This year’s Ashley’s Jewelry Duneland Distinguished Woman, presented by the
Duneland Chamber of Commerce, is Lorelei Weimer, executive director of
Indiana Dunes Tourism.
Weimer was honored on Wednesday at the annual State of the Chamber luncheon
at Sand Creek Country Club.
Presenting the award was the 2011 recipient, Linda Ramsey. “I can’t say
enough about (Weimer’s) achievements,” Ramsey said. “I literally have pages
on her that I could share with you. She’s given our community its brand,
rearranged her office to meet the needs of her strategic plan, and worked
tirelessly to promote the county to attract tourists. She’s simply amazing.”
Weimer was presented with the signature Duneland Distinguished Woman diamond
necklace, designed, created, and donated by Ashley’s Jewelry.
Community Improvement:
Renovation
Fresh on the news of its purchase of Westchester Lanes--saving the
long-standing bowling tradition in Duneland--Seven Peaks Duneland was
presented with this year’s Community Improvement Award for Renovation, in
honor of its rehabilitation of the old Splash Down Dunes Water Park.
Now: Seven Peaks Duneland Water Park.
“As the economy recovers, it’s exciting to see new life breathed into
projects it seemed would never get revitalized,” presenter Scott Mundell
said. “No project exemplifies this progress more than the adventure at Seven
Peaks Duneland Water Park. The work has been arduous and more intense than
anticipated but the fruits of this team’s labor will lend years of family
fun to the Duneland community--not only at this location but also at their
recently purchased Westchester Lanes.”
Community Improvement:
New Construction
There were two recipients of this year’s Community Improvement Award for New
Construction.
The first: the Addison Pointe Health and Rehabilitation Center on Dickinson
Road in Chesterton.
“As the Chamber of Commerce, we love great economic development projects,”
presenter Tracy Freeze said. “Keeping business here, helping business grow,
and attracting new business is a large part of what we do. (Addison Pointe)
has brought not only jobs to our community but also a state-of-the-art
rehabilitation and care facility. The superior functionality and impressive
aesthetic beauty of this building is enough to make any chamber of
commerce--and local community--proud.”
The second recipient: In Good Company, builder of The Traditions apartment
buildings at the Village in Burns Harbor.
“Having great jobs in a community makes it grow,” Freeze said. “Having great
places to live makes it home. (In Good Company) has extended the
dream of small-town neighborhood living to those who don’t typically get to
experience it. The Traditions apartment buildings in Burns Harbor are
beautiful multi-family rental units constructed using green manufacturing
techniques and high-quality materials and furnishings that you’d expect in
stand-alone homes.”
Freeze added that In Good Company is also building a recreation center to be
used by the apartment residents and homeowners in The Village, a
“cutting-edge partnership in the property management industry.”