Find out all the events going on in your community, and plan your week's activities with The Times.
To get listed in the calendar, contact Southlake community coordinator Marlene A. Zloza at least 10 days in advance.
E-mail: mzloza@nwitimes.com.
Fax: (219) 662-5296.
Address: 2080 N. Main St., Crown Point, IN 46307.
Questions? Call (219) 662-5340.
OPEN HOUSE | Crown Point
Crown Point Volunteer Fire Department and its Ladies Auxiliary will present its annual Fire Prevention Open House from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Crown Point Fire Station, 126 N. East St. This year's theme is "Prevent Home Fires" and hot dogs, chips, popcorn, and desserts will be available to the public. Coloring contest winners will be announced and receive gifts. All coloring contest entries will be displayed. Visit with the firefighters, try on their gear and take a look inside the fire trucks. The EDITH Trailer (Exit Drill in the House) will be available for tours. There will also be a live vehicle extrication demonstration and a home fire extinguisher demonstration. Enjoy hands-on activities, demonstrations, displays, and door prizes. Bring a camera.
FYI: Call (219) 662-3248.
THERAPY GROUP | Crown Point
New Leaf Resources, a professional mental health agency with offices in Crown Point, Lansing and Elmhurst, offers a variety of approaches from a Christian perspective to assist families who have children with anxiety issues. Psychotherapy can focus on helping children gain coping skills such as relaxation, changing thinking patterns and facing their fears. Beginning Oct. 9, an anxiety therapy group for children ages 7 to 12 will be facilitated by Angie Valente, PhD., at New Leaf Resource's Crown Point office. Dr. Valente will teach coping skills in a fun cooperative atmosphere.
FYI: Call (219) 226-1810 or (708) 895-7310 or visit www.newleafresources.org
ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT | Merrillville
Alzheimer's Association, Spring Mill Health Campus and Golden Living will offer a support group for those struggling with the care of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's Disease or dementia and those recently diagnosed. The first meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 8 at Spring Mill Health Campus, 101 W. 87th Ave. FYI: Call (219) 756-0744 to RSVP.
FLOOD RELIEF | Lake County
Lake County Salvation Army has provided assistance to more than 5,682 flood victims within the past several weeks. The total cost has been $450,000. The Salvation Army continues to feed and hydrate residents and emergency workers throughout flood-affected areas at three fixed feeding sites and with five mobile canteens traveling through the neighborhoods. Monetary donations earmarked "Disaster Relief" can be sent to: The Salvation Army of Lake County Indiana, 8225 Columbia Ave., Munster, IN 46321, or made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by phone.
FYI: Call (800) SAL-ARMY.
VOLUNTEER TASKS | Northwest Indiana
Shirley Heinze Land Trust has announced its schedule for volunteer workdays. The public is invited to join regularly scheduled volunteer events to accomplish a variety of tasks such as planting native plants, removing brush, building footbridges for trails, and controlling invasive plant species. Volunteer workdays are held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, including Oct. 4 at demonstration site on Broadway in Beverly Shores; Oct. 11 at Ivanhoe South in Gary; Oct. 25 at Hidden Prairie in Hobart; Nov. 8 at Coulter in Portage; Dec. 6 and Feb. 14, 2009, at Beverly Shores; Jan. 10, 2009 at Coulter in Portage. Volunteers can also contact Jim Erdelac for volunteer work assignments to fit their schedule at ( 219) 879-4725 or email at volunteer@heinzetrust.org
The nonprofit organization owns and manages more than 1,000 acres of nature preserves and natural areas in Lake, Porter and La Porte counties, which are open to the public for hiking and wildlife viewing.
FYI: Visit www.heinzetrust.org for directions or call (219) 879-4725.
WHAT IS MRSA | Lake, Porter counties
Visiting Nurse Association of Porter County will present "What is MRSA?" at several locations in Lake and Porter counties in October. Presentations will be held at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 9 at Merrillville Senior Center at Merrillville High School, 276 E. 68th Place; at 2 p.m. Oct. 15 at Linden House, 360 W. 61st Ave., Hobart; at 12:15 p.m. Oct. 16 at Village Park Enrichment Center at Banta, 605 Beech St., Valparaiso, and at 2 p.m. Oct. 24 at Jamestown Apartments Community Center, Virginia Park Drive, Valparaiso. This informational program will discuss the risk factors, signs and prevention of MRSA. Participants will receive a free gift and a healthy snack. This is part of Senior Moments, a monthly lecture series designed for seniors who take an active role in their own health care.
FYI: Call (219) 531-8009.
FAMILY SUPPORT | Hammond
CAMEO, an educational support group for family caregivers to the elderly, meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Purdue University Calumet Entrepreneurship Center, 1247 E. 169th Street in This session will feature a discussion of family stress. CAMEO has been offering support to those caring for elderly loved ones since 1982. The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month except July and August.
FYI: Call (219) 989-2863.
BREAST-FEEDING CLASS | Crown Point
A breast-feeding class for women and their support people is 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 7 or Dec. 9, or Wednesdays, Oct. 8 or Dec. 10, at St. Anthony Medical Center, 1201 S. Main St. Topics include the role of the partner, how to feed your baby when you are away and suggestions for returning to work. Class meets the final evening of each Preparing for Childbirth series. Register.
FYI: Call (219) 757-6368.
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH | Lake Village
Lake Village Area Community Association-Lake Township Neighborhood Watch program, which serves Lake Village and Sumava Resorts, will meet at 7 p.m. Oct. 8 and the second Wednesday of every month at the Lake Township Volunteer Fire House, 9728 N. 300 West.
FYI: Call Lake Township Trustee Nikki Hanger (219) 992-9116.
FRIENDSHIP WALK | Crown Point
The Third Annual Walk-A-Thon held by the Friendship Union Self-Advocacy group to benefit people with disabilities by funding public awareness activities, enable people to attend training and conferences throughout the state and continue supporting other people with disabilities is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Oct. 4 at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 889 S. Court St. Registration begins at 10 a.m. Lunch and refreshments are provided for all walkers. This year's walk-a-thon has a luau theme and there will be music, games and a raffle for gift cards and household items. The Friendship Union is the only self-advocacy opportunity for people in Lake County and is governed solely by individuals with disabilities.
FYI: Contact Ruth Fields at (219) 662-1905 or kecman.ruth@in-pact.org
ARTHRITIS WALK | Merrillville
The final Arthritis Walk of the year nationwide, the Arthritis Foundation's signature event to raise awareness and funds, will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 4 at Hidden Lake Park, 6305 Broadway. Participants can choose from one- or 3.1-mile course, write an inspirational message on the Wall of Hope, wear a blue hero T-shirt if they have arthritis and enjoy refreshments, games, face painting, live entertainment a free health fair and a huge raffle. Registration and pledge money can be turned in beginning at 8 a.m., with T-shirts to all who raise $100 or more. Walkers are encouraged to form teams and walk in honor of someone affected by arthritis, and dogs are welcome to join walkers.
FYI: Call (312) 372-2080 or (800) 735-0096 or visit www.arthritis.org
ROMP & ROLL | Munster
A family-style 1- or 2.5-mile walk and 5K fun run to benefit the Cancer Resource Centre will be held Oct. 5 at the Munster High School football field, 8808 Columbia Ave. Registration begins at noon and the walk and run both start at 1 p.m. Teams and individual participants are welcome. Make a donation of at least $25 and enjoy a picnic for all walkers/runners. Awards will be given to teams and individuals raising the most in donations. Vendors are needed to provide free promotional materials for walkers/runners at Vendor Alley.
FYI: Call (219) 836-3349.
COOKBOOK SALE | Crown Point
Taft Middle School PTA has collected the best recipes from group members, students, and friends and compiled them into an attractive keepsake cookbook.
Copies may be purchased for $10 at The Conservative Cafe, Settings, and The Artful Garden, all in Crown Point, Gardens on the Prairie in Lowell, and Taft Middle School. All proceeds will support teacher and student projects.
FYI: Call (219) 663-1507.
