The features section on Portage.Life is one of the most popular, giving you insight into some of the most incredible happenings in the area, including #1StudentNWI articles, Life in the Spotlights, Survivor Series, Leadership Life, City in the Spotlights, Great News Weekly shows, and 10 Fun Things To Do. We’ve learned a lot from the students, community members, survivors, and more who trust us to share their stories, and 2021 would not have been the same without them all.
In no particular order, here are the top 10 feature articles from Portage.Life in 2021:
Cancer Survivor Series: Mary Wright
After performing a self-breast exam, Mary Wright noticed a lump in her right breast. In 2011, she noticed that it had gotten bigger, so she decided to visit a nurse practitioner to figure out just what was going on with her body. The nurse practitioner said she was positive after feeling her breast, but Wright was not convinced.
Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable
Healthcare, as well as IT, has been in an always-changing state for a long time – making my life (as the head of IT in a health system) always interesting and never settled.
I would argue that these days the world is changing rapidly, not just niche parts of business but the entire world. This brave new world alters quickly, evolves rapidly, and businesses are disrupted all the time.
A message for our community from Ashley Dickinson, CEO
I write today with gratitude for the resilience of our provider team at Northwest Health. The pandemic continues to demonstrate how interconnected we all are, the impact each one of us can have and the benefit of working together for a common cause. We care deeply about our community and remain steadfast in our commitment to deliver safe, quality healthcare services.
Cancer Survivor Series: Susan Green Culler
In July of 2004, Susan Green Culler discovered a lump in her breast. She was young, just 33, and decided to get advice from her mother. Together, they decided Culler should wait until her upcoming physical in September rather than making a new appointment and keep an eye on the lump for the time being.
#1StudentNWI: Portage High School hosts junior-senior prom
On May 8, Portage High School hosted a prom for juniors and seniors. The theme “And at Last I See the Light” was inspired by the 2010 Disney film Tangled. While the event did not occur at its typical venue, students enjoyed dancing the night away in the school's fieldhouse that was transformed with a DJ, balloons, lights, and even live photographers capturing the night on the dance floor. This year’s prom court included juniors Bryce Hufford and Sarah Torres as prince and princess with seniors Hailey Guzman and Tyler Holmquist as queen and king.
Celebrating good on Mother’s Day 2021
Through the good times and the tough times, our mothers are there to teach us, guide us, support us, and love us in every step of our journeys.
We asked you what you love most about the mothers in your life, and we are proud to share your sentiments as we celebrate Mother’s Day in 2021.
#1StudentNWI: League Of Women Voters’ local Northwest Indiana chapters
League of Women Voters is an important national and state organization and also has local chapters. Two such local chapters to Northwest Indiana are League of Women Voters of Porter County and League of Women Voters of La Porte Country.
#1StudentNWI: Portage gymnasts make a strong showing at state meet
Three Portage gymnasts participated in the State gymnastics meet at Ball State University on March 12. Sophomores Wrigley Barcelli, Shelby Conrad, and Payton Peele competed against top gymnasts in the state at the championship meet.
Survivor Series: David Harness
Life throws curveballs at many of us. Sometimes, a quick response to those curveballs can be the difference between life and death. Through the quick reaction from David Harness and his doctors, Harness is still here today.
A Portage Life in the Spotlight: Rachel Calderone
Rachel Calderone isn’t originally from the Region, but she loves to call Northwest Indiana home. As an alumnus of Hanover Central High School, Calderone first moved here at the beginning of her high school career and hasn’t looked back since. As a teacher at Portage High School and one of our Lifers, Rachel loves to spread positivity and help her students appreciate the Region.