Commissioner swears latest VASIA class
Franciscan Health’s partnership with the Lake County Courts to provide volunteer advocates for elderly and incapacitated adults who are unable to represent themselves now has four new members.
Lake Superior Court Probate Commissioner Ben Ballou swore in four Volunteer Advocates for Seniors and Incapacitated Adults in an Oct. 15 ceremony, a release said. The new advocates are Blanca Aranda of Crown Point, Francine Gildon of Merrillville, Christopher Mignogna of Cedar Lake and Lauree Pondinas of St. John.
The court collaborates with Franciscan Health to provide trained, supervised volunteers to serve as court-appointed agents to assist elderly and incapacitated adults, the release said. The program is partially funded by grants from the Indiana Supreme Court, Legacy Foundation Inc. and other local, state and national funders as well as individual donors to the Franciscan Health Foundation, the release said. To learn more about the program and how to become a volunteer,
visit www.franciscanhealth.org/VASIA.
Innovators at PNW announce ’25 awards
The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest has announced the winners of the 2025 Innovators Awards. Winners will be inducted into the Society during the group’s annual luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 29 at Avalon Manor Banquet Center, 3550 E. Lincoln Highway, Merrillville.
Registration is open for the luncheon. Individual tickets are $50 and corporate table sponsorships may be purchased for $600. For more information and to register, visit pnw.edu/soi or by reaching out to Jason Williams at jawilliams@pnw.edu.
The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest Class of 2025 includes: Jose G. (Lupe) Valtierra, Purdue Extension in Lake County; Earthwise, Valparaiso; WJOB, Hammond; Sean Liu, founder & CEO, PingCares, Valparaiso; Joseph Podgorsk, Demotte; founder, Chicago Additive; Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch, Michigan City; Gloria “GoGo” Morris, Schererville, Google; Economic Development Corp. of Michigan City; Kristina Fleming, Cedar Lake, Hanover Central High School; Debera Hinchy, Lowell, Lowell High School, and Eric Sera, Munster, Munster High School.
Franciscan adds rheumatologist in Dyer
Dr. Ailia Ali, a rheumatologist, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Dyer.
Ali earned her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, according to a release. She completed her residency in
internal medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Health Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and her fellowship in rheumatology at the University of Chicago School of Medicine in Chicago.
She is accepting new patients at Franciscan Physician Network Dyer, 919 Main St., Suite 201. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 219-922-3002.
Foundations to help with storm relief
Legacy Foundation has partnered with the bp Foundation to support Hammond, East Chicago, and Whiting organizations impacted by the August storms and flooding.
The new bp Foundation Community Fund Grant will provide up to $5,000 per organization to assist with recovery efforts and strengthen preparedness for future weather-related emergencies, a release said. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, churches, schools, local governments, and first-response agencies located in East Chicago, Hammond or Whiting.
Application deadline is 3 p.m. Nov. 21. Winners will be notified Dec. 19.
Apply through Legacy’s online portal or contact Kelly Baer at kbaer@legacyfdn.org.
Mrvan accepting service academy applications
U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D- Highland, announced Indiana’s First Congressional District is currently accepting applications from high school and college students interested in attending a U.S. military service academy.
Specifically, high school seniors and college students who are interested in attending one of the academies are encouraged to apply, a release said.
The deadline to submit a completed application to Mrvan’s office is 5 p.m. Nov. 3. For additional information and to obtain the application material, contact Tom Kubon at 219-795-1844.
Family medicine doctor added in Valparaiso
Dr. Leena Aljobeh, a family medicine physician, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Valparaiso.
Aljobeh earned her medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. She completed her residency in family medicine at Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital in Lafayette.
She is accepting new patients at the Glendale Health Center, 1101 Glendale Blvd., Suite 101 in Valparaiso. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 219-307-4750.
PNW to host College Goal Sunday on Nov. 9
Financial aid professionals will be on site at Purdue University Northwest’s Hammond and Westville campuses during the statewide College Goal Sunday programs on Nov. 9.
The free event will take place from 2-4 p.m. and will help college-bound students and their families apply for financial aid, according to a release.
College Goal Sunday programs provide assistance to students in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA form, which is due by April 15, is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships and federal loans at most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide. In addition, 21st Century Scholars are required to submit a FAFSA to claim their scholarship.
The Hammond campus event will be held in Room 200 of the Student Union and Library Building, 2200 169th St., Hammond. The Westville campus event will be held in Room 241 of the Library Student Faculty Building, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville.
For additional information, visit pnw.edu/college-goal-sunday, email PNW’s office of Financial Aid at finaid@pnw.edu or call the offices at 219-989-2301 (Hammond) or 219-785-5460 (Westville).