What recently happened?
The SHARE Foundation with the Handicapped hosted its 30th annual Leprechaun Festival at Sharing Meadows on Sunday, August 4.
The Leprechaun Hunt provided excitement and adventure for all ages in the community. Participants of the hunt competed to search for 33 ceramic leprechauns scattered across Sharing Meadow’s 200-acre residential community, each holding buckets of gold ranging from $50 to $1500.
The event also featured barbecued food and drinks, art vendors, live Irish bands, a performance by Chicago magician John Measner, face painting, and a Kid Zone filled with bouncy houses and games.
“We had an amazing turnout,” SHARE Foundation director of Events & Education Initiatives Nichole Blake said. “Everyone had an amazing time, and all the money raised at this event goes towards our Christian non-profit mission.”
The proceeds from the Leprechaun Hunt will help the foundation’s continuous efforts to assist adults with intellectual disabilities by offering independent living and daily camps at Sharing Meadows. Additional funds will help organize galas and educational classes for its residents, fostering meaningful connections through kindness.
"We are not just creating memories but also making a meaningful difference," Blake said. "We do not receive any government support. Instead, we rely on our fundraising efforts and our volunteers' time, talents, and treasures to support our mission."
The SHARE Foundation and Sharing Meadows will next host Fall Camp Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 21. The admission fee is $50 per person. Anyone interested in donating or volunteering can visit sharefoundation.org.
What’s coming up?
La Porte High School (LPHS) Slicers Varsity Football will play its first regular-season home game at Kiwanis Field at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 30.
The Slicers will compete against the Lowell High School Red Devils. The game will also be Senior Night, an opportunity to honor senior players for their hard work and dedication.
The players have undergone intense summer training in preparation for the upcoming season. They attended team camp at Trine University and continued to practice throughout July, spending 12 hours a week on the field.
“Our kids have made tremendous strides in their toughness and attitude throughout the year,” Slicers Varsity Football Coach Austin Epple said. “I want to keep that up throughout the season.”
Admission to the game is $5 per fan. Concession prices include $3 for hot dogs, brats, nachos, and cheese, $2 for drinks, and $1 for popcorn.
The next home game will be against the Chesterton High School Trojans at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 13.
Community member spotlight:
Life sometimes guides individuals on different paths, presenting new possibilities and experiences. Such transformation has the potential to bring significant change and help those around us.
La Porte Middle School (LPMS) Seventh-Grade Social Studies Teacher Kyle Chezem is retiring from education after 30 years to pursue his newfound mission in youth ministry at Journey Church in La Porte.
“I will miss the classroom,“ Chezem said. “I will miss the kids and the people I worked with. It was tough cleaning out my classroom and collecting all the little things kids have given me: notes, cards, pictures, and different things. That was an emotional experience.”
Chezem's steadfast dedication to education and helping his students impacted the halls of LPMS. He created a positive classroom environment by integrating hands-on learning and sharing personal stories of his global travels and firsthand experiences. This teaching approach fostered an appreciation for learning, making history come alive for his students.
Chezem remembers a profound influence he had on a particular student, which significantly transformed his perspective as an educator.
"I once had a student with a consistently negative attitude who never seemed interested in being there. I tried to greet them outside my door daily, but they ignored me," he said. "After Christmas, they started being friendly to me, saying 'Good morning, Mr. Chezem.' It became a regular thing between us. At the end of the year, the student gave me a note expressing that I was the only person who had noticed them the entire year. That made a difference for both of us, and it's a wonderful thing to observe as an educator."
Chezem taught in the same building as his wife, a P.E. teacher, for nearly three decades. He reflects on the bond created by their shared workplace and expresses sadness at the prospect of no longer being in the same building together.
"It was a lot of fun teaching in the same building as her," he said. "We had many of the same students, and when I would say something, I would always tell them, 'Don't tell my wife.' I will miss having that fun part of my day this year."
Chezem coached both middle school and high school sports throughout his career. He coached middle school Girls Soccer and Girls Basketball and served as the varsity assistant for high school Boys Basketball.
“My dad and brother were basketball coaches, and basketball has been a significant part of my life,” he said. “I just love the game. I love the fact that you move from offense to defense so quickly. I think it's the ultimate team game, and when it's played right, it's beautiful to watch.”
Chezem dedicated part of his time to ministry outside of school. He co-founded Journey Church in 2015 and occasionally delivered sermons on Sundays before becoming one of the lead pastors in 2022.
However, this was a challenging task. Chezem had to juggle teaching, coaching, and preparing Sunday sermons.
"It was tough," he said. "There were a lot of late nights and early mornings. It made me realize that it was difficult to juggle both things, even though I loved both. That's when I knew it was time to make a decision."
Chezem was presented with a great opportunity when the position of Navigate Youth Pastor became available at Journey this summer. He knew he could make a significant difference in the community through his experience working with youth. His background in youth ministry, particularly running the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at the middle school, convinced him that it was time to make this transition.
"Running FCA at the middle school level was one of the greatest experiences," he said. "Ministry was always a big part of my life. I had a love for impacting children through ministry. When the position opened, I decided that though I love the classroom, I love Journey more and wanted to continue building this church."
Chezem informed his family about his transition first, hoping for their understanding of this change.
"They understood," he said. "They knew it'd been a lot over the last few years to try to do both things and supported the idea. Their only concern was that I would get bored. I used to be in a building with 2,000 people, and now I work in a building with 20 people. The people at Journey have been very understanding and helpful, and we will create memories."
Chezem then shared the news with his former students and coworkers through Facebook and was surprised by the many comments he received.
“I made a post on Facebook, and I received phone calls within 30 seconds after I did a post,” he said. “People reached out, commenting that it wouldn’t be the same. Other people reached out and congratulated me. I had hundreds of messages from students, teachers, and people, so it's been overwhelming but supportive.”
Chezem will continue delivering Sunday sermons and working full-time as the Navigate youth pastor. He is responsible for planning youth retreats, assisting youth in the community, organizing Navigate Nights, and overseeing the church’s growth.
"The mission statement at Journey Church is: 'Jesus first, others second, and be third,'" he said. "In this new role, I am committed to incorporating the principle of 'be third.' My goal is to engage with students and inspire within them the conviction that God has a unique purpose and plan for their lives, empowering them to share God’s word. Witnessing their faith grow is truly a remarkable experience."
Even though Chezem will be greatly missed in the halls at LPMS, his new journey in youth ministry will guide him in spreading his faith and supporting the youth in our community, one child at a time.
