There have been a wide variety of businesses, organizations, and communities that have been giving back to others and making Michiana the best place it can be.
Northern Indiana continues to grow and prosper due to the determination and relentless impact community members are making throughout the year. Those sacrifices have not gone unnoticed, and we love shining a spotlight on those that go the extra mile to make the community a more positive place.
In no particular order, here are the top 10 community articles on Michiana.Life to recap the good news in 2024!
City of Elkhart residents come together for annual State of the City address at Lerner Theatre
On Thursday, May 23, the Crystal Ballroom at the Lerner Theatre was filled with members of the Elkhart community, gathered for Mayor Rod Roberson’s fifth annual State of the City address.
Setting the tone for the evening, the Elkhart High School drumline performed just outside the building, creating a vibrant and exciting atmosphere.
The program began with the National Anthem, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer for unity and strength within the community. Elkhart City Council President Arvis Dawson then came to the stage expressing gratitude and excitement for things to come for the city.
City of Mishawaka celebrates newly redesigned Crawford Park with ribbon cutting event
The snap of many pairs of scissors marked a major milestone for the City of Mishawaka on Thursday, May 23 with the grand opening of its newly redesigned Crawford Park. Updated with many new and improved features and amenities, the park has much to offer for the city residents to enjoy this summer.
“All of our parks are different. We try to make them very unique experiences,” said Mishawaka Mayor David “Dave” Wood. “By design, each park is completely new to our community in that regard. This is our natural wetland and woodland themed park that brings new and inclusive amenities to the area—this is like a little town square for the neighborhood. Crawford Park is where families come to enjoy nature in the city. We're very excited to open this up—it’s just an outstanding example of one of many projects we're doing with the Mishawaka Parks.”
Center for Hospice Care announces Kaleidoscope, an at-home palliative care program
On June 13, Center for Hospice Care (CHC) announced the launch of its brand-new Kaleidoscope program, a home-based palliative care option for those with serious advanced illnesses. The program was met with applause at a gathering at CHC’s Mishawaka campus.
Palliative care is a specialized field of medicine focusing on the treatment and comfort of those with serious illnesses such as cancer. Normally, palliative care is carried out in a hospital or outpatient center setting, but Kaleidoscope will bring support home as part of its holistic approach to care.
Regulating your child’s screen time with Comcast’s Jaylon Demps
In today’s world, children are going to be exposed to a screen. Whether it’s from a school-provided laptop to do homework or from a parent’s phone to help make a trip to the grocery store peaceful, screens have become integrated into our day-to-day lives in a way that makes avoiding them next to impossible.
More screen time, however, has been shown to increase anxiety and stress in users by up to 15%. Finding the right balance between using the screen too much and fighting a losing battle against screen time is becoming increasingly important.
Vote local: these people are taking care of where you live
“Why is it that local election participation is so seriously low, and how do we change it for the better?” I wonder out loud.
Why are we OK with so few people deciding how our community is going to operate?
Why have so little to say about things that matter to people in your city or neighborhood or down the block?
Why do we know so little about how the school, town council, board, or whatever we have a say in, operate when the results of their decisions have such a specific and sometimes immediate impact on our lives?
We focus much more attention and seem to be more engaged in national elections. Every voter should care about that, too. But national elections have less likelihood to touch what you do day after day on the roads, sidewalks, in the parks or downtowns, at schools, and with mission-critical things like local fire and police, school buses, the roads getting plowed, and how most necessities in your life work.
Mishawaka High School unveils caveman statue in honor of Mike ‘Beef’ Faulkner
Every school takes pride in its chosen mascot. It is a grand, unifying symbol that students, alumni, teachers, and staff can rally behind. For Mishawaka High School (MHS), a dream came true on August 18 with the unveiling of a nine-foot caveman statue envisioned by former Mishawaka alumnus Mike “Beef” Faulkner. The statue, which makes its debut just in time for MHS’s 100th anniversary, is a remarkable tribute to his beloved Mishawaka community.
“Mike was always a caveman,” said wife Monique Faulkner. “This community has been his whole life. Our family would go to lots of sporting events and he kept up on everything — the stats, records, the opponents, and how they were doing. He always lived and breathed Mishawaka. He was invested in anything that had to do with the high school or the city.”
Alex Arendt swears in as Mishawaka Police Department’s newest chief of police
A notable moment unfolded at the Mishawaka City Hall as the community gathered to witness the swearing-in of Alex Arendt as the new Chief of Police for the Mishawaka Police Department (MPD) during the Board of Public Works meeting on Tuesday, August 27. Arendt takes on the role following the retirement of former Chief Ken Witkowski Jr., who dedicated 20 years to the position. Witkowski, who has left a significant mark on the department, was also sworn in as the new director of code enforcement.
After being sworn in by Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood, Arendt expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the MPD. He emphasized his deep commitment to the safety of the community.
Third annual Night of the Titans honors 9 distinguished IUSB alumni who have made a meaningful impact on university community
The Lerner Theater’s Crystal Ballroom was sparkling with camaraderie and celebration as Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) alumni, donors, and community members gathered for the school’s third annual Night of the Titans on Tuesday, September 17. Guests attended in their finest cocktail hour wear as they raised a glass to many distinguished stars who have made a shining impact on the IUSB community over the past year and beyond.
“This is a night of honoring Titan alumni and community members who really contribute to the university overall,” IUSB Chancellor Susan Elrod said. “What we also do at this event is raise money for scholarships through the sponsorships and ticket sales, so we're proud to be raising money for a brand new IU South Bend Elkhart community sponsorship that will support Elkhart residents who want to come to IU South Bend.”
Career Academy South Bend’s Instrumental Music Department encourages opportunities for all students
The Career Academy South Bend High School, operated by the Career Academy Network of Public Schools, serves as a leading, non-traditional pathways for students to explore experiential education to discover their calling. Among the various channels of education is its music department.
Career Academy South Bend’s instrumental music program, led by Director of Instrumental Music Alice Koehler, has seen remarkable growth and transformation over the past decade. What began as a modest ensemble with 25 to 30 kids with limited resources has blossomed into a vibrant program, involving over 180 students across a variety of ensembles including middle and high school bands, strings, jazz ensembles and the prestigious Tri-M® Music Honor Society.
Downtown South Bend team enhances community opportunities in the area
In the vibrant city of South Bend, there is never a dull moment within the vast array of exciting events, from captivating plays and live music performances to bustling festivals throughout the year. As the lead source of all things downtown, a small but experienced team at Downtown South Bend, Inc. (DTSB) works behind the scenes to bring news, arts, entertainment, and dining experiences for Michiana residents, visitors, and business owners.
“We have a great relationship with the city and the people within the city government,” said Kylie Carter, senior director of marketing and events. “We work closely with the city government because we have the same goals. The downtown is the heart of the city – if you do not have a good, strong downtown, you are not going to have a good, strong city.”