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 Valparaiso community coordinator Annette Arnold.
E-mail: aarnold@nwitimes.com.
Fax: (219) 465-7298.
Address: 1111 Glendale Blvd., Valparaiso IN 46383
Questions? Call (219) 548-4359.
YOUNG ARTIST AUDITIONS | LaPorte
Auditions for the 2008 Florence Andrew Young Artist Competition, sponsored by the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon April 12 at the Presbyterian Church of LaPorte, 307 Kingsbury Ave. The winner(s) will be featured at a LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra Concert in either November, February or March 2009. They also will receive a $200 cash award. The competition is open to any young instrumental musician through grade 12 during the 2008-2009 school year. A student must be a full-time resident in Northwest Indiana or Southwest Michigan and be enrolled in a school music program or private instruction. Artists who have been selected as winners in the past are not eligible to participate for two years after winning. Entrants will be asked to perform a movement from a concerto or other standard orchestral work of his or her choice. All pieces must be auditioned from memory. The entry fee is $15, and entries must be postmarked by April 1.
FYI: Visit the Web site at www.lcso.net, send an e-mail to Marcia Morris at lmorris@csinet.net or call (219) 362-9020.
SPRING REGISTRATION | Valparaiso
Valparaiso Public Library, Youth Services Department, starts registration March 19 for children in grades two to six for an American Girl Spring program. Register in person for Kirsten's Spring Fling, with a $5 fee at the library, 103 Jefferson St. Program dates are 3:45-5 p.m. April 2 or April 3.
FYI: Call (219) 462-0524, ext. 4.
OPEN HOUSE | Portage
Portage Christian School, 3040 Arlene St., will hold an open house from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today. The school serves students in preschool through 12th grade in Lake and Porter counties.
FYI: Call (219) 762-8962.
BAKE SALE | Porter
The Duneland Senior Activity Center, 500 Ackerman Drive, is having a bake sale from 9 a.m. to noon March 19. Proceeds will benefit the senior center.
FYI: Call (219) 263-8300.
BEAD AND BREAKFAST | Valparaiso
La Beada Loca, 255 Indiana Ave., will host a free bead and breakfast event from 10 a.m. to noon every Saturday in March and April. Open beading or take part in the weekly project. Materials are extra. Reservations needed.
FYI: Call (219) 531-0504.
DUNELAND AGLOW | Chesterton
The Rev. Paula Baker, of Rivers of Living Water Church in Royal Center, will be the speaker for the Duneland Aglow Lighthouse meeting from 6:30 to 9 p.m. March 25 at Westchester Public Library Service Center, 100 W. Indiana Ave. Light refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free with an offering for expenses. The public is invited.
FYI: Call Elaine Estridge, president, at (219) 926-1345.
RECITAL | Valparaiso
A percussion prodigy will perform at the Valparaiso University Center for the Arts during a March 25 concert featuring classical Indian music. Rohan Rhythm, featuring 20-year-old percussionist Rohan Krishnamurthy and violinist Ayano Ninomiya, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in a concert that is free and open to the public.
Krishnamurthy has won critical acclaim for his mastery of the South Indian classical drum, the mridangam, and performed numerous concerts in North America and India since the age of nine. He recently presented a weeklong performance of "Echoes," a novel concerto for mridangam and sting orchestra, with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra that attracted nearly 13,000 school children from across Michigan.
FYI: Call (219) 464-5114.
MEMORY LOSS | Valparaiso
Through funding from NWICA (Northwest Indiana Community Action) Porter County Aging & Community Services will host a presentation on the differences between memory loss, dementia and Alzheimers led by Michele Weatherford-Towle, the community liaison for Harbor Light Hospice, at 10:30 a.m. March 28 at the Friendship Senior Activity Center, 1005 Campbell St. There is no charge for this presentation and it is open to the public. Snacks and beverages will be provided. All participants will be entered into a drawing for gift cards to local businesses. Reservations are required.
FYI: Call (219) 263-8300.
OE WEEKEND | Valparaiso
In honor of Indiana Disabilities Awareness Month, Barnes and Noble Bookstore is sponsoring an Opportunity Enterprises weekend, March 28-30. At 4 p.m. on March 28, OE training specialist Tera Evans will provide a Disability Awareness Workshop for children in the adolescent book section. Client artwork, which is done through the ARTability initiative at OE, will be available for viewing at Barnes and Noble during this weekend. In addition, a percentage of designated sales will go towards the OE. Those who wish to support Opportunity Enterprises Inc. must inform the sales associate that their purchase goes towards the organization. The bookstore is in the Valparaiso Marketplace, 150 Silhave Road
FYI: Call (219) 464-9621, ext. 230.
TILLMAN BOOK SIGNING | Gary
The public is invited to meet author, civil rights veteran and radio host Dorothy Wright Tillman during a book signing and reception from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. March 22 at the Gary Public Library Wildermuth branch, 501 S. Lake St. Tillman is the author of "Hang onto Your Hats: A Pictorial Journey of Dorothy Wright Tillman," a hat-themed, intimate look at Tillman during her tenure as Chicago's Third Ward alderman. Tillman, joined the Civil Rights movement at age 16. As a trainee and a field staff organizer for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Southern Christian Leadership Conference, she fought for rights and political consciousness. She became the first woman to serve as alderman of Chicago's Third Ward in 1985.
FYI: Call (219) 886-2484.
SOFTBALL LEAGUES | Valparaiso
Blank roster forms for Valparaiso Department of Parks and Recreation adult softball summer leagues are available at the Parks Administration Office. The Parks leagues include both men's and women's divisions. The Valpo season will be played between May and August at Fairgrounds Park. Completed rosters (signed by at least 12 players) will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis through March 20. The team fee is $550 plus $10 for each non-city resident team member. After March 22 the team fee will be $590. For further information regarding Adult Summer Softball Leagues and to pick up a team roster, visit the park office at 3210 N. Campbell St.
FYI: Call (219) 462-5144.
COUPLES WEEKEND | Valparaiso
Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1600 Monticello Park Drive, will have its fourth annual Marriage Encounter Weekend from April 11 to 13. The program, open to all married couples, focuses on improved communication, rekindling romance and renewing commitment. The deadline for the registration fee of $45 is April 6.
FYI: Call (219) 465-3921.
Pancake breakfast | Valparaiso
The Valparaiso Firefighters Local 1124 holds its annual pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. March at the Valparaiso Applebee's. Tickets are $5 per person. They can be bought from any firefighter or by calling Jeff Lawley at (219) 309-3873. Proceeds are used to fund the local's operations and charitable giving. Last year's event was a huge success. Firefighters will serve and bus tables.
Diabetic support group | Valparaiso
The Porter County Diabetes Support Group will meet at 6:30 p.m. March 19 at the Porter Education & Rehabilitation Campus 1401 Calumet Ave. Janet Levihn, dietician at Porter, will discuss food and diabetes. Everyone is invited. Bring questions about diabetes and nutrition.
FYI: Call (219) 263- 4974.
BATTLE OF THE BULGE | Michigan City
The Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, Northern Indiana Chapter XXX, will conduct a quarterly regular membership meeting at 10 a.m. March 22 at the Michigan City Elks Lodge at 416 E. U.S. 20.
LA TEA DA | Merrillville, Gary
Tickets go on sale March 31 for Lake County Parks' "La Tea Da," a luncheon especially for Red Hat societies. Tea will be served at two locations. The first is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 27 at Turkey Creek Banquet on the Green, 6400 Harrison St., Merrillville. The second will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 25 at Lake Etta Banquet Hall, 4801 W. 29th Ave., Gary. Tickets are $15 per person and go on sale at 8:30 a.m. March 31 and will remain on sale until sold out. Call between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays to order tickets.
FYI: Call (219) 769-PARK.
Tumbling classes | Valparaiso
Mirror Image Dance Academy now offers tumbling classes for ages 2 and older. Classes are divided by age and then level. Tumbling classes for middle and high school cheerleaders are available for individuals or teams. Private lessons are also available. REgister in person at Mirror Image Dance Academy, 3207 Cascade Drive, suite G.
FYI: Call (219) 462-3160.
POPCORN BALL | Valparaiso
The Valparaiso Community Festivals & Events hosts the 30th annual Popcorn Ball April 12 at the Porter County Expo Center. This year's theme is "30 Years of Popcorn & Memories." In honor of the 30th anniversary, World Class Noise, a nine-piece band from Chicago, will perform, only the second time since the ball began that a live band has entertained attendees. Reservation and ticket information available at www.popcornfest.org or by calling the organization's office.
FYI: Call (219) 464-8332.
BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS | Portage
Area business professionals are invited to attend the Duneland Business & Professionals Network meeting at 7:30 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Miller's Senior Living Community, 5911 Lute Road.
FYI: Call Louise Thompson at (219) 764-0628 or visit dunelandbpn.com.
