Top 10 Community Articles on LaPorteCounty.life 2025

What a year it has been for La Porte County. Businesses, organizations, and city leaders all came together to make this year a memorable one. The community was able to enjoy all kinds of events, from Ivy Tech’s Lab Ribbon Cutting to the City of La Porte’s Sunflower Fest. La Porte County was full of life.

In no particular order, here are the Top 10 Community Articles on LaPorteCounty.Life to recap the great news in 2025.

Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch of Michigan City Joins the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is pleased to welcome Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch and Michigan City, IN to its growing coalition of more than 260 mayors and top elected local leaders working to advance the socioeconomic and environmental health of communities in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin. 

Ivy Tech’s Welding Program expansion and its impact on students and industry 

On April 9, Ivy Tech Valparaiso celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the expansion of its welding program. The ceremony marked a significant milestone in the program’s growth and ability to provide students with enhanced learning opportunities. President Sue Ellspermann, PhD, and Valparaiso Chancellor Aco Sikoski shared their thoughts on the program’s importance, joining students, faculty, and community leaders to recognize the opportunities now available to future welders across the region.    

UnitedHealthcare takes on 1,600-stair climb at Soldier Field as Fight For Air Climb sponsor

Starting at 8 a.m. on Sunday, June 22, people across multiple states gathered at Soldier Field in Chicago for a special purpose: to support and honor those with lung disease by participating in Chicago’s Fight For Air Climb. Participants signed up for the event for $35 online and $50 at the door — which contributed to the goal of raising $438,000 for American Lung Association — and took on the challenge of climbing Soldier Field’s 1,600 stairs.

Michigan City Human Rights Commission celebrates the contributions of several Michigan City residents at Humanitarian of the Year celebration

On the evening of Thursday, June 12, the Michigan City Human Rights Commission hosted its annual Humanitarian of the Year celebration at the Michigan City Senior Center. Over 150 community members, elected officials, and City of Michigan City government staff turned out for this event. The Human Rights Commission has been ensuring that the needs of all people in the community are met since 1981. The Humanitarian of the Year celebration honors individuals who have helped support the Michigan City community in various ways.

Lubeznik Center for the Arts hosts annual Arts Festival 2025

On August 16-17, Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) proudly hosted its 43rd annual Lubeznik Arts Festival. Art aficionados and creative connoisseurs were invited to the forefront of its lakefront campus to bask in local, artistic ingenuity. 

“The festival is a staple in Michigan City,” said Jessie Sexton, marketing manager at LCA. “People look forward to it, and I think it is still something that new people are learning about.”

How NIPSCO safely and reliably restores power during outages

September is National Preparedness Month, a time to reflect on how to be ready for unexpected events. Whether it’s impacts from severe weather to other emergencies. preparedness is a shared responsibility. While power outages are not everyday occurrences, knowing what to do before one happens can make all the difference.

Severe weather can impact Northwest Indiana at any given time throughout the year, bringing with it the potential for thunderstorms,
flooding and tornadoes. As a result, the electric system that delivers power to residents and businesses in the community can be impacted due to damage caused by high winds and other forces of nature, which can result in power outages. Outages can range from a few hours to multi-day outages, depending on the extent of damage caused by severe weather.

It’s sunny skies ahead at the City of La Porte’s 26th annual Sunflower Fair

The City of La Porte’s downtown scene sprouted to life on Saturday, September 20, with the return of the beloved annual Sunflower Fair. Resembling the color of the summertime flower, La Porte was lively and bright as hundreds of spectators browsed Michigan Avenue, which was filled with over 140 craft and specialty vendors, eateries, and activities for all ages as the festival celebrated its 26th run.

LaPorte County Parks curates an immersive experience to the area’s nature landscape  

Visit Michigan City LaPorte touts the tourism attractions across LaPorte County, such as the local LaPorte County Parks, consisting of Bluhm County Park, Creek Ridge County Park, Luhr County Park, Red Mill County Park, and Sebert Woods County Park. Together the parks cover more than 600 acres for visitors enjoyment, which includes wildlife, trails, hiking, playgrounds, dog parks, fishing, riding, fitness equipment, mountain biking, and horseback riding.

City of La Porte and LEAP host 2025 “Why La Porte” State of the City address with Mayor Tom Dermody

On Tuesday, November 18, the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership (LEAP) and the City of La Porte hosted the sixth annual State of the City address from Mayor of La Porte Tom Dermody. The mayoral address, also known as “Why La Porte”, offers the community an opportunity to look back on the ways that La Porte has shown growth over the past year. 

GreatNews.Life celebrates community, connection, and commitment to Northern Indiana at 10th annual Good Life Awards

Chris Mahlmann and the GreatNews.Life team returned to Uptown Social on November 19 for the 10th annual Good Life Awards, inducting six new community and business leaders into the ranks of the Good Life Award honorees. This year’s ceremony was filled with laughter, tears, and a shared commitment to highlighting the good in Northern Indiana.