Andrea Marvel

A lot of jobs exist out there for people who simply love children. Here’s one you might not have considered: crossing guard. Portage’s Bonnie Kidwell has been a crossing guard for Central Elementary students for 35 years! “It’s a nice, quiet …

For women in business, there’s a certain beauty in being an entrepreneur. Of course you get to set your own schedule, which can help when caring for children during the summer, but more to the point, you get to set your own everything. Celeste Bowyer Chapko …

There’s a trick to catching Tim Darenski for a quick chat: wait for nap time. Darenski and his wife Elizabeth recently welcomed their daughter Lily into the world, and life has been both hectic and heaven ever since. “People say you should sleep when the …

“I absolutely love this class,” a student once told then-teacher Audra Bell Peterson, “but I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life.” She looked that student in the eye and said, “Great!” The student, speechless and bewildered, waited for …

Dozens of Porter County Special Olympics athletes joined Lorrie Woycik on stage Sunday at Zao Island to say, “1-2-3 thank you to all these wonderful people,” as she accepted the $100,000 check at the 9th Annual Livin’ It Up music festival. “If you …

“I enjoy entertaining people,” said Kurt Gillins, Vice President of Programs & Communications at Valpo Chamber. “I enjoy seeing people have fun and succeed through connections. It’s amazing to see people really bond.” Gillins’ pursuit of …

“If it weren’t for my grandson getting me sick I wouldn’t be here today,” said Jerry Swearington, who is celebrating three years of being cancer-free. Swearington had caught a cold from his oldest grandson, Corbin, while babysitting his grandchildren …

Growing up, Debbie Wright’s father noticed that his family never traveled. He decided that when he had a family, he would take them everywhere. So, at a very young age, Wright began to explore the world. “You can only learn so much from Pinterest,” said …

There is always an opportunity to make an impact – to change the world – by taking responsibility for making your own community a better place to live. Jessica O’Brien puts that kind of big thinking to work every day in Michigan City. “It’s my home …