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In this Highland Local Scoop Issue…
Wednesday, Nov. 4: Mostly cloudy, breezy and cooler with rain mainly in the morning - High 65° / Low 53°
Thursday, Nov. 5: Mostly cloudy to partly cloudy and cooler - High 58° / Low 49°, with a chance of rain later Thursday night.
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Highland Events
Wednesday, Nov 4
8:30-9:15 AM - SilverSneakers Classic - at Lincoln Community Center, 2450 Lincoln St
10:45-11:30 AM - SilverSneakers Chair Yoga - at Lincoln Community Center, 2450 Lincoln St
1:00 PM - Chair Zumba - at NWI Parkinsons, 2927 Jewett Ave
3:30-4:30 PM - Chair Yoga - at NWI Parkinsons, 2927 Jewett Ave
5:30-6:30 PM - Boxing for PD - at NWI Parkinsons, 2927 Jewett Ave6:00 - 9:00 PM - Wednesday Game Night - at Sip Coffee House 2, 2815 Jewett Ave
Highland Sport Events
Wednesday, Nov 4
6:00 PM - HHS Wrestling (Girls V) vs Lowell - at Lowell Senior High School
The Hidden Meaning Behind the Name “Centier”
Wednesday Rewind: The Story Behind It
Centier Bank began as the Bank of Whiting in 1895, and its first branch outside Whiting opened right here in Highland in 1963.
Under fourth-generation president Michael Schrage, the bank later adopted the name Centier, which was created by combining three ideas:
Century - celebrating the bank’s 100th anniversary in 1995
Center - a nod to Center Street in Whiting, where the bank was founded
Premier - reflecting the goal of being a premier provider of customer service in Northwest Indiana
Put them together and you get Centier.
So the name Highland residents see today is actually a small piece of the bank’s history packed into one word..
Photo courtesy of Nephilim Studios in Highland which is one of several local Toys for Tots collection sites this holiday season.
🎁 Toys for Tots Returns With Several Highland Drop-Off Locations
Highland residents have several places around town to help make Christmas a little brighter for local children this year.
The local Toys for Tots campaign serving Highland is collecting new toys at businesses and organizations throughout town. Last year, the Lake County campaign distributed 15,158 toys to 3,551 children.
Current Highland collection sites include:
Biggby Coffee - 8959 Indianapolis Blvd.
City Volkswagen - 9601 Indianapolis Blvd.
Highland Police Department - 3315 Ridge Rd.
McColly Realtors - 2000 45th Ave.
McColly Boyle Real Estate - 10249 Indianapolis Blvd.
Nephilim Studios - 2716 Condit St.
R Bar and Grill - 9521 Indianapolis Blvd.
Richardson Sales & Service - 9424 Indianapolis Blvd.
Victory Honda - 9800 Indianapolis Blvd.
Nephilim Studios is adding a little extra incentive to its holiday giving drive. Along with Toys for Tots, the Highland studio is collecting donations for the:
Food Bank of Northwest Indiana
Humane Indiana
MAKS.
Donors receive one raffle ticket for each donated item, up to 10 tickets per day, and on Dec. 30 the studio plans to draw 10 different winners for $50 Nephilim gift cards.
This Toys for Tots campaign serves families in communities including Highland, Dyer, Munster, Griffith and Schererville in Lake County and Newton County.
Residents of Gary, Hammond, East Chicago and Whiting are served by the separate Lake County North Toys for Tots campaign, so families requesting assistance should make sure they apply through the correct location.
Need Toys for Your Children?
Local families can also apply directly for holiday assistance through Toys for Tots. The online application allows families to provide information for up to 10 children, including several interests for each child.
Families should check the campaign's application dates and deadlines before submitting a request.
Want to Host a Toy Collection Box?
Highland businesses and organizations can also apply to become a local toy drop site.
📧 [email protected]
📞 219-712-9489
Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana is accepting applications through Nov. 15 for its Critical Repair Assistance Program for eligible Lake County homeowners affected by the June and August 2026 storms. Image courtesy of Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana.
🏠 Storm-Damaged Home? Habitat Assistance Deadline Is Nov. 15
Highland homeowners still dealing with damage from the June or August 2026 storms may be eligible for help through Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana.
The organization’s Critical Repair Assistance Program is open to eligible homeowners throughout Lake County and may provide up to $3,000 per household for qualifying storm-related expenses.
Assistance may cover expenses including:
Insurance deductibles
Sump pump replacement
Debris removal
Mold remediation
One important detail: the money is not paid directly to homeowners. Approved assistance is paid by Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana directly to a qualified contractor or service provider for approved work.
Phase 1 applications close Nov. 15, and funds are limited.
👉 Learn more or apply at nwihabitat.org
Need help with the application? Call 219-923-7265 ext. 1311 Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or email [email protected].
📣Behind the Scoop: Got a Highland Scoop? Send It Our Way
Not every story starts with a press release.
Sometimes it starts with something you noticed around town, a small win worth celebrating, a new local find or a question you’ve been wondering about.
That’s what the Community Newsroom on the Give Us the Scoop page is for.
You can send in things like:
🎉 Feel-Good Wins - Something positive happening in Highland that deserves a little attention.
👀 Local Scoops - Something you’ve seen or heard about that you think I should letter others know too.
💎 Hidden Gems - A place, program, person or community resource more Highland residents should know about.
❓ Ask the Editor - Have a question about something happening around town? Send it in and I may be able to track down the answer.
You don’t need to write the story for me. Just tell me what you know, include any helpful details or photos, and I’ll take it from there.
Some of the best local stories are the ones that never make it into an official announcement. If you spot one, I want to hear about it.
Missed the earlier Behind the Scoop posts? Catch up here:
Up Next in Behind the Scoop:
Have an event coming up in Highland? I’ll show you how to get it on my radar.
The Highland Pop Warner 8U Titans celebrate after winning the 2026 D3 State Championship. Photo courtesy of Highland Pop Warner.
The Highland Pop Warner 12U Titans celebrate after winning the 2026 D3 State Championship. Photo courtesy of Highland Pop Warner.
🏆 Highland Titans Bring Home Two State Championships
Two Highland Pop Warner teams are coming home as D3 State Champions.
The 8U and 12U Highland Titans both won their championship games this weekend, capping off postseason runs that sent multiple Highland teams deep into the playoffs.
The 8U Titans had already entered the title game undefeated after winning their semifinal matchup, while the 12U team had secured its championship berth earlier in the postseason. Both finished the job and brought championship trophies back to Highland.
The victories are a big finish for Highland Pop Warner, which sent the 8U, 9U and 12U teams to State Championship games this year.
Congratulations to the players, coaches and families behind both championship teams.
Talk soon,
Shannah Holt
Founder & Publisher, Highland Local Scoop