KARATE IN THE PARK | Crown Point

Crown Point Parks and Recreation Department and Homann Karate Do offer karate classes for children ages 3 to 8 on Tuesdays, from Aug. 26 through Sept. 16, at Collins Park, 95th and Merrillville Road. In case of rain, classes will be moved to the Crown Point Civic Center, 101 S. East St. Crouching tigers for kids ages 3 and 4 meets from 5:30 to 6 p.m., and Hidden Dragons for kids ages 5 to 8 meets from 6:10 to 7 p.m. Children learn self-defense skills as well as patience, focus, respect, honor, kindness and perseverance. Cost is $42 for residents and $57 for nonresidents. Register by Aug. 22.

FYI: Call Jordan Brumm at (219) 661-2271.

E-MAIL CLASS | DeMotte

Learn to set up and access and e-mail account from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 18 or 19 at the DeMotte Public Library, 901 Birch St. SW. Registration required in person, on-line at www.jasperco.lib.in.us or by phone. Free to all adults, the class will be taught by DeMotte Library Agency Librarian Brenda Thompson.

FYI: Call (219) 987-2221.

GED TESTING | Merrillville

Merrillville Adult Education GED summer test dates are Aug. 25 & 26. This two-day test will be given from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Applications are available at 6701 Delaware St. Advance registration is required.

FYI: Call (219) 650-5310.

DARE TO GOLF | Crown Point

Crown Point Police Department's DARE Program will host its annual scramble golf outing fundraiser Sept. 7 at White Hawk Country Club, 1001 White Hawk Drive, just off Summit Street. Cost is $90 per golfer or $360 for a foursome and includes green fees, use of golf cart, buffet dinner, beverage tickets and door prizes. Hole sponsorships are also available.

All of the net proceeds go to the DARE program. Tickets can be purchased at the police station, 124 N. East St.

FYI: Call Diane Kozlowski at (219) 712-5136 or DARE Officer Sgt. Dave Benson at (219) 663-2131, ext. 250.

BASIC E-BAY | DeMotte

A free "Basic E-bay" class will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 25 or 26 at the DeMotte Public Library, 901 Birch St. SW. Agency Librarian Brenda Thompson will focus on different aspects of using the e-bay auction site for those interested in buying or selling. Register.

FYI: Call (219) 987-2221.

ALUMNI GOLF | Crown Point

Lakeshore Region Chapter of the Indiana Alumni Association invites all Hoosiers to a day of golf and story telling Sept. 16 at White Hawk Country Club off Summit Street. Registration begins at 10 a.m., lunch is at 11 and a shotgun start will take place at noon, followed by a buffet dinner and awards at 5 p.m. Scheduled dinner speaker is IU men's basketball coach Tom Crean. Cost is $175 per player or $600 for a foursome, or $40 for dinner only. Proceeds from the tournament benefit scholarships for Northwest Indiana students attending any IU campus. Corporate and individual hole and tee sponsors are welcome.

FYI: Call Larry Alt at (219) 757-3532 or e-mail lalt@8105georgia.com for reservations.

SPINAL CORD FILM | Portage

The Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group is sponsoring a film on life in a wheelchair at 2 p.m. Aug. 17 at the Portage 16/IMAX, 6550 U.S. Viewing is free, but donations will be accepted. "Murderball" chronicles the journey of the United States Para Olympic Quad Rugby Team from 2002 to 2004, ending in Athens, Greece with a championship game against the team's rivals from Canada.

FYI: Call (219) 531-0055.

GOLF TIPS | Cedar Lake

Free tips from the pro will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 18 through 20 and Sept. 8 through 10, at the Lake County Parks and Recreation Department's Cedar Creek Golf Center, 10483 W. 109th Ave. Have lunch in the pro shop, buy a bucket of golf balls and head to the driving range for free tips from instructor Tom Zimmerman.

FYI: Call (219) 365-2902.

ORCHESTRA AUDITIONS | Munster

Northwest Indiana Symphony Youth Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Philip Bauman, announces fall auditions for the 2008-09 season for Violin, Viola, Bass, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, and Percussion. Auditions will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road. Open to highly accomplished musicians in grades 8 through 12 and post-high school students younger than 22, the orchestra offers a dynamic and educational musical environment which places a strong emphasis on artistic excellence, personal growth and providing exceptional performance experiences. The Youth Orchestra presents two concerts each year, one in December and one in May, and will also perform a concert with the Northwest Indiana Symphony in October. Sunday rehearsals begin Sept. 7. E-mail yo@NISOrchestra.org or call (219) 836-0525 with questions.

FYI: Visit www.NISOrchestra.org and follow the Youth Orchestra link for audition requirements, application form, required music selections, and to schedule an audition.

PRESCHOOL IN THE PARK | Hobart

Day care centers and preschools can reserve programs for ages 3 and 4 years at Deep Rover County Park in September and October. Children will hear stories, play games, make a craft, sing a song, have a treat to eat or have a coloring page or other souvenir to take home at Preschool in the Park, from noon to 1 p.m. or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the park, 9410 Old Lincoln Hwy. Each week there is a new topic and the cost is $25 per session for groups of up to 25. Bring a brown bag lunch and picnic in the park before or after the program. Topics are "Birds in the Park" on Sept. 3, "Johnny Appleseed" on Sept. 10, "Let's Get Buggy" on Sept. 17, "Buckeyes" on Sept. 24, "Covered Wagon" on Oct. 1, "Oinkers!" on Oct. 8, "Colorful Leaves" on Oct. 15, "Hat Upon My Head" on Oct. 22 and "Haystack Fun" on Oct. 29.

FYI: Call (219) 769-PARK for reservations.

BOOKreMARKS | Lake County

The featured book for August for readers participating in the online book discussion hosted by the Lake County Public Library is "The Scarlet Pimpernel" by Baroness Emmuska Orczy. This classic novel tells the story of the love and adventures of a masked hero during the French Revolution.To join the discussion, e-mail remarks@lakeco.lib.in.us.

FYI: Visit www.lakeco.lib.in.us/remarks.htm for more information