Find out all the events going on in your community, and plan your week's activities with The Times.
TODAY
HALLOWEEN OPEN HOUSE | Crown Point
Lake County Sheriff's Department will hold a Halloween Open House from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 31 in the North Parking Lot/Police Garage at the Lake County Government Center, 2293 N. Main St. Hot dogs, popcorn, beverages, balloons, candy and prizes, along with Child ID's from 11 to 2 and K-9 Unit demonstrations from noon to 2. Departments with displays include aviation, crime lab, K-9, tactical unit, antique car, Explorers, motorcycle unit, animal shelter, Command Center, Family and Children's Services, patrol division and Drug Free Alliance, along with Fire Departments from Lakes of the Four Seasons and Lake Ridge.
FYI: Call (219) 755-3300.
HALLOWEEN EVENT | Gary
City of Gary will host its annual Halloween event for children 12 and younger from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Genesis Convention Center, One Genesis Plaza. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Activities include a costume parade and contest, pumpkin decorating, arts and crafts, music, a candy giveaway, a haunted house and a "Thriller Dance Off." Candy will be available at 3:30 p.m. while supplies last. Parents are reminded that trick-or-treat hours are 4 to 7 p.m.
FYI: Call (219) 881-1314.
SUNDAY
NATURE CRAFTS | Hammond
A Family Nature Crafts program on Native Americans of the Great Lakes will be held at 1 p.m. Nov. 1 at Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, 6201 Parrish Ave. Spend an afternoon with your family learning about the tribes that lived in the area. Make a drum and an armband to take home while listening to some Woodland Indian music. Fee is $5.
Registration is required and space is limited.
FYI: Call (219) 844-3188.
ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT | St. John
Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Group of St. John, hosted by St. John the Evangelist Church and facilitated by Franciscan Community Services, meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at St. John the Evangelist's Emmaus House, 11350 School St. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn from others who are going through similar situations in their role as caregiver. Group facilitator Michelle McAllister, will discuss issues of importance to caregivers and provide information on resources available to caregivers and care receivers.
FYI: Call (219) 661-5302.
MONDAY
TEENS GET FIT | Munster
"Teens Get Fit," a fitness and nutrition program designed especially for 9- to 15-year-olds, will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday from Nov. 2 to Dec. 23 at the Community Hospital Fitness Pointe, 9950 Calumet Ave. A mandatory parent meeting is at 7:15 p.m. Nov. 2. The fee is $100. Call to register.
FYI: Call (219) 836-3477 or toll-free (866) 836-3477.
WEDNESDAY
VETERANS PROGRAM | Highland
First Financial Bank's Crossroads Department presents a special veterans program, "War Dogs of the Pacific," at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Munster Public Library, 8701 Calumet Ave. This documentary tells the story of the Marine Dog Platoons of World War II from the invasion of Guam to operations on Saipan, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima. Filled with historical footage and never-before-seen photos, a special introduction will be given by Edmund Adamski who served in the 3rd Marine War Dog Company while fighting in Guam. RSVP.
FYI: Call (219) 972-7353.
UPCOMING
YOUTH BASKETBALL | Hammond
Hammond Area YMCA will offer a fall Toddler & Youth Basketball session on Saturdays starting Nov. 7 and running through Dec. 19. Toddlers consist of ages 2 to 5 (must not be in kindergarten) and Youth consist of grades kindergarten through 6. Grades 2 to 6 will practice one day during the week. Basketball fundamentals, sportsmanship, team work and fun are taught and every child plays. Sessions will be held at the Hammond Area YMCA, 7322 Southeastern Ave.
FYI: Call (219) 845-1507 or visit hammondareaymca.org.
ONGOING
BIDDY BASKETBALL | East Chicago
East Chicago Katherine House Boys & Girls Club is holding registration through Nov. 3 for its sanctioned Biddy Basketball League during club hours at 2009 E. 138th St. The league is hosting teams in the following age groups; 5 and 6; 7 and 8; 9 and 10; 11 and 12; and 13 and 15. Each team has a 10-person roster requirement and there will be a minimum of four teams per each division. The program is 10 weeks in length and includes 10 regular season games, an All-Star game and playoffs. Cost is $65 per child and includes $10 annual membership fee to the club, a team uniform (T-shirt and shorts); league T-shirt, trophy and team picture. Register at bgcnwi.org.
FYI: Contact Athletic Director Ronnie Nixon at (219) 398-1344 or rnixon@bgcnwi.org.
T-SHIRT SALES | Highland
Highland Select Centennial Committee is selling T-shirts commemorating the town's 2010 centennial. The shirts, all adult sizes, include the official centennial logo with an orange and fuchsia tulip. Colors available are black (with white printing), yellow, pistachio and serene green. Cost is $10 each. T-shirts are available at the Town Hall, 3333 Ridge Road.
FYI: E-mail 100@highland.in.gov.
ITEMS NEEDED | Munster
Members of the "Knit One, Nurture Too" class at the Cancer Resource Centre in Munster are seeking eight to 10 skeins of the same color yarn to knit or crochet afghans. Completed handmade items are donated to needy organizations in Northwest Indiana or are sold as a fundraising project for the Cancer Resource Centre. Yarn can be brought to the Cancer Resource Centre, 926 Ridge Road, Monday through Friday.
FYI: Call (219) 836-3349 or (219) 688-3120.
USED INSTRUMENTS | Hammond
Books, Brushes & Bands for Education, a Hammond-based nonprofit, is accepting gently used instruments for the youth band program.
FYI: Call (219) 937-3737 for more information or to schedule a pick-up.
PAD SCREENINGS | Munster
Peripheral Arterial Disease screenings are offered at the Community Hospital's Fitness Pointe, 9950 Calumet Ave.
PAD is the progressive narrowing of the arteries feeding the lower extremities. If you have leg pain you may have circulation problems. This test only takes a few minutes and involves taking blood pressure readings in the arm and ankle. Cost is $5 for members and $7 for nonmembers. Call for dates, times and to register.
FYI: Call (219) 934-2830.
OUTREACH MINISTRY | Hammond
God's House Outreach is planning educational, recreational and cultural activities for its youth. It will include sports such as baseball, basketball, flag football and track and field. The events will be geared toward children 5 through 17 in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. They are in need of individuals, churches and businesses willing to donate or volunteer to help.
FYI: Contact the Rev. Marvin East Sr. at (219) 885-0672 or e-mail apostlecast@yahoo.com.
SCOUT BADGES | Hammond
Lake County Parks and Recreation Department offers opportunities to earn Scouting badges at Gibson Roods Nature Preserve, 6201 Parrish Ave. Various workshops fill some requirements for badges, which are not provided. For Girl Scouts, the Brownies' Watching Wildlife and Earth and Sky badges are available, Juniors' Wildlife and Earth Connections badges are studied, and for Cadettes and Seniors, Wildlife and All About Birds are offered. For Cub Scouts, the Bears' Sharing Your World with Wildlife and Webelos' Naturalist and Forester badges can be earned.
Badge programming costs $1 per person, including adults, with a $10 minimum and 30-person maximum per workshop. Workshops are offered from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, September through May. Groups must register at least two weeks in advance; one badge per workshop.
FYI: Call (219) 769-PARK.
