Welcome to spring! At the Valpo YMCA Ringing in Spring run last Saturday, it was anything but spring, with strong, shivering winds, pellets of stinging snow, ugly gray clouds, and once in a while a split-second tease of sunshine. I honestly don’t know why every runner/walker didn’t just sneak back home after they picked up their registration packet and shirt.
But nope, they all dashed off with the starting gun, and over 1,500 runners took off to walk a mile, or run a 5k or 10k while the rest of us clapped and snuggled into warm jackets. The good part of the day was that, even with the weather, the dollars raised will ensure that families who otherwise would not be able to take advantage of the programs offered at the Y — especially for their little ones — will have the opportunity to enjoy healthy exercise and valuable friendships.
The Y turns no one away because of finances, with the mission to serve all by providing programs to develop healthy minds and bodies. Included are reduced memberships, special classes for cancer survivors, diabetics, senior citizens, and people with special needs. It truly is a welcoming place. To all the brave participants, Y staff, and volunteers, a sincere high five and thank you for reaching out to everyone. You are my pet persons of the week. Some of you parents might be interested in signing up your little ones, age 3-7 for their T-ball League, with free signups on April 11,12, and 14. After that, there is a cost.
It has been another week of excitement and extra-special happenings for some of our Special Olympics athletes. The Porter County Special Olympics Hornets, a 3-on-3 men’s basketball team had never made it to the state finals before. This year they won at sectionals to earn their way to the state finals, and came away with their first-ever state championship. Coach Joe Petrovich was gushing with pride for his stars, and his players, Wayne Koontz, Andy Petrovich, Taylor Wilson, John Tunacik, and Doug Hugus just lit up the room with their smiles. Then there were the two Porter County women’s gold medal state winners — the Shiners and the Sparks — who were invited to be the guests of the NCAA Women’s Division III finals at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Talk about stardom–the players had courtside seats, acted as co-captains for the teams, presented awards to the winners and runner-up team, and were introduced at front and center court between the third and fourth quarter.. They even were given NCAA finals shirts. Their coaches, Brenda Piper and Dave Brendza, were as thrilled as the players were. I thought for sure they would all sleep on the way home. HA! Their excitement was still on high, and a good time was had by all.
I am already sad that basketball season is over, but I’m even more bummed than usual with Bryce Drew leaving Valparaiso University as head coach to become the varsity coach at Vanderbilt University. The Drew name is synonymous with VU basketball, and it just feels so sad to know that era is over. It’s been a great run, and although many of us wish he was staying, We all thank him for following in his Dad, Homer’s footprints to give us such great reasons to cheer, and especially a thank you for bringing class, and even prayer, into a sport that sometimes has players and coaches getting carried away with behavior that would be best left outside. Thank you, Bryce, and I pray that God blesses you and your family, and continues to give you the ability to teach as you coach young men to be the best they can be. You will always be a pet person to me.
When I was (much) younger, one of my favorite Sunday School songs was “We are climbing Jacob’s Ladder”, and that’s just what is happening with the Jacob’s Ladder Pediatric Rehabilitation Center, which recently moved from its home in Portage to a new home in Chesterton so that more youngsters can receive more needs fulfilled. Their new address is 1595 S. Calumet Road, Suite 3. For more information, please visit JacobsKids.org or call 219-896-0235. The move was made possible with a grant of $58,000 form the Starlight Children’s Foundation. As with most agencies that serve children or adults with special needs, Jacob’s Ladder relies on fundraisers and donations. For the entire month of April, Texas Roadhouse in Portage, 6130 U.S. 6, is offering one of two appetizers free to anyone who donates $5 or more for the rehab center. That’s a win-win for everyone, so please take your family or friends to Texas Roadhouse this month. Their food is great too! Then I hope you have a great day because you deserve it. Thanks for reading. Fly your flag.