Seasons Change and Great News remains the same

Never is it lost on me that we get to spend time in so many communities and share in their celebrations, history, students, parks, and play and how that feeds my soul. As summer events begin to wind up, and back to school is in full force, we can tell you from being at so many of your events, or capturing your family at high school games, the seasons change and good people doing great things remains the same, just like it has since 2009 when we started in Valpo with Valpo.Life. This past week had some shining examples of those stories that can be captured and images that can be shared of people doing just what we said we would do almost 18 years ago: report on nice people doing good things in your community and be the leading contributor to the library of good that can enjoyed about the world locally around us. These stories are being told every week in every county that we serve across Lake, Porter, La Porte, St. Joseph, and Elkhart counties.

One company cannot on it’s own change the algorithm that powers the negative digital landscape that exists today, but a group of 120,000 followers who still believe the world around us is far more good than bad, and who find nourishment and energy from reading about and seeing images and videos of a positive nature, can do a world of good one click at a time.

If this is what a week looks like in our world, no wonder we are more often than not smiling. Enjoy these most recent inspirations, Share Your Good with everything that you are loving in the world around you right now, and keep your eyes open in the week ahead for your own signs of life.

Stay positive.

Three Generations of Park Stewards Build on Kirchhoff Park’s Century-Long Legacy

“We each inherited a great system and never forget our responsibility to not only preserve it, but to grow it, nurture it, and make sure the next generation does the same,” Seibert said.

Three generations of stewards standing together in a place entrusted to them by generations before, building it for generations they will never meet.

Mishawaka Parks Miracle League Opening Day 2026

“It’s very emotional for us; we’ve been working on this project for over three years in order to make it come to reality, and today is the big opening day for us,” said Park Superintendent Phil Blasko. “We have almost 100 athletes from ages 4 up to 48 that will be out here on the field today, and some adults as well. Most of them will be playing baseball for the first time in their life.”

Elkhart County CVB and Friends of the Lerner Celebration Under The Stars 2026

“It’s amazing economically, but more than anything, this is bringing people together. I’ve seen nothing but smiles for the last two hours. What I see is a community coming together right now. For a town our size, this is an amazing set,” Reynolds said.

Casting Lines and Building Community: Brown Faces Green Spaces and Lake County Parks Bring Families Together for Fishing Derby

The Lake County Parks and Recreation Department and BFGS have encouraged the community to immerse themselves more with nature. Both organizations have a shared goal: get together and get outside.

“We’ve been through something so tremendous and tragic with the storm that came through this area, but out of all the hardship, there is always one place we can go for respite, and that’s nature,” Gordon said. “We let nature do some healing from some of the damage it caused this past week, and it’s always going to be around.”

Purdue University Northwest welcomes new and returning students to campus with free swag, resources and connection

“These events are a great celebration for our students being welcomed back to campus and to start off their academic year on a good foot. They’re also able to learn about all the different resources and ways that they are supported in their academic journeys during their time here at the university,” PNW Media and Communications Specialist Kale Wilk said. “Whether you’re a student experiencing your first semester as part of the PNW Lions or you’re somebody who’s getting ready to graduate, there’s something for everyone.”

IU Northwest welcomes incoming freshmen during annual RedHawk Induction Ceremony

“As an undergraduate student, just like you, I walked in some of the same halls that you will walk in, sat in some of the same classrooms that you will be sitting in, and met with professors, some of whom are still here at IU Northwest after all these years. All that is to say that my journey, while decades apart, is in fact quite similar to yours,” Vega-Finn said. “Today, when I think about IU Northwest, I don’t just think about it as a campus or a workplace. It’s a community, a family, and a place that’s shaped who I am in ways that I couldn’t have imagined.”

Community Back to School Gallery

Our social team engaged with the community across Northern Indiana to help celebrate students going back to school, and for many in Northwest Indiana going back to school was a heroic achievement and absolutely something to celebrate.

Want to add your own keepsake to make it easy to share with friends that are not on Facebook? Send it to us.

Student Voices

Streaming In already with great news highlights from Lowell, Hammond Central, Lake Central, Munster, Griffith, Chesterton, Morgan Township, La Porte, La Lumiere, Hammond Area Career Center, and Marian.

This program is open to one student from every high school across those 5 counties, each sharing their top positive news stories and memories from their school. Click here to message us with interest in the program.

Fields, trails, and courts are open with fall high school sports

Fall sports have kicked off with football from SB Riley vs Valparaiso, Andrean vs Merrillville, Lowell vs Crown Point, and Hobart vs Chesterton; volleyball at the La Porte Invitational and Crown Point Invite; and cross country at the NIC Stomp. Our crew is there to capture every aspect of the game experience so that as many moms, dads, grandparents, and students can enjoy the memories that night and forever in the largest library for good. If you want to help make sure GreatNews.Life is at one of your upcoming games, message our team here.