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The Valparaiso Phoenix girls’ softball program helped raise $1,000 for Kids Alive International through its fundraiser, Bases for Bucks. The money is earmarked for Haiti relief. Accepting on behalf of the charity was Mayor Jon Costas. Costas complemented the girls on their efforts and commented, “When a team works together it can always accomplish wonderful things.” The Phoenix is a girls’ travel program run through the Valparaiso Parks Department. Presently there exists a 12U program as well as a 10 U program. “The girls were all aware of the crisis in Haiti through the nightly news reports and wanted to help,” 10U coach Don Seifert said. “One of the girls has a brother-in-law in the Marine Corp and he was recently deployed to Haiti to help with the relief effort. As a result, this situation became very real to our team,” Seifert said. Kids Alive International is a charitable organization with its headquarters based in Valparaiso, Indiana. It has been in existence since 1916 and Costas sits on the board of the organization. 84 percent of the money raised goes directly toward services and there is already a facility in place in Haiti which helps meet the needs of local orphans as well as families. This is a second year that the Valparaiso Phoenix program has been in existence. Last year, its 8U team played in the NSA World Series and finished in third place. The Phoenix teams are scheduled to play up to 12 travel tournaments this coming summer and as a result the fundraiser became a necessity to cover costs. For more information call Vis Kupsis at (219) 762-6240.

Pictured from left to right are members of the League of Women Voters of Porter County. Front row--Irene Nowak, Martha Willis, Edna Maturkanich. Back row--Miff Woolsey, Sylvia Graham, Daniela Mancusi-Shreve, Alberta Petrone.
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Dedicating oneself to something for nine decades is quite a feat, and something to be proud of. The League of Women Voters of Porter County is proud to be part of a group that can boast of such an accomplishment. In 2010, this national group is celebrating its 90th Anniversary.

The national League of Women Voters was born from the women’s suffrage movement in the 1920’s. This is when women in the United States of America were fighting for their right to vote in political elections. They won that battle on August 26, 1920 when the Nineteenth Amendment was added to the United States Constitution, ensuring all American women the right to vote.
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Each room is chew-proofed and tiled. There are heated floors, ceiling fans, and each room has a raised bed and a doggy door that leads out into a private, outdoor run.
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Pet sitting isn’t really a new idea… far from it actually. Watching someone’s pets while they’re away on vacation or on a business trip isn’t something that most people would think to do for a living. Denise Foster and her husband have been doing just that for nearly a year now, and their business “Woof Lodge” has been growing steadily ever since.

“I have four kids at home, and I was looking for some way to earn extra money,” Denise said when asked how the idea of opening Woof Lodge came to her. “I love animals, so I did some research on pet boarding services on the Internet to see just how hard it would be to start up a business.”
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Good heart health is a combination of diet, exercise and knowing your risk factors for heart disease, as well as recognizing the signs of a heart attack. A heart attack rarely happens without warning – it’s up to us to identify the signals and act in time. In honor of American Heart Month and Valentine’s Day, do your heart a favor: learn the facts about how to keep your and your loved one’s heart healthy and strong.
If you’ve never had a heart attack, you may picture it as you’ve seen it depicted in the movies: the sudden, sharp chest pain, staggering and eventual collapse. Actually, the signs of a heart attack are much more subtle and are not the same for everyone.

We’ve all heard about the differences between Mars and Venus when it comes to matters of the heart. These differences hold true when it comes to heart health, as well. Knowing how to recognize the early symptoms of a possible heart attack, can help men and women – and their doctors – to prevent it, or intervene in time to minimize the damaging effects on the heart.
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Lynnett Heimberg, 2009 Whispering Pines Health Care Center Employee of the Year
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Whispering Pines Health Care Center recognized Lynnett Heimberg as the 2009 Employee of the Year.

Heimberg, a full-time LPN at Whispering Pines since 2005, is a team member of the Pines South Unit .

To be eligible for the Employee of the Year award, an employee must have been previously nominated as an Employee of the Month of that same year, and both awards are selected by fellow employees. “Being chosen as Employee of the Year by my co-workers is quite an honor” Heimberg shared.
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Eyewear for any individual is a big purchase. Whether you just started wearing glasses or have been wearing them since you were a child, the task of purchasing a new pair of glasses can be daunting. As with any purchase that you intend on keeping for a good amount of time, you want to make sure you choose the correct item, and you feel confident that it will stand up to every day use.
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The Visiting Nurse Association of Porter County will present “Lupus & Fibromyalgia” at locations in Lake and Porter counties in March. This informational program will discuss the the causes, symptoms, complications, and treatment options in regard to lupus and fibromyalgia.
•March 4 at 10:30 a.m. at Merrillville Senior Center at Merrillville High School. (276 E. 68th Place)
•March 11 at 12:15 p.m. at Village Park Enrichment Center at Banta. (605 Beech St., Valparaiso)
•March 19 at 2:00 p.m. at Jamestown Apartments Community Center. (Virginia Park Drive, Valparaiso)
•March 23 at 2:00 p.m. at Linden House in Hobart. (360 West 61st Street, behind St. Mary’s Hospital).
Participants will receive a free gift and a healthy snack. “Senior Moments” is a monthly lecture series designed for seniors who take an active role in their own health care. Topics will change monthly. For more information and to RSVP, call the Visiting Nurse Association at (219) 219-531-8009.
Funding made possible by Northwest Indiana Community Action Corporation.