What’s recently happened?
The third annual La Porte LakeFest recently filled the lake from shore to shore and lit up the sky from July 28 - 30. This year’s main event, the P1 AquaX Jet Ski Races, took place on the last two days of the festival on Stone Lake. Lakefest was free of charge and all were welcome, including pets.
Other featured events included live music, fireworks, a large artisan market, sand volleyball, and kids' activities. It was a weekend full of entertainment and fun for anyone in La Porte and in the region.
Everclear, a 90’s rock band, performed for the vendors and community members at the Dennis F. Amphitheater right next to the market for free. If you wanted a better seat, a limited number of stage front passes were available for sale. They performed at 6:30 p.m. and musicians James Neary and Midwest Hype opened the show.
“I thought it was a great way to spend my weekend with my family and friends. There was a great variety of vendors and made for such an awesome time. My favorite part was the firework show. It was short, but it was the perfect way to end the night,” Lisa Lambert said.
What’s coming up?
The annual Tour de La Porte is August 25 - 27. Tour de La Porte is a walking, running, and cycling event that raises money to support the mission of the La Porte County Family YMCA. There are a variety of activities and distances to include as many community members as possible. All profits go to the YMCA and directly back into the community.
The family fun run/walk event is new to the 2023 Tour de La Porte. For this event, children under 11 are free, otherwise, it is $6.25 per person. The registration deadline is August 26. This event will take place on the 26th at 9 am.
Also on the 26 are the running events - Half Marathon at 6:45 a.m., 5K Run at 7 a.m., 5K Walk at 7:15 a.m., and Kids mini TDL obstacle course. The obstacle course is open to children 4-12 years old.
Cycling events will take place on Sunday, August 27 with 5, 15, 25, 40, 60, 75, and 100-mile route options. Depending on the distance you choose, there will be pit stops throughout town with water and snacks. All cycling events are $60 until the 27th, which will then be $65.
Distances 100, 75, and 60 start at 6:30 a.m.; 40 starts at 7 a.m.; 15 and 25 start at 8:30 a.m. 5-mile riders have the option to start riding whenever they would like as long as it is before 9:30 a.m.
Early packet pick-up is 3-7 p.m. Friday the 25th, 5:30-8:30 a.m. Saturday the 26th, and 6-8 a.m. Sunday the 27th.
Community member spotlight
Danny Evans is a very well-known member of the La Porte community. Evans owns his own business in which he helps with assisted living move-in/move-outs, landscaping, clean-outs, and gutter cleaning.
By cleaning out houses, Evans is able to acquire extra furniture and belongings that people don’t want or have room for, so he donates all of it to Center Township Trustee Lisa Pierzakowski. Pierzakowski then gives all of these items to the homeless or needy.
“There are so many people in need and I have been so blessed that it just makes sense to help them out,” Evans said.
Evans has been doing this for 14 years and has never sold one advertisement. He gets jobs just from word of mouth and has been super successful.
Outside of his business Evans loves to contribute to the community and help anybody he can. He has gone to Belize six times to build churches, a mission house, and teach vacation bible school.
“No matter how many times I go to Belize I always come home with more than I left with. The heartfelt love that is shared, not only with our Belize family, but the people that go with us from La Porte, is nothing you can imagine. It cannot be put into words. It has to be experienced,” Evans said.
He has also gone on mission trips to Minnesota and West Virginia. Around the community, Evans helps at the Pax Center, coaches Little League, teaches Sunday school, and works with the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
In his free time, Evans loves to work with his youth bowling team. He has been coaching bowling for 51 years.
“No matter what you do, you can make a difference in someone’s life. That doesn’t mean you have to have a business or a lot of money. You can just talk to them or spend time with them to make a person’s day,” Evans said.