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

To get listed in the calendar, contact Illinois community coordinator Jennifer Pallay.

• E-mail: jpallay@nwitimes.com.

• Fax: (219) 933-3249.

• Address: 601 45th Ave., Munster, IN 46321.

• Questions? Call (219) 937-5741.

Golf outing | Frankfort, Ill.

The Friends of Michael Williams will host a golf outing Sept. 20 at Green Garden Country Club, 9511 W. Monee-Manhattan Road in Frankfort, Ill. Williams, a 7-year-old from Highland, died Sept. 6, 2001. He had neuroblastoma. Beth Possley and Renee Williams founded the Friends of Michael Williams to raise awareness and money for research of neuroblastoma. The golf outing is $140 per person for golf and cart, lunch and dinner. Dinner only is available for $45. Organizers are also looking for donations for raffle and silent auction items.

FYI: Call (219) 923-1008.

Chili Fest | Calumet City

VFW post 8141, 664 Hirsch Ave., will have a chili fest from 5 to 11 p.m. Sept. 13. It is $6 per person. A bake sale will benefit the Ladies Auxiliary Charities. It will also be a game night. Guests are invited to bring board and card games.

FYI: For tickets or information, call (708) 868-3793 or the post at (708) 862-7913.

Pajamarama | Lansing

The Youth and Teen Services Department at Lansing Public Library will host the back-to-school pajamarama from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the library, 2750 Indiana Ave. Cookies and milk will be served. All ages are welcome and no registration is required.

FYI: Call (708) 474-2447.

Flag football | Calumet City

Flag football for 4-year-olds through eighth-graders will be offered by the Calumet Memorial Park District beginning this week. Emphasizing speed, skill and agility, this program teaches kids the fundamentals of the game. Registration is now being taken at the Memorial Park Recreation Office, 612 Wentworth Ave. The fee is $15 per player and includes a team shirt.

FYI: Call (708) 862-6443, or visit calumetmemorialparkdistrict.com.

Earth science | Park Forest

The South Suburban Earth Science Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 upstairs in Freedom Hall, 410 Lakewood Boulevard. The guest speaker will be Joel Knapper, NASA ambassador, who will speak on the Mission to Mars. Everyone is welcome.

Refreshments will be served.

FYI: Call (708) 822-0361 or e-mail ssescus@yahoo.com.

Blood pressure | Calumet City

Advocate South Suburban Hospital will offer free glucose and blood pressure screenings from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 10 at Senior Catholic Charities, 1700 Memorial Drive.

FYI: Call (800) 3-ADVOCATE.

Historical society | Homewood

Homewood Historical Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10 in the lower level of St. Paul Community Church, 18200 Dixie Highway. Following the meeting and a refreshment break, Chicago History Museum historian Sarah Marcus will present an audiovisual view of the history of Chicago through television and film, noting how popular culture has depicted the city and its residents. The meeting and program are free and open to the public.

FYI: Call (708) 799-9055.

Blue Mass | Calumet City

Knights of Columbus Coronata Council 3806 will sponsor a blue Mass at 8 a.m. Sept. 11 at St. Andrew the Apostle Church, 768 Lincoln Ave. The Mass will honor police officers, firefighters and ESDA of Calumet City and the surrounding communities.

FYI: Call (708) 862-4165.

Driving skills | Hazel Crest

Community residents 50 and older can work on their behind-the-wheel skills with a two-session course offered by Advocate South Suburban Hospital and the AARP. The course will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 10 and 11 in the hospital auditorium, 17800 S. Kedzie Ave. Participants who attend both days of the course may be eligible for a reduction in car insurance rates. The program costs $10 payable to AARP. Registration is required.

FYI: Call (800) 3-ADVOCATE. The program code is 7S01.

Home school | Olympia Fields

Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center is now taking registration for its fall Home School Day to be held from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 10. Home-schooled children ages 4 to 18 will explore the outdoor flora and fauna at the 40-acre nature preserve.

Kids will hike, explore, play games and learn about the changes the fall season brings to a woodland area, according to program supervisor, Laura Berry. Event fee is $7 per child.

FYI: For more information or to register, call (708) 481-2330 or visit ironsoaks.com.

9-11 SERVICE | Crown Point

The City of Crown Point will host a 9-11 Memorial Service marking the seventh year since the terrorist attacks on the United States. The ceremony will be held at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 11 on the east steps of the Old Courthouse downtown. Mayor David Uran will open the ceremony, followed by a tribute from Crown Point's fire, police and emergency management departments. At 8:46 a.m., the exact time that the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center, representatives from the Crown Point Ministerial Association will lead a moment of silence, followed by a somber motorcade parade around the square.

FYI: Call (219) 662-3290 or e-mail jbzdil@crownpoint.in.gov

FALL MIGRATION | Hammond

Try your hand, and binoculars, at identifying migrating warblers in their fall plumage on a Fall Migration Hike at 9 a.m. Sept. 12 at Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, 6201 Parrish Ave. Join a Lake County Parks naturalist for a walk through the trails at Gibson Woods to learn a few tips on identifying migrating songbirds as they make their way south for the winter. Reservations are required.

FYI: Call (219) 844-3188.

PAWS-N-PARTY | Gary

Humane Society NWIN will hold a Summertime Paws -n- Party on Sept. 13 in the historic Aquatorium at Miller Beach. Live music by Sticks and Keys, dancing, hors d'oeurves, wine, beer and more for $50 per person. This smoke-free evening will benefit homeless animals cared for by the Humane Society of Northwest Indiana. RSVP.

FYI: Call Freida at (219) 938-3339 or Viktoria at (219) 464-8124.

GROUP HAY RIDES | Merrillville

Reservations for group hay rides at Hidden Lake Park, 6355 Broadway, can be scheduled from Sept. 13 through Oct. 26 with Ross Township Trustee John Rooda's office. Hay rides are available from noon to 8 p.m. weekdays and weekends, and include a bonfire and the use of a shelter after the 30-minute ride. One ride accommodates up to 25 people. Cost is $40 on weekdays and $60 on weekends for Ross Township residents, and $60 on weekdays and $80 on weekends for nonresidents.

FYI: Call (219) 769-2111.

PLANT SWAP | Hobart

A Fall Perennial Plant Swap will be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 15 at Deep River County Park, 9410 Old Lincoln Hwy. Meet in the parking lot behind the Visitor Center. Pot your perennials, identify them and bring them to the plant swap to exchange for others. Gardening staff will be on hand to give information on planting and care of your new varieties. Also, bring empty containers for plants that may be divided and exchanged. Don't be late, since the plants go fast.

FYI: Call (219) 947-1958.

STRING FEVER | Schererville

String Fever will give a performance of instrumental hammered dulcimer and acoustic guitar music from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 11 at Schererville's International Farmers Market, held in Redar Park (South Parking Lot), Gregory and Austin Streets.

FYI: Call (219) 322-2211, ext. 326 or visit www.schererville.org or www.stringfever.biz

RUMMAGE IN THE PARK | Lake Station

Lake Station Parks and Recreation Department will host Rummage in the Park, a rummage sale, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 13 at Riverview Park, 2701 Ripley St. Spaces are 10-by-10-foot and rent for $10.

FYI: Call (219) 962-7508.

PARK HAY RIDES | Lake County

Reservations for tractor-drawn hay rides are offered at the following Lake County park sites in September and October: Lemon Lake, Stoney Run, Oak Ridge Prairie, Deep River, and Buckley Homestead County Parks. Maximum number per ride is 25 adults (more children). Cost on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays is $75 per ride, and from Monday through Thursday it is $50 per ride.Horse-drawn hay rides at Buckley Homestead County Park, 3603 Belshaw Road in Lowell, are $100 per ride (only during daylight hours). Special Needs hay rides are available at Oak Ridge Prairie, 301 S. Colfax St., Griffith, during daylight hours. The hay wagon is able to carry people in wheelchairs. Regular prices apply. Time and day reservations are dependent upon availability of driver.

FYI: Call (219) 769-PARK.