Philanthropist and millionaire Dean White, left a legacy that will keep his memory alive forever. He was blessed because he shared his blessings with hundreds of others — no thousands. I pray his family finds comfort and warmth realizing how very much he was loved, and I hope his children walk in his footsteps. Thank you for sharing your husband and dad with so many others. His life was a light in the darkness.
I apologize! Last week I told you about the Wine Tasting on Oct. 8 at the Old Town Banquet Center in Valparaiso for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, and also about the Elvis Fantasy Fest for Porter County Special Olympics from Oct. 7 through 9, but I failed to tell you the cost of tickets. Blame it on my age.
For the wine tasting, tickets are $35, and can be purchased at Triangle/ Trail Inn Liquors, or Blythe’s Sporting Goods. It is important to know that 96 percent of the funds raised that evening will help little ones with brain cancer. The Elvis Fantasy Fest has a variety of prices. A weekend pass covering Friday through Sunday is $125 and has reserved table seating. Saturday/Sunday combination tickets are $85 and are also reserved seating. And tickets for a specific show are $35. Tickets can be purchased online at www.elvisfantasyfest.com. You can also purchase tickets at the door the day of the event. This is a blessing for our athletes, as all proceeds benefit their programs. For further information, please call 317-744-7354.
Did you know in our neighboring state, Michigan’s state senate passed legislation to allow self-driving cars to zoom along their highways and byways without any person in the car to correct any glitches? Gulp! Their reasoning is to keep Michigan at the top of the auto industry innovation. It sounds understandable but also kind of scary and weird. Imagine driving up there, and suddenly coming upon a car without a driver! I must admit, I’d love to get in my car, program it to drive to Colorado, and then read a book or snooze. I wonder what the driverless car does when it need to refuel. Soon young people will think it’s perfectly normal, just as they do with all things technological. See you on the highway.
I wonder what it will take to fill an auditorium or church with men and women who need to know about the escalating drug problem in our county. Drug abuse is rampant throughout our nation, and Porter County is high on the list.
A panel Wednesday evening at the First United Methodist Church was so knowledgeable from every aspect that it should have been standing room only. But instead, there were far too many empty seats. It was as puzzling to the audience as it was to the group that invited all of us to listen and learn.
More Top Picks Westinghouse Wpx3200
I have yet to attend any informative meeting on drug abuse that was packed. Why? Will it take a sad catastrophe to wake us up? Will we remain complacent about its widespread use until it becomes a personal problem when it is someone in our lives who has overdosed?
The video shown by Sheriff Dave Reynolds indicates the need for awareness by every single person in our community as we watched inmates who willingly told their stories to help stop the rampage of abuse. These were young men and women who were your children and grandchildren, your neighbors, your friends, your classmates. They are from caring families — kids who took a wrong turn and couldn’t find their way back. Every one of the prisoners in our Porter County jail are there because of drug abuse. Read that sentence again, and then realize what is happening right here in our neighborhood.
Ric Frataccia, Valparaiso superintendent, said when children feel isolated, regardless of their family status, they are more apt to turn to drugs, but if they feel that someone, not necessarily family, appear to think they are worthy of attention, they are far less likely to fall into the drug scene. He suggested that all of us, whether it is at church, school, outings, etc., are around young people of school age that we take the time to ask them how they are doing; what grade they are in; how nice they look; whether they are in sports or band; and any other chat time that will help them know you care, those kids have just been shown that someone thinks they’re a neat kid, and the need for the wrong kind of attention lessens.
So please follow his lead, and talk to kids, smile at those you don’t know, and be at the next event to listen and learn so you can be a part of the solution. Then I hope you have a great day because you deserve it. Thanks for reading. Fly your flag.
Lorrie Woycik is a freelance columnist for the Post-Tribune.