What’s recently happened?
The Valparaiso High School (VHS) 2024-25 school year has come to a close. The school year wrapped up on May 29 with a half day. In addition to classes ending, the end of the school year signals the end of most sports seasons at VHS.
“I’m excited for this track and field season to be over because it’s such a long season, but it's going to be sad because my last year will be next year,” said VHS Junior Saylor Gapinski.
Six days after the last day of school, seniors collected their diplomas and graduated from VHS. Graduation took place at the VHS football field the evening of June 4. Before graduation, two students and one teacher were chosen to speak at the event. VHS Seniors Jin Bloom and Charlotte Wells were chosen this year to represent their senior class in their speeches.
“I wanted to speak at graduation to really represent us - our experiences, our struggles, and our accomplishments,” Bloom said. “When I found out I was a graduation speaker, I was ecstatic. I was writing all the ideas I had and was really getting into it.”
In addition, VHS Teacher Joseph Weil was chosen as the faculty speaker.
“It was humbling to be chosen,” Weil said. “I feel hopeful for this senior class. I wish for them to perform great deeds in the service of others, and I hope they will look ahead to tomorrow's challenges with confidence and humility.”
“Life after high school will be an adjustment everyone will have to adapt to,” Bloom added. “There will be more responsibilities and harder work. Maybe you won’t see your good friends for years but it’s all worth it. We’re going to do great things. Let’s go shock the world, Valpo.”
For many of the seniors at VHS, this is a bittersweet time.
“I have a lot of happy memories from this time, but I’m excited to leave it in the past and head on to exploring new experiences with a lot more freedom in college,” VHS Senior Keira Rhein said.
“Every year is sad when we end, because I don’t see my students after junior year, but I look forward to staying home with my kids, and having a vacation,” VHS Math Teacher Whitney Stanfill said
What’s coming up?
With summer vacation here, many people enjoy spending more time outside. One fun way to do this is summer outdoor movies, which are played at Central Park Plaza in downtown Valpo. On Tuesday, June 10, “Inside Out 2” is playing, and on the following Tuesday (June 17) “The Parent Trap” will be shown. On June 24, “Monsters Inc.” will be shown. All movies start at 5:30 and will run to approximately 9:30.
If you enjoy live theater more than the big screen, the Memorial Opera House is performing the musical “Heathers” on June 13 and 14 at 7 p.m., and on June 15 at 2 p.m. Ensemble Member Kate Puffer encourages people to attend the show while explaining what makes it unique.
“Everyone is really passionate and excited to do this show, we are working together to do the story justice in a fun way!” Puffer said. “Also, the environment is super supportive and high energy! ‘Heathers’ has some darker moments that our director is handling very well with planning and conversation to make sure we are respecting the cast and the story. Come to the show and have some big fun!”
Summer is also a big time for the arts, as more people are able to get out and about. Starting on Friday, June 20 (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.), to Saturday June 21 (10 a.m.- 4 p.m.), Valparaiso Nazarene Church is hosting the “Quilts-a-Budding” Quilt show. There will be over 300 quilts shown at the event, which costs $10 for adults and $5 for those aged 6-18.
In addition, Valparaiso’s 4th of July celebrations are just around the corner. This year, the event (on July 4, weather permitting) starts at 5 p.m. at Urschel Field. There will be live music, over 25 food trucks, and fireworks will begin at approximately 9:15.
“The 4th of July celebrations make me happy because at the festivities people can set aside their differences and celebrate together,” VHS Sophomore Jace Hubbard said.
Community member spotlight:
Old World Market was established in 2000, and in the past seven years, owner Patty Locke has kept the business to its original ideals.
“We strive to offer excellent customer service, and treat all of our customers like family. We focus on offering European products with high quality ingredients,” Locke said.
Old World Market provides many foods you can’t get elsewhere, such as specialty pastas and olive oils, and many European candies and snacks, helping Valparaisians add culinary depth at home. In addition to this, the Old World Market is very involved in the city of Valparaiso and its people.
“We are a part of Valparaiso Events, and try to participate in all of their activities,” Locke said. “We also try to donate to as many nonprofits as we can. We provide lunch boxes quarterly to Habitat for Humanity, donate to Opportunity Enterprises and Dare, and really try to help out the community and provide when we can.”
On April 21, the City of Valparaiso announced plans to expand the Central Park Plaza (which includes the performing stage, green area, and ice rink). Included in the plans were the intentions to take down the row of buildings on Washington Street (between Lincolnway and Indiana Ave), including Old World Market.
In response to this, the owners of the buildings mobilized to save the businesses, creating “savedowntownvalpo.com” which explains why they believe the park expansion plans should not proceed.
“Small businesses help boost the local economy not only with taxes, but by supporting one another,” Locke said. “All of my employees eat at local restaurants and shop locally. We try to support everyone within our downtown community, and want to see everyone strive.”
Shortly after the plans for the park expansion were released, the city posted a statement saying that they will not proceed with the plans out of respect for the potentially affected business owners.
“We would love for people to know that we are a small, family-owned business that is trying to be generational,” Locke said. “We love being in downtown Valpo, especially in this building. We hope to be here for a long time. We also would like to thank everyone who supports us. All the love and good wishes are truly appreciated!”
