U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers, both at the Merrillville Municipal Building in Lake County and at the Valparaiso Fire Department in Porter County, will close Nov. 24.

Business owners who want to apply for a loan but who are unable to visit a center may obtain an application by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or download an application from the SBA website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance

Completed applications should be returned to the Lake or Porter county center or mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

As of Nov. 7, a total of 298 loans for homes has been approved for a total of $12,818,.300 and 11 businesses have been approved for a total of $400,700 in northwest Indiana. Statewide, a total of nearly $17.3 million in disaster recovery grants have been approved for Indiana residents with property damage.

Free disaster legal services are also available (800) 266-2581 for those in designated counties.

Bowling benefit

A benefit for the Northwest Indiana Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Stardust Bowl, 3925 E. U.S. 30 in Merrillville. Bowling teams can consist of 3 to 5 bowlers and all skill levels are welcome.

A door prize of a $230 bowling party will be given away through a random drawing. Prizes also include Stardust Bowl gift cards awarded on the basis of highest average team score. Other awards will be given to teams in the following categories: business teams, school teams, league bowlers and casual bowlers. There will be one pizza for every team and shoe rental for team members is included in the cost of $85 per team.

Call Stardust Bowl at (219) 942-9432 to register.

Lupus open house

Everyone is welcome to attend the Holiday Open House & Vendor Show at the Lupus Foundation of America Indiana Chapter office from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 25 in the Portage Chamber of Commerce building at 2642 Eleanor St., Portage. Get a jump on the holiday shopping at this one-stop vendor show offering jewelry, cosmetics, candles and much more.

A portion of sales will be donated to the Indiana Chapter of the Lupus Foundation. For information about vendor space, call Michelle Hurst at (219) 661-0413 or, for information about chapter program, call Executive Director Phyllis Simko at the lupus office at (219) 762-6575.

Weight loss seminar

Board Certified surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Rosen, with more than 10 years experience with weight loss procedures, will hold a free seminar on from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Monday at his office, 99 E. 86th Ave., Suite D, Merrillville.

For reservations, call (866) 922-4592. Visit www.LifeWeigh.com for details.

Edward C. Dernulc is executive director of the Merrillville Chamber of Commerce. Reach him at (219) 769-8180 or geninq@merrillville.coc.org. Opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.