MUNSTER

Council, Park Board to meet in closed session

The Munster Town Council meets in executive session at 7 p.m. Monday at Town Hall.

The Park Board will join the council to discuss strategy for litigation that has been threatened in writing.

HAMMOND

PUC retools program for industry's needs

Purdue University Calumet has partnered with the Packaging Machinery Manufacturer's Institute to redirect an existing bachelor's degree program toward the high-speed packaging industry.

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education has approved changing the name of the degree program from Manufacturing Engineering Technology to Mechatronics Engineering Technology as the packaging industry responds to a growing need for trained engineering technologists.

The program prepares students for jobs as machine designers, packaging engineers, automation specialists and service technicians in the high-speed packaging field, said James Higley, PUC professor of mechanical engineering technology.

Thanks to Packaging Machinery Manufacturer's Institute member companies, PUC also is developing a modern packaging laboratory on campus.

In addition, Packaging Machinery Manufacturer's Institute has awarded $4,000 in student scholarships this fall.

HAMMOND

City Council announces new meeting schedule

The City Council has canceled its next regular meeting scheduled for Monday due to lack of a quorum to conduct business.

A special City Council meeting has been set for 5 p.m. Thursday for the purpose of introducing the 2009 Hammond city budget proposal.

The special meeting will be held in council chambers at City Hall, 5925 Calumet Ave.

GARY

I-65 ramp will close for work on road's shoulder

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces the ramp from northbound Interstate 65 to eastbound Interstate 80/94 will be closed between 10 p.m. tonight to 10 a.m. Saturday for shoulder widening.

During the ramp closure, a posted detour will direct I-65 traffic to take westbound I-80/94 to the ramps at Ind. 53 to eastbound I-80/94.

Various nighttime restrictions on I-80/94 between Martin Luther King Drive and Central Avenue are continuing for the next several months. Beginning at 9 p.m., crews are restricting various lanes on east or westbound I-80/94.

Between midnight and 5 a.m. some nights, crews are closing the road for up to 20 minutes at a time during overhead bridge work. Indiana State Police will be on hand to help direct traffic through the rolling closures.

EAST CHICAGO

Try the fare at city's Taste this weekend

Mayor George Pabey and the East Chicago Park and Recreation Department present the annual Taste of East Chicago this weekend at Veterans Park, 145th Street and Indianapolis Boulevard.

It runs from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and features food booths, arts and crafts booths, the Sterling Crown Carnival, live entertainment, and a beer and wine garden.

There is a car show from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday in the adjacent parking lot, a motorcycle show from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday on West 145th Street and bingo from 1 to 5 p.m. both days inside Heritage Hall.

As for entertainment, DJ Jowetto will perform both days. Abraxas is on stage from 2 to 5 p.m. and Little Johnny from 7 to 10:30 on Saturday. On Sunday, Triple Dose performs from 2 to 5 p.m. and Mystic Fire from 7 to 10:30.

Admission is free.