Kelly Mamouzelos

Citizens Financial Bank is pleased to announce two additions to its banking team. Kelly Mamouzelos has joined the Retail Banking Team as Valparaiso Banking Center Manager with 16 years of Retail Management experience, of which 7 years are in banking. Mamouzelos will be responsible for leading the branch team in sales and service

excellence. She will also take an active role in the community

by cultivating financial relationships with local businesses. Kristin Trapp has joined the Business Banking Team as Vice President - Regional Manager - Business Banking. Trapp

Kristin Trapp

joins the team with over twenty years of experience in the industry, with a strong background in both Retail and Business Banking. For additional information about services available, visit www.mybankcitizens.com.

On April 28, the "Feed the Need" food drive surpassed their goal and raised 8,263 pounds of food for the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. Volunteers stood outside the Town and Country Markets in Valparaiso and Portage passing out a shopping list of essential food items for pantries asking shoppers to purchase one or more items from the list and then donate them on their way out of the store. "Feed the Need" is a partnership between four local churches including Chamber member Bridge Point Church. For additional information on how you can help fight hunger, call (219) 980-1777 or visit www.foodbanknwi.org. 

Goodwill Industries appreciates everyone who supports its mission by donating gently used clothing and household items. It also knows that many donations come from moms who are clearing out the clutter at home! That's why "Goodwill Loves Moms" is planning two events in September to let them know!Goodwill invites you to join in on Thursday, September 13, at Windsor Park Conference Center in Mishawaka, or Friday, September 14 at Strongbow Inn in Valparaiso for our "Goodwill Loves Moms" Celebration Lunch. Guest speaker will be Lorie Marrero, a Certified Professional Organizer and author of The Clutter Diet. For more information, visit www.goodwill-ni.org and click on The Clutter Diet.

Housing Opportunities invites you to "Grow a Row for HO" and share your garden bounty with neighbors in need. You can help reduce hunger in the community by growing an extra row in your garden and sharing the excess with the Housing Opportunities food pantry. Produce may be dropped off at the Housing Opportunities office anytime Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information call (219) 548-2800.

LaPorte Hospital invites you to its Heart Cart Screening on May 22 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Rittenhouse Senior Living of Valparaiso, located at 1300 Vale Park Road. The Heart Cart screen package offers a comprehensive picture of one's cardiovascular health. This comprehensive screening, valued at $1,200, is available for $100. This event is open to the community but pre-registration is required by calling (219) 326-2626.

Opportunity Enterprises is seeking runners of all abilities to join its 2012 Mudathlon Team, which will complete the race on Saturday, July 21 at the Graeber Family Farms in Valparaiso. Opportunity Enterprises will receive a $10 donation for every person who registers for the team. The Mudathlon is a 3-mile course featuring over 40 fun and challenging mud obstacles, including creek crossings, a mud slide, heaping hay bales, a 100 yard long mucking mud pit, and a cargo net climb. Race registration is $75 per person, and includes a medal, Mudathlon t-shirt, bandana, and mug, one free beer, and a post-race cookout.  To register, go to www.mudathlon.com and register for the Northwest Indiana race.  Scroll down and pick "OE Runners" from the list of charities. Enter "OERunners" as the coupon code, and sign up for the 8:15 am start time to run with the team. For more information, contact OE Events Specialist Alyse Kominakis at alyse.kominakis@oppent.org or (219) 464-9621, ext. 233.

Paul Sur Buick GMC, located at 1551 Morthland Drive, is honored to be voted the #1 car dealership in Northwest Indiana by readers of Post-Tribune for the second consecutive year. To contact a sales representative, call (219) 462-1168 or to view inventory, visit www.paulsurbuickgmc.com.  

Don't forget, this Saturday is the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County's largest collection event of the year! The Reduction District will be helping Porter County residents with their spring cleaning by providing a one stop drop collection event, accepting old and unwanted appliances, electronics, tires and household hazardous waste. The event is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, at the Porter County Expo Center/Fair Grounds, located at 215 E. Division Road. The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission also will be on hand to present new environmentally friendly 2.5-gallon gas cans to residents who bring their old gas cans in for disposal at the collection. Limit one new gas can per vehicle/family, while supplies last.

Kevin Johnson

Kevin Johnson has joined Scannell Wealth Management Group as a wealth advisor, providing financial planning and investment management for clients. Johnson has over 11 years of experience in financial services, most recently with Advanced Equities, Inc. in Chicago, specializing in wealth management and private equity for the benefit of high net worth clients, family offices, and institutions. Previous positions also include Principal of Matrix U.S.A. in New York, wealth advisor in Lehman Brothers' Private Client Services Group (NY), and member of IBM's Premier Global Accounts team. Johnson earned his B.A. in Business Management from North Carolina State University and MBA from Wake Forest University, and post graduate studies at the University of Oxford. He also holds the series 24, 7, 65 and 66 designations. Johnson resides in Valparaiso with his wife and two children.

South Shore Orchestra announces their 2012 season "Reflections" focusing on American Heroes in spirit, melody, and song. Join in for this entertaining celebratory concert honoring the American Hero on Wednesday, May 23 at 7:00 p.m at the Ivy Tech Auditorium Theater located at 3100 Ivy Tech Drive. Tickets are $15. Active duty service will be admitted free of charge, while retired service will pay the $10 Senior/Student ticket price. Children under 12 are admitted free. For additional information, call (219) 464-7816.

Valparaiso Community Festivals & Events (VCFE) announces that Valparaiso resident, Melissa Washburn, was selected as the winner of the 34th Annual Popcorn Festival poster contest. Washburn's poster was inspired by taking a nostalgic look at popcorn itself. Washburn has a background in fine arts and graphic design. The design will appear on posters, t-shirts, buttons, and brochures for the event. All 24 poster entries are on display at rTrail Collective Edge in downtown Valparaiso until May 31 and can be voted on for the People's Choice Award. For more information about the Popcorn Festival and other events planned for this year, visit www.valparaisoevents.com or call (219) 464-8332.

The Central Park Plaza Market will open on Saturday, June 2, and will be open every Tuesday and Saturday through October from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Attendees will enjoy handmade items, farm fresh produce, beautiful plants and flowers, artisan breads, local honey and much more. Valparaiso Community Festivals & Events (VCFE) hosts the popular market in downtown Valparaiso each year and the first 1000 visitors to visit the VCFE table will receive a free reusable market tote. Each Tuesday will feature live entertainment or a live demonstration during the Lunch Hour Entertainment Series through September 25. For more information, visit www.valparaisoevents.com or call (219) 464-8332.

The Valpo Dining Group will fill downtown with live music and fantastic food on Saturday, June 2, from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Enjoy the beer garden and local cuisine throughout the day in Central Park Plaza from eight downtown restaurants including Chamber members: Bistro 157, Bon Femme Caf�, Don Quijote Restaurante, Margaritas, Paparazzi, Pikk's Tavern and The Silver Spoon. Evening entertainment on the Porter Health Amphitheater Stage will begin at 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.valpodining.com or contact Valparaiso Community Festivals & Events at www.valparaisoevents.com or call (219) 464-8332.