Mrvan announces plans to move Northwest Indiana office
U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, will move his Northwest Indiana office to 8001 Broadway, Suite 102, in Merrillville. The office will be closed on Feb. 3 and 4 to accommodate the move, and it will reopen at noon on Feb. 5. The telephone, fax, and email addresses for the Northwest Indiana office will remain unchanged; the phone number is (219) 795-1844 and the fax number is (219) 795-1850.
“Our office’s top priority is to serve the people of Northwest Indiana, and it is my hope that this new office location will better accommodate all constituents and facilitate our services,” Mrvan said in a release.
Mrvan’s office provides an array of services to assist constituents with navigating federal agencies, including answering Social Security and Medicare benefits questions, getting passports renewed, obtaining military records and veterans’ benefits, federal loan applications, and securing benefits from the IRS. If you or a family member require any assistance securing a federal benefit, the office can ensure that claims are given deserved attention.
The office also offers American flags, nominates students for the U.S. service academies, and coordinates other constituent relations efforts such as visits to local organizations.
Toll road post adds three troopers
Three of the 30 new probationary Indiana State Police troopers who graduated recently from Indiana State Police academy will continue training on the Indiana Toll Road, according to a release.
The three-month field training period, riding with veteran troopers, is to put into practical application the training received over the duration of the formal academy. Afterward, each trooper will be assigned a state police patrol vehicle and will begin solo patrol, the release said.
The three include Trooper Andrew Bixler, a native of Steuben County; Trooper Carson Hieber a graduate of East Noble High School; and Trooper Brianna Santoyo, a graduate of Triton High School.
Physician joins Franciscan in Michigan City
Dr. Joy Williams, a pulmonologist and critical care physician, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Michigan City, according to a release.
Williams completed medical school at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis and completed her pulmonary critical care fellowship at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison, Wisconsin.
She is offering both in person and virtual visits and is accepting new patients at Franciscan Physician Network, 3500 Franciscan Way, Suite 4C, which is adjacent to Franciscan Health Michigan City. Call 219-878-8200, Ext. 2.
Family Christmas show raises $1,600 for shelter
The Bozak Family’s annual Christmas light show at the Burns Harbor home raised $1,607.75 for The Caring Place, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter and essential services to women and children in need, according to a release.
Andy Bozak recently presented an oversized check to representatives from the Valparaiso shelter.
The Bozak Family Christmas Light Show draws visitors from across Northwest Indiana to experience its synchronized light displays, free hot cocoa, and visits from Santa and the Grinch. Each year, the event also serves as a platform to give back, with 100% of donations going directly to charity., the release said.
Influential Women Awards nominations Open
Nominations for the 14th annual Influential Women of Northwest Indiana awards banquet in 2025 are open through Feb. 14, according to a release.
Each year, the Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association (NWIIWA) honors outstanding women for these and other impactful contributions they have made in the NWI communities in which they work and live.
Nominations are free and can be made by visiting NWIIWA.org. The event will be held at the Avalon Manor in Merrillville and will feature the ceremony as well as food, drinks and networking opportunities with the region’s largest companies.
PNW named a College of Distinction
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has earned recognition as a College of Distinction for its commitment to high-quality, active learning for students, according to a release.
Since its founding in 2000, Colleges of Distinction has awarded schools for their successful implementation of high-impact educational practices and hands-on learning, the release said.
In earning recognition as a College of Distinction, PNW was also awarded several accolades reflecting its academic programs and student resources that provide students active and hands-on learning experiences, a welcoming and inclusive environment and career preparation, the release said. Learn more at pnw.edu/why.
PNW’s online nursing programs ranked
Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) online nursing programs offered through its College of Nursing earned top 100 rankings in their respective categories in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Online Programs rankings, according to a release.
PNW’s RN-to-BSN online program was again named among the Best Online Bachelor’s programs in the U.S, the release said. PNW’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) online program also was nationally ranked among the Best Online Master’s in Nursing programs.
Franciscan Health Crown Point hosting doula workshop
Franciscan Health Crown Point is hosting a doula certification workshop over two weekends in March, according to a release.
Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their clients before, during and shortly after childbirth, but don’t perform clinical tasks. The doula certification workshop will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. March 8-9 and March 15-16 at Franciscan Health Crown Point, 12750 St. Francis Drive. Participants must be 18 years old or older and attend all four days of classes to receive a certificate of completion.
Registration is available online and must be complete by Feb. 17. Call 219-746-9134.
