GreatNews.Life Student Voices: Munster strengthens the community all summer long

What’s recently happened?

A community will always value the safety of its citizens above all else. Residents rely on each other and the police department to create a safe environment. Munster exceeds the expectations of the community. In 2024, the town was ranked the fifth safest town in Indiana, according to The Town of Munster.

To celebrate the safety of the town, the Munster Police Department held its 30th annual National Night Out Against Crime (NNO) on August 5 at the Munster Community Pool. To hold this event, the Munster Police Department relies on residents’ donations and community involvement.

“The initial Night Out Against Crime started as something very small by the town hall. It moved out to the park and now it’s here at the pool, growing every year. There’s a lot more vendors out here, and a lot more of the community out here,” Munster Fire Department Deputy Chief David Strbjak said. 

Leading up to the event, Munster Police Department held a block party contest where community members were given the opportunity to host block parties for free on August 2. During these block parties, Munster first responders come and interact with the community members, then choose the best block party in the community. This promoted NNO and allowed community members to gain interest in the event.

Clubs and businesses held spaces where they promoted their work and had carnival-like attractions for participants such as balloon animals and a magic show. There was also free swimming at the Munster Pool for residents.

“It’s not just the police, and it’s not the fire or the medical service (MS), but it’s the whole entire community here participating. It’s something that is really nice to see,” said Ken Sink, spokesperson for Superior Ambulance.

Before the event began, there was a parade at 4:30 p.m. The parade was on Columbia Avenue and went past Munster High School and WIlbur Wright Middle school. The event itself was from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. for an entire evening of safe fun. At the end of NNO, there were fireworks provided by Krazy Kaplan’s Fireworks.

The event helped educate citizens about the Munster Police Department by allowing citizens to meet first responders, look at emergency vehicles that are on display, learn about crime prevention, and see police K-9 demonstrations. This creates opportunities for citizens of Munster to educate themselves on how the Munster Police Department keeps communities safe.

There were over 140 booth participants that all offered different events. The events allowed businesses to promote while helping the Munster Police Department build this event. 

This outreach event is one of many ways Munster keeps the community safe. The help of community members made the event doable and brought people together for a night of safe fun for all ages.

What’s coming up?

Broadmoor Avenue, a street that connects to many neighborhoods and businesses is planned to be improved and redone to accommodate growing infrastructure. The goal of the construction is to hopefully improve the structure of the street as businesses and community develops within the town. The hope is to eventually lower traffic and make the street more walkable. Some streets adjacent to Broadmoor will also soon be shut down for further construction.

Broadmoor Avenue being shut down has created a rift in the community. Residents of Munster have seen increased traffic on nearby streets such as Columbia Avenue and Ridge Road as people have had to go around the construction site.

Despite the inconveniences that the construction has caused in the community, the Town of Munster believes that when the construction is completed, the traffic flow will be significantly improved and the eventual positives will outweigh the disruptions the residents have faced.

To further learn the details of the upcoming and current construction projects, community members can find updates on the Town of Munster website and Facebook page. For any questions or concerns, residents can call or email the town through the information provided at munster.org.

Community member spotlight:

Growing up, many people have one person in their life who stuck out as their role model. For many, this person is a teacher. Helen Noworyta is a third grade teacher at Eads Elementary School who strives to positively impact her students as her teachers once did for her.

“I was inspired to be a teacher because I admired so many of the teachers I had in school. They wanted to make a difference in their students’ lives, and I wanted to do that too,” Noworyta said.

Noworyta grew up in Munster before moving away for college and the start of her career. After starting a family, she knew she wanted to come back to Munster.

“I moved back to Munster because I wanted my own children to have the wonderful opportunities and memories I had as a child,” Noworyta said.

Noworyta has been a third grade teacher for three years. Before teaching, she was a title tutor at Eads Elementary. She focuses her teaching on positivity and patience.

She strives to leave an impact on her students by teaching them structure and growth inside and outside the classroom.

“I hope I have impacted my students by teaching them to be confident, curious, and excited to learn new ideas and concepts,” Noworyta said.

Noworyta does not just see positive growth in her students. She has also felt impacted by her young pupils through her years of teaching.

“The moments that have impacted me the most as a teacher are celebrating the successes that my students experience as they are learning,” Noworyta said.

Growing up in Munster has allowed Noworyta to grow a deep connection to her community. She has seen growth in herself, her family, and her students through teaching and raising her children in Munster.

Noworyta strives to be a role model for her students in the same way her teachers once did for her. She hopes to inspire and shape her young students’ minds so one day they can look back on their youth and strive to create the same positive environment their third grade teacher once did.