It's good to be back home following this week's trip to Canada.

Today's column brings both happy and sad news from Munchkinland.

At 9:40 p.m., "Child Munchkin" Donna Stewart-Hardaway, died.

Stewart-Hardaway, who lived in West Virginia and was known to many from her annual visits to Chesterton for the annual "Wizard of Oz Festival," said she was just 5 years old when she was cast for the Munchkinland scene shot in 1938 for the classic 1939 MGM film.

At the time, she went by the name of Donna Jean Johnson.

Ironically, this month and next month marks the 70th anniversary of when "Wizard of Oz" was filmed in 1938 before its much-anticipated release the next year.

My happy news is that another favorite Munchkin will be in Chesterton today and Saturday at the Yellow Brick Road Museum and Gift Gallery, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

In late 1938, 20-year-old movie actor and vaudeville star Karl Slover began an adventure that would propel him to international stardom. His life was changed forever when he was cast as "the first Munchkin Trumpeter" in "The Wizard of Oz" opposite Judy Garland.

As Oz fans know, Slover got to enjoy "double duty" during the Munchkinland scene, since you also can spot him as one of the "Munchkin Sleepy Heads" in a cute pink outfit, rubbing his eyes in a giant birds nest.

Now, nearly seven decades later, Slover is being memorialized by famed sculptor Michael Roche.

Marilyn Zengler, proprietor of The Yellow Brick Road Museum and Gift Shop, and her staff thought it would be fitting to honor 90-year-old Slover as the 70th anniversary in 2009.

To kick off the celebration, Zengler commissioned Roche to create a work with Slover as the focal point. The result is "Munchkin Trumpeter," a figurine that depicts Karl as he appeared in the film.

Both Slover and Roche will be at the Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop for a debut unveiling and autograph party from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

The Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop & Oz Fantasy Museum is at the corner of State Route 49 and the Indiana Toll Road. FYI: yellowbrickroadonline.com or (219) 926-7048.

More movie news

Chris Jones, a Hammond native and a teacher at a District 215 school in the south suburbs, has directed an independent film titled "Tutor" that is set to premiere at the Towle Theater in Hammond at 8 p.m. tonight. "Tutor" was shot on the Purdue University Calumet campus in Hammond.

R.S.V.P. reminder

As mentioned in my food column this week, you're invited to my free program "Thanksgiving From the Farm" at 2:30 p.m. Sunday sponsored by The Times and the Hammond Historical Society and Friends of the Library, which will feature some of our favorite ideas and traditions for November's holiday gatherings.

If you've never been to the Hammond Public Library, it's a beautiful new structure downtown at 564 State St. with a large spacious community room where this free event will be held, complete with a full working kitchen. For questions or directions, call the library at (219) 931-5100.

I'll be joined by my parents, and my mother will help me with a food demonstration.

I'll also bring some door prizes, surprises and copies of my cookbook. And for those readers who have been asking, my father will bring some of his handmade bluebird and wren birdhouses to sign.

If you're planning to attend Sunday, here are a few important reminders:

* Since the library is closed on Sundays, the doors will not open until 2 p.m.; the event will begin at 2:30 p.m. and end by 4 p.m.

* So we can plan for chairs and refreshments, guests planning to attend MUST RSVP for this free event by calling (219) 933-4173, leaving your name, the number in your party, the town you're from and a contact telephone number.

Among the prizes I'll be sharing on Sunday are samples of Paris Hilton's new French perfume fragrance Can-Can and assorted gifts from Canada, including fresh maple syrup.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

celebBirthdays

Actress Kathleen Hughes ("Babe") is 80. Jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis is 74. Writer P.J. O'Rourke and Zydeco singer-accordionist Buckwheat Zydeco are 61. Actor Robert Ginty ("The Paper Chase," "Baa Baa Black Sheep") is 60. Guitarist James Young of Styx is 59. Singer Stephen Bishop is 57. Pianist Yanni is 54. Actor D.B. Sweeney and actress Laura San Giacomo ("Just Shoot Me") are 47. Rapper Reverend Run of Run-DMC and actor Patrick Warburton ("The Tick," "Seinfeld") are 44. Singer Jeanette Jurado of Expose is 43. Bassist Brian Yale of Matchbox Twenty is 40. Singer Butch Walker (Marvelous 3) is 39. Actor Josh Duhamel ("Las Vegas") is 36. Drummer Travis Barker of Plus-44 (and Blink-182) is 33. Rapper Shyheim is 31. Bassist Tobin Esperance of Papa Roach is 29.