Y-ME | Valparaiso

Y-Me of Porter County will meet at 10 a.m. Dec. 6 at the Porter Education Building, 1401 Calumet Ave. There will be open discussion and a holiday celebration. The mission of Y-Me is that no one should face breast cancer alone and is open to everyone.,

FYI: Call (219) 465-0566.

EMT COURSE | vALPARAISO

The 2009 EMT-B Course offered through Porter Emergency Medical Services will begin on Jan. 5 and continue through June 24. Classes will be held 5 to 9 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Greg Phillips building, 1995 s. Ind. 2, Valparaiso. Cost of the course is $650 and includes the cost of the textbook. Requirements for enrolling: high school diploma or GED by June 24, 2009; 18 years or older by April 1, 2009; and a valid healthcare level CPR certification. Application deadline and all course fees are due by December 13, 2008.

FYI: Call (219) 464-9663, ext. 12.

IN CONCERT | LaPorte

During the annual Candlelight Tour, Keanan Baxter will perform Christmas Jazz from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at St. John's Church, 111 Kingsbury Ave. In addition to Keenan's performance, Refreshments are served at the church and a carriage ride downtown is included with ticket. Tickets are $12 and are available at www.peplaporte.org or by calling (219) 324-5087. Tickets can be purchased at the door at the church location only.

FYI: Call (219) 324-5087.

MADRIGAL DINNERS | Chesterton

Chesterton High School Music Dept. will present its 36th annual Madrigal Dinners on December 5, 6 and 7 in the school cafeteria. All seats are reserved and tickets are on sale for $30 per person at the CHS

Music Office (Entrance 31) beginning Nov. 24. Tickets will be

sold from 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. through Dec. 4. no phone orders will be taken. Performance times are 8 p.m. Dec. 5; 4 and 7 p.m. Dec. 6; and 2 and 5 p.m. Dec. 7. The cafeteria will be transformed into a Great Hall complete with Elizabethan settings and costumes. Included in the Madrigal along with the music and drama is a complete breast of chicken dinner. The dinner includes a relish tray, chicken

breast, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, wassail, and dessert. The meal is prepared each year by the CHS Cafeteria staff.

FYI: Call (219) 983-3730.

COOKIE WALK | Chesterton

The Chesterton United Methodist Women will hold its 16th annual Holiday Cookie Walk from 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 6. There will be more than 400 dozen homemade cookies and candy for $6 a pound. Proceeds go to organizations both locally and throughout the world which the UMW supports.

FYI: Call (219) 926-4123

WOMAN'S CLUB

The County Choraliers will provide Christmas entertainment for the Dec. 1 meeting of the Chesterton Woman's Club.

The business meeting, conducted by President Shirley Oppman, will be at 1 p.m. in the Westchester Public Library Service Center. Members are again to bring baby items for Toy Town, which provides for those in need in Porter County. Bar soap is the item for the Westchester Food Pantry.

This year the CWC members will again help Westchester Township Trustee Suzanne Philbrick with her "Christmas Angel Party by providing cookies and table decorations. The party is 1 to 3 p.m. Dec.. 14 at the Library Service Center.

FYI: Call (219) 926-4123

CHILI LUNCHEON | Portage

The Kiwanis Club of Portage will hold its annual chili luncheon fundraiser during the Toys for Tots celebration at Woodland Park Dec. 6. Luncheon will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes all-you-can-eat Schoop's chili, beverage and dessert for $5 for adults and $3 for ages 12 and younger. Hot dogs are $1. Proceeds from this fundraising event support several of the club's programs or community organizations including the 3rd Grade Dictionary Project, Jacob's Ladder Developmental Testing Kits, Gabriel's Horn, Riley Children's Hospital and Toys for Tots.

FYI: Call (219) 241-4098 for more information.

CALENDARS FOR SALE | Portage

The Portage Firefighters' Local 3151 Auxiliary is selling 2009 Calendars for $10 that feature action and still shots of the firefighters. They can be purchased from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday - Friday at Portage Fire Station #1 (Headquarters), 3401 Swanson Road.

FYI: Call (219) 762-7404

TURKEY TROT | Valparaiso

The 5th annual Kids Alive 10K Turkey Trot will begin at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 27 at Valparaiso high School. All proceeds to benefit Kids Alive International. Register online at www.kidsalive.org for $20 or race day for $30. all runners will receive long sleeve T-shirt and this event will have chip timing provided by TH Timing. The race starts and ends at the VHS Field House. Packet pickup begins at 7 a.m. with the race beginning at 8:30 a.m.

FYI: Call (219) 241-1869.

BOOK DISCUSSION | Valparaiso

The Valparaiso Branch of American Association University Women presents its November novel selection "Shoots to Kill" at 7 p.m. Nov. 24 at the Valparaiso Public Library, 103 Jefferson St. The book will be presented by Sue Schenone followed by a discussion by the author, Kate Collins, aka Linda Tsoutsouris. The novel is set in Northwest Indiana with many local sites described in the book itself. All members are invited to attend, and guests are always welcome.

FYI: Call (2190 462-3489.

MOms club | vALPARAISO

MOMS Club of Valparaiso will meet at 10 a.m. Dec. 3 at Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 201 Washington St. this is a support group for mothers who have chosen to stay home with their children.

FYI: Call (219) 476-1637.

HOLIDAY FAIR | Valparaiso

Alpha Sigma Lambda, VU's Alpha Tau chapter, invites you to convenient, one-stop shopping at their Holiday Fair at Valparaiso University, Union Great Hall, 1400 Chapel Dr., Valparaiso, Ind., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6. Free admission. Proceeds provide scholarships for select VU non-traditional students. Vendors and crafters welcome.

FYI: Call (219) 464-5341 or suzanna.tudor@valpo.edu.

HOLIDAY CLASSES

The Valparaiso Department of Parks and Recreation is now taking registrations for our December Holiday Sampler classes for preschoolers. Each class presents a new topic surrounding the holidays, and snacks, crafts and cooking are featured in these great winter escapes. Classes vary in length from 2 to 3 hours. A variety of classes are offered, but sign up quickly as these classes fill up fast. Call the Park Department at 219-462-5144 or visit us online at www.valparaisoparks.org for a list of classes.

FYI: Call 9219)462-5144

SUNDAY BREAKFAST

American Legion Post 502, 429 W. County Road 750 North, will host a Sunday breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. today. This is an all-you-can-eat breakfast with biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon, eggs, hash browns, pancakes, French toast sticks, drinks and more. Cost is $6.

FYI: Call (219) 759-2121.

TURKEY TROT | Portage

Portage Township YMCA's 8th annual Turkey Trot begins at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 27 at the Y. There will be a 1k youth run, 2k family fun walk and a 5K run. Register by Nov. 17 to be guaranteed to receive a T-shirt. On race day registration begins at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 7:15 a.m.

FYI: call (219) 762-9622.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT | Portage

The Caregiver Support Group meets at 10 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at Miller's Senior Living community, 5911 Lute Road. the group provides information in a supportive environment where caregivers can share problems, ideas and successful solutions. All those who provide care are welcome.

FYI: Call (219) 764-0628.

NICOTINE ANONYMOUS | Portage

Join Nicotine Anonymous, a group of men and women helping each other to live their lives free of nicotine. The group meets at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at the portage Township YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Road. Meetings are free and open to anyone who desires to quit using nicotine.

FYI: Call (2190 464-5480.