Find out all the events going on in your community, and plan your week's activities with The Times.

To get listed in the calendar, contact Southlake community coordinator Marlene A. Zloza at least 10 days in advance.

• E-mail: mzloza@nwitimes.com.

• Fax: (219) 662-5296.

• Address: 2080 N. Main St., Crown Point, IN 46307.

• Questions? Call (219) 662-5340.

PROCLAMATION SERVICE | Gary

Interfaith Clergy Council of Gary & Vicinity will host its 48th annual Emancipation Proclamation Service at 10 a.m. Jan. 1 at First Baptist Church, 626 W. 21st Ave. As is traditional, the entire Emancipation Proclamation will be read aloud. This year's speaker will be the Rev. Joel D. Miles of Greater Walters A.M.E. Zion Church in Chicago. All ministers are invited to vest in church robes, and all participating congregations are asked to invited their choir members to don their robes and join a combined choir.

FYI: Call the Rev. Thomas Mischler at (219) 938-1371 or the Rev. Dr. Bennie Henson Sr. at (219) 883-3216.

BOBSLED RIDES | Lowell

Horse-drawn bobsled rides will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in January and February, weather permitting, at Buckley Homestead County Park, 3606 Belshaw Road. Dolly and Molly, Belgian horses that call the park their home, will pull visitors along the snowy paths of the historic farm. Dress for the weather and bring a lap blanket. Rides depend on snow and temperature conditions - there must be adequate snow, not ice, and it must be warm enough for the horses. Rides last 20-25 minutes and the bobsleds hold 8-10 people. Cost is $2 per person. Call ahead and push the option for "Park Information" to check weather conditions before coming to the park.

FYI: Call (219) 696-0769.

FILM SERIES | Schererville

See a foreign film as part of the Independent Film Series at 1 p.m. Jan. 5 at the Lake County Public Library's Dyer-Schererville branch, 1001 W. U.S. 30. For mature audiences, this Belgian film in Flemish with English subtitles is the story of a youngster bullied to the point where he must plan his own survival. It has not been rated by the MPAA, but is for adults only. Refreshments will be served.

FYI: Call (219) 322-4731.

CONTEST WINNERS | Hammond

The Ugliest Lamp competition, held in conjunction with the "A Christmas Story Comes Home" exhibit at the Indiana Welcome Center, received 20 entries. Eleven were entered into the Born Ugly category and nine fell into the Made Ugly category. Guests to the exhibit voted on which lamp was the ugliest in each category. The Born Ugly lamp winner (with 356 votes) is Lynn Goetz, of Highland. She will receive a full-size leg lamp. The Made Ugly lamp winner, Robert Woerpel from Cedar Lake (with 1,414 votes), will receive a desk leg lamp. Woerpel created his lamp by whittling the leg and adding "finishing" touches to the shade.

FISH FRYS | St. John

St. John Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 717, its ladies auxiliary and its men's auxiliary will host monthly fish fries from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 2 and the first Friday of each month at the post, 10400 W. 93rd Ave. Perch, shrimp, crab cakes and combo dinners include fries, cole slaw or cottage cheese, bread and coffee or tea. Dessert will be available. Carry-outs are $1 more.

FYI: Call (219) 365-8224.

RUSSIAN SNOW FEST | Hobart

Children in kindergarten through grade 3 will hear Russian stories, learn about Russian culture, and craft ‘Grandfather Frost' figures at 4:15 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Lake County Public Library's Hobart branch, 100 N. Main St. Call to register.

FYI: Call (219) 942-2243.

MUSIC JAM | Roselawn

A country, gospel and bluegrass music jam with Betty Tetzlaff and friends will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 2 at Roselawn American Legion Post 238, Ind. 10 between Interstate 65 and Ind. 55. A large dance floor is available; no smoking, please. Admission is free. Dinner will be available from 5 to 8 p.m.

FYI: Call (219) 345-5825.

LEADER AWARD | Highland

Jen Wolak, of Highland, has been awarded the Jean Nidetch Service Vision Leader of the Year Award by Weight Watchers. This award, named for the founder of Weight Watchers, is given out annually to one outstanding leader in each region who embodies the core philosophy of exceptional customer care. It is meant to recognize the leader who has gone above and beyond and strives to ensure that everyone feels motivated to succeed, part of the group, cared for and well informed. Wolak leads meetings in the Highland area.

MONTHLY BREAKFAST | Crown Point

Fred Schmidt American Legion Post 20, Auxiliary Unit 20 and the Sons of the Legion host its monthly breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. Jan. 3 at the post home, 1401 N. Main St. All-you-can-eat plain or blueberry pancakes, sausage, made-to-order eggs, biscuits and gravy, toast, juice and coffee cost $6 for adults, $5 for veterans and seniors, and $2.50 for children 6 to 12. Younger children eat free. Proceeds benefit American Legion projects for the local library, scholarships, youth, veterans and their families.

FYI: Call (219) 663-9788.

TOY DRIVE | Munster

Priority Fitness Personal Training Center, 9337 Calumet Ave., held its third annual toy drive for the Salvation Army. The facility was able to donate 77 new toys and games for children in Northwest Indiana. In addition, a blanket drive brought in more than 40 gently used comforters and blankets, which were delivered to Haven House Domestic Violence Shelter. Several pairs of boots were also collected and donated.

SENIOR GAMES | St. John

Senior adults can participate in Wii bowling and tennis games at 2 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Lake County Public Library's St. John branch, 9450 U.S. 41. Refreshments will be served. Call to register.

FYI: Call (219) 365-5379.

CHEER WINNERS | Hobart

Two Hobart Pop Warner Cheerleading teams took first place at the Mid-America Regional Cheer & Dance Championships at Northern Illinois University, advancing to the nationals earlier this month at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. The winners are the Hobart Brickies JPW-L and Hobart Brickies JM S.

SIT & KNIT | St. John

Bring knitting, stitching, or a crochet project and gather with others who have a common thread from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 7 and 21 at the Lake County Public Library's St. John branch, 9450 U.S. 41. All skill levels are welcome.

FYI: Call (219) 365-5379.

BOOK TALK | Crown Point

Nichol & Rose Literary Circle will meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Crown Point Community Library's Winfield branch, 10645 Randolph St., to discuss "The Madonnas of Leningrad" by Debra Dean. The circle will also meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Crown Point Community Library, 214 S. Court St., to discuss "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay" by Michael Chabon. New members are always welcome, and copies of the current titles are available at the circulation desk

FYI: Call Barb at (219) 663-0270.

MEET THE MOUSE | Merrillville

Beginning computer users will learn basic skills including how to hold, move, and click a mouse effectively at 2 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Lake County Public Library, 1919 W. U.S. 30. Registration required.

FYI: Call (219) 769-3541, ext. 346.

LEARN TO SIGN | Merrillville

Deaf Services sponsors Beginning Sign Language classes from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jan. 13 through 29, at 6 E. 67th Ave. Learn how to visually communicate through the use of your hands. Cost is $75. E-mail deafdsi2@comcast.net with any questions.

FYI: Call (219) 769-6506, ext. 21 for a registration form.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI | DeMotte

Malcolm DeKryger, of DeMotte, was one of six individuals to receive a 2008 Distinguished Animal Sciences Alumni Award from Purdue University last month. He was honored with a Mid Career Award. Upon earning his master's degree in 1983, DeKryger spent one year as a Purdue Extension swine specialist followed by seven years in the feed and pharmaceutical industries. In 1991, DeKryger joined Belstra Milling Co., where he currently serves as vice president and is responsible for business development, personnel recruitment, nutritional management and pig production. Under his leadership, Belstra has added nearly 11,500 sows and 40,000 dairy cows, and the feed mill has grown from 35,000 mixed tons to nearly 120,000 tons. DeKryger also is a board member of the Indiana Pork Producers, girls' soccer coach for Covenant Christian High School and a member of the First Christian Reformed Church of DeMotte.

CHANCELLOR PRESENTS | Northwest Indiana

Ivy Tech Community College's Northwest Chancellor, J. Guadalupe Valtierra, was a presenter at the Mid-America Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel's 34th Annual Conference, "Achieving Rewarding Changes", in St. Louis, Miss. last month. His presentation came at a session titled "A Historical Perspective "In Their Own Words." Valtierra has been involved with MAEOPP since the mid-1980's, serving as a committee chair, trainer, director, board secretary, president-elect, president and parliamentarian. He was the recipient of the MAEOPP TRIO Achiever Award in 2003.