NorthShore Health Centers opens Crown Point location
Nearly 175 guests attended NorthShore Health Centers ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony last month to celebrate its new Crown Point facility, 310 W. 112th St., according to a release.
The event marked the culmination of the healthcare system’s four-city expansion, the release said. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, and Crown Point Mayor Pete Land were among those participating in the ribbon-cutting, along with key NorthShore providers and staff, the release said.
The nonprofit organization has more than 20 locations including full-service clinics, primary care clinics in local school districts that provide medical, dental,
vision, chiropractic, podiatry, mental health and medication assistance through on-site pharmacies, the release said.
Gallery to open in Valparaiso
The Artists’ Guild of Valparaiso will host a Grand Opening of its new Gallery 255 from 7-9:30 p.m. Sept. 21, at 255 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso, according to a release.
Coupled with the Gallery 255 opening is the start of the Guild’s September Members Exhibition featuring contemporary artworks created by more than 70 member artists in a variety of styles and media.
Gallery 255 hours are 4-7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and Wing 257 is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, a release said. A docent will be present during regular business hours at Gallery 255 to answer questions about both spaces. The AGV Gallery and Wing, 257 Indiana Ave., are operated by the not-for-profit Artists’ Guild of Valparaiso.
More information is available at www.agofvalpo.com
New eatery opens in Miller section of Gary
The Brass Idol, located in the heart of the Miller business district in Gary at 5900 Miller Ave, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 13, a release said.
The establishment brings both history and revitalization to the Miller community’s growing restaurant district. The venue occupies a fully restored 100-year-old building, previously a Texaco gas station and later home to various small restaurants and other businesses, a release said.
Sam Geraci, co-owner of The Brass Idol, is a former teacher and Realtor. Geraci said he modeled the décor on his friend’s restaurant in San Diego, the release said. For information, visit thebrassidol.com.
South Haven Fire Department accepting applications
The Portage Township Trustee and South Haven Fire Department are taking applications to create an eligibility list for Firefighter/Paramedic positions that may come available in the next year, according to a release.
The starting salary for a paramedic is $58,500 and for an EMT, $46,000, the release said.
All applicants must hold a current EMT-B certification in the State of Indiana and be 18 years of age or older, the release said. The application packet can be found on Indeed at www.indeed.com/job/firefighterparamedic-6e57835e6c11f4f3, requested by email at rebecca.allen@portagetrustee.org or picked up at the Portage Township Trustee Office at 3590 Willowcreek Road, Suite B, Portage.
Applications will be accepted for an immediate process and need to be turned in by noon, Oct. 4.
Commissioner swears in Franciscan Health’s latest VASIA class
Franciscan Health’s partnership with the Lake County Courts to provide volunteer advocates for elderly and incapacitated adults who are unable to represent themselves now has five new members, a release said.
Lake Superior Court Probate Commissioner Ben Ballou swore in a class of five Volunteer Advocates for Seniors and Incapacitated Adults (VASIA) in a recent ceremony. The new advocates are Barbara Cerwinske of St. John, Abigail Gidley of Crown Point, Karen Hill of Crown Point, Jaquelyn Mojica of Hammond and Quiana Scott of Merrillville, the release said.
The court collaborates with Franciscan Health to provide trained, supervised volunteers to serve as court-appointed agents to assist elderly and incapacitated adults. The program, now in its 22nd year, partners with programs serving elderly and incapacitated adults across Lake County to develop a continuum of elder law advocacy and
guardianship services, the release said.
Learn more at www.franciscanhealth.org/VASIA.
PNW welcomes new Alumni Advisory Board
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has announced new members of the Alumni Advisory Board, according to a release.
The board includes 14 PNW alumni with diverse backgrounds whose perspectives will be influential in contributing to university initiatives, the release said.
The inaugural PNW Alumni Advisory Board members include Connie Adams, Kelly Anoe, Legacy Foundation; John Freyek, Horizon Bank; Ken Giden, Azure Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft; Niyah Hall, AMXL Network, Amazon; Dakita Jones, Centier Bank; Carl Kurek, Lakeshore Public Media; Calvin-Charles Mead, Rolls-Royce; Sandra Patino, NWI Tax LLC; Jahaira Perez, Purdue University Northwest; Spencer Summers, NWI Forum; Darien Thompson, Purdue University
Northwest; Jasmin Zamora, Everwise Credit Union; and Sherri Ziller, Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.
For more information, visit pnw.edu/alumni.
Franciscan Health Crown Point hosting doula workshop
Franciscan Health Crown Point is hosting a doula certification workshop over two weekends in October, with a limited number of needs-based scholarship applications being accepted to cover the registration fees, according to a release.
Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their clients before, during and shortly after childbirth, the release said.
The doula certification workshop will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5-6 and Oct. 12-13 at the Franciscan Health Main St. Outpatient Center’s Marian Education Center, 1201 S. Main St. in Crown Point. Participants must attend all four days to receive a certificate of completion.
Registration deadline is Sept. 16. Contact Louise Albrecht-Mallinger, program coordinator, via email at Louise.Albrecht-Mallinger@FranciscanAlliance.org or by phone at
219-746-9134.
