The number of counties at increased risk of COVID-19 fell from 61 in Illinois to 28 last week.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 20 of Indiana’s 92 counties are currently at increased risk, none of which are in Northwest Indiana.
Indiana had 2,960 new coronavirus cases and 74 deaths last week, according to the CDC. The seven-day moving average of Hoosier state hospitalizations was 69.14.
219 News Now: NIPSCO donates $100,000 to Challenger Learning Center.
Last week, Illinois had 10,967 new COVID-19 cases and 78 deaths. The seven-day moving average of new hospital admissions for Lincoln State for coronavirus was 173.43.
Cook, Will, and Kankakee counties, just across the Northwest Indiana state line, all currently have a moderate risk of COVID-19, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
“I’m encouraged to see the number of COVID-19 communities across Illinois continue to decline,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Rates of the XBB variant ‘Kraken’, which is spreading throughout the East Coast, are slowly increasing in the Midwest and we continue to monitor this new variant closely. However, we are fortunate not to see an increase in hospital admissions at this time. The IDPH continues to focus its efforts on maintaining hospital capacity and protecting Illinois residents who are most at risk from serious illness from COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.”
The CDC estimates that 61% of Indiana residents over the age of 5 and 75% of Illinois residents have completed their first series of COVID-19 vaccinations.
Currently, Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton, Starke, and Pulaski counties in northwestern Indiana are considered at low risk of COVID-19 transmission, according to the CDC.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: NetPar Golf Simulator Bar, Practically Magic Garden & Events and Casey’s Grand Opening
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NetPar Golf extends the golf season with its indoor golf simulators that allow people to play virtual versions of famous golf courses like Pebble Beach.
The indoor golf simulator first opened at Crown Point in 2021. It recently launched in Munster’s Centennial Village, will open in West Lafayette this week and plans to open a fourth location in a new building under construction in Chesterton.
NetPar is both an upscale sports bar and indoor golf simulator where customers can play simulated versions of more than 210 renowned golf courses from around the world, including St. Andrew in Scotland and Spyglass Hill in California.
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Golfers rent TrackMan bays by the hour to play virtual 18 holes, recreated with drones as realistically as possible. The Munster site has six bays, in addition to the four at Crown Point.
“We enlarged the bays. They’re longer and wider,” said Courtney Stanley, manager of marketing and special events. “People were really excited about the larger bays. We have been expanding the course library every month, adding more and more courses.”
NetPar Golf also employs a PGA Pro who offers golf instruction at both the Crown Point and Munster locations.
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“He’s a really big part of our winter operations,” Stanley said. “He’s run a few classes, junior league sessions and drills.”
NetPar liked West Lafayette because it’s a busy college town. People have been flooding NetPar’s social media with messages asking when it will open.
NetPar came to Munster because they liked the location in the new mixed-use development, Centennial Village, next to the Centennial Park golf course.
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“There are a lot of new restaurants and new businesses popping up there,” Stanley said. “People think of golf when they go there to eat or drink.”
The NetPar in Münster has a bar with beer, wine and spirits. Customers can drink at the bar, in a cove with their group, or at a high table.
“It’s a high-end bar with specialties and cocktails,” she said. “There’s definitely a great whiskey and bourbon selection. It’s a mix of mid and high end.”
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Unlike the Crown Point location, the Munster spot does not serve food. It’s looking for grocery partners to bring in orders via DoorDash from outside, but doesn’t have a kitchen.
NetPar has several TVs showing sports and will be promoting major golf tournaments like the Masters to encourage people to come in and play golf while watching the action on TV. It will also host birthday parties and company outings.
“It’s a nice bar,” said Stanley. “It’s a great bar to go out with friends.”
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NetPar offers live music and league games including women’s and junior leagues. It has memberships for individuals and companies that offer perks like earlier tee times for preferred bookings, 20% off golf lessons and discounts on merchandise.
While walk-ins are accepted, golfers are advised to book in advance. The bays also have games such as seeing how far they can go or if they can hit the bull’s eye.
“NetPar has redefined indoor golf. We’re taking it to the next level,” she said. “We have exceptional customer service, the ability to play any game or course you want, and top-notch games. It analyzes every shot to help you get better. People who don’t play can hang out and have fun time. There is something for everybody.”
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“Our next hop is to Chesterton,” she said. “We want to expand into new markets.”
NetPar is open seven days a week from 10am to 10pm.
For more information visit netpar.golf, call 219-513-6283 or find the company on Facebook and Instagram.
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Conveniently, Magic Garden & Events took over the former Artful Garden location at Crown Point.
Bri Doyle and Kassie Hanger opened the home furnishings shop and garden, which will soon host spring, summer and fall events.
The store at 611 N. Indiana Ave. sells indoor plants and home accessories such as lanterns, candles, flowers and everyday necessities. It has two sheds at the back – one of which becomes a second showroom for more home décor and the other a room for special events.
“We’re going to do DIY parties, baby showers, and bridal showers,” Doyle said.
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They plan to convert a trailer into a counter in the back to serve coffee and other beverages as customers roam the garden.
“In spring it’s packed with annuals, flowers and hanging baskets everywhere you look,” she said. “We will be open from early May to December and then we will have live Christmas trees outside. We will have fall festivals with pumpkins.”
The garden features a selection of hanging baskets, potted plants, annuals, succulents, petunias and vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers.
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“When we bought it from the owner, Liz (Messing), she told us to always have the veggies that people want,” Doyle said. “They come in six packs to put in your garden.”
Both Doyle and Hanger grew up in Newton County and loved visiting the Artful Garden.
“It’s a hidden garden. It’s a jewel full of flowers and trees,” she said. “When we heard it was closing we wanted to move on with the beautiful garden we just loved so we reached out to them. We love the garden and the history. We both have young children and are so excited to be able to move in with the whole family.”
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They named their new business after the movie, Practical Magic, which Hanger kept watching with her sisters.
“It’s a sweet sister film that means so much to us,” she said. “Plus, it’s practically magical in the garden, so we brought the two things together. It has such a great atmosphere and tranquility. You can meet new people and chat for 30 minutes. We want to run it for many years. It’s a place where everyone is welcome.”
In the future, they hope to expand the business with things like a tea shop, selling snacks or a bakery in a trailer.
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“Our next hop is to Chesterton,” she said. “We want to expand into new markets.”
NetPar is open seven days a week from 10am to 10pm.
For more information visit netpar.golf, call 219-513-6283 or find the company on Facebook and Instagram.
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A new Casey’s convenience store and gas station opens on Indianapolis Boulevard near Cabela’s in Hammond. It is now under construction near the entrance to the big-box Cabela and Super Walmart stores, which have anchored many new commercial developments right off the Borman Expressway in Hammond in recent years.
“They have been delayed but have started again,” said Hammond’s director of economic development, Anne Anderson.
Based in Iowa, Casey’s was founded in 1968 and has grown to more than 2,400 locations.
It is known for sandwiches, snacks, breakfast items and most importantly for its iconic pizza. Casey’s delivers its pizza and was actually the 5th largest pizza chain in the United States as of 2021, despite only having a presence in 16 states.
It has locations in Northwest Indiana, including in Dyer, Griffith, Crown Point, Valparaiso, Hebron, and Lowell. It’s especially popular in more rural communities like Remington, DeMotte, and Wheatfield.
219 News Now: NIPSCO donates $100,000 to Challenger Learning Center.
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Video provided in association with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Gourmet bakery with Filipino cakes, artisan jewelry store and opening of “Chicagoland’s Oldest Karate School”.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Tavern on the Lake, Artofsoul: The Eatery and opening of the Clarity Clinic
