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: (708) 474-2897.

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

• Questions? Call (219) 937-5741.

Library closed | South Holland

South Holland Public Library will be closed all day Aug. 8 for staff development. The book drop in the rear of the building will be open. The library is at 16250 Wausau Ave.

FYI: Call (708) 331-5262.

Bible school | Lansing

Beach Party, vacation Bible school, meets from 9 a.m. to noon today through Aug. 8 at First United Methodist Church of Lansing, 18420 Burnham Ave. All kids 4 to 13 are welcome and it's free.

FYI: Call (708) 474-1144.

Youth plates | Illinois

Crete Park District is joining the fight against childhood obesity along with other Illinois park districts, forest preserves, conservation, recreation and special recreation agencies. They are offering the Park District Youth License Plate Program, which will show support for healthy lifestyles. Each sale will provide $25 toward park district youth programming focusing on health, fitness and nutrition.

FYI: Call (877) 783-KIDS or visit www.4KIDSplate.com.

Art exhibit | South Holland

The Art & Design Department of South Suburban College is showcasing a new exhibit titled "Utterly Meaningless" through Aug. 27. Artist Sigita Monika Sula's solo exhibit is in the Lee E. Dulgar Gallery on the first floor of the main campus near the Atrium. The public is invited to attend the exhibition at no charge. Regular gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The galleries are closed on weekends and holidays. South Suburban College is at 15800 S. State St.

FYI: Call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2445.

Shrimp boil | Dolton

Izaak Walton League of America Calumet Region Chapter will have a shrimp boil Aug. 8 and 9 at 14736 Beachview Terrace. Dinner is from 6 to 11 p.m. with carry out from 4 p.m. to midnight. There will be live music from the Good Times Band from 6 p.m. to midnight. Food includes shrimp, brats, Cajun jambalaya, beef sandwiches, corn on the cob and kabobs.

FYI: Call (708) 849-5155.

Taste | South Holland

The eighth annual Taste of Thornton will take place Aug. 16 at Thornton Township Hall, 333 E. 162nd St. The Chi-Lites will perform, as well as seven time Grammy-winning Gospel artist Darius Brooks. Soundz of Santana will perform Santana's greatest hits and Dennis Stella will rock the crowd with his Elvis tribute. Steppers can dance on the front lawn of the Township Hall, with music from DJs Wali Muhammad and Daryll King.

Food and events will start at 10 a.m. with early bird bingo. Free coffee and doughnuts will be served. Other activities include a car show, arts and crafts, children's games and rides. Cupcake the Clown will paint faces and local food vendors will offer fare.

FYI: Call (708) 596-6040, ext. 3128.

Celebration | Munster

First Reformed Church of South Holland will have an anniversary celebration starting at 6 p.m. Sept. 26 at The Center for Visual & Performing Arts on Ridge Road. Tickets cost $35 and include dinner. Keynote speaker is the Rev. David Bast, president and broadcast minister of Words of Hope, Grand Rapids, Mich., and former senior pastor of First Church (1981 - 1989). Guest speaker is the Rev. Tim Brown, president of Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Mich., and former co-pastor of First Church (1981 - 1983).

A celebration worship service is at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 28 at the church, 15924 S. Park Ave. in South Holland.

FYI: Reservation deadline is Sept. 1. Call the church office at (708) 333-0622.

Basketball camp | South Holland

The South Suburban College Basketball Program will host a Championship Basketball Camp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 11 through 13. The camp is designed for boys and girls ages 7 to 17, and will be directed by Coach John Pigatti and players from the 2008 basketball team that finished fifth in the nation.

Pigatti brings 20 years of college coaching experience. He was also the head coach of the Five Star Basketball Post Development Camp where he instructed several top 100 high school players in the country. He received the NJCAA Division II Region IV-A Coach of the Year Award in both of first two seasons as SSC's Head Coach.

The main goal of the camp is to give each individual a chance to become a better player and to have some fun along the way. The emphasis will be on the fundamentals of basketball. Each player will be drilled in these fundamental skills and will participate in a variety of contests in their age bracket. Daily games will be played, giving each camper a chance to display those skills as a member of a working team in their age group.

The cost of the camp is $70 per camper for all four days of instruction and a T-shirt. Each camper will need shorts, basketball shoes, and a T-shirt or practice uniform. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase every day of camp.

FYI: Call Pigatti at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2524.

FOUNDATION BREAKFAST | HAMMOND

"Supporting Extraordinary Learning Experiences" is the theme of the Hammond Education Foundation's annual Breakfast with a Benefit at 8 a.m. Aug. 15 at Morton High School. The breakfast will feature remarks by School City of Hammond Superintendent Walter Watkins and Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. Other presentations will focus on extraordinary learning experiences supported by the HEF grant program. The foundation is a volunteer organization of business, civic and educational leaders committed to providing and generating support for extraordinary learning experiences within the School City of Hammond for which funding is not otherwise available. Hammond teachers, principals and other SCH educators may apply for foundation grants to support student learning experiences for which budgetary funding is not available. Cost to attend is $15. The annual Breakfast with a Benefit kicks off the 2008-09 School City of Hammond academic year and welcomes teachers new within the system. Make a

reservation by calling foundation Executive Director Gail Rodovich.

FYI: Call (219) 989-2400, Ext. 1044.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL | Whiting

Outrigger Island is the theme of vacation Bible School at Whiting Baptist Church, 1547 119th St. Children 5 years old through sixth grade can join activities from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 5 to 11. They'll hear Bible stories, participate in crafts, listen to music, eat snacks and play games. The program is free and open to the public.

FYI: Call (219) 659-0010 or e-mail fsbcw@juno.com.

RAILROAD SOCIETY | Hammond

The Northwest Indiana Railroad Preservation Society meets at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Hammond Public Library, 564 E. State St. Membership application forms will be available, and topics to be discussed will be the restoration of Nickel Plate 624, grants for projects and land deals.

FYI: Call (219) 852-0624.

GAMING GROUP | Munster

Munster Community Game Club has its first meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 7 at Fairmeadow Community Church, Fran Lin Parkway and White Oak Avenue. It will meet at the same time the first Thursday of the month at the same location. The group will play a popular board game that allows players to place words on a grid. The entry fee will be a charitable donation of $56 or school supplies for needy children in the Calumet Area.

FYI: E-mail gwen@fairmeadow.com.