Northern Indiana is full of people working hard every day to make their communities a better place. Since 2011, GreatNews.Life has been putting the spotlight on the people spreading this positivity in the Region with our Life in the Spotlight series. New articles are published every Wednesday, so be sure to check back often to learn more about the stories of great people doing great things in Northern Indiana.
Cheri Ford, owner of Old Dog Coffee House, has cemented herself as not only a confident business owner, but a strong figure in the Lowell community. For Ford and her husband, the idea to start their business came out of the blue. On a visit to Frankenmuth …
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Joy Shurman, co-owner of Lowell Carpet and Coverings, finds herself most involved when she can connect with other people. For 30 years, Lowell Carpet and Coverings has operated as a family business, started by Shurman’s parents. The business prides itself …
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For the past nine years, Jackie Perez-Villicana has lived with multiple sclerosis (MS). In 2014, Perez-Villicana worked as an art teacher for middle and high school students. Her symptoms began when she lost vision in one of her eyes. The fast paced school …
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Marshmallows, squares of chocolate and graham crackers: most people know the recipe for a good s’more. What most people may not know is that behind Lowell dessert shop Toasted S’mores is the story of a family who continues to beat impossible odds. Nathan …
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It’s a tale as old as time. The alarm rings, you begrudgingly go to a job that you don’t want to be at, come home, have dinner, and do it all again the next day. Rinse and repeat for forty years. Merrillville Teacher Luis Chavez Dorantes is reminding …
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Lots of women wear many hats, but Jill Vagner makes you wonder if she has a superhero cape tucked away somewhere. Between teaching, coaching, running businesses, staying deeply involved in her community, and being a mom, Vagner seems to find time for just …
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After years of perfecting pliés, pirouettes and eight-counts, Chelsea Doss is now calling the counts at Crown Point High School. For Doss, dance has been a lifelong journey. She has spent nearly 15 years coaching and has just been promoted to head varsity …
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Since 2018, Northwest Indiana local DJ Karner has owned and operated his Hebron-based business, Kash Kustoms. His window tinting business services a wide array of vehicles, ranging from well-worn cars to multi-million dollar yachts. His passion for window …
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Photo by Vanessa Hein Photography Natasha Boyd, freelance hair stylist and founder of Crown Point’s Beauty House on Main, has spent the last 15 years honing her skills and chasing her ambitions in the beauty industry. Early in life, Boyd discovered her …
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About 12 years ago, Sammi Jo Boshaw found herself without a stylist at the most inopportune time — the morning of her wedding day. After being hit last minute with a cancellation, Boshaw herself had to step in to make sure the day continued on as planned …
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