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.

PET CLINIC | Lake County

National Animal Welfare Society Clinic is offering low-cost pet services to Northwest Indiana residents Nov. 18. A cat spay is $47 and a neuter is $42. A dog spay is $77 and a neuter is $72. The clinic requires current proof of rabies vaccination. If animal is not current, the clinic offers the vaccine for $15. Space is limited and exact location will be given with a confirmed appointment.

FYI: Call (219) 962-2853.

ANGEL TREE | Cedar Lake

The Angel Tree will soon be up in the lobby of MacArthur Elementary School, 12900 Fairbanks St. The school has a list of more than 50 local families to help this season. Contact Teresa Hasty at the school by today to indicate an interest in helping this year. Wrapped gifts should be placed in a large gift bag, one per child, with the tag attached to the handle, and brought to the school by Dec. 10. Monetary gifts will be used to help families through the NIPSCO Gift of Energy program.

FYI: Call (219) 374-7866.

VENDORS FAIR | Crown Point

St. Mary's Moms' Group in Crown Point is hosting a vendors' fair from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 18 in Hammes Hall at St. Mary Catholic Community School, 405 E. Joliet St. A number of vendors from home show companies, and many craft items, will be available for holiday shopping.

FYI: Call Amy Mumaugh at (219) 661-1323.

FOOD PANTRY | Dyer

St. Joseph's Helping Hands Food Pantry will be open from 10 a.m. to noon, and 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 in the lower level of St. Joseph Church, 440 Joliet St. (U.S. 30). Those in need from Dyer, Schererville, St. John, Griffith, and Munster are eligible for assistance, and should bring two proofs of residency.

FYI: Call (219) 865-2271.

SAFETY DAY | Merrillville

Senior Safety Day will be hosted by Merrillville Senior Services from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 18 at the Merrillville Town Hall, 7820 Broadway. A free continental breakfast will be served from 8:30 to 9:45, followed by programs on Scams on Seniors and Others by an FBI agent, Elder Abuse presented by the Lake County Prosecutor's Office, Identity Theft by the Indiana State Police and Happenings in Our Town by the Merrillville Police Department. Former Deputy Police Chief Eugene Guernsey will also speak on Gypsy Scams on Our Trusting Seniors.

FYI: Call Carol Miano at (219) 769-3501 or (219) 736-8258.

CUT-A-THON SET | Lowell

Hair stylists of the Town of Lowell will come together with caring hearts and scissors in hand to host a Cut-A-Thon from noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 23 at Classy Cuts, 1001 E. Commercial Ave. Haircuts are $10 and all proceeds will benefit local resident Amanda (Carlin) Hoover, who has been diagnosed with bone cancer and has three children, Lydia, 12, Jamie Jr., 9, and Jeanie, 7. No appointments are necessary. There will be refreshments served, gift bags and a raffle. Proceeds will defray the family's medical costs. Donations can also be made at any Centier Bank location with checks payable to the Hoover Benefit and Family.

FYI: Call (219) 696-2887.

FOOD DRIVE | Crown Point

Crown Point Fire Volunteer Inc. members and the ladies auxiliary will host a food drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 15. Members will be collecting nonperishable food and personal care items at both Jewel Foods, 1276 N. Main St, and Strack & VanTil, 10851 Broadway. Food may also be dropped off at the fire station at any time to be donated to local charities and food pantries.

FYI: Call Gary Huys at (219) 662-3250 or Jen Ryman at (219) 712-7715.

TOURS & FOOD DRIVE | St. John

Cherie's Garden will host a grand opening of its second location from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 15 at 10750 Arbor Lane in the Gates of St. John. Take a tour of the child care center and drop off a food item for the Northwest Indiana Food Bank. Children will have some fun with face painting, games and prizes. Parents can also schedule a private tour after hours.

FYI: Call (219) 365-9700.

LEARNING CENTER MOVE | Crown Point

Crown Point Adult Learning Center has moved to a new location. With 25 years of service, the center has moved into vacated office space of the Centier Bank on 109 E. Joliet St. To celebrate this move, the center is hosting an open house on Wednesday, November 19 from 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at the new location. The center serves anyone 16 and older and not attending a regular school. As a satellite of the Portage Adult Education system, there is no cost to attend. A variety of programs or skills are taught on from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Students can study basic math, reading, science, social studies, or writing for earning a GED, for getting a better job, or for entering college studies. In addition, many students presently are improving their ability to communicate in the English language by working in the ENL program.

FYI: Call (219) 663-5465 during center hours.

FOOD COLLECTED | Crown Point

Pinnacle Hospital is holding a food drive through Nov. 21 to benefit the Northwest Indiana Food Bank for Lake and Porter counties. Employees are leading the effort in donating and collecting nonperishable and canned food items and household supplies. According to state statistics, there are more than 100,000 people living 125 percent under the poverty line in Lake and Porter counties. Of these 100,000 people, 34 to 43 percent of those living in poverty are children. According to the 2001 Hunger in America study, 43 percent of the members of households served by the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana are children under the age of 18 years of age and 10 percent are elderly. Donations can be dropped off at Pinnacle Hospital, 9301 Connecticut Drive.

FYI: Contact Melody Vinyard at mvinyard@pinnaclehealthcare.net or (219) 796-4130.

OPEN HOUSE | Portage

A holiday open house and vendor show from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 25 will be held at the Lupus Foundation of America Office in the Portage Chamber of Commerce Building, 2642 Eleanor St. Avon, Cookie Lee Fine Fashion Jewelry, Creative Memories, Gold Canyon Candles, JCreAtions Jewelry, Mary Kay, Rite Touch, Signature Homestyles, Tastefully Simple and an exhibitor offering pumpkin bread are among the participants in the show. Many will have cash and carry items, and orders for holiday sales will arrive before Christmas. A portion of vendor sales will be donated to the LFA Chapter. Jo Jo the Clown will provide complimentary face painting and balloons for children. Light refreshments will be provided.

FYI: Call (800) 948-8806 or visit www.lupusindiana.org

BELL RINGERS | Lake County

Lake County Salvation Army is accepting applications for seasonal bell ringers through Dec. 24. Apply in person in the office at 8225 Columbia Ave., Munster, 4800 Harrison St. in Gary or 5134 W. Chicago Ave. in East Chicago. Applicants must have a photo ID and Social Security card to apply.

FYI: Call (219) 838-0380.

THANKSGIVING DINNER | Crown Point

A free Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held at 2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, in the Fellowship Hall at Trinity Lutheran Church, 250 S. Indiana Ave. Trinity is hosting the dinner for families in need of assistance, senior citizens, and those who are alone or unable to celebrate with family or friends. Do not spend this holiday alone. Reservations are required so that the proper amount of food can be prepared. Rides are available.

FYI: Call Joyce or Dennis Mills at (219) 661-8565.

LUPUS SPEAKER | Valparaiso

Susan Skinner, RN, will be the speaker at the Lupus Foundation of America's Valparaiso support group meeting at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Education & Rehabilitation Center, 1401 Calumet Ave. Skinner will be discussing guided imagery. The Valparaiso support group meets on the third Tuesday of each month. All LFA support group meetings are free of charge and open to the public. Phyllis Simko, executive director of the Indiana chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America, is the facilitator of the support group.

FYI: Call (866) 762-6575.

DECORATION DRIVE | Munster

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, Munster Mints Service Unit are sponsoring a Munster flood victims holiday decoration collection/ drop off event from 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 15 at St. Thomas More Cornerstone Center, 8635 Calumet Ave. Any new or clean, gently used holiday (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa) decorations will be accepted including trees, lights, ornaments, inside/outside decoration, wreaths and more. The distribution to Munster Flood Victims will be by invitation only.

FYI: Call (219) 322-3393.

FOOD DRIVE | Lake County

Advance Financial Federal Credit Union invites its members

and neighbors across Lake County to help reduce hunger by donating to its annual food drive benefiting The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. The credit union is accepting monetary donations as well as nonperishable food items at all three office locations, 31 W. U.S. 30 in Schererville, 4035 Alder Street in East Chicago and 1544 W. 36th Ave. in Gary through Nov. 15.

FYI: Call (219) 392-3900.

TRANSPLANT SUPPORT | Hobart

New Beginnings Transplant Support Group for pre- and post-transplant patients and families meets at 6 p.m. the third Wednesday of every month in the auditorium at St. Mary Medical Center, 1500 S. Lake Park Ave.

FYI: Call Jason Delgado at (219) 663-3747 or Ed Jagiela at 769-4479.