Community Events

We Support Small Business Saturday – November 26, 2011

The 2nd annual Small Business Saturday® is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.

On November 26, we’re asking millions of people to Shop Small at their favorite local stores and help fuel the economy. When we shop small, it will be huge. Pledge your support for Small Business Saturday®.

You can receive a one-time $25 statement credit when you register any eligible American Express® Card and use that Card to make a purchase of $25 or more at a small business on November 26, 2011. To be eligible, you must register your American Express® Card.

Don’t have an American Express card? That’s OK! You will still benefit from shopping at an independently owned store by knowing that you are supporting your local community.

When our small businesses are thriving and growing, we are able to attract more consumers and new small businesses to our community. The growth of multiple small businesses can allow the community benefits such as lower property taxes, higher home values, and more maintained streets.

All of us are always looking for the best use from our money and it is next to impossible to not shop at the big box stores and eat at the chain restaurants. While we can still pick up deals and savings, we can help do our part to grow the local economy by visiting stores owned by members of our community.

I urge each of you to find a locally owned business over this holiday season to help our local economy grow!

You can do it. Share your favorite local small businesses and don’t keep them or I  a secret. Happy Shopping.

Community Events

Honoring All Who Served on Veterans Day 2011

As a Naturalized Citizens, Veterans Day always has tremendous meaning to my wife and I. For those who have or had family serve in the US Military, today is a special day of honor. I ask that everyone take a few minutes of their day to thank a veteran for the liberties and freedoms that we are so lavished with on a daily basis.

If you are a US Veteran or an active duty military, make sure to take advantage of the special promotion by Applebee’s. Enjoy a free Applebee’s Signature Entree today. Proof of service is required so do not forget to bring proper identification. 

Message from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on Veterans Day 2011

November 10, 2011

MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

 VETERANS DAY 2011

Tomorrow, at the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month of 2011, we will pause to honor America’s Veterans and celebrate their contributions to our way of life. Few have given more to our Nation than the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces in peace and in war. 

Generation after generation—from Bunker Hill and Bennington to Baghdad and Abbottabad—protected, defended, and preserved the principles and ideals that define our democracy. Across that remarkable sweep of history, today’s America was shaped at Lexington and Concord, Antietam and Gettysburg, in the skies over Midway, on the beaches of Normandy, in winter’s grip at Chosin Reservoir, in the heat of Ia Drang Valley, from the Persian Gulf into Afghanistan and Iraq by those who wore our Nation’s uniforms. Over twenty-two million living Veterans today embody our exceptional character and values as a people—each a line in our Nation’s history, but together many chapters towards today’s future. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs fulfills its obligation to serve Veterans, their families, and survivors of the fallen by living a set of core values defining who we are as an organization: Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence—I CARE. Veterans trust that we will live these values, every day, in our medical facilities, our benefits offices, and our national cemeteries. And VA is committed to serving them. We are privileged to provide the very best in compassionate and quality care and services, delivered by our more than 300,000 employees. 

As we honor and celebrate the contributions of all of our Nation’s Veterans, we take special pride in those Veterans who work here at VA—over 100,000 of us—bringing to our mission the skills, knowledge, attributes, experiences, and unwavering commitment to the well-being of our fellow Veterans. Take a moment and visit VA’s Flicker site to see our photographs and snapshots from earlier times in uniform. You can access those photos today at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/VeteransAffairs/sets/72157627830104759/

I am privileged to join all my VA colleagues in saluting the service and honoring the sacrifices of the special men and women who walk the halls of our hospitals and clinics, offices and Vet Centers each day. God bless our Veterans. And may God continue to bless this wonderful country of ours.

                                                      Eric K. Shinseki

 

Community Events

Living Green in Porter County Indiana: Part 2 – Reusing

Whether you are looking at saving some money or improving the environment, a lot of us are looking for ways to live a ‘greener’ life. What does living a ‘greener’ life mean?

In “Living Green in Porter County Indiana: Part 1 – Recycling” we talked about ways that we can recycle and where residents can recycle throughout the Porter County Indiana area. This week we will be taking a look at how we can use exisiting materials we have and reuse them in order to Reduce the amount of new goods that we purchase.

There are many things that we can reuse in today’s life. You can start by looking at what you do on a daily basis. One way to start is to shop at local resale shops throughout Porter County for items that may be needed. Some of the major resale stores you may have heard of are Plato’s Closet for teen clothing or CD Replay for your gaming and entertainment needs.

One that I tend to check in at for those items that do not need to be purchased new is Duneland Resale on 8^th and Broadway in Chesterton Indiana. The first reason I go is so the items that are purchased are reused (someone else used them and then donated them to Duneland Resale). The next reason this is one of the resale shops I go to is that they put money back into the community by assisting the residents in need with selected expenses for those that qualify.

You can also utilize services like your public library to reuse books that have been donated to them. By checking a book out at your local library one resource is being used by many different people instead of 50 different people having to purchase a book, one book is used for all to read.

While these are some simple solutions anyone can use to reuse some of the common everyday items like clothing, books, and entertainment, there are a number of other ideas and methods to help you reuse products out there.

What does living green in Porter County Indiana mean for you?

If you are looking for a community that you can take pride in and call home, call or text 219-649-1296 and I can get you started in finding your new home!

Community Events

Living Green in Porter County Indiana: Part 1 – Recycling

Whether you are looking at saving some money or improving the environment, a lot of us are looking for ways to live a ‘greener’ life.

What does living a ‘greener’ life mean?

According to www.all-recycling-facts.com, “living green means to live life as an individual, as well as a community, in a way that is friendly to the natural environment and is sustainable to the earth.”

One of the first things we as individuals can do to start living a green life is to recycle. Once you are recycling, you can get friends and family to start. This is how we as individuals can make a difference within our communities.

We have all been exposed to the phrase “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” at some point or another. It usually accompanies three arrows in the shape of a triangle. This can be used as a 1^st step to living green as an individual.

Let’s take an example of drinking water on a daily basis. If you drink 64 oz of water per day in the 16oz plastic bottles, you are using 4 waterbottles and throwing them away (or recycling). If you used a washable water bottle instead, you are reusing 1 bottle and would be reducing 4 bottles per day, 28 per week or 1,460 plastic bottles per year. This shows how you can Reduce and Reuse.

While we can’t always reduce or reuse, we can recycle. When making purchases for everyday products such as food, milk, drinks, etc. we can look for the Recycling symbol (three arrows in shape of triangle). When purchasing items with this symbol, the container does not have to sit in a landmine somewhere but can instead be used to make other products.

Many communities within Porter County Indiana make it easy for residents to recycle by providing a recycling pick-up along with trash.

For those communities that do not have pick-up or if you miss your scheduled pick-up, Porter County also offers several Drop-Off Recycling Containers locations available for the community to use. Please visit Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County for more information on drop-off locations and other Porter County Indiana initiatives to making the community a greener place.

While these recycling programs can not recycle all of your products, you can look for various events throughout Porter County to recycle or donate things that cannot be recycled. For example, some of the city programs will not allow the recycling of plastic shopping bags. Instead of throwing these away, you can donate them to a local resale store so they can use them to bag customer purchases.

The Town of Chesterton is holding an E-Cycling event  Saturday July 23, 2011 from 9am – 3pm where you can bring various electronic items to be sent for recycling.

If you are looking for a community that you can take pride in and call home, call or text 219-649-1296 and I can get you started in finding your new home!

 

Community Events

Chesterton Indiana Downtown Sewer Relining Complete

As many residents of Chesterton Indiana already know, the construction on Calumet Ave over the past few months has made it difficult to access some of our favorite downtown businesses.

The intersection of Calumet Avenue and Broadway in Chesterton Indiana has been closed for several months for a sewer relining project. While there was access from the south side of Calumet Ave to Lois Lane, it was a small walk to get to the businesses.

With that being said, it is time for us to make our way back out to help those businesses now recoup some of the lost income over the last few months.  

If you are looking for somewhere to eat, you have several options for Breakfast and Lunch at Peggy Sue’s Diner, where you can have breakfast or lunch any day of the week until 3 pm. With Octave Grill’s ‘Burger of the Day’ you can never go wrong.

It isn’t just food though; there is also Flannery’s and Upper Deck for a refreshing beverage or The Chesterton Cake Shoppe for your sweet tooth. And don’t forget to stop in at The Flower Cart where they have flowers and an array of gift ideas.

Whether you are looking to walk around to look at the historic buildings or sit in the Thomas Centennial Park downtown, there is food and things to do for all. You may have even visited Chesterton Indiana’s downtown for the European Market held every Saturday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm or the Wizard Of Oz Festival held every September.

If you are looking to become part of a community that takes pride within itself and gathers the community for various events, call or text 219-649-1296 or email  Jim@JimSimsHomes.com for a list of properties that fit your needs.

Community Events

Merry Meals Gary RailCats Fundraiser Helps the Region

Today is the day that marks the half way mark to the Merry Meals distribution of 500 meals to deserving families in Northwest Indiana for the Christmas holidays.

What started off as a personal mission for Mandy Moore from Chesterton Indiana several years ago has now swollen to a grass roots effort involving the whole community. I’m proud to say that I am on the Board of Directors and have helped the cause when we intially hand delivered the meals.

As a coordinated effort with the Gary SouthShore RailCats and their celebration of their 10th Anniversary, Merry Meals partnered to have a family fun night at the ball park tonight. Merry Meals commited to sell 500 tickets in honor of the 500 families that will receive a dinner during the Christmas holiday.

It should be noted that not all who bought a ticket will be in attendance. For instance, several businesses bought tickets to actually give back to youth organizations while others simply donated money to Merry Meals.

Come join us tonight and watch the Gary SouthShore RailCats versus the St Paul Saints. If you have children, make sure to show up early and be one of the 1st 500 in attendance so that your child can receive a Mystery Autographed Hoosier Bat. You will also want to stay for the post-game fireworks.

Even if you didn’t buy a ticket from a representative of Merry Meals, come out and support the Gary SouthShore RailCats who also have a vested interest in a better community.

Want to make a donation to Merry Meals? Contact us at merrymeals@gmail.com. Thanks for your support!

Community Events

Nationwide Open House Weekend Kicks Off Today

Nearly half of all home buyers visit open houses during their home search. This weekend, those numbers may swell as buyers across the country take advantage of the Realtor® Nationwide Open House, June 4-5.

“Realtors® bring value to home buyers and sellers, and this weekend, Realtors® are bringing them together through the Realtor® Nationwide Open House,” said NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “The event will give consumers the chance to find out more about home ownership, allow buyers to pursue their dream of owning a home, and give Realtors® an opportunity to connect with consumers about the housing issues that matter most in their area.”

During the weekend of June 4-5, Realtors® will hold open houses in local neighborhoods throughout the country, as well as across the globe. Over 300 Realtor® associations are participating in the event, along with NAR global partners in Canada, Denmark, France, Israel, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. During the weekend Realtors® will be on hand to provide guidance and insights into the social and financial benefits of home ownership.

According to a recent nationwide Pew Research Center survey, eight in 10 adults agree that buying a home is the best long-term investment a person can make. In addition, a strong majority of renters – 81 percent – said they would prefer to one day buy a home, demonstrating the value Americans continue to place on home ownership.

“There’s a reason owning a home is called the American Dream,” said Phipps. “Home ownership benefits individuals and families, strengthens our communities, and is integral to our nation’s economy. We hope that everyone who aspires to become a home owner will come out this weekend, not only to learn about the homes for sale in their local market, but also to find out more about how current and future public policies may affect their ability to achieve and sustain home ownership, now and in the future.”

To find open houses in your area, visit www.realtor.com and search for open houses in the Realtor® Nationwide Open House Weekend box on the home page. The special search function will be available beginning June 3.

Reprinted with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the News Media section.

Community Events

Merry Meals to Feed 250 Families in Northwest Indiana

It is that time of year again that many families gather together for holiday celebrations. It can also be a time of stress.

With increased prices and reduced or no wages, it adds additional stress for many families in Northwest Indiana. This is why it is so important for us as a community to pull together to help. 

Merry Meals, which is just a group of small town people trying to make a huge difference right in our own community, is doing just that! 

Merry Meals has been collecting donations from local businesses, organizations and individuals within the Duneland communities of Chesterton, Valparaiso and Portage Indiana in an effort to feed 250 deserving families a holiday meal! 

Each boxed Merry Meal is to include a 10-12 pound turkey, mashed or scalloped potatoes, stuffing, multiple cans of vegetables, corn bread mix, dessert and a fruit basket. 

The 250 deserving families from Northwest Indiana who received a gift card will be able to pick up their Merry Meal on December 18, 2010 at the Duneland Family YMCA located in Chesterton Indiana from 1pm to 4pm.

Many thanks should go out to all the local businesses, organizations and individuals that are volunteering their time to help the Duneland communities of Chesterton, Valparaiso and Portage in Porter County Indiana.

Do you want to help 250 deserving families in Northwest Indiana this holiday season? 

Food donations are still being accepted at the Duneland Family YMCA located at 215 Roosevelt Street in Chesterton Indiana. Simply let them know you are donating for Merry Meals.

If you prefer to eat out and show your support, visit Valpo Velvet Shoppe on Saturday, December 11, 2010 and make a purchase. 15 percent of sale proceeds are being donated to Merry Meals! Valpo Velvet Shoppe is located at 55 Monroe Street in downtown Valparaiso Indiana near the Von Tobels Hardware store.

It is organizations like Merry Meals and the willingness of the people who live in Northwest Indiana to help, to share and to get involved locally that makes the Duneland communities of Chesterton, Valparaiso and Portage Indiana such a great place to live. If you want to get more involved in your community, just ask me how.

Community Events

We Support Small Business Saturday – November 27, 2010

It is that time of year that many of us will be out looking for deals for our holiday celebrations.

With this brings the long waited for Black Friday that big chain stores lure us into their doors for the blockbuster deals they can provide so we can buy more for our money.

While these deals are often hard to pass up and can boost the economy with many consumers shopping, we often forget about our local economy.

This year is different! The first ever Small Business Saturday will take place on November 27, 2010 all across America!

American Express is offering their registered customers a $25.00 statement credit when they spend $25.00 or more at a local business on Saturday. To be eligible, you must register your card by November 27.

Don’t have an American Express card? That’s OK! You will still benefit from shopping at an independently owned store by knowing you are supporting your local community.

When our small businesses are thriving and growing, we are able to attract more consumers and new small businesses to our community. The growth of multiple small businesses can allow the community benefits such as lower property taxes, higher home values, and more maintained streets.

All of us are always looking for the best use from our money and it is next to impossible to not shop at the big box stores and eat at the chain restaurants. While we can still pick up deals and savings, we can help do our part in the local economy growth by visiting stores owned by members of our community.

I urge each of you to find a locally owned business over this holiday season to help our local economy grow!

You can do it. Share your favorite local small businesses and don’t keep them or I  a secret. Happy Shopping.

Next Page »