USING TECHNOLOGY | Crown Point
A program titled "Using Assistive Technology at Home and with Computers" will be held April 24 at the Northwest Indiana Cooperative (NISEC), 2150 W. 97th Place. There will be two sessions, at 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. This workshop, sponsored by Northwest Indiana and West Lake special education cooperatives, will be presented by Jim Lambert of PATINS (Promoting Achievement through Technology and Instruction for all Students). Adapting home computers for special needs students will be among topics discussed. Registration by phone would be appreciated.
FYI: Call NISEC at (219) 769-4000.
DINNER & DANCE | Cedar Lake
A Family Pasta Dinner & Dance to benefit Parents as Teachers at Hanover will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. May 2 at the Hanover Central High School cafeteria, 10120 W. 133rd Ave. Cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children and includes a pasta dinner with rolls and salad, a jump house, a deejay, raffles and a commemorative CD sale. Proceeds will benefit PATH, a voluntary early childhood parent education program that includes home visits by certified parent educators and family activities., and has grown to include five educators that serve 177 children in 123 families, with 27 on a waiting list. A 50/50 match will be provided by a Lake County philanthropist. Tickets must be purchased by April 28.
FYI: Call (219) 374-3733.
GARDENING SERIES | Lowell
Master Gardener Dolly Foster will present a Gardening Series program about selecting, growing and planting perennials at 7 p.m. April 28 at the Lowell Public Library, 1505 E. Commercial Ave. Come with questions.
FYI: Call (219) 696-7704.
LEARN TO KNIT | Cedar Lake
Beginners can learn the basics of knitting and experienced knitters can improve their skills in knitting classes offered at 7 p.m. April 28 at the Lake County Public Library's Cedar Lake branch, 10010 W. 133rd Ave. Participants should bring knitting needles, size 7 or larger, and yarn.
FYI: Call (219) 374-7121.
4TH FRIDAY ARTS | Crown Point
The first 4th Friday Arts event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. April 25 in the downtown area around the Old Courthouse Square. Visit businesses that will be tuned into art sanctuaries and meet the artists. Meet artist Patricia Janco at a reception for her exhibit at South Shore Arts, 138 S. Main St. and pick up a full schedule of participating artists and businesses
FYI: Call Special Events Coordinator Jennifer Bzdil at (219) 662-3290.
STEPPIN' CLASS | Merrillville
Merrillville Parks and Recreation Department sponsors a Chicago-style Steppin' Dance class at the Pruzin Community Center, 5750 Tyler Place. The six-week program meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays beginning April 28. Chicago style steppin' is an urban- style ballroom dancing with intricate spins and turns to an eight-beat count. Wear leather-soled shoes to class. Cost is $45 for individual residents and $80 for couples who are residents, and $50 for nonresident individuals and $90 for nonresident couples..
FYI: Call (219) 980-5911.
FIRST-TIME BUYERS | Crown Point
Northwest Indiana ACORN will host a First-time Home Buyer workshop from 6 to 8 p.m.
April 29 in the second-floor conference room at South Lake County Community Services, 1450 E. Joliet St. Topics will include budgeting/savings, credit repair, shopping for a new home and obtaining a mortgage, closing on a home, home maintenance and foreclosure prevention. Space is limited to the first 40 people.
FYI: Call (219) 662-6970 to RSVP.
BUSINESS CONFERENCE | Schererville
The Expansion Business Professionals Group of Northwest Indiana invites the public to a free conference at 7 p.m. April 25 at Patrician Banquet Center on U.S. 30. Participants are welcome whether they own a business or want to start a small business on a shoestring. They will learn how to increase profits and make more money during a recession. Attendees receive a voucher for two round-trip airline tickets. Refreshments will be served. No purchases are required. Seats are limited; call to get a registration ID.
FYI: Call (219) 661-0999.
HOMEOWNER WORKSHOP | Gary
Sigma Phi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority presents a homeowner workshop from 12:30 to 3 p.m. April 26 at the Gary Public Library's Brunswick branch, 4030 W. Fifth Ave. Pamela Stallings will talk about how to qualify for a home and keep a home.
FYI: Call (219) 746-5996 or (219) 796-7902.
ART LEAGUE | Hammond
LACARE Art League meets at 6:30 p.m. April 28 at the Hammond Public Library's Howard branch, 7047 Grand Ave. The evening's demonstrator will be Leona Jurincie, who will show many new techniques for oil painting that she has recently learned. She is the resident artist for the South Shore Arts at Substation 9 in Hammond and will have a Second Sunday Paintoff starting in June. LACARE welcomes visitors to its meetings and serves refreshments and has raffles each month.
FYI: Call (219) 864-0593.
APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP | Crown Point
Fred Schmidt American Legion Auxiliary Unit 20 is accepting applications for scholarships for the 2008-09 school year through May 1. Crown Point residents and those with a Crown Point mailing address who plan to attend a college or trade school in the fall may apply. Applications are available in the guidance department at Crown Point High School and at the post home, 1401 N. Main St.
FYI: Call Barbara Sales at (219) 663-1490.
PARENTING CLASSES | Highland
Mental Health America of Lake County offers Systematic Training for Effective Parenting classes to all residents of Northwest Indiana. The class meets from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 26 at Mental Health America, 9722 Parkway Drive. This class is designed to help parents better understand their child's behavior and find ways to increase effective communication, build cooperation, and find ways to discipline that are effective and make sense. Through class discussion, parents can build a more satisfying and productive connection with their child, which will help enhance the parent/child relationship. Sign up in advance.
FYI: Call (219) 922-3822.
BOOK TALKS | Gary
Book Buddies meets at 6:30 p.m. April 28 at the Lake County Public Library's 41st Avenue branch, 3491 W. 41st Ave. An informal discussion of "Into the Forest" by Jean Hegland will take place. In the book, two teenage sisters learn to survive in the forest of northern California in a near-future, post-holocaust world. Dessert will be served. At 12:30 p.m. May 12, a mystery will be discussed. "Baltimore Blues" by Laura Lippman will be featured It's a mystery involving an ex-newspaper reporter, a polluted river, two friends and a murdered fiance.
FYI: Call (219) 980-5180.
LINDSEY SCHOLARSHIP | Lake County
Two Patrick Lindsey Scholarships of $250 will be awarded to African-American high school seniors needing assistance for post secondary education/professional training in the arts (such as music, theater, dance, art). Applicants must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and live in Lake County. Obtain an application from school counselors. Deadline is before or no later than April 25. Applicants will be notified by phone during the week of May 5 after the scholarship committee has reviewed applications.
FYI: Call (219) 677-0847.
WINE TASTING | Chesterton
St. Patrick School's first annual Wine Tasting fundraising event will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. April 26 at Trinity Hall, located behind the school at 640 N. Calumet Road. "Spring into Wine" features a sample of beer and wine vendors along with hors d ouevres prepared by Popolano's Restaurant. Raffle tickets may be purchased for a chance to win an assortment of prizes. Tickets are available at the main office of St. Patrick School for $35.
FYI: Call (219) 926-1707.
TOP STUDENTS | Lake County
Prairie State College has announced the dean's list of students for the fall term. To be named to the list, students must have a semester grade point average of 3.75 or better, have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours at PSC during the semester, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better. Students also must be in good standing at PSC to be included on the list. Local students include Julie Powers, of Cedar Lake; Christopher Vermeulen, of Dyer; Darryl White, of Gary; Jessica Arredondo, of Hammond, and Basher Alkaaki, of Munster.
DEAN'S LIST | Chicago
St. Xavier University has announced the dean's list of students for the fall semester. The dean's list recognizes full-time students who have completed a minimum of 15 credit hours at St. Xavier and have maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.75 out of 4.0. Students must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours during the given semester and have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.75. Local honorees include Christopher Batty, of Crown Point; Megan Paradzinski, of Munster, and Angela Bush, of Valparaiso.
