Highland’s First Strack & Van Til + A New Business Spotlight + Trojans Head to Regionals

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Check out our Highland Halloween Guide 2026 for haunted homes, trunk-or-treats, family activities and more!

For Lawrence Lovell, one of the most important parts of running a handyman business is pretty simple: show up when you say you will.

Lovell owns L. Lovell & Sons Handyman LLC in Highland, bringing 27 years of trade experience to painting, carpentry, flooring and other home maintenance projects.

Lovell entered the trades in 1999 when he joined the Painters Union in Chicago. He spent nearly a decade working in the city before the 2008 housing downturn brought repeated layoffs.

An opportunity through his church eventually took his career in a new direction. After being asked to paint a new addition, Lovell approached the general contractor about learning carpentry and remodeling while he worked.

He picked up the new skills quickly, expanding what had primarily been painting experience into a broader range of home improvement work.

Painting remains a major part of the business, but Lovell also handles carpentry, flooring, finish work and general home maintenance.

A portion of his work involves apartment turnovers for property management companies, including painting, installing floors and preparing units for incoming tenants.

After nearly three decades in the trades, Lovell says reliability and attention to detail remain at the center of how he approaches each job.

L. Lovell & Sons Handyman LLC
📍 Highland, Indiana
📞 219-779-6608
🌐 llovellandsons.com
Facebook: L Lovell and Sons Handyman

This weekend’s Highland Trivia asked about Strack & Van Til’s first Highland location, and just days ago we shared the company’s 97th anniversary giveaway. So for this week’s history, we’re going back to where the Strack & Van Til story really began.

In 1960, Ernie Strack and Nick Van Til opened their first supermarket together on 10 acres at Cline Avenue and 45th Street in Highland, launching what would become one of Northwest Indiana’s most recognizable grocery chains.

The partnership itself began a year earlier, in 1959, after the men's shared accountant suggested they go into business together. Their Highland supermarket became the beginning of a company that would eventually grow throughout Northwest Indiana and the Chicago suburbs.

Strack’s path to Highland was remarkable on its own. He immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1927 and, a year later, was hired to sweep the back rooms of a Kroger store in Gary. Within just four months, he had worked his way up to store manager, even though he was still learning English.

By the time Strack and Van Til teamed up, both men already had decades of grocery experience behind them. Their Highland partnership would turn their names into one of the Region’s most familiar brands.

Did You Know? Strack & Van Til’s second location didn’t open until 1968, when the company purchased a bankrupt grocery store in Schererville.

Source: NWI Times, Strack & Van Til purchase saved 220 jobs, a huge victory for the Region.

The Lake County Public Library, which operates Highland’s branch on Jewett Street, is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a Commemorative Poster Contest themed “Yesterday’s Legacy, Tomorrow’s Imagination.”

Entries should be inspired by favorite library memories, and paintings, drawings, crayon, watercolor, photography, mixed media and digital artwork are all welcome.

A panel of judges will choose nine winning entries. Each will be displayed at a library branch and turned into a collectible poster for patrons in 2027. Winners will also receive a printed and matted copy of their artwork.

The contest is open to LCPL district residents and runs through Nov. 30.

👉 Rules and entry form

Highland’s Respite Care Services, 9000 Indianapolis Blvd., is holding its Poinsettia Fundraiser, with orders open Oct. 19 through Nov. 16.

Poinsettias are available in three sizes and colors, and decorated wreaths are available too.

Orders can be picked up Tuesday, Nov. 24, at the Masonic Lodge, 2234 Martha St. in Highland, just in time for Thanksgiving week. Orders of 15 or more can be delivered.

To request an order form, call 219-972-8172.

It’s an easy way to add some holiday color while supporting a local organization that serves area families.

Highland’s cross country teams made the most of racing on their home course Saturday at the IHSAA Sectional.
The boys placed fifth as a team, edging Illiana Christian by 17 points for the final qualifying spot and earning a trip to the regional. The Trojans averaged 17 minutes, 5 seconds for the 5K, well ahead of the 17:45 team average they set as a goal at the start of the season.

Senior Colglazier led Highland in 10th place at 16:30, followed by sophomore Strietelmeier in 16th, senior Bishop in 25th, senior Ahmad in 36th and sophomore Castillo in 39th.

The girls finished sixth, narrowly missing a team qualifying spot. Freshman Stephens led the Lady Trojans in 25th place at 20:51, with junior Sines close behind in 31st. Based on the IHSAA rules Highland’s girls will also race at the regional as individual qualifiers but I don’t have confirmation of individual runners yet. .

Next up is the IHSAA Regional at New Prairie High School in New Carlisle on Saturday, Oct. 24. The regional begins at 10:30 a.m. Central.

Source: IHSAA