community
CONTACT THE COORDINATOR: Marlene Zloza, (219) 662-5340, 2080 N. Main St., Crown Point IN 46307, [email protected]
classifieds inside
CROWN POINT | CEDAR LAKE | DYER | LAKES OF THE FOUR SEASONS | LOWELL | MERRILLVILLE | SCHERERVILLE | WINFIELD | ST. JOHN
HOBART HAPPENINGS
SL | Wednesday, August 6, 2014 | SECTION C
GETTING TO KNOW
Crown Point woman receives grants as
she reinvents herself with nursing school
LINDA KOLARIK
Learn how
to paddle
from the
experts
‌A
free paddling event is open
to the public, including
families with children, from
noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at Robinson
Lake, 5250 Liverpool Road, Hobart.
The Northwest Indiana Paddling
Association (www.nwipa.org) will
provide kayaks, canoes, paddles,
life jackets and instruction. Boats
will be available on a first-come,
first-served basis.
Learn the basics of canoeing and
kayaking from experienced paddlers, including how to successfully
get in and out of the watercraft,
how to launch, paddling techniques
and water safety. Feel free to bring
your own boat and gear. All paddlers must wear life jackets.
The event will take place rain or
shine, except in event of a thunderstorm. A small donation (up
to $5 per family) to defray NWIPA
expenses would be appreciated. For
more information about paddling,
contact the Friends of Robinson
Lake at (219) 743-0679 or Dan
Plath at (219) 871-9559 or dplath@
nwipa.org.
HOBART VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED FOR ‘WHEELS’
Meals on Wheels of Northwest
Indiana invites anyone interested to
a Volunteer Orientation and Training Session this month at 8446
Virginia St., Merrillville. One-hour
sessions will be held at 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday and 1:30 p.m. Aug. 21.
Volunteers will be offered a tour
of the facility and the opportunity
to ask questions about Meals on
Wheels and the services it provides.
Experienced drivers will share
information about their experiences.
Each day, volunteers deliver
more than 1,500 meals. “Volunteers
are needed for all routes throughout Lake County, however, at the
moment, we are particularly in
need in the Hobart community, ”
said Joan Vith, volunteer manager.
To register or for information on
individual or corporate volunteer
opportunities, contact Vith at (219)
756-3663 or [email protected].
LAKEFRONT FEST NEXT WEEK
The 23rd annual Hobart Lakefront Festival kicks off Aug. 14 and
runs through Aug. 17 at Festival
Park, 111 Old Ridge Road. Plan to
enjoy the Hobart Lions Club Steak
Fry on Friday, Elks Lodge 1152 Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, and the
Hobart Chamber of Commerce Pig
Roast on Sunday.
For a full calendar of events,
visit www.cityofhobart.org.
COOK OFF BENEFITS
REBUILDING TOGETHER
A Blacktop BBQ Cook Off
will take place Aug. 23 at Service
Doctor, 5150 E. U.S. 30, Merrillville, with all proceeds to benefit
Rebuilding Together Hobart/Lake
Station.
Grill masters, sponsors and
vendors are invited to contact Ron
at [email protected]
or (219) 942-0883 for complete
details.
PRESCHOOL CLASSES
AVAILABLE
If you have any doubt that
autumn is on the way, Hobart
Family YMCA, 601 W. 40th Place,
is taking registrations for its Fall
Developmental Preschool program.
Call (219) 942-2183, ext. 14 and ask
for Sharon Tarry. Both morning and
afternoon classes are available.
See HOBART, Page C5
KIMBERLY CHEEK-STANLEY
Times Correspondent‌
At 49, Crown Point resident
Nancy Smith continues to reinvent
herself and is the recipient of two
scholarships as a student at the University of St. Francis.
Smith is working toward a May,
2015 graduation with an associate
degree in nursing from the Crown
Point school.
“In 2010, I lost my job of 20
years in the mental health field due
to financial cutbacks and corporate
restructuring,” Smith said.
“After finding myself unemployed
in a workforce where the unemployment rate was high and competition
fierce, I knew that I needed to further my education in order to make
myself more marketable.”
Smith recently received the Ruth
B. Sayre Memorial Scholarship, a
$500 scholarship awarded for the
purpose of fostering educational
development in women.
In addition, she was granted the
Ann Hancook Scholarship from the
Indiana Extension Homemakers.
Nominees are chosen for their character, work experience and educational goals.
“I was very appreciative to be
selected as the recipient of the
scholarships. Unfortunately, there
are not many scholarships intended
for adults who want to advance
their education. Most are for those
directly out of high school,” Smith
said.
Smith is a graduate of Wabash
High School, and graduated from
Ball State University in 1989 with
a music education degree. Previously employed at Southlake Center for Mental Health and Christian
Haven Inc., she looks forward to the
advantages of a nursing career.
“I’m looking forward to financial
stability and mobility. I also really
enjoy the opportunity to assist others at times when they are at their
most vulnerable,” she said.
“I currently work as a certified
nursing assistant and when people
are sick, having surgery or procedures, or at end-of-life, I believe SMITH
it helps having someone caring for
them that can provide comfort, allay
their fears, and assist family members.”
“I look forward to continuing this
service as a nurse,” she added.
Smith is studying for her National
Council Licensure Examination and
NCLEX-RN exam. She is a volunteer
at the Independent Cat Society in
Westville.
To nominate someone for this feature,
contact [email protected].
YOUR SOUTH LAKE
COUNTY CALENDAR
MANAGING YOUR WEB | St. John
8 to 9 a.m. Aug. 7, Standard Bank and
Trust Co., 9321 U.S. 41. Enjoy the chance
to network with local business owners
and professionals while obtaining
information presented by Al Konieczka,
Founder Alkon Consulting Group, on
how to update your company website,
promote via social media and utilize
technology to streamline your business.
A continental breakfast will be served.
FYI: Contact Maria Cantu-Dougala
at (219) 365-4344, ext. 63124 or email
[email protected].
Visit http://www.standardbanks.com.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY GEISEN FUNERAL HOMES
Katie Hunter and Eric Bradburn, both of Crown Point, display the new Trek bicycles they won at the
recent Bike Safety Fair hosted by Geisen Funeral Homes and Trek Bicycle of Schererville.
Safe riding
can be fun
Businesses team up to host Bike Safety Day
TIMES STAFF
MERRILLVILLE | Youngsters were
eager to display their skills at
the Bike Safety Fair hosted
this summer by Geisen Funeral
Homes and Trek Bicycle of
Schererville.
Held at Geisen’s Merrillville location, staffers for Trek
Bicycle led children through
numerous stations where the
riders soaked up information
ranging from helmet fit to
bicycle road safety.
“Bike safety is so important
– we wanted to do something
for local kids that was both
educational and fun,” said
Geisen Funeral Homes Community Relations Director
Jean Lahm.
Complimentary refreshm e n ts we re se rve d , a n d
numerous prizes were raffled
off.
“The weather was perfect
– what a great day for families to come out and become
more knowledgeable about
bike safety,” said Paul Jellema,
event coordinator for Trek
Bicycle.
Five-year-old Eric Bradburn and 6-year-old Katie
Hunter, both of Crown Point,
were the of Trek bicycles.
All of the children who
participated earned a Bike
Safety Certification for successfully completing all of the
bike safety checkpoints.
ONE-ON-ONE COMPUTERS | Merrillville
6 to 7 p.m. Aug. 7, Lake County Public
Library, 1919 W. U.S. 30. Adults can sign
up for a one-hour session on how to use
the Internet, set up free email accounts,
or write a resume. Register by phone or
online.
FYI: Contact Reference Desk by
phone at (219) 769-3541, ext. 334 or
email [email protected]. Visit http://
WWW.LCPLIN.ORG/BRANCHES/CNL.HTM.
CABERNET & CANVAS | Crown Point
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 8, South Shore
Arts Crown Point Arts Center, 123 N.
Main St. Registration deadline is Aug.
8 for those 21 and older to enroll in a
Cabernet & Canvas painting workshop
held from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 15. Students
will have fun creating their own 16-by20-inch seascape. Bring a favorite wine
(or other beverage) and a snack that to
share (optional). Class is limited to 20.
Cost is $45..
FYI: Contact Kim McKinley by phone
at 219/836-1839 x103 or email kim@
southshoreartsonline.org. Visit http://
www.southshoreartsonline.org.
RUMMAGE SALE | St. John
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 8, VFW Post 717,
10400 W. 93rd Ave. The GFWC Women’s
Club of St. John will have a rummage
sale Aug. 8 and 9 at the VFW Post 717,
10400 W. 93rd Avenue in St. John.
Proceeds fund community programs
including the annual Independence Day
Kids’ Bike parade, college scholarships
for local students, and helping hands
for families in need or crisis. Visit our
website at: www.stjohnwomensclub.
weebly.com. For more information call
(219) 365-0979 or email [email protected].
FYI: Contact GFWC Women’s Club of
St. John by phone at (219) 365-0979 or
email gfwcwomensclubofstjohn@yahoo.
com. Visit http://www.stjohnwomensclub.weebly.com.
Senior Ambassador Zach Merritt, left, of Trek Bicycle checks
off safety skills learned by Camryn Hadt at the Bike Safety Fair
held in Merrillville.
STORY TIME | St. John
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 8, St.
John branch of Lake County Public
Library, 9450 Wicker Ave. Children will
participate in an hour filled with stories,
crafts and other activities. Sign up for
either the Tuesday or Friday sessions by
phone or online.
FYI: Contact Children’s Services
by phone at (219) 365-5379 or email
[email protected]. Visit http://WWW.
LCPLIN.ORG/BRANCHES/SJ.HTM.
See CALENDAR, Page C5