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 Portage community coordinator Barbara Martin.
E-mail: bmartin@nwitimes.com.
Fax: (219) 762-8386.
Address: 3410 Delta Drive, Portage IN 46368
Questions? Call (219) 762-1397, ext. 2227.
RECIPES WANTED | South Haven
The South Haven Fire Department Auxiliary is collecting recipes for a cook book. E-mail recipes to auxiliary@southhavenfire.com or mail them to the fire department at SHFD Auxiliary Cookbooks, 398 W. County Road 700 North, Valparaiso, IN 46385. Include your name, address, and phone number with your recipe. The deadline is Feb 10. Books are $10 each and can be ordered by sending a check or money order to the above address.
FYI: Call Jaime Reed, auxiliary president, at (219) 588-5567.
GARDEN CLUB | Portage
The Portage Garden Club has its slate of officers for the 2008 year. They include Lori Higgins, president; Dale Fadley, vice president; Carol Cieselski, treasurer; and Doris Fadley, secretary. This is a second term for each of the officers. The club will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 in the Hickory Hollow Room at Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Road. February's program is the second in a two-part series about soil. This month, Dale Fadley will present the topic, "Mysteries of the Soil." The public is invited. Refreshments will be served.
FYI: Call Lori Higgins at (219) 762-0861 or Dale Fadley at (219) 762-2925.
SPAGHETTI DINNER | Portage
The First Presbyterian Church of Portage, 6225 Lute Road, will host its annual spaghetti dinner/bake sale from 3 to 6 p.m. Feb. 15. The menu will include spaghetti (meat or plain sauce), garlic bread, salad, beverage and dessert. The cost of the all-you-can-eat dinner is $6 for adults, $3 for children 5 to 10 years old and free for children 4 years and younger. Carry outs will be available. Lots of home-baked items will be on the bake sale table.
FYI: Call (219) 762-4914.
PLAY AUDITIONS | Portage
Auditions for Portage Community Theatre's spring plays will take place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Feb. 18 and 19 in the Superior Room at the Portage Yacht Club, 1370 Ind. 249. No preparation is required for the audition. Actors will be reading from the script. Portage Community Theatre will stage three one-act plays during "A Night of Dramedy" on April 25, 26 and 27 and May 2, 3 and 4. The plays include "The Devil's Parole," "The Lost Elevator" and "Down Came the Rain."
FYI: Call (219) 759-1408 or visit www.portagecommunitytheatre.org.
HIP HOP | Portage
Spirits Academy, 5347B U.S. 6, will host a Hip Hop dance class for ages 10 years and older from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning Feb. 19 and continuing for six weeks. The cost is $55. Class size is limited.
FYI: Call (219) 762-4337 or (219) 628-1583.
SCARBOROUGH TRIO | Portage
The Scarborough Trio, an award-winning, nationally recognized chamber music group of bassoon, flute and piano will perform at 7:30 p.m. today in the Portage High School East auditorium, 6450 E. U.S. 6. Tickets are $5 for students and $15 for adults. The concert is the third presentation in the season presented by the Portage Township Live Entertainment Association. The final concert will be the Hunt Family Fiddlers on April 4. The Scarborough Trio will present a student outreach workshop Feb. 6 at Willowcreek Middle School.
FYI: Call (219) 762-3714.
OPEN HOUSE | Hammond
Bishop Noll Prep Academy invites parents and their students to an open house at 6 p.m. today at the school, White Oak Avenue and Hoffman Street. The academy offers faith-based education for seventh- and eighth-grade students.
FYI: Visit www.bishopnoll.org.
VISIT SCHOOL | Merrillviille
An open house for prospective students and their families will be held from 5:50 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at Andrean High School, 5959 Broadway. Use Entrance M at the rear of the school.
FYI: Call Dawn at (219) 887-5281, ext. 228 or e-mail dwojkovich@andreanhs.com.
PAINT THE TOWN RED | Portage
Portage High School Athletic Department will hold a dinner-dance from 6 p.m. to midnight Feb. 23 at Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Road. Tickets cost $35 per single or $65 per couple. The event is dressy-casual, no jeans. Proceeds will be used for team equipment, storage areas and clinic fees for coaches.
FYI: Call (219) 764-6049.
BENEFIT RUMMAGE SALE | South Haven
South Haven American Legion Post 502 will host a rummage sale to benefit Alex "Johnny" Szmutko from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 22 and 23 at the post, 429 W. County Road 750 North. Donations of items for the rummage sale will be accepted at the post. Arrange to have items picked up by calling John at (219) 759-4530. Szmutko has been a member of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 502 for the past 11 years. He was diagnosed with stage four nonhodgkin's lymphoma and has amassed many medical expenses. The Legion will hold various events to raise money to offset his expenses. A bank account has been established at Centier Bank, and donations can be made to the Alex "Johnny" Szmutko Benefit. Donations also can be made, via Pay Pal or credit card, at the Web site at www.szmutko.com.
FYI: Call (219) 759-2121.
VICTORY CHRISTIAN | Valparaiso
Victory Christian Academy, which serves students in preschool through 12th grade from Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, is accepting registrations for half- and full-day preschool. The school, 3805 LaPorte Ave., will begin taking applications for all other grades beginning March 1. An open house for preschool and kindergarten will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. March 7 at the elementary school location. Prospective families of students in other grades can contact the school to set up a time to learn about and to tour the school.
FYI: Call (219) 548-8803.
CHESS TOURNAMENT | Portage
Montessori Academy in the Oaks will host the 2nd Annual Spring Scholastic Chess Tournament March 1 at Portage Yacht Club, 1370 Ind. 249. The tournament will begin at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $10 for the open-rated division and $8 for unrated divisions for entries made by Feb. 16. The event is open to children 5 to 18 years old. Food will be available. Trophies will be given to winners. Proceeds will fund Montessori Academy in the Oaks' trip to the national tournament.
FYI: Call (219) 942-9410 or visit scichess.org.
CARGILL SCHOLARSHIPS | Portage
Cargill in partnership with National FFA Organization will award $350,00 in scholarships to local high school seniors who plan to enroll in accredited post-secondary institutions next fall and who live in communities where Cargill has a business presence. Applications are due Feb. 15, and the 350 scholarships will be awarded in May. Scholarship guidelines and the application are available at www.cargill.com and www.ffa.org. The application requires the signature of a local Cargill employee. In addition to the scholarships, each recipient's high school will receive a $200 grant for the school's library. Students are chosen based on academic achievement and leadership in extracurricular and civic activities. Students do not need to be members of FFA to be eligible.
FYI: Call (219) 787-9461.
ADULT LEARNING CENTER | South Haven
The South Haven Adult Learning Center is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays at the center in the South Haven Square, 390 W. U.S. 6., above the Smoke Shop. The South Haven Adult Learning Center is a GED preparation site. The center also offers basic skills in reading, language and math and helps people brush up for college or technical school. The center also teacher English as a Second Language classes for foreign students.
FYI: Call (219) 762-3767.
NAME SOCCER COMPLEX | Portage
Residents are invited to submit possible names for Portage parks department's new soccer complex on the east side of Imagination Glen Park, 2275 McCool Road. The deadline to submit entries is March 1. Entries can be e-mailed to Dave Byers, director of sports management, at dbyers.portageparks@verizon.net.
FYI: Call (219) 762-1675, ext. 308.
SCHOLARSHIP BANQUET | Hammond
Puerto Rican Parade and Cultural Organizations of Northwest Indiana and the City of Hammond cosponsor a scholarship award banquet Feb. 16 at the Hammond Civic Center, 5825 Sohl Ave. Three scholarship swill be awarded. The cost is $20 per person, which includes a cash bar and deejay Dusk to Dawn. Limited seating is available. The ticket deadline is Feb. 8; tickets may be bought at the civic center box office or by phone.
FYI: Call (219) 397-1217 or 670-5990.
BANK SCHOLARS | Northwest Indiana
Griffith Savings Bank is offering college scholarships to graduating high school seniors. Applications are available at the bank or high school guidance offices. The deadline is April 1.
FYI: Call (219) 924-5950.
COLLEGE FUNDING | Northwest Indiana
National College Funding Services offers $500 scholarships to high school students in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties preparing to attend college in the fall. At no cost, the society helps students and parents navigate the college planning process from how to apply to college, how to choose which to attend and how to pay for college. The service center at 7109 Colorado Ave. in Hammond is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Two telephone lines are available: (219) 844-3252 and 803-4527. A satellite service office is open in Merrillville; the number is (219) 884-6237.
JEWISH SCHOLARS | Calumet Area
About $500,000 in scholarship funds will be available from the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago for Jewish college and graduate students who need financial assistance for the 2008-09 academic year. Applicants must be full-time graduate enrollment in a "helping profession" or vocational or undergraduate training in the helping sectors requiring no graduate education for employment or studies in sciences or communication at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign or in law. Applicants must be residents of the greater Chicago metropolitan area, including Cook County and, in some cases, Northwest Indiana. Jewish Vocational Services administers the program and interviews all applicants before April 20. The application deadline is Feb. 15. To apply, visit www.jvschicago.org and click on Scholarship Services.
FYI: Call (312) 673-3457 or e-mail jvsscholarship@jvschicago.org.
EDUCATION MAJORS | Indiana
The Indiana Retired Teachers Association Foundation will offer scholarships for university-level students majoring in education. The association offers this annual award to assist future teachers and encourage the continuance of quality education in Indiana. A total of eight scholarships of $1,500 each will be awarded. The scholarship is available for sophomores or juniors majoring in education at an Indiana college or university. Applicants must be an Indiana resident and a son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, legal dependent or spouse of an active, retired or deceased member of the Indiana State Teachers Retirement Fund. The applicant must have achieved at lest a "C" grade point average for three semesters. Financial awards shall be paid directly to the financial aid administrative office of the college or university in which the respective scholarship recipient is enrolled. The application deadline is Feb. 15. Forms may be obtained by visiting www.retiredteachers.org.
Ambassadors Program | Nationwide
High school students between the ages of 15 and 18 can apply for The American Young Ambassadors Program, a global leadership program that recognizes the significant accomplishments academically, athletically or through public service efforts of U.S. high school students. The youth selected for this program will represent the United States as Young Ambassadors-at-large at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The deadline to apply is March 3. For information about the program: www.americanyoungambassadors.com.
FYI: Visit www.YSA.org.
ADULT ED CONFERENCE | MERRILLVILLE
The Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education will host its 25th Annual IAACE Conference May 8 and 9 at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, Ind. 65 and U.S. 30. IAACE is a statewide association of individuals and institutions promoting the education and training of adults. The membership in the Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education includes adult education professionals from public school adult education, community education and continuing education programs, business and industry, health and social welfare agencies, corrections, hospitals, libraries and many other fields. The organization is now accepting proposals from area presenters.
FYI: Call Paula Siminski, director of Portage Adult Education, at (219)-764-6961.
CHOCOLATE EXTRAVAGANZA | Portage
Miller's Senior Living Community will present its 7th Annual Chocolate Extravaganza from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 6 at 5911 Lute Road. Admission is $3 person, with proceeds going toward the purchase of a wheelchair-accessible van for the Bonner Senior Center. Vendors will offer chocolates, gift boxes and gift certificates just in time for Valentine's Day. Reservations are recommended but are not required.
FYI: Call (219) 764-0628.
CHOCOLATE | Washington Township
Corinne Powell, a consumer and family sciences educator with Purdue Extension, will present "Chocolate - Good or Bad?" at 10 a.m. Feb. 6 at the Expo Center, 215 E. Division Road. The lesson will focus on the history of chocolate, how it is processed, new research findings about chocolate and an explanation of the different types of chocolate available. This program is sponsored by the Porter County Extension Homemakers. The program is free. The public is invited.
FYI: Call (219) 465-3555, ext. 23.
CPR TRAINING | Portage
Portage Fire Emergency Medical Services will offer an American Heart Association Healthcare Provider initial training CPR course from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Portage Fire Station 1, 3401 Swanson Road. The cost is $40 per student and is payable to the Portage Fire Department EMS Gift Fund. Registration must be paid in advance. This course is for anyone needing a healthcare provider certification.
FYI: Call (219) 762-7404.
TEEN DRUG ABUSE | Portage
Porter-Starke Services will present a Lunch & Learn lecture, Teenage Drug Abuse: A Look at Prescription & Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Holiday Inn Express, 2323 Willowcreek Road. Todd Willis, the director of children's services at Porter-Starke, will be the featured presenter. He will discuss the demographics and trends of teenage drug abuse. He also will look at the abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse among teens and the effect these drugs have on youths. Lunch & Learn is a series of monthly educational seminars. The presentation is free. Participants can buy a boxed lunch from the Wall Street Cafe for $5 or bring their own. Reservations are required to attend and to place a lunch order. Mental Health America of Porter County offers 1.5 continuing education credits for $5.
FYI: Call (219) 476-4502 or e-mail aroof@porterstarke.org.
