MOST KISSABLE LIPS
Contest Aids AHA
Do you have the most kissable lips in the area? Shirley’s Merle Norman in Valparaiso will be judging ‘kissable lips’ on March 1. Dr. William Shideler, DDS will be the judge of this contest. Kiss an entry form at Shirley’s now thru February 27. Prizes will be awarded in three categories: ‘Most Kissable Lips’, ‘Perfect Cupid’s Bow’ and ‘Luscious Lips’. Shirley’s will provide the lipstick, you provide the lips. There is no purchase necessary to win. With any lip product purchase, a $1 donation will be made to the American Heart Association. For details about this contest call (219) 462-4887. Visit the store at 8 Lafayette Street. Open to woman ages 18 and up, and yes, men are welcomed too.
HONOR AWARDED TO
Marketing/Communications Specialist
Jonathan K. Ochoa, marketing/communications specialist, Peoples Bank, Munster, has been awarded the certified financial marketing professional designation from the Institute of Certified Bankers, a subsidiary of the American Bankers Associations. The designation is awarded to individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of financial services marketing. To qualify for the CFMP certification, individuals must reach certain levels of experience and education in the financial marketing profession, pass an examination and agree to abide by a code of ethics.
REBUILDING TOGETHER
Seeks Help For Homeowners
Rebuilding Together-Valparaiso is now seeking donations in support of its efforts to help aid low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners remain in their homes in safety, warmth and comfort. Approximately 20 Valparaiso families will receive assistance from hundreds of volunteers during Rebuilding Together-Valparaiso’s 21st annual Work Day on April 17, 2010. Jeffrey Lamb, president of Rebuilding Together-Valparaiso and a local Thrivent Financial consultant, said the labor donated by volunteers to families whose homes need repairs or revitalization is worth tens of thousands of dollars. “The work of our volunteers to help out neighbors who need assistance to stay in their homes benefits the entire Valparaiso community by making our city a caring and more attractive place to live,” Lamb said. “The financial support of the community also is essential to the success of Rebuilding Together-Valparaiso’s efforts. Donations allow us to purchase furnaces, lumber, paint and other materials needed to rehabilitate each home.” Financial contributions may be made online at Rebuilding Together-Valparaiso’s at www.rebuildingtogethervalparaiso.org or checks made out to the organization can be mailed to Rebuilding Together-Valparaiso, Valparaiso City Hall, 166 Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN 46383. Gifts are tax-deductible. “We have many homeowners in Valparaiso who need help, particularly with the economic challenges facing our country right now,” Lamb said. “Valparaiso is home to many caring and compassionate people and we appreciate their support for their neighbors.” Those eligible for assistance from Rebuilding Together-Valparaiso must own and live in the home being worked on, meet federal low-income guidelines or be disabled or elderly. For more information visit www.rebuildingtogethervalparaiso.org, send an e-mail to info@rebuildingtogethervalparaiso.org, call (219)548-4827. Rebuilding Together is the nation’s largest volunteer organization preserving and revitalizing low-income homes and communities. Since 1990, Rebuilding Together-Valparaiso, formerly known as Christmas in April, has brought volunteers together throughout the community to help approximately 300 elderly, disabled and low-income homeowners.
PORTAGE TOWNSHIP
YMCA Receives Grant
The Portage Township YMCA receives $10,000 grant, to be spread over a 3-year period, from HORIZON-CARES CHARITABLE GRANT PROGRAM. “Horizon’s primary focus for their grants is to assist the needs of low-to-moderate income families in the community we serve.” These Capital dollars will be used to cover expenses associated with the construction build-out of the Portage Township YMCA’s Child Care and Development Center and Preschool Academy wings in the new facility. These programs offer early childhood education services to more than 300 children annually; children who otherwise may not have the opportunity to enter kindergarten with the skills necessary to succeed academically. More than 60% of the families that participate in these programs are of a single-parent household and/or classified as low-income. At the Portage Twp YMCA, one of our most important goals has always been to enrich the lives of children in our community; giving them a safe and nurturing place to obtain the early childhood educational tools they need to succeed in school which benefits the entire community. The YMCA believes you can not put a price on strengthening and enriching the character and educational capacity of a child. Expansion of the Child Care and Development Center and Preschool Academy has offered the YMCA an opportunity to strengthen and enrich more children in the YMCA’s direct service area. For more information regarding the Portage Township YMCA call 219-762-YMCA (9622) or e-mail info@ymcaofportage.org. Additional Portage Township YMCA information is available at www.ymcaofportage.org.
JOB SEARCH HELP
Offered for Senior Citizens
Are you a senior citizen who wants and needs to work? Maybe you don’t have the qualifications needed to compete in today’s job market, and need to make money while you are in training? Experience Works may be able to help you. Experience Works is a nonprofit organization that offers paid training and employment search assistance for low-income seniors age 55 and above. Participants with Experience Works are paid minimum wage while they train in marketable job skills by assisting at non-profit and community organizations. They also get help creating resumes, coaching on interview skills, and learn to fill out online applications and conduct job searches… whatever it takes to help them get jobs. Want to learn if you qualify for this program? In a new study of more than 2,000 low-income unemployed workers age 55 and older, 46 percent need to find jobs so they don’t lose their homes or apartments, and approximately half (49%) have been looking for work for more than a year. More seniors than ever are finding it necessary to delay retirement or go back to work just to afford basic necessities in today’s economy. “They may have lost their retirement savings, or are paying off bills from a catastrophic illness. Or they may be forced to make difficult choices between heating fuel, medicine and food,” Peggy Pachowiak, Employment and Training Coordinator for Experience Works based in LaPorte said. For further information call (616) 808-1800, or visit www.experienceworks.org. (Must meet age, income and county of residence guidelines.)
STUDENTS WANTED
for Jr. Police Academy
The Valparaiso Police Department is seeking high school students that represent good citizenship and have an interest in a law enforcement career. The department is sponsoring its annual Junior Police Academy starting April 12. The Jr. Police Academy consists of ten, two hour classes beginning at 4 p.m. on designated days. The academy is designed for high school students to meet officers and learn about the day to day activities of the Valparaiso Police Department. Some of the topics presented include; traffic enforcement and traffic crashes; crimes against young people; physical tactics; K-9 and SWAT education and teen drug use. Space is limited and applications are available at the Valparaiso Police Department located at 355 S Washington St. All applications must be completed, including a signature from a parent, and return to the Valparaiso Police Department by Monday March 15. Additional information about the academy can be found on the department’s website at www.valparaisopolice.org (Community Relations Division Page) or call the Academy Coordinator Officer Todd Kobitz at (219) 462-2135 or by email at tkobitz@valpopd.com.
UNIVERSITY APPOINTS VP
For Enrollment Management
Dr. Boyd A. Bradshaw, an experienced leader in enrollment strategy and operations, has been appointed to join Valparaiso University’s senior leadership team as vice president for enrollment management in March. Bradshaw will lead the University’s enrollment management efforts, working closely with its leadership team and deans to provide a vision, strategy, and operational direction to enhance current and future enrollment. Those efforts will be aligned with Valpo’s vision to be renowned worldwide for preparing women and men who are highly sought for their knowledge, character, integrity and wisdom. Bradshaw comes to Valpo after serving in senior enrollment management roles at the University of Louisville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and, most recently, as vice provost of Saint Louis University’s Division of Enrollment Management. At Saint Louis University, Bradshaw has overseen undergraduate admission, student financial services, the registrar’s office, student educational services, international student services, and testing services since 2007. He managed the recruitment of the second largest and most academically successful freshman class in that institution’s history while also increasing retention and creating infrastructure to support enrollment management initiatives across the campus. President Mark A. Heckler said Bradshaw’s depth of knowledge and track record of success make him a valuable addition to the University. “As an enrollment leader, Dr. Bradshaw has demonstrated that he can successfully recruit gifted and diverse students, as well as manage and improve student services that aid in retention,” President Heckler said. “He will be a tremendous asset as Valpo enhances its enrollment efforts.” “Valpo has a great reputation and is well-positioned to grow its enrollment,” Bradshaw said. “I felt a tremendous amount of energy and excitement among all of the faculty, staff and students who I met during the interview process, and I also was impressed by the community of Valparaiso itself. I’m excited by the opportunity to work with the University’s leadership and its enrollment management professionals, and I look forward to being actively involved in the community as well.” Bradshaw is active in numerous college admission and student affairs organizations and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Catholic College Admission Association. His dissertation about the factors that influence the college choice of first-time freshmen earned a Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) award nomination. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Bradshaw’s community service activities have included Special Olympics and working with adults who are mentally-challenged. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business and master’s degree in education from Eastern Illinois University, as well as a doctorate in education from Saint Louis University.
PNC American Sign Language Club Silent Events
The Purdue University North Central American Sign Language Club has planned a number of upcoming events that are open to students and community members. Children are welcome to attend with their parents or adult. These are fun, casual events for all to enjoy through participation or as an observer. Participants are asked to use ASL only at these events, providing an ideal opportunity to practice ASL to better communicate with friends, co-workers or family members. Upcoming events include: Friday, Feb 19 – ASL Coffeehouse at Evelyn Bay Company, 3800 Calumet Ave., Valparaiso, 6 to 9 p.m. Presenter: Jan Pool, deaf education teacher with the Duneland School Corporation. Tues, Feb 23 – ASL Silent Tea in the PNC Library-Student-Faculty Building Assembly Hall, Room 02, at 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 19 – ASL Coffeehouse at Evelyn Bay Company, 3800 Calumet Ave., Valparaiso, 6 to 9 p.m. Presenter: Scott Kochan, PNC limited-term lecturer of Sign Language, will present traditional ASL storytelling. Monday, April 5 – ASL Game Night in PNC Library-Student-Faculty Building Assembly Hall, Room 02, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 23 – ASL Coffeehouse at Evelyn Bay Company, 3800 Calumet Ave., Valparaiso, 6 to 9 p.m. Activity to be announced. Further information may be obtained by emailing Joanna Witulski at pncaslwitulski@yahoo.com. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Witulski. For information about the ASL Club and its activities visit www.aslclub.info.
GIVE A DAY
Get a Disney Day
The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana has recently become a participating member of Walt Disney’s “Give a Day. Get a Disney Day” volunteer program. This program allows volunteers to earn a free one day pass to any Disney park. The Food Bank is looking to reward volunteers who help pack weekend food boxes for children through their BackPack program, who help deliver the BackPacks to area schools on Fridays or who come out and assist at one of their Mobile Pantries. To sign up and search for other Food Bank opportunities, simply visit www.giveadaygetadisneyday.com. “This is a great way to give something back to all those who help us. We are really grateful to our volunteers for all that they do. We’re very excited to be able to offer them such a fun reward for taking time out of their busy lives to help those in need,” Executive Director Angie Williams said. Last year the Food Bank had over 550 volunteers. “The search feature helps us get our name out to new volunteers as well,” explains Chanda Dixon the Food Bank’s Special Events/Volunteer Coordinator. “So in addition to being a great thank you gift to our current volunteers, it’s a great incentive to bring new faces to the Food Bank. We’re always looking for more help,” Dixon adds. To be eligible for the free day pass volunteers must sign up and complete a day of service between January 1 and December 15, 2010. After their service has been verified they can print out a voucher that allows them to redeem their free park ticket. They then show the voucher to the designated will call ticket window at either Walt Disney World® Resort or the Disneyland® Resort along with a valid photo ID. All volunteers must be age 6 and older and any volunteer 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian while volunteering. The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana is located in Gary and supplies food to over 100 pantries and soup kitchen in Lake and Porter Counties. In addition to distributing food to their member agencies the Food Bank also runs the Community Cupboard, BackPack, Kid’s Café and Mobile Pantry programs. Last year the Food Bank distributed over 3.5 million pounds of food.
