Illinois Community Calendar

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 news editor Jeanette Lach

- E-mail: jeanette.lach@nwi.com

- Fax: (219) 933-3249.

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

- Questions? Call (219) 933-3267

TODAY

NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION | Homewood

The village of Homewood hosts its own countdown and balloon drop at noon Dec. 31 for families to usher in the new year together complete with horns, hats and balloons. Festivities start at 11 a.m. with entertainment provided by Circus Boy performing stunts and physical comedy. Families can have their picture taken or bring their own cameras for a New Year's photo keepsake. The celebration is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District auditorium, 2010 Chestnut Road. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. The free event is sponsored by the Community Relations Commission.

FYI: Contact Rachel Jones, (708) 206-3375.

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY | Lansing

American Legion Post 697, 18255 Grant St., hosts a New Year's Eve party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dec. 31. Food, party favors and Good Times band with special guests Jake and Elwood.

FYI: Call (708) 474-5906.

NEW YEAR'S EVE | Munster

Family Christian Center is hosting its annual New Year's celebration beginning at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 31, featuring live and video entertainment. At 10 p.m., the celebration continues with musicians and speakers along with the Family Christian choir. Fireworks and thousands of balloons round out the celebration.

FYI: Call (219) 922-6500 or visit www.familychristiancenter.org.

BELLABRATION SET | Lake Station

A 2010 New Year's Eve BeLLABration will be held for children from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 31 at Bellaboo’s Play and Discovery Center, 28th Avenue and Colorado Street at Three Rivers County Park. Enjoy the "royal" Treatment at Bellaboo’s Castle. Cost is $15 for princes and princesses 9 and younger, $10 for each additional child, and $6 for each lord and lady 10 and older. Royal babies 6 months and younger attend free. Wear Sunday best attire and enjoy live music for dancing, a cooking class, art and stories as well as sweet treats.

FYI: Visit mybellaboos.com or call (219) 963-2070.

SKATING EVENT | Merrillville

Bring in the new year with Paddles T. Otter at a family friendly New Year's Eve celebration from 5 to 10 p.m. Dec. 31 at the ice skating plaza in Deep River County Park, 9100 E. U.S. 30. Count down to 2010 in Paddles' Time Zone, which is at 8 p.m. Admission is $5 per person and regular skate rental fees apply. Kids can make New Year’s Eve crafts from 5 to 8 p.m., followed by a countdown and sparkling juice toast in the plaza with Paddles at 8, while ice skating with a DJ and concession items for sale continues from 5 to 10.

FYI: Call (219) 947-7850 or visit lakecountyparks.com/events.html.

GRANDE FINALE | Crown Point

Sixth annual Grande Finale is set for Dec. 31 around the historic downtown square with two event locations. The family fun event is set for 5 to 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, still giving adults the opportunity to ring in the new year with friends later in the evening. South Shore Arts' Crown Point Arts Center at 138 S. Main St. will host the Grande Finale kickoff event as magician Jerry Herzog performs a 45-minute show live at 5 p.m. Also, Patti Mac the B’loon Lady will be twisting balloon animals, crowns, swords, and much more before she makes her way over to the dance and pizza party beginning at 6 p.m. in the Crown Point Civic Center, 101 S. East St.  Cost is $5 per person; children younger than 1 attend free. Each ticket includes unlimited pizza at the party while supplies last. Only 265 tickets are available.

  FYI: Call (219) 662-3290 or e-mail jenyoung@crownpoint.in.gov to purchase tickets.

SATURDAY

WRITERS GROUP | Lansing

Writers are welcome to join the Lansing Public Library's writers group from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 2 and Jan. 16. Anyone age 18 or older can join and listen to poems, stories, journaling or anything that participants have written. Critiques can be given if desired. The group offers writing challenges to its members and encourages different types of story ideas. Tips on creative writing and information on publishing will be shared.

FYI: Call (708) 474-2447, ext. 122.

KIDS WORKSHOP | Hobart

The next Kids Workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 2 at The Home Depot, 2851 E. U.S. 30. Children will Build a Calendar with blocks featuring numbers that can be turned to change the date. Children not registered in advance may complete an alternate project. Register and get more info at www.homeimproverclub.com/workshops.

FYI: Call (219) 942-2136.

SUNDAY

LADIES AFTERNOON | Hammond

Join a ladies afternoon meet and greet from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 3 at the Hammond Moose Lodge, 7500 Cline Ave. service road. It will be an afternoon of relaxation after a stressful holiday season. A guest speaker, light lunch and pampering ideas available.

FYI: (219) 844-9905

MONDAY

T'AI CHI CHIH | Hammond

Starting in January, the Hammond Area YMCA located at 7322 Southeastern Ave. will offer an eight-week T'ai Chi Chih session for ages 16 and above from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Mondays for from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Saturdays.  Tai Chi Chih - Joy Through Movement is a newer nonmartial form of T'ai Chi. The purpose is to circulate and balance the flow of Chi (energy) in the body. All movements are very slow, gentle, and powerful. T'ai Chi Chih is suitable for all fitness levels, movements can even be performed while seated.

FYI: Call (219) 845-1507 or visit www.HammondAreaYMCA.org.

FOOD DRIVE | Crete

Northwoods restaurant, 968 E. Steger Road, is hosting a food drive and Wii raffle to benefit the Crete Food Pantry. Restaurant patrons can receive a raffle ticket for cash or cans. A three-can donation gets a ticket as does a $1 donation. Online donations of $5 for six entries are accepted at www.northwoodssaloon.com. Drawing is Jan. 4.

FYI: Call (708) 672-1167.

TUESDAY

NEEDLE ARTISANS | Munster

The Needle Artisans of Northwest Indiana, Chapter of the Embroiderers Guild of America Inc. host a meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 5 at the Community Park Social Center, 8751 Lions Club Drive, about a quarter mile south of the intersection of Ridge Road and Calumet Avenue. Must be a member of the guild and register to participate in any class. Guests are welcome.

FYI: Contact Elaine Hein (219) 663-6391 or e-mail ECHein@yahoo.com.

WEDNESDAY

BOOK DISCUSSION | Lansing

Discuss "The Christmas Sweater," by Glenn Beck at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Lansing Public Library, 2750 Indiana Ave. Book discussions meet in the upper level conference room. Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk. Registration for this free program is required.

FYI: Call (708) 474-2447, ext. 122.

GAME SHOW | Munster 

Join First Financial Bank Crossroads Department at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 6 for the return of the "Liars Club," a game-show version of wacky word definitions that test vocabulary dexterity. Staff from First Financial Bank will try to fool contestants with bogus definitions, and participants will have to figure out who's telling the truth. Event held at the Munster Public Library, 8701 Calumet Ave. No membership required. Guests welcomed. RSVP required.

FYI: Call (219) 972-7353.

JAN. 8

POLISH FOLK DANCE | Lansing

Watch the Wesoly Lud Polish Folk Dance Ensemble of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America perform at 6 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Lansing Public Library, 2750 Indiana Ave. The ensemble's repertoire includes full costume regional dances and vocal suites from eastern Krakow, Lowicz and a variety of areas throughout Poland. Registration for this free program requested.

FYI: Call (708) 474-2447 or visit www.lansing.lib.il.us.

INDOOR SOCCER | Hammond

The Hammond Area YMCA will be offering toddler indoor soccer for ages 2 to 5 years and youth soccer for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. The seven-week session starts Jan. 16 at the Hammond Area YMCA located at 7322 Southeastern Ave. Children in grades 2 through 6 will also have a practice one day during the week, the day and time to be announced. Registration deadline is Jan. 8. Fees are $35 for members and $65 for nonmembers. 

FYI: Call (219) 845-1507 or visit www.HammondAreaYMCA.org.

JAN. 9

TEXAS HOLD 'EM | Lansing

The Save Schultz Park organization is hosting a Texas Hold 'Em tournament beginning at noon Jan. 9 at Kilroy's Bar and Grill, 3502 Ridge Road. Cost is $35 to buy in with additional buy ins available. Beer and food will be provided by Kilroy's.

FYI: Call Ted for tickets and information at (708) 710-7533.

BOOK SALE | Lansing

Friends of the Lansing Public Library hosts a book sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 9. Members only can purchase from 9 to 10 a.m. and the general public can shop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fill a bag for $5. The library is at 2750 Indiana Ave.

FYI: Call (708) 474-2447, ext. 122.

UNIVERSITY WOMEN MEET | Schererville

The American Association of University Women, Calumet area branch, will meet at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 9 at the St. John Community Center, 1515 U.S. 30. The speaker will be Linda Eyemann, director of education at South Shore Arts. Prospective members are welcome to attend.

FYI: (219) 865-2413.

ENTRANCE EXAM | Merrillville

Andrean High School is having a second entrance exam for the class of 2014 at 8 a.m. Jan. 9. All incoming freshmen are required to take the exam. Enter through entrance A in the front of the school, bring $20 for the exam fee and at least two, No. 2 pencils. No registration required and no calculators allowed.

FYI: Contact Dawn at (219) 887-5281, ext. 228 or dwojkovich@andreanhs.com or visit andreanhs.com.

RR SWAP MEET | Schererville

A Winter Railroad Swap Meet and Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Movie Program will be held Jan. 9 at American Legion Post 485, 7485 Burr St. Sponsored by the Blackhawk Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, the swap meet starts at 1 p.m. and the movie program starts at 3:30. The program will take a look at "the J" between Kirk Yard and South Chicago as it looked in the summer of 1972. Buy, sell or swap model railroad equipment and socialize with area rail fans. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Eight-foot vendor tables are $15 each to rent. Admission is free.

FYI: Call (815) 834-0835 or visit blackhawknrhs.org.

MARTIAL ARTS | Hammond

The Hammond Area YMCA will offer martial arts focusing on karate, jujitsu, and kickboxing for ages 8 years to adult. The monthly sessions will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. on Saturdays. Classes start Jan. 9 and will be held at the Hammond Area YMCA located at 7322 Southeastern Ave.  The fee is $25 for members and $50 for nonmembers. 

FYI: Call (219) 845-1507 or visit www.HammondAreaYMCA.org.