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: (219) 933-3249.

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

• Questions? Call (219) 937-5741.

Hey Dude! | Crete

The Crete Library's Children's Department offers Hey Dude!, a new program for boys ages 6 and older, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 30. Each month boys may register for a book based program that offers activities on the book's theme. September's theme is Geronimo Stilton Night n Get the Scoop with Geronimo!

FYI: Register online, in person or by calling the library at (708) 672-8017.

Karate | Calumet City

The next session of Wado-Ki Karate will be offered by the Calumet Memorial Park District from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 1 to Nov. 19. This style of the ancient martial art for ages 4 to adult has specifically been designed to stress discipline, promote fitness and sharpen attention spans. The fee is $35 per participant. Registration is required, and is now being taken at the Memorial Park Recreation Office, 612 Wentworth Ave.

FYI: Call (708) 862-6443 or visit calumetmemorialparkdistrict.com.

AARP | Calumet City

Calumet City Smiling Tower AARP chapter 4094 will meet at 1 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Thornton Township Senior Center, 1420 Huntington Drive. The annual auction will be held. Members should bring used but not abused items. Refreshments will be served and bingo played.

FYI: Call (708) 206-2409.

Building sale | Glenwood

There will be an old Glenwood-Lynwood Library building sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 4 at 320 Glenwood-Lansing Road. Everything must go including furniture, shelving and office supplies. Cash and carry only.

FYI: Call (708) 758-0090.

Think tank | Calumet City

Trivia Nite Out begins at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at St. Victor Church Hall, Memorial Drive and Hirsch Avenue. There is a $5 entry fee and cash prizes will be awarded. Attendees can bring or purchase snacks.

FYI: Call (708) 862-1568.

Opera preview | Homewood

A free Lyric Opera preview of Bizet's opera "The Pearl Fishers" will be presented by Belinda Potoma at 2 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Homewood Library, 17917 Dixie Highway. The public is invited to attend.

FYI: Call (708) 799-9055.

Sears Best | Calumet City

The Sears Best Retirees Group will meet at 9:15 a.m. Oct. 6 at Tom's Restaurant, 894 Burnham Ave.

FYI: Call (708) 534-3940 or (219) 947-8147.

Fish fry | Lansing

LARC, a nonprofit organization providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities, will be hosting its 16th annual fall fish fry fundraiser from 4 p.m. to midnight Oct. 10 at its facility, 19043 Wentworth Ave. A raffle will be held that evening with the chance to win a total of $2,000 in cash prizes.

FYI: For more information or to purchase tickets, call LARC at (708) 474-1540.

Bean bag tourney | Chicago

A bean bag tournament begins at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 5 on the south lawn of St. Florian Church, 131st and Houston Avenue in Chicago's Hegewisch neighborhood. Only 40 teams can sign up. There will be cash prizes. Registration fee is $20.

FYI: Call (773) 646-4877.

Golf outing | Glenwood

The 2008-09 South Suburban College Baseball Team is hosting its third annual Bulldog Baseball Golf Outing this October to raise funds for athletic equipment and travel costs for nationwide tournaments. It will take place Oct. 3 at Glenwoodie Golf Course on 193rd and State Street. Registration begins at noon with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The cost is $100 per golfer, which includes golf (four man scramble) with dinner and door prizes to follow. Hole sponsorships are also available for $100.

FYI: Call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2413 or e-mail sruzich@southsuburbancollege.edu.

PASTOR HONORED | Gary

Pastor and Supt. Ervin King and his wife, Jacqueline King, will be honored for 21 years of faithful service at 4 p.m. today at Temple of Praise Church of God In Christ, 3941 E. 13th Ave. Anyone who has been associated with the pastor or with his wife or with the church throughout the past two decades is welcome.

FYI: Call (219) 938-7034 or visit www.topervinking.com.

Music programs | Hammond

Learn about Books, Brushes & Bands for Education music programs at an informational meeting at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Hammond Public Library, 564 State St. Instrumental and choral instruction at nominal fees is offered for second grade through high school students.

FYI: Call (219) 937-3737.

Open house | Highland

Highland Fire Department will have its annual open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Central Fire Station, 2901 Highway Avenue. There will be fire truck rides, safety and rescue demonstrations and food.

FYI: Call (219) 923-9876.

Fundraiser | East Chicago

A fundraiser for Ruben Mayen is from 6 to 11 p.m. Oct. 4 at Club Ki-Yowga Hall, 5220 Indianapolis Blvd. There will be music, a DJ and cash bar. Donation is $10 and includes dinner.

FYI: E-mail bevarmenta@netzero.net.

Booster club | Hammond

Hammond High School All School Booster Club is having a community bazaar, craft and fun fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 4 in the school parking lot, 5926 Calumet Ave.

FYI: Call (219) 933-9135.

Vendor fair | Highland

An arts and craft show with vendor fair is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 4 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Lincoln Center, 2450 Lincoln St. Crafters will sell doll clothes, candles, afghans, jewelry, bean bag games, glass art and more. There will also be dealers from Discovery Toys, Tupperware, Arbonne, Tastefully Simple, Home Interiors and more. Lunch and bake sale items will be sold.

FYI: Call (219) 838-0114.

Art classes | Northwest Indiana

South Shore Arts will begin its fall term of classes the week of Oct. 6 at its three locations in Munster, Crown Point and Hammond. This fall's classes include a variety of preschool, children's and adult classes including acting, photography with darkroom instruction, pottery, cartooning, mixed media, as well as basic and advanced drawing and painting. At the South Shore Arts Munster facility, classes are held on the lower level of the Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road. Classes generally run 10 weeks during the fall term. South Shore Arts Hammond site, Substation No. 9, 435 Fayette St., offers classes in computer graphics, painting, drawing, art studio and airbrushing.

FYI: Call (219) 836-1839, ext. 103, or visit www.southshoreartsonline.org.

Resource fair | Hammond

Irving Elementary School, 4727 Pine St., is the site of the Latino Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 11. The fair, sponsored by the Hammond Hispanic Committee and Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, will address the topics of health, education and public safety.

FYI: Call (219) 932-4800, ext. 107.

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. Vendors are needed to provide free promotional materials.

FYI: Call (219) 836-3349.

OKTOBERFEST NIGHT | Highland

Prime Real Estate will present an Oktoberfest for Charity from 5 p.m. to midnight Oct. 4 at the Elks Lodge, 3120 45th St. Tickets are $30 and include cocktails and entertainment. All proceeds benefit Kids Alive Foundation, helping children worldwide.

FYI: Call (219) 322-9009.

ARTHRITIS WALK | Merrillville

An arthritis walk will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 4 at Hidden Lake Park, 6305 Broadway. Participants can choose from 1- 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.

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.

FYI: Contact (219) 662-1905 or kecman.ruth@in-pact.org.

OKTOBERFEST EVENT | St. John

Enjoy German-inspired food, drink, live entertainment and more at St. John's Oktoberfest from 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 4, rain or shine at St. John the Evangelist School, 9400 U.S. 41. This family event will also have several games and pumpkin decorating for children, an adult bean bag tournament and live German music. Advance tickets are available from the St. John the Evangelist parish office for $5 for adults ($6 at the door) and $2 for children 3 to 12 ($3 at the door). Tickets include food, soft drinks, entertainment and activities.

FYI: Call (219) 365-5678.

JEWELRY AUCTION | Schererville

There will be a live jewelry auction at 2 p.m. Oct. 5 at Albert's Diamond Jewelers, 711 Main St., with proceeds benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Indiana State Chapter. Also offered will be silent auction items including sports memorabilia, golf packages, restaurant certificates, artwork, spa packages and more.

FYI: Call (219) 322-2700.