Holiday Spirit and Community Pride Light Up Lake County Indiana
As the holiday season approaches, Lake County Indiana communities are showcasing the spirit of togetherness, student achievement, and civic engagement that makes this region truly special. From festive downtown celebrations to remarkable student accomplishments and inspiring community leaders, residents across the county are demonstrating what it means to build strong, connected neighborhoods.
Hobart Kicks Off Holiday Season with Downtown Celebration
Downtown Hobart transformed into a winter wonderland over the weekend of November 29-30, as local businesses, the Hobart Chamber of Commerce, Parks & Recreation, and the Hobart Downtown Alliance joined forces for an ambitious two-day holiday celebration that brought families together from across the region.
The festivities began Saturday morning with Small Business Saturday Bingo at Wild Woods on East 3rd Street, where shoppers collected bingo cards and visited participating local businesses including Sip Coffeehouse, Farmhouse Coffee, Hydrangea House, Classic Photo, Arthur Knight & Coin Stamp, The Record Bin, Sarahndipity Nails & Spa, Ace Hardware, and My Psychic Gallery, as detailed by GreatNews.Life. Prize drawings at 3:30 p.m. included tickets to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas Concert at the Hobart Art Theater.
Families visited the Hobart Chamber of Commerce between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for Pictures with Santa, creating steady foot traffic throughout downtown. The celebration reached its crescendo with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Fireworks at Festival Park, featuring children's crafts, holiday photos, and a spectacular fireworks display sponsored by BF&S Civil Engineering.
Sunday's Merry Mini Makers Market at the PCC Building highlighted the community's youngest entrepreneurs, with youth vendors selling handmade items and holiday creations.
"We can't wait to see residents and visitors enjoy the weekend, explore our shops, and take in the holiday atmosphere throughout Downtown Hobart," Hobart Chief of Staff Kelly Clemens remarked.
Crown Point Students Soar to New Heights
Crown Point High School students have been making headlines with their outstanding achievements. The fall production of "The Wizard of Oz" captivated audiences with its innovative use of a full-flight system that brought magical elements to life on stage, according to GreatNews.Life reporting.
Senior Rana Stevens, who portrayed Elphaba, reflected on her role: "I felt really blessed to get the opportunity to play Elphaba. The Wicked Witch of the West has always been an extremely iconic character, especially with the influence The Wizard of Oz has had on Hollywood and acting."
The integration of flight technology elevated the production beyond traditional high school theater. "Every part of this musical was special. However, my favorite part about this year's musical was being able to incorporate the flight system into so many scenes. It was nerve-wracking at first, but once all of the scenes were put together, it was absolutely magical," Stevens shared.
Looking ahead, Crown Point High School's Key Club prepares for its annual Christmas Party on December 10, welcoming elementary students from throughout the district for holiday activities and community building.
The school's commitment to excellence extends to its dedicated faculty. Computer science teacher Brett Jennings focuses on building relationships with students as individuals.
"I try to get to know students as kids first, rather than just students. I try to interact with them and learn about them, and hopefully create an environment that is positive," Jennings explained to GreatNews.Life.
Morton High School Students Make Impact Through Service
Students at Morton High School demonstrated the power of community service during their recent field trip to Boxes of Love, a program run by Cru Inner City. The Black Student Union and Bible Club collaborated to pack over 500 boxes that will feed more than 3,000 people during the holiday season, according to GreatNews.Life.
"Boxes of Love was an amazing experience. It felt so good to help provide for those who cannot provide for themselves. The work that we put into preparing the boxes was 100% worth it, and I would do it again if I could," senior Jermell Patterson reflected.
Early graduate Alana Smith found deeper meaning in the volunteer experience: "For me, Boxes of Love was a reminder that there are always good people out there. Being there and volunteering gave me the reminder that the good outweighs the bad."
The school's innovative spirit continues with the upcoming Maker Faire on December 4, showcasing student creativity through 3D printing, laser cutting, and various hands-on projects. The event will feature collaboration across the School City of Hammond, with students from Scott Middle School bringing 3-Doodler creations and drone obstacle courses, while Eggers Middle School will host an entrepreneurship table.
"The awesome thing is that it gives students the tools they need to make anything they can think of or dream of," explained Alexander Cerajewski, instructional coach and maker manager.
Community Leadership in Action
Lake County Recorder Gina Pimentel exemplifies the spirit of service that characterizes the region's leaders. Currently serving her second term after first running in 2020, Pimentel has built a career around helping others while maintaining strong family values, as profiled by GreatNews.Life.
"I'm a firm believer in God, and it was completely God's plan for me to get into politics. Now that I'm here, I love what I do," Pimentel shared.
Pimentel has created innovative ways to give back through her office, implementing a program where staff members can wear jeans to work in exchange for charitable donations. This initiative has supported local schools, veterans' organizations, children's hospitals, and numerous community groups including St. Jude House, the Carmelite Home, My Brother's Keeper, and Sojourner Truth House.
"Every couple of months, my staff and I will donate money to a local charity in Northwest Indiana in exchange for being able to wear jeans," Pimentel explained. "If God puts us in a position that we can give back, then that's absolutely what we should do."
These stories from across Lake County Indiana reflect a community that values education, creativity, service, and togetherness. As the holiday season unfolds, residents can take pride in the achievements of their young people, the dedication of their educators, and the leadership of those who work tirelessly to make their communities stronger.
