Franciscan WorkingWell donates $3K to food program Franciscan WorkingWell recently donated the sponsorship proceeds from a recent day-long employer solutions symposium to the Franciscan Health Foundation of Northern Indiana’s Food Insecurity Program, according to a release. More than 130 people representing 75 companies attended the free event at Avalon Manor. Sponsors included Apex Benefits, BD+A Health Informatics and Brown & Brown Insurance and breakfast and lunch sponsors Generate Sales and Marketing and NIPSCO, the release said. WorkingWell donated the $3,050 surplus from the sponsorships to the Foundation’s Food Insecurity Program. Franciscan’s Food Insecurity Program originated in 2021 in Lake County, when the Franciscan Health Foundation of Northern Indiana partnered with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, the release said. More information is available by calling the Foundation at 219-661-3401. Annual worker awards presented The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority recently celebrated hospitality workers at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana during its annual awards ceremony. The R.O.S.E. (Recognition of Service Excellence) Awards honor Northwest Indiana’s front-line employees while the R.I.S.E. (Recognition of Industry Success & Excellence) Awards honor managerial or past R.O.S.E. Award recipients, a release said. Each of the winners received a glass-encased rose and a prize package valued at more than $1,200, the release said. R.O.S.E. winners: Sarah Arndt-Kranc, receptionist, Lake County Parks, Crown Point; Matthew Cervantes, head chef, Tiny’s Coffee Bar, Gary; Louis Deluna Avila, steward supervisor, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, Gary; Brandi Jones, breakfast chef, SouthShore Drift Company at Hilton Garden Inn, Chesterton; Jeffrey Reeves, VIP lounge server, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, Gary; Dan Reid, historical interpreter, Buckley Homestead, Lake County Parks, Lowell; Erica Rico, customer service representative, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, Gary; Kristin Smith, lead catering attendant, Purdue University Northwest, Hammond; Jessica Tucker, server, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, Gary; Annette Williams, security officer, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, Gary; Renee Zorica, banquet server, Lighthouse Restaurant, Cedar Lake. R.I.S.E. winners: Kym Braine, manager, Beachwalk Vacation Rentals, Michigan City; Scott Brown, table games manager, Horseshoe Casino, Hammond; Barbara and Efrain Rivera, owners, Songbird Prairie Bed & Breakfast, Valparaiso; Cameron Wild, chief engineer, Hilton Garden Inn, Chesterton. Franciscan Michigan City hosting suicide intervention training Franciscan Health Michigan City, in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, is hosting a free, two-day workshop aimed at teaching suicide prevention skills, according to a release. LivingWorks Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day, two-trainer workshop designed for members of all caregiver communities. The workshop is scheduled to take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 28 an. 29 at Franciscan Health Michigan City, 3500 Franciscan Way. Participants must be present both days. The workshop is free, but registration is required by Oct 21. To register and for more information, contact Nila Williams at [email protected] or 219-283-9649. YWCA of NWI to host Circle of Friends Gala The YWCA of NWI will host its annual Circle of Friends Gala beginning at 6 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, 5400 W. 29th Ave. in Gary. Samantha Chatman of ABC 7 Chicago will serve as the celebrity host. Organizers will honor several people who have shown extraordinary support to the YWCA of NWI, the release said. The award recipients include: Chareice White, CEO of ECIER Foundation; Era Twyman, former Executive Director of the Gary Literacy Coalition; Ida Gillis, former Director of Affirmative Action at Indiana University Northwest; and Curtis Whittaker, CEO of Whittaker & Company. In addition, organizers will present the inaugural Earline Rogers Trailblazer Award in honor of the late former state senator and YWCA board member emerita to Cynthia Powers, former YWCA board president, the release said. For tickets or information, visit  YWCA Circle of Friends Gala 2024 Lakeshore Public Media hosts child development event Lakeshore Public Media recently hosted the Building Block Breakfast: Fueling the Future at the Dean & Barbara White Community Center in Merrillville, bringing together more than 250 community leaders, educators, and child development advocates to focus on early childhood development, a release said. The event marked the official launch of Lakeshore’s “Building Blocks” initiative, a multimedia project designed to explore early childhood development and provide resources that can help families navigate the challenges of raising young children, a release said. The event also highlighted a $100,000 matching fund grant from the Legacy Foundation. Three people were honored  for their contributions to advancing early education in Indiana including State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, elected official award; Barbara Eason-Watkins, educator award; and Mark Chamberlain, community leader award, the release said. Chesterton center hosts artists Chesterton Art Center, 115 S. 4th St., is celebrating the final Chesterton Third Friday of the season with a Spooky Pop-Up event featuring the work of a dozen local artists with a cash bar and light bites from 4-8 p.m. Oct. 18, according to a release. The Spooky Pop-Up participating artists include Maureen Duffy-Daugavietis, Georgia Geis, Laurel Izard, Morgan Johnson, Jayde McAloon, Mindy Milan, Emily Blossom, Susan Brandsetter, Zoe Gladkowski, Dorothy Graden, Alice Nebelsiek-Piorkowski, and artists from CAC’s Teen Arts Group. Chesterton Third Fridays are offered throughout downtown Chesterton from May through October, bringing together local retail, dining, shopping, and arts businesses. Visitors should plan for a full evening of restaurant promotions, walking tours, live music and arts programming, a release said. Learn more at www.chestertonart.org, or call 219-926-4711. Trooper promoted to ISP sergeant Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas G. Carter has announced the promotion of Justin Heflin to the rank of sergeant, according to a release. In his new role, Heflin will serve as a squad leader at the Lowell District. Heflin is a native of Michigan City, graduated from Michigan City High School in 2003. After high school, he joined the Marines Corps. After leaving the military, he was an apprentice for the IBEW Local 531 before being accepted into the 73rd Recruit Academy with the Indiana State Police in 2013. While with the ISP, Heflin has been involved in investigations in both the Lowell and Lafayette districts.  He has been a member of the ISP Bomb Squad since 2016 and in 2023 he received a life-saving award, the release said. PNW named among 2025 best Midwest universities Purdue University Northwest (PNW) was ranked as a top public regional university in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 annual Best Colleges rankings, while also being recognized for student social mobility, according to a release. PNW ranked No. 36 on U.S. News’ list of the top Midwest public regional universities and ranked as a top institution among all recognized Midwest regional colleges and universities, the release said. PNW additionally earned recognition for several of its high-quality undergraduate degree programs. PNW’s School of Engineering ranked No. 62 nationally among engineering schools whose highest awarded degrees are bachelor’s or master’s. Other university programs recognized in top categories in cluded Business, Computer Science, Nursing and Psychology. Visit the U.S. News website for the full regional university listings. Pediatrician joins Franciscan Physician Network in Munster Dr. Alicia Boykin is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Munster, according to a release. Boykin, a pediatrician, completed medical school at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Her pediatric residency was completed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Boykin completed her fellowship in adolescent medicine at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. She is accepting new patients at Franciscan Physician Network Family Wellness Center, 9800 Valparaiso Drive in Munster. Call 219-934-9837.