9 years $71,224 $212,000 26.2 minutes

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY THREE-YEAR ESTIMATES

mentary School once stood, a new playground park soon will rise thanks to an interlocal agreement in the works between the Munster Parks and Recreation Department and the School Town of Munster. “The northwest section of Munster has little park facilities. This will add something that has not been available before,” O’Shaughnessy said New interest in commercial development along Munster’s major roads also has sparked a revival of some vacant areas. The Munster Plan Commission has reviewed plans for Munster Shops to be build on the old Carpetland site along Calumet Avenue, south of Broadmoor.

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912 80

Munster Highland ILLINOIS INDIANA

MUNSTER | With the town’s new 2010 comprehensive plan nearing the approval stage and major recreational facilities now online, the town of Munster prepares for its future as a mature suburb. The town’s fourth comprehensive plan since 1938 focuses on several major areas: • Promoting sustainable growth in this mature community, which has little undeveloped land • Supporting transit in the form of a Transit Oriented District in the Lake Business Center, where a new train station would link downtown Chicago and communities to the south • Creating a legacy of parks and open spaces • Growing as a hub of the regional trail system • Strengthening infrastructure and improving existing major roads, especially along Calumet Avenue, 45th Street and Ridge Road • Redeveloping older areas as walkable, mixed use centers Centennial Park has become the crown jewel of Munster parks, with many major features introduced in 2009. This development along Calumet Avenue has turned the liability of a landfill into an asset. The site is now the only one of its kind in Indiana to be developed into a park, said Bob O’Shaughnessy, director of the Munster Parks and Recreation Department. As Munster’s largest park, Centennial offers residents and visitors an array of recreational choices that include soccer fields, a playground, a clubhouse with banquet facilities and a restaurant with outdoor seating, outdoor pavilions, an entertainment stage and gardens. More bike and walking paths soon will wind through the community, adding another dimension of recreation and quality of life to this community. In addition, where the old Eads Ele-

THE TIMES

Buildings at the intersection of Calumet Avenue and 45th Street are seeing new uses with an intake shelter run by the Humane Society of the Calumet Area, a martial arts studio and a furniture-making business. Part of the former Sterk’s grocery store along 45th Street has seen new life as a day care center and another part is expected to house a dog day care business.

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MUNSTER

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010 | PAGE BB45

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THE TIMES

MUNSTER NEW MUNSTER LISTING/CUSTOM

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First floor condo, 2 Bd, 2 Bath, low taxes & utilities. Master suite with full bath & walk-in closet. Kitchen has upgraded cabinets & all appl., inunit laundry. One car ATTACHED garage. Move-in Condition!! Only $139,900

LIKE NEW!. Looking for a Main Flr. 2 bd condo, you will love this one. Affordable,Convenient & Well Built! Original Owners. Spacious Mas Bd w/bth, All Appls, Laundry Rm W&D, Andersen Windows, FP, Patio Drs. Patio, Sec.Ext.Drs, Gar. Storage, Handicapped Availability. Walking distance to restaurants, park. Close to expressway, shopping.

Bonnie Kotso 219-791-4670

Kay Rogan 219-712-2458

Phyllis Palmowski

June Wojcik ABR CRS 219-730-8488

Highland Starter

LANSING BEAUTY!!

219/313-9861

View on JuneWojcik.com

Lowell - Lakewood Estates

2-story on 5 acres!

Priced to sell. Clean 2 bedroom, 1 bath ranch on large lot with 2 1/2 car detached garage. Bright country kitchen with built-in dishwasher, patio doors to back deck and brick patio. Quiet street with good neighbors, close to good schools and shopping, easy express access. Owner transferred - will help with closing costs.

Large move in condition 2 story brick and cedar home features 4 bedrooms 3 baths, and full semi-finished basement. Some updates include:new roof,central air,furnace, built-in oven&range. Main level is very open and inviting. Great for large family and entertaining.

Quality built Cape Cod, with 4 Bd, 3 Baths on a scenic 1.23 acre wooded lot on a gorgeous lake.Home has private pier & great fishing! Main level has familyrm with 18’ ceilings & fireplace, master suite, 2nd Bd, huge kit. with all appl, half bath & laundryrm.Upper level has 2 Bd, & a full bath. Full WALK-OUT basement. Only $385,000.

This classic 2-story home is reminiscent of a time when life was simpler! 4 bedrooms, 1.5 baths. Formal dining room. Stone fireplace in living room. Hardwood floors throughout. Original doors, trim, & built-ins keep the timeless charm of this home. Newer windows & kitchen. A bargain at $210,000.

Gary Sprigg 219-791-4942

Joan McLellan 219-614-8207

Phyllis Palmowski

Michelle Cowling, 219-791-4609

Updated brick ranch

Why Rent!! Affordable Living!!

219/313-9861

MUNSTER

Impressive Curb Appeal

This roomy 3-bed ranch has everything you have been hoping to find! Updated kitchen with breakfast nook. Formal dining area. Generous living room with fireplace. Both baths have been updated. New central air, hi-efficiency furnace, HWH, roof, windows, siding, plumbing, & electric. Basement with finished family room. $126,900

CLEAN AND COZY...This condo,recently professionally painted,is minutes away from shopping and expressways,but feels so peaceful and quiet you would never guess it. It is located in a great neighborhood and offers a relaxing personal pond with walkway. Immaculately maintained and spacious, this condo also offers 2 bedrooms and 2 baths.

Elegant lifestyle! The absolute best of everything went into this residence. 6 bedrooms, 5 baths, 2 fireplaces, media room, 3.5 car garage, all brick exterior plus dramatic entryway. Total package inclusive of every top level appliance and amenity. $929,900 MLS #246520

5 possible 6 bedrooms in this 90%+ brick 2 story w/ 3 car side load garage. Awesome multi level deck features firepit & outdoor jacuzzi. Judicious use of hardwood flooring & granite counters. The laundry room is even impressive. Masonry fireplace, nat gas backup generator & multi layered air scrubbing technology just a few toys worth mentioning.

Michelle Cowling, 219-791-4609

Manuel Hernandez Re/Max Realty Associates 219-613-3567 ManuelSellsHomes.com

Vickie Wilson 219-730-5140

David Speckman

219-746-3416

Munster - Somerset Subdivision

DREAM HOUSE!

LAKEFRONT

MUNSTER / TWIN CREEK

Impressive custom built two story home sits on large, quiet cul de sac lot. Wonderful features like beautiful hardwood floors, granite countertops, main level study/home office, two fireplaces, Luxury Master Suite, Hearth Rm, 3 car garage. Plus, there’s a pool & tennis courts for homeowners in this subdivision!What more could you ask for?

Oversized covered entry w/views of pond to South as you enter huge foyer. Tile flooring. Granite counters & ss appliances, accent lighting, large prep island. 2 story family room w/2 story window wall. Overhead loft. Formal dining. Main level master suite. Dbl sinks, separate tub/ shower. 3 upper level bedrooms. Patio area w/brick pillars. $469,900

CEDAR LAKE - Lake front Condo. QUALITY BUILT All brick building, Flexicore floors. Totally remodeled. New triple pane windows, New kitchen, Real hardwood floors. 2nd floor, great privacy and best view of Cedar Lake. Includes garage and boat slip!! $225,000 ask about a shared ownership plan.

Quality upgrades galore 4 bdrm, 3 bth, 2 Stry w/semi-finished bsmt, frml living/dining rm, kit dinette, fmly rm w/FP, newer ceramic & hrdwd flrs, oak cabinetry. Fenced parklike yard. Appls & home warranty. UP TO $8,000 TAX CREDIT! ALL BUYERS MAY QUALIFY! LIMITED TIME AND FUNDS! CALL NOW! $369,900

Kay Rogan

David Speckman

John Consier ReMax Realty Assoc. 219-322-7074

Bonnie Kotso 219-791-4670

219-712-2458

$349,900

219-746-3416

View at JuneWojcik.com

MUNSTER

Make Life a Little Easier!!!

Updated larger quad with additon for entertaining with hot tub, pool, fenced yard, 4 bedrooms,3 updated baths, finished basement.2+ attached garage, extra storage in basement and garage.

Lovely Two Story 2585 sq. ft.! Fully landscaped & large fenced backyard w/patio, 3 bedroom with a bonus room, 3 bath, all s.s. appliances. in kitchen plus Alder stacked cabinets. W&D in laundry room. Great rm w/ vaulted ceiling. More amenities! Close to expressway, across from park, close to Chicago. New Construction.

Lovely all brick ranch town home in White Oak Estates. Offers 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, all appliances, 2 car garage, private patio and low utility bills. Other features include great room with volume ceilings, master bedroom with walk-in closet & master bath. Competitively priced at $224,900. MLS #252745

Premier Updated Townhome with over 2000 Square Feet. Beautiful Hardwood Floors. New Bathrooms, Tile, Carpet & Appliances. Freshly Painted. Living Room features Brick Fireplace & Large Window with view of Beautiful, Picturesque Grounds. Open Concept Dining Room/ Kitchen with access to a Private Fenced Patio & Garage. Great Location!

Shirley Watson Matthews 219 730 9198

June Wojcik ABR CRS 219-730-7980

Vickie Wilson 219-730-5140

Debra Ellison 219-765-5909

White Oak Woods Subdivision

4936 Pheasant Ct. Schererville

Main floor condo offers maple cabinetry, ceramic flooring, neutral carpet upgraded laundry. 2 baths and master bedroom suite with walk in closet. Private covered patio, 1 car att. garage. Association fees cover water, scavenger, common insurance, maintenance, snow removal, and lawn maintenance. Don’t forget to ask about the $8,000 tax credit!!

Situated on a huge cul-de-sac lot, this 4/5 bedroom home Features a Family room with fireplace, an eat-in kitchen as well as a dining room. The finished laundry room is light and bright.. This property is located in close proximity to the interstate but in a quiet area. Your family will enjoy the pool, the patio and Wood deck. $234,500

1514 Lakewood-$169,000-Enjoy a maintenance free life style with all the upgrades in this gorgeous 2 bdrm, 2 bath Lakewood Estates condo. Highlights include hardwood flooring, cherry cabinerty, ceramic tile & more. Spacious open concept, master suite with private bath, attached garage, balcony overlooks wooded area. A must see!

Many upgrades in this young 2 bedroom townhome w/ attached 2 C garage including stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, under mount double kitchen sink with garbage disposal. Ceramic floors in kitchen and bathrooms. Whirlpool in the masterbath and this home has been meticulously maintained.

Carol Salgado 219-808-7846

Call Betty G to see 219-614-7313

Nancy Keeler

Call Betty G to See 219-614-7313

Practical Luxury at a Tempting Price !!!

***GREAT PRICE***GREAT LOCATION***

219.313.5003

Schererville Beauty $164,000

MUST SEE BEAUTY!!!

ACT NOW BEFORE THE DEADLINE!

Handsome Ranch Townhouse with over 1500 Sq.Ft. Vaulted Ceiling, Eat-in Kitchen boasts loads of cabinets, pantry & ALL Appliances including Washer, Dryer & Water Softener. Main Bedroom Bath. SuperSized Garage & you own the Land ! Serene Setting yet close to Town.

Very nice ranch located in great thornton area. Beautiful expanded deck around above newer pool. Side drive to garage, garage has covered patio area.PRICED TO SELL<CALL NOW!!

Move in condition large 3 bedroom 2 bath ranch style home on Whiting’s northside. Enjoy Lake Michigan just blocks away. Huge living room features original woodwork, fireplace, built-in bookcases and beamed ceiling. Updated kitchen with sliders to backyard deck and above ground pool. Full bsmt, with workout room and 3/4 bath. $166,900

Rock solid 4 bedroom brick cape cod in move in condition. Large eat in kitchen, hardwood floors, 2 baths, full unfinished bsmt, off street parking, 2 car garage and large yard can be yours. Convenient to Chicago via the Skyway, Metra or the South Shore Line. Price to sell at $138,000. Call for your private showing today!

Debra Ellison (219) 765-5909

Joan McLellan 219-614-8207

Nancy Stolman

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

219.961.8174

ACT NOW! BEFORE THE DEADLINE!!

219.961.8174

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THE TIMES

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SCHERERVILLE

Departmental efficiency boosts town through rough economy Volunteers increase effectiveness of police

A historic log cabin built in 1847 is pulled on a trailer on its way to Scherwood Park in Schererville. The townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parks department received a grant in 2008 to develop a preservation plan for the log cabin, discovered to be Scherervilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest standing structure. The community rallied in support around the historic home and helped pay for its relocation to Scherwood Park.

BY VANESSA RENDERMAN vanessa.renderman@nwi.com, (219) 933-3241

CHRISTOPHER SMITH | THE TIMES

program. Efficiencies have increased in the Parks Department. Registration for park programs is available online, and the town is considering the same process for issuing building permits, Tippy said. The department also is leaning on grants and donations this year to help give a financial boost to some of its projects. The department received a grant in 2008 to develop a preservation plan for a log cabin home from 1847, discovered to be Scherervilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest standing structure. The community rallied in support around the historic home and helped pay for its relocation to Scherwood Park. The town again is seeking donations, grant money and in-kind contributions to carry out the restoration, which could cost more than $100,000.

Before

About Schererville Population Median age Median household income Median home value Median travel time to work

LAKE CO.

29,496 39.8 years $70,275 $206,400 31 minutes

Area of detail

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY THREE-YEAR ESTIMATES

The townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fire Department also is turning to grants for financial support. Three full-time firefighter/EMTs joined the ranks in late 2009, hired with the help of a federal grant. The extra staffing adds one person to each shift. The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant, providing $325,140 over 60

Schererville ILLINOIS INDIANA

SCHERERVILLE | Pushed by tight economic times, Schererville leaders are finding more cost-effective, efficient ways of running the town. Simple scheduling changes in the Parks Department eliminated overtime pay for employees working special events, and a revised snowplowing schedule in the Public Works Department resulted in greater efficiencies and a reduction in required man hours, Town Council President Jerry Tippy said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Almost all of our departments experienced some type of reorganization caused by staff reductions through attrition and otherwise,â&#x20AC;? he said. Support staff from the clerk-treasurer and administration offices turned to job sharing, creating a teamwork approach for Town Hall tasks, Tippy said. The economy led to a slowdown in building, pushing the town to reorganize its Building and Planning Department in 2009, which led to a decrease in salaries for that department, Tippy said. This year, the Police Department will rely partly on trained citizen volunteers for less critical tasks. The Volunteers in Police Service, or VIPS, program will allow uniformed officers to be more effective. Volunteers will aid in traffic control at accident scenes and festivals, help file in the records department and assist during funeral escorts, for example, Police Chief Dan Smith said. One of the foremost goals of VIPS is to expand community outreach programs, he said. Smith anticipates using graduates from the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent citizens police academy to form the initial VIPS crew. Schererville would join more than 2,000 law enforcement agencies that already have a VIPS

St. John 231

THE TIMES

months to Schererville for staffing. Schererville will pay $634,640 toward the grant during the same time frame. After five years, the town will take over the entire salary cost.

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THE TIMES

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SCHERERVILLE

CASH FOR GOLD

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0(,* N@:B<I 8M<% IK%+( JK% AF?E )(0%*-,%()+For all of your Jewelry, Watch, Clock Repair (In house available) Engraving, Remounting & FREE Giftwrapping N< 9LP >FC; A<N<CIP FC; :CF:BJ GF:B<K N8K:?<J ('' =@E8E:@E> C8P8N8P 8M8@C89C< PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

BEN 4175

LAKE COUNTY ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

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SCHERERVILLE

Malinich Jewelers Offers Genuine Quality Service and Custom Design

t Malinich Jewelers, 38 years of experience producing pieces of art is a way of life. After 20 years designing and repairing jewelry as the corporate jeweler for 17 large name stores in the Chicagoland area, Martin Malinich and his wife Denise realized that opening their own storefront was a great way to share their expertise with the community in northwest Indiana. Both Martin and Denise were born and raised in northwest Indiana, so owning their own business here is a way of serving their own neighbors, family and friends in the place they call home. Their business grew through word of mouth as residents of northwest Indiana understood that Malinich Jewelers produced pieces of art with professional and fast service at great prices. Martin and Denise Malinich have truly created a genuine family atmosphere where the customer can always be assured of integrity, professionalism, and courteous service. The staff and owners at Malinich Jewelers truly make the difference. They are passionate about their work and about their customers. The entire crew at Malinich Jewelers are experts in their ďŹ eld and will go the extra mile to make any customer happy. They love making pieces of art and things of beauty. Only those are service-minded with high ethics can be employed at Malinich Jewelers and they have the philosophy of treating the customer as they would like to be treated. Malinich Jewelers is excited to debut their new spring collection. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no other store in the region that has the amount of colored stones we have, which is very big this year. We have so many loose stones, so somebody can say they want a peridot paired with a pink sapphire, and we can make it. We can get any stone. Colored stones have come into their own again and people are even using them for their engagement rings. We have trays and trays of gemstone. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not a little store,â&#x20AC;? says Doreen Peterson, manager. After traveling abroad to educate themselves on techniques of jewelry making learned from the masters of the world, Malinich Jewelers shares this learned knowledge as well as years of expertise. Anything the customer has seen or has in mind can be made by Malinich Jewelers for a very personal, customized piece that will become a family heirloom. In addition to producing new pieces of art, Malinich Jewelers is the only jeweler in northwest Indiana as well as Chicago who can

successful jewelry store caters to more than those with a taste for gold and diamonds. Due to popular demand from our customers, a new â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shop of Treasures,â&#x20AC;? featuring an unbelievable variety of quality merchandise, is now open in St. John. THE KEY TO ESTATE TREASURES, describes the humble beginnings and rich offerings of their business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My husband and I were approached many times by people looking to sell their unique and not so unique items. We saw the need for the service and decided that was our niche.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We buy and sell your items (from antiques to new) and get you

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

take a customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s old piece of jewelry and design it to look new. These designs never look like a remount and instead are unique and beautiful and always within the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget. Malinich Jewelers is able to offer such expertise and custom design because they have survived due to their quality service and products when other jewelry stores have turned in to retail outlets. Malinich Jewelers keeps the true meaning of a jewelry store alive. All work is done on the premises and is never shipped out to other metal smiths and jewelers. Their experts are here. They are the gold smiths, they are the gem cutters. Malinich Jewelers is dedicated to the northwest Indiana community, the place they have called home since birth. The staff is involved in a variety of charitable causes, including a number of beneďŹ ts for area residents with terminal cancer. Malinich Jewelers has been involved in causes that support U.S. troops overseas, in addition to the Go Red Heart Association, the Lake Central Band, and the Humane Society. The goal at Malinich Jewelers is not only to help serve the community, but to improve it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The people here make this the best place on earth to us. We have everything from the physical beauty of the lakes to the fantastic people who make this area so special,â&#x20AC;? says Peterson. Malinich Jewelers repairs all types of jewelry with skilled expertise. From ďŹ ne jewelry to costumer jewelry, Malinich Jewelers understands that each piece is special with meaning and beauty. They also offer superb watch and clock repair and they provide stone replacement and remounts. Malinich Jewelers is also a Rolex and Movado watch broker. The experts at Malinich Jewelers plan to stay in Northwest Indiana for a long time. Their growth comes from their happy customers who return time and time again and tell their friends and family of the quality service and products at Malinich Jewelers. Many customers today are the children of customers in Malinich Jewelersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; early years. The Malinich family plans to continue the family business and in the coming years they plan to add an additional store to the business.

For more information: 7ICKER !VE 2T s 3T *OHN ). s -ON &RI AM TO PM s 3AT AM TO PM #LOSED 3UNDAY

top dollar for your prized possessions from your estate. We do all the research, we know the market value, we get the results, which can be done at our site or yours.â&#x20AC;? Literally anything from hankies to hats, pins to pianos, and cameras to crystal, can be found at THE KEYS TO Estate treasures. Come in and browse, shop, or even sell your own items for top dollar. Denise Malinich says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Before we opened, we traveled around the country to see the best way to present customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; possessions.â&#x20AC;? Denise and her husband Martin, found that true quality and service comes from showrooms and not shops. That decision is hat made Malinich a success, And now THE KEY TO ESTATE TREASURES will give customers the opportunity to share the wealth of their discoveries, as well as offer some of their own.

For more information: 7ICKER !VE s 3T *OHN ). s 4UES &RI AM TO PM s 3AT AM TO PM

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SCHERERVILLE

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

THE TIMES

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SCHNEIDER/SHELBY

Mother Nature is their neighbor Living is easy on and near the Kankakee river

The Schneider Community Building, which holds civic group meetings, senior citizen luncheons and other community events, is one of the most notable structures in town.

BY MELANIE CSEPIGA Times Correspondent

KYLE TELECHAN | THE TIMES

About Schneider

About Shelby (46377 ZIP code)

Population 317 Median age 33.1 years Median household income $46,339 in 1999 dollars Median home value $74,100 Median travel time to work 29 minutes

Population 372 Median age 37.6 years Median household income $125,084 in 1999 dollars Median home value $87,300 Median travel time to work 42.3 minutes

SOURCE: CENSUS 2000 (2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY ESTIMATES NOT AVAILABLE)

the quiet, laid-back feel of the village. “It’s not all the hustle and bustle of other communities,” she said, adding that it appeals to many as does the generous spirit of those living in the riverside burg. “Everybody helps everybody. Everyone pitches in,” she said. One of those people is Kathy Larson, who moved from Louisiana to Shelby 26 years ago to be closer to her family and for her husband Tom to do the fishing, trapping and hunting he loves. Recently retired from active duty on the

Shelby Volunteer Fire Department, the nurse practitioner said she can’t stay away, though. She regularly volunteers for fundraisers and events with her fire department friends and neighbors. “I come from a long line of volunteers. It’s easier to get involved in a small community,” Larson said. “I don’t think you can just live somewhere and not give back.” Shelby people are ready volunteers during good and tough times. “It’s a small, tight-knit community.

LAKE CO. Area of detail

ILLINOIS INDIANA

The allure of waterfowl, fish and other wildlife nestled in the marshland along the Kankakee River drew sportsmen from around the world to the area which eventually spawned the town of Schneider and unincorporated Shelby. Today, the love of nature and sporting avocations continue to entice people to the area. Steve Wilson is one who came and stayed. “We moved here in 1980 to be closer to the fishing and hunting,” Wilson said of Schneider, Lake County’s southernmost town. “Since we’ve been here, nothing’s really changed — (just) a couple of new homes.” More change could be in the future, residents say, should the biofuel/ethanol plant proposed on acreage at the Huber Sod Farm become reality. “The ethanol plant would be the berries,” said Ruth Bowman, who has lived all of her 78 years in Schneider. Planned on 240 acres of the sod farm to be annexed into the town, the Powers Energy plant would bring jobs and plenty of tax dollars to the community. Wilson said he favors the plant. “It’s a good idea, and it would help out the town tremendously,” he said. Bowman said she’s not concerned about changes it could bring because the people are what make the community. “If one person’s in trouble, there’s always someone to help them out,” Bowman said. “It’s just one big family living in different houses.” East of Schneider, the unincorporated village of Shelby clings to the northern banks of the Kankakee and evokes a Mayberry vibe. Postmistress Jackie Steiner has worked in the village post office for 20 years. “I love my community. I went away for awhile, but I came back,” she said. Steiner said Shelby residents appreciate

Shelby Schneider 41 NEWTON CO.

THE TIMES

Everyone’s linked to everybody,” Larson said. Five families form the base from which the village has grown. “Nearly everyone is related. My husband and I aren’t by blood, but we feel adopted,” she said with a smile. “It’s that hometown feeling. It’s a wonderful place to live,” Larson said.

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ST. JOHN LAKE CO.

Area of detail

ILLINOIS INDIANA

St. John 231 6

Cedar Lake THE TIMES

About St. John Population 8,382 Median age 38.6 years Median household income $71,378 in 1999 dollars Median home value $172,100 Median travel time to work 34.3 minutes SOURCE: CENSUS 2000 (2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY ESTIMATES NOT AVAILABLE)

LEFT: Animal Control Officer Rick Conaway and his granddaughter, Madeline Bickell, 2, of St. John, feed “Sammy” the swan at Prairie West Park in December. NATALIE BATTAGLIA | THE TIMES

Cuts, cooperation, change for town Town makes decisions with residents in mind BY VANESSA RENDERMAN vanessa.renderman@nwi.com, (219) 933-3241 ST. JOHN | Reviewing the status quo and

finding ways to cut, trim and cooperate with other communities has helped St. John survive through the turbulent economy. “I think we have also changed the spending culture within the town by making prudent spending decisions, which I know is the key to our success in these difficult times,” Town Council President Mark Barenie said.

The town payroll has remained static the last two years, and there was a reduction in overall operating expenses in all departments. On top of that, St. John underwent internal staff restructuring, shifting responsibilities of the town personnel while still delivering the services of local government, Barenie said. Contracts were reviewed and revised on everything from cell phones and the Internet service provider to eliminating the position of computer consultant in favor of hiring a full-time information technology director, Barenie said. Community events have been recast to ensure they can be profitable, he said. To save money, St. John canceled its annual Independence Day fireworks dis-

play in 2009, as well as its annual summer festival. Navigating through a tough economy means finding areas of cooperation as well. St. John and Schererville are working toward a cooperative agreement to share building inspection personnel. The towns can back up each other as needed without incurring any additional out-of-pocket expenses, Barenie said. The town also worked with the Lake County Highway Department to restructure the snowplow routes so they didn’t overlap. “The process saves time, labor costs and salt costs,” Barenie said. Making decisions with the residents in mind is critical.

Town leaders sometimes can’t do everything, but they do ensure that public safety is at the top of their minds at all times, Barenie said. The town also is turning to federal stimulus dollars for several projects in town. Nearly $1 million has been awarded for two projects — a road resurfacing project and a stormwater project set to begin this spring. St. John Town Manager Steve Kil also said he is cautiously optimistic that another stimulus project could be funded in St. John. The $300,000 resurfacing project could happen if there is enough money left over when all other stimulus projects in the region are complete.

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ST. JOHN

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THE TIMES

WHITING

Officials focus on lakefront project Whiting has streamlined operations in past years BY MARISA KWIATKOWSKI marisa.kwiatkowski@nwi.com, (219) 662-5333

PROVIDED PHOTO

City officials believe the $48 million Whiting Lakefront Park project will become an economic development engine. The artist's rendering shows a tiered boardwalk planned for the lakeshore, in which two sidewalks will be available – one for walkers and another for bicyclists, rollerbladers and runners. engine.” Whiting’s other economic development engine is BP, whose $3.8 billion Lake Michigan expansion and modernization of the refinery will bring new tax dollars into the Area of detail city coffers. It also will bring more money to Hammond and East Chicago. “It lays the groundwork for the next 20 90 Whiting years,” Stahura said. Tom Keilman, director of government and public affairs at the BP Whiting 94 Refinery, said the project will make the facility better able to refine additional supplies of heavy crude oil. East Chicago About $1.4 billion of the total project THE TIMES cost will be spent on upgrades to environmental projects and equipment, including a new sulfur recovery unit that takes sulfur began last year, is expected to be completed in 2012. Keilman said the number of out of crude oil and fuels, Keilman said. Construction for the project, which employees will increase in the spring and

ILLINOIS INDIANA

WHITING | Mayor Joe Stahura is tired of grousing about property tax caps and budget constraints. “I think our business has changed for good, and we have to get used to continually improving,” he said. Whiting has continued to streamline its already lean operations in recent years — paring down its municipal work force to an all-time low through attrition and by consolidating job duties. The city also reduced costs by buying water from Hammond, making projects energy-efficient, improving the wastewater treatment plant and upgrading technology. But Stahura said he would rather focus his attention on an ambitious city-steered lakefront redevelopment project and BP’s expansion of its Whiting refinery. Both projects have long-term implications for the city of about 5,000 people. “We’re going to have to reinvent ourselves,” the mayor said. Whiting’s plan to revamp 30 acres of Lake Michigan shoreline will be the largest undertaking for a public project in the city’s history, Stahura said. The transformed Whiting Lakefront Park will include a tiered boardwalk, concert venue, gazebo and nature area. The plan also includes a new WhitingRobertsdale Historical Museum. Stahura said he hopes a lakefront restaurant also will join the redeveloped site. The project is expected to cost about $45 million and will be funded with a mix of outside money and grants. No local taxpayer dollars will be used, Stahura said. He said it took three years to line up financing and get community input for the project. Construction will begin this year and continue until 2012, Stahura said. “It’s an absolute gem of an asset right smack in the community,” Stahura said. “It’s a huge recreational amenity. It really becomes an economic development

About Whiting Population 5,137 Median age 35.9 years Median household income $34,972 in 1999 dollars Median home value $91,200 Median travel time to work 22.8 years SOURCE: CENSUS 2000 (2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY ESTIMATES NOT AVAILABLE)

summer months, which likely will boost Whiting’s economy. Those workers often eat locally and spend more money at local establishments. “This is small-town USA at its finest,” Stahura said. “I’m proud of where we are and how we’ve weathered the storm.”

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WHITING

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010 | PAGE BB65

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THE TIMES

WHITING

Whiting Lakefront Park Development The Reinvention of the Little City on the Lake By Patricia L. Brennan -- Sometimes big dreams really do come true. Fifty years ago, people sought out the city of Whiting, Indiana, for its ideal location on the southern shores of Lake Michigan. Fast forward to 2010, and the same qualities that gave Whiting the nickname â&#x20AC;&#x153;Little City on the Lakeâ&#x20AC;? will help foster its reinvention for the future. Located just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago in Lake County, the history of Whiting is steeped in tradition and hometown valXHV :KLWLQJ RIÂżFLDOO\ ZDV GHVLJQDWHG DV D FLW\ in 1903, with 115 citizens. Today, Whiting is home to a hybrid of people and businesses. More than 5,000 individuals live and work in Whiting, many of whom are drawn to the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intrinsic charm of picturesque neighborhoods, tree-lined streets, historic structures, and family-owned and operated shops. Residents and visitors alike have their own indelible impressions of Whiting. There is the Pierogi Festival, a three-day event that draws as many as 250,000 people from across the country to Whiting every summer. The Hoosier Theatre, the only remaining â&#x20AC;&#x153;movie palaceâ&#x20AC;? in QRUWKZHVW ,QGLDQD LV LQ :KLWLQJ $QG ÂżQDOO\ WKHUH LV WKH JOREDO UHÂżQHU\ EXVLQHVV %ULWLVK 3Htroleum (BP), which maintains an operational VLWH LQ :KLWLQJ Ę&#x160; WKH :KLWLQJ 5HÂżQHU\ 7KH ,QGLDQD UHÂżQHU\ VWDQGV DV WKH VHFRQG ODUJHVW UHÂżQHU\ LQ %3ÂśV UHÂżQLQJ V\VWHP Ę&#x160; LW SURFHVVHV up to 410,000 barrels of raw crude oil each day Ę&#x160; DQG LV WKH ÂżIWK ODUJHVW UHÂżQHU\ LQ WKH HQWLUH United States. Imagine, then, the implications of a recreation and mixed-used development built on ZKDW LV VXUHO\ RQH RI WKH PRVW VLJQLÂżFDQW DQG HQYLDEOH WUDFWV LQ WKH 0LGZHVW Ę&#x160; WKH VKRUHlines of Lake Michigan. The $42 million project, Whiting Lakefront Park Development, is HQYLVLRQHG DV D ÂłGHVWLQDWLRQ SRLQWÂ´ Ę&#x160; D 0LGwest landmark designed to not only enhance community access to the lake but also provide an array of aesthetic improvements, as well as commercial and residential opportunities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This project will literally transform Whiting,â&#x20AC;? according to Bob Kark, director of Economic Development. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not only is it a stimulus for making Whiting Park into the asset it should be, but it will also become a critical driver for economic growth. It will help put the city of Whiting on the map as a true destination.â&#x20AC;? And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly what Whiting Mayor Joe Stahura is counting on. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The lakefront redevelopment represents an opportunity to change the entire landscape of the Whiting community,â&#x20AC;? Stahura says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has the potential to set the table with huge recreational and quality of life opportunities, as well as create a movement that we believe will solidify and improve the commercial districts in and outside the Whiting community.â&#x20AC;? Already, the City of Whiting is gearing up for the redevelopment, with several projects

underway that will further complement the effortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall vision. There is Lakefront Commons, a single-family residential development located on an entire tract of land from 119th Street to 117th Street and just one block from the lush views of Whiting Park. Twenty of the developmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s planned 38 lots are constructed thus far. Priced $235,000 to $380,000, Lakefront Commons embraces a neo-traditional movement combined with new urbanism. The developmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s holistic approach to residential

new Standard Avenue and link to future trails envisioned in the Marquette Greenway Plan. Completion is expected sometime in spring 2010.

The Beginning The vision for the Whiting Lakefront Park Development didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen overnight. Its origins date back more than two decades to when U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky introduced what would become known as the Marquette 1

living includes large, inviting porches, uniquely landscaped yards, and spacious living quarWHUV Ę&#x160; DOO RI ZKLFK UHĂ&#x20AC;HFWV WKH WUDGLWLRQV LQherent to Whiting but with a newly updated and modern twist. Then thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New York Avenue. As part of a revitalization program with the City, the Redevelopment Commission has purchased homes along New York Avenueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s east side. The struc2

Greenway Plan in 1985. The plan, which received approval in January 2005, was designed to breathe new life into the Lake Michigan shoreline for public use. Coincidentally, the Marquette Greenway Plan would later fuel the formation of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA), the same organization that serves as a partial funding source for the Marquette project, as well as similar urban development projects throughout northwest Indiana. One of those projects is the Whiting Lakefront Park Development. Building on the vision of the Marquette Greenway plan, the Whiting Lakefront Park project is a collaborative effort between several communities and organizations, including Whiting, Hammond, Lake County Parks, East Chicago, Whiting Schools, Calumet College of St. Joseph, and BP-Whiting Business Unit. 3

tures have now been demolished to make way for new single-family homes that will complement the character of the surrounding neighborhood. For biking enthusiasts, construction continues to move full speed ahead on the Bike Trail connecting George Lake Trail to Whiting Park. The trail itself winds through the old Eggersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; property to Steiber Street and Schrage Avenue, continuing to 121st Street. Eventually, the Bike Trail will connect to a proposed trail along the

A Family Affair By Patricia L. Brennan -- Whiting is a close-knit Indiana community, a place where values, faith and integrity serve as the common denominators uniting the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modest population of 5,000. Streets LQ :KLWLQJ DUH QDPHG DIWHU WKH FLW\ÂśV IRXQGHUV DQG RWKHU KLVWRULFDO ÂżJures. People are open and friendly in Whiting, greeting each other on D ÂżUVW QDPH EDVLV Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no surprise then that when a multimillion-dollar redevelopment project was proposed the residents of Whiting would play a key role in the planning process. The process, called a â&#x20AC;&#x153;charrette,â&#x20AC;? occurred over a three-day period in July 2008 at Calumet College of St. Joseph. Approximately 70 Whiting residents participated in the charrette, which is a French term for a creative process similar to visual brainstorming. Charrettes are used in many professions, but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve become increasingly prevalent in urban development projects and by design professionals who work together DV D JURXS WR GHYHORS VROXWLRQV IRU VSHFLÂżF GHVLJQ FKDOOHQJHV For the city of Whiting, the challenge at hand was the Whiting Lakefront Park Development. On Day 1, the charrette kicked off with a simple question: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where does Whiting and the Whiting Lakefront Park want to be in 10 to 20 years?â&#x20AC;? Participants were divided into three teams: Team Whiting, Team Warwick and Team Schrage. Selection of those particular names was LQWHQWLRQDO SHUKDSV XQGHUVFRULQJ WKH VLJQLÂżFDQFH RI WKH ZRUN WKDW ZDV

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

DERXW WR WDNH SODFH :LOOLDP :DUZLFN VHUYHG DV WKH ÂżUVW PD\RU RI :KLWLQJ +HQU\ 6FKUDJH RSHQHG :KLWLQJÂśV ÂżUVW VWRUH $QG +HUEHUW Âł3RSÂ´ Whiting, a one-time train conductor for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, is credited with derailing his train in order to avoid a collision with another train car. Professional planners and urban designers from American Structurepoint worked with each of the teams as they proceeded through the charrette process, helping them formulate their â&#x20AC;&#x153;wish listâ&#x20AC;? for the project and, just as important, the key principles needed to guide the redevelopment work. After three days of debates and discussions, a myriad of ideas and concepts transpired. Ultimately, many of these â&#x20AC;&#x153;home-grown conceptsâ&#x20AC;? would serve as the foundation of the Whiting Lakefront Park Master Plan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The process itself proved to be invaluable,â&#x20AC;? according to American Structurepointâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shane Burkhardt. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In our experience, the charrette exercise plays an important role in building community support. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s especially relevant with projects like the Whiting Lakefront Park development, which impacts not only an entire community, but also future generations of families who will live, work, and play in Whiting and in surrounding areas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Residents who participated in the Whiting Park charrette came away with a sense of ownership. They were excited for the future and the fact that what they said today will speak volumes when it comes to building a better, brighter tomorrow,â&#x20AC;? Burkhardt says.

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LAKE COUNTY ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010 | PAGE BB67

WHITING

Residents of Whiting also have played a pivotal role in shaping the vision of the Whiting Lakefront Park project. When redevelopment GLVFXVVLRQV ZHUH LQLWLDWHG :KLWLQJ FLW\ RIÂż4

point will be revealed: a two-tiered boardwalk and promenade with lookout points along the shoreline; a gazebo event center overlooking the shoreline; formal gardens; an elaborate nature area; parking facilities, renovation and expansion of existing pathways; activity centers; a new city museum; and Whihala boat launch and harbor renovations also are part of the redevelopment. In addition, private mixed-use and residential development opportunities will be made available along 117th Street and 119th Street. These developments are aimed to proYLGH D PXOWLWXGH RI KRXVLQJ RSWLRQV WR ÂżW WKH communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s housing needs and may include neo-traditional single-family units; mid-scale 6

cials joined forces with planning and engineering consultants from American Structurepoint to garner input from the local community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wanted the people of Whiting to have a voice in this development, because ultimately itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s their plan,â&#x20AC;? explains Shane Burkhardt, director of planning services for American Structurepoint and master planner for the project. To that end, a series of public meetings took place in July 2008. (See related story, All in the Family). Out of those conversations, several guiding principles emerged. At the top of that list: The historic Whiting Park would serve as the centerpiece of the redevelopment, providing a familiar yet-transformed retreat for visitors and residents through expanded amenities and a state-of-the-art connection between Lake George Trail and the lakeshore. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This project represents the best of several worlds,â&#x20AC;? says Kark. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about improving the

owner-occupied townhomes or condominium units; mixed-use commercial and residential units; or easily accessible, low maintenance senior-level housing. The Whiting Lakefront Park project will be funded entirely with state and federal grants, matching funds from private contributions and industrial tax revenue (TIF). No residential or commercial property tax revenues are being used. The funding process for the project got underway in 2004, according to Mayor Stahura, who at that time began lobbying for federal dollars to fund general infrastructure compo5 nents. His efforts resulted in securing $2.8 million in grants. The monies were then used to install new sewer and water lines in Whiting Park and for improvements to the parks entrance on Front Street. The work is just now nearing completion, he says. Perhaps the most critical milestone for the Whiting Lakefront Park project occurred on Jan. 26, 2010, when Stahura met with the RDA to present a grant application for $19.4 million. The presentation was well received, he says, human connection to the lakefront through and a formal decision is expected to occur better access and preserving the history of sometime in February. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The shovel should be in the ground as soon Whiting Park and the value it brings to the local community while at the same time enhanc- as the RDA says, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;that our grant is approved,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? ing the attractiveness of the region in terms job Stahura notes. So the pieces are all in place, and the onceretention.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;From the beginning, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve looked at this sleepy industrial town of Whiting appears on as a needs-driven project,â&#x20AC;? Kark adds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The track to reinventing itself for the future. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about a vision, and making that vision :KLWLQJ FRPPXQLW\ KDV QHHGV WKH UHÂżQHU\ has needs; and Whihala Beach County Park come to life,â&#x20AC;? says Chris Murphy, PE, vice has needs. Our focus all along has been to an- president of American Structurepoint. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our philosophy from the outset of the Whiting ticipate all of these needs.â&#x20AC;? The multiphase development is the biggest Lakefront project was straightforward: Make LQ :KLWLQJÂśV KLVWRU\ :KHQ WKH ÂżUVW WZR SKDV- the seemingly impossible become a reality. HV DUH FRPSOHWH Ę&#x160; D GDWH WHQWDWLYHO\ VHW IRU That is what we do best.â&#x20AC;? Â&#x201E; PLG Ę&#x160; D :KLWLQJ ODQGPDUN GHVWLQDWLRQ

Whiting Lakefront Park

...celebrate ...contemplate ...play!

Taking Shape By Patricia L. Brennan -- After years in the making, the concept became real on Oct. 6, 2009, when the Whiting City Council signed off on a resolution to adopt the Whiting Lakefront Park Master Plan. With input from a cadre of individuals DQG RUJDQL]DWLRQV Ę&#x160; LQFOXGLQJ WKH UHVLdents of Whiting, government leaders, DQG ORFDO EXVLQHVVHV Ę&#x160; $PHULFDQ 6WUXFturepoint developed a 250-plus-page plan that outlines 44 objectives for the two-phase lakefront redevelopment project. Completion for all project phases is scheduled for mid-2012. Among the highlights: s A lakeshore promenade: Constructed along the shoreline, the promenade will provide pedestrian and bicycle access, giving visitors the ability to walk, stroll, or run while enjoying views of the lake and access to the newly designed path system leading into the business and residential community. s A lSHING PIER A new rubble breakwater pier will extend approximately 200 feet into Lake Michigan, offering a 10-foot-wide concrete walkway from the promenade and FRQQHFWLQJ WR WKH YLHZLQJ ÂżVKLQJ platform. s Road improvements: Several road and vehicle access improvements will provide enhanced pedestrian safety, on-street parking, and better accommodations for vehicles with boat trailers. s "ASEBALL lELD RELOCATION A new OLJKWHG EDVHEDOO ÂżHOG ZLOO EH EXLOW DV well as a 122-vehicle parking lot. s 7ALKING PATH CONNECTIONS Additional walking trail connections within Whiting Lakefront Park will link to the existing trail system and parking areas. Repairs and renovations will enhance current pathways. s Standard Diamonds Park: A new recreational facility will house tennis courts, playground facilities, a baseball diamond, and space for T-ball games and other recreational sports. s Formal gardens: $ IRUPDO Ă&#x20AC;RZHU garden will be created near the lakefront gazebo, providing a tranquil refuge for visitors to commune with nature. The garden design will include geometric patterns with colorful plantings and seating. s 'ATHERING SPACE A special event space will serve as a multifunctional area suitable for informal gatherings or special events. The central paved area will lead to a viewing platform on Lake Michigan where visitors can enjoy Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Perimeter seating, arbors, and landscaping will add further ambience to the space.

www.structurepoint.com

Photo Captions 1. Lakefront Commons: single-family residential development in Whiting 2. .EW HOMES CONSTRUCTED ALONG .EW 9ORK !VENUE AS PART OF THE #ITY S REVITALIZATION program 3. .EW BIKE TRAIL CONNECTING THE 'EORGE Lake Trail to Whiting Park 4. Lakefront promenade, overlooks, and revetment 5. 3PECIAL EVENT LAKESIDE GATHERING SPACE 6. 7HITING S ANNUAL 0IEROGI &ESTIVAL 7. Master plan overview

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THE TIMES

WINFIELD/LAKES OF THE FOUR SEASONS

Putting Winfield on the map Chamber leader loves promoting area, hopes to reinvigorate market

The Pointe, a subdivision in Winfield, recently was annexed as part of a trend in the town’s growth. City officials are trying to promote Winfield with billboards as the housing market begins to rebound in 2010.

BY DEBORAH LAVERTY deborah.laverty@nwi.com, (219) 762-1397, ext. 2223 WINFIELD | Bill Stack, as the newly named

JOHN LUKE | THE TIMES

About Winfield

Lowell

Area of detail

Winfield

PORTER CO.

of Winfield developers, who advertise on his map. They agreed to help finance the billboard promotion with a one-year commitment. “The more people who know about the area and can build homes here the better,” Stack said. He believes the economy will be rough for the next six months or so, but eventually people will want to continue building and moving into Northwest Indiana’s newest town. “We want to promote Winfield, and the housing developments have the most to gain. ... This is the start of marketing the community; this is a beginning,” Stack said. Town Council President Jim Hicks would agree with that assessment. Hicks, who moved to Winfield more than 10 years ago, sees only positive things ahead for the 16-year-old town, despite the recent downturn in the economy. There were 63 building starts in 2009. And although that’s a far cry from the peak

LAKE CO.

Winfield/Lakes of the Four Seasons Chamber of Commerce president, has found himself in the perfect position to promote an area he loves. Moving into his Lakes of the Four Seasons condominium in 1998 was one of the best things to happen to him, Stack said. And he’s constantly surprised that more people aren’t aware of all the amenities in the area such as lakes, parks, an 18hole golf course and restaurants. “We need to get the word out; not just in Northwest Indiana but the Chicagoland area,” Stack said. Prior to becoming the chamber president, Stack has been instrumental in the past few years for printing maps called Wander Winfield through the marketing/communications firm he owns called the Spinnaker Group. And in 2000, Stack also began a Thursday night summer concert series at the LOFS clubhouse, which has continued to grow and attract as many as 500 people even when a $5 per car fee was attached. “It’s good to showcase the community,” Stack said. His latest venture is a billboard advertisement that was placed earlier this month at the southwest corner of U.S. 30 and Randolph Street with an arrow pointing to Winfield’s town limits three miles south. The billboard, with the slogan, “Discover the Town of Winfield,” stresses the area’s excellent schools, solid home values and low taxes, Stack said. Both the chamber’s phone number and Web site are listed on the billboard so interested people can contact the chamber. The chamber then will provide maps and information about the LOFS/Winfield area, Stack said. He pitched the idea to Doubletree Lake Estates, Deer Creek Estates and Wyndance

Lakes of the Four Seasons

231

Population 2,298 Median age 35.3 years Median household income $65,641 in 1999 dollars Median home value $180,100 Median travel time to work 30.1 minutes SOURCE: CENSUS 2000 (2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY ESTIMATES NOT AVAILABLE)

About Lakes of the Four Seasons

Population 7,291 Median age 38.9 years of 110 building starts the town experi- Median household income $67,528 in 1999 dollars enced a few years ago, Hicks believes it’s a start toward an eventual climb. Median home value $142,100 “I don’t see a tremendous surge next Median travel time to work 34.6 minutes year since Realtors are predicting a flat year. But 63 was still a good pull, and we’re SOURCE: CENSUS 2000 (2006-08 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY ESTIMATES NOT AVAILABLE) still reigning as the fastest-growing town in Indiana,” Hicks said. THE TIMES

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