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 Northlake community news editor Jeanette Lach at least 10 days in advance.
* E-mail: jeanette.lach@nwi.com.
* Fax: (219) 933-3249.
* Address: 601 W. 45th Ave., Munster, IN 46321.
* Questions? Call (219) 933-3267.
TODAY
FREE ART LESSONS | Hammond
The Hammond Area YMCA will provide free art lessons for children ages 7 through 17 during the months of February, March, and April. Lessons include mixed media art projects and all lessons are made possible through a Community Arts Programming grant and are supported by the South Shore Arts Association, the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. Classes run monthly and take place from 4 to 5 p.m. Mondays at the Hammond Area YMCA. 7322 Southeastern Ave.
FYI: Call the Hammond Area YMCA at (219) 845-1507 or visit www.HammondAreaYMCA.org.
DONATE DRESSES | Hobart
Center for Possibilities is seeking donations of new or gently used semi-formal and party dresses for their adult students to wear to the center's 50th anniversary celebration. Sizes 2-26 are needed. Dresses may be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday at Center for Possibilities, 22 Tyler Ave.
FYI: Contact Michelle Higel at (219) 962-5751 or mhigel1@yahoo.com.
SATURDAY
Y-ME MEETING | Munster
The Y-ME breast cancer support group meets at 10 a.m. Feb. 13 at the doctors' meeting room at The Community Hospital. No registration required. Featured speaker is Dr. A. Ghandi, speaking on the myths of cholesterol.
FYI: Call (219) 838-6111.
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD | Gary
Indiana University Northwest will serve as one of nine competition sites across Indiana for the 2010 Science Olympiad Regional Tournament on Feb. 13.
Students from 18 middle and high schools will participate in more than 50 carefully planned and coordinated science and engineering events. Competing high school teams include: Lake Central, Merrillville, Chesterton, Hanover Central, Portage, Valparaiso, Michigan City, Marquette Catholic, and Griffith.
Competing middle school teams include: Chesterton, Pierce, Grimmer, Hanover, St. Patrick, Taft, Thomas Jefferson, John Wheeler, and Boston Middle Schools.
The top three B Division and top three C Division schools will advance to the state tournament, which is scheduled for March 20 at IU Bloomington. The fourth-place runner-up teams will compete in the Wild Card Tournament at Ivy Tech Lafayette. Registration begins at 7 a.m. in the Savannah Center, and opening ceremonies begin at 7:30. Closing ceremonies will take place at 3:15 p.m. Events will take place in rooms and laboratories in several campus buildings. Visit http://www.iun.edu/~olympiad.
FYI: Contact Nelson DeLeon at (219) 980-6742 or ndeleon@iun.edu.
FEB. 17
ARTS LUNCHEON | Valparaiso
The South Shore Arts Chamber of Commerce Luncheon has been rescheduled, due to the weather, and will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 17. Catered by Bistro 157 at Venue, 74 Lincolnway. A bimonthly social activity for artists, arts organization staff and patrons, the luncheons offer an opportunity to network and collaborate. Bring arts related promotional materials to share.
FYI: Call Kelly at (219) 836-1839, ext. 100.
FEB. 18
STARTING A BUSINESS | Hammond
Purdue University Calumet’s Center for Entrepreneurship Success at 1247 169th St. is offering a Business Feasibility Workshop from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 18 for individuals thinking about starting a business. The workshop is intended to acquaint entrepreneurs with the challenges, responsibilities, opportunities and problems associated with starting and operating a business. Cost to attend is $25.
FYI: Call (219) 989-2388 or (800) HI-PURDUE, ext. 2388, or e-mail deanj@calumet.purdue.edu.
FEB. 19
FISH FRY | Hammond
Hammond Mohwaks will host a Lenten fish fry from 4 to 7 p.m. every Friday during Lent beginning Feb. 19. All-you-can-eat pollock costs $9 and is $5 for children ages 11 and younger. Also available is a half-pound shrimp dinner for $9, a frog leg dinner for $9, a smelt dinner for $9 or a combo platter of fish, shrimp and frog legs for $11. All dinners include fries, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, bread, salad and dessert.
FYI: Call (219) 933-9823.
FISH FRY | Hammond
St. Catherine of Siena, 165th Street and Kentucky Avenue, is hosting a fish fry from 4 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 19, Feb. 26, March 5, March 12, March 19 and March 26. Lake perch dinner is $10, ocean perch is $7.75, large shrimp is $10, small shrimp is $7.75. Fish sticks dinner is $7. All-you-can-eat salad bar is $6.50 and carry-outs are available. Dinners include fish, salad bar, fries, dessert, coffee or punch.
FYI: (219) 845-1939 or (219) 844-8280.
HEART HEALTH | Gary
The public is invited to a doctors' roundtable discussion from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Calumet Township trustee's office, 610 Connecticut St. The event is part of the office's Go Red for American Heart Association campaign.
FYI: Contact Elizabeth Jolley at (219) 880-4000.
PARENTING CLASS | Highland
Systematic Training for Effective Parenting classes for all Northwest Indiana residents will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 19 through March 12 at Mental Health America, 9722 Parkway Drive.
FYI: (219) 922-3822.
MOMS CLUB | Highland
The MOMS Club of Highland/Griffith will have an open house at 10:30 am Feb. 19 at the Highland Public Library, 2841 Jewett Ave. The MOMS Club of Highland/Griffith is a support and social group for full-time and part-time stay-at-home moms from Highland and Griffith. The MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club is an international support group for women who choose to stay at home with their children. We provide topics of interest to mothers, fun activities for moms and their children, and help kids in the community. The MOMS Club is a nonprofit organization.
FYI: Contact Steffany at (219) 227-6148 or e-mail at momsclubhighland@yahoo.com
FEB. 20
BENEFIT NIGHT | Griffith
A benefit night for Rhonda Louie, of Griffith, who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, is scheduled from 6 to 11 p.m. Feb. 20 at St. Mary's Hildebrandt Hall, 525 N. Broad St. Food, raffles and entertainment. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 12 years old. Tickets will be at the door but for advance tickets contact Tom Geffert at (219) 629-1576, Joann Vaughan at (219) 776-6381 or John Kayden at (219) 796-6225.
Louie is a longtime Griffith resident whose husband, Guy, is a lieutenant with the Griffith Fire Department. They have three children.
TAP A TREE | Hobart
A maple tree tapping workshop will be held at 1 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Deep River County Park Visitor Center, 9410 Old Lincoln Hwy. Reservations are required; cost is $5 per family, payable at the door. Learn how to tap the trees, collect and preserve the sap, and produce pure maple syrup. Needed is a drill, some buckets, a camp stove or grill, bottles and pans. Other items, such as spiles, filters and sap buckets may be purchased at the workshop. There will be a lesson, a demonstration and a hands-on opportunity to drill a tap hole and insert a spile. Participants will help with identifying maple trees in the winter and receive a step-by-step instructional booklet. For a weather update on the day of the workshop, call (219) 947-1958.
FYI: Call (219) 769-PARK for reservations from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
LITTLE LEAGUE MEETS | New Chicago
The next meeting of the Lake Station/ Hobart Township Little League will be held at 5 p.m. Feb. 20 in the basement of the New Chicago Town Hall, 122 Huber Blvd. All are welcome.
FYI: Call (219) 962-1247.
UNIVERSITY WOMEN MEET | Schererville
The American Association of University Women, Calumet Area Branch, will meet at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 20 at the St. John Township Community Center, 1515 U.S. 30. The speaker will be Angelina Williams, the executive director of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. Prospective members are welcome to attend.
FYI: Call (219) 865-2413.
CHRISTIAN PERFORMANCES | Gary
The African American Achievers Youth Corps Inc. will sponsor "The Spoken Word," at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at The Glen Theatre, 20 W. Ridge Road. The program will feature Christian poets and rappers. Among those performing are Johnathan Wilson, Louis Cannon, the Rev. Montia Gardner, Stevie G., the Rev. Davida Johnson and Cameron. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at Beautiful Things, 3570 Village Court, and U.S. Cellular, 1021 Broadway.
FYI: Call (219) 887-2046.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY | Gary
The Gary Public Library's 40th annual African-American History Month program takes place at 3 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Genesis Convention Center, Fifth Avenue and Broadway. Special guest speaker will be author/poet, Sapphire. Sapphire is the author of the New York Times best-seller "Push," which was adapted to the big screen in 2009 as the film "Precious," produced by Oprah Winfrey and Lee Daniels. In conjunction with the author's visit, students in fifth through 12th grade are invited to participate in an essay contest "Pushing Against the Odds." Information is available at all library units. Entries must be received no later than Feb. 10. Prizes will be awarded in three categories. The program is free and seating is limited, no tickets or reservations needed. A book signing will be held immediately following the program.
FYI: (219) 886-2484, ext. 305.
FEB. 21
SUNDAY DINNER | Gary
A sarma/chicken dinner will be served beginning at 11 a.m. Feb. 21 in the church hall at St. Joseph the Worker Church. 330 E 45th Ave. Sponsored by the Rosary Sodality, dessert and coffee are included.
FYI: Call (219) 942-0095.
BABY SHOWER | Hammond
St. John Bosco's Altar and Rosary Society for Birth Choice, which assists unwed mothers, hosts a baby shower from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 21 at St. John Bosco Parish Hall, 7111 Columbia Ave. Refreshments will be served and games will be played. Gift suggestions include disposable diapers, bibs, clothes for newborns to 2-year-olds, receiving blankets, sleepers and monetary donations. Gifts should not be wrapped. RSVP requested.
FYI: Contact Marcy at (219) 932-2010, Leona at (219) 844-9212 or Jerry at (219) 845-4887.
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY MEETS | Park Forest
The Illiana Jewish Genealogical Society meets at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 21 in the library at Congregation Am Echad, 160 Westwood Drive. Remembering the 1940s is the theme for the program and attendees are invited to bring a maximum of three photos and/or artifacts from the '40s to recall the decade. Nonmembers are asked for a $2 donation. Annual family memberships are $20.
FYI: Visit http://ijgs.home.comcast.net.
SPAGHETTI DINNER | Gary
Miller-Dunes American Legion Auxiliary Unit 279 is hosting its annual spaghetti dinner from 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 21 at the post home, 6601 Old Hobart Road in the Miller neighborhood. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children.
FYI: Call (219) 938-9856.
NURSES HONORED | Munster
All are welcome to celebrate a special service of thanksgiving to honor nurses at 10:15 a.m. Feb. 21 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1101 Park Drive. The church is honoring nurses since few, if any, have not been touched by the selfless dedication and compassion of these unsung heroes.
FYI: Call (219) 838-3803.
FEB. 22
ART LEAGUE MEETS | Hammond
The LACARE Art League will meet at 1 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Howard Branch Library, 7147 Grand Ave. The featured demonstrator will be Tom Torluemke, who works in a variety of media, including mural painting, watercolor and sculpture. Torluemke will be providing "an inspirational talk on creativity" and display some of his art works. His web page is www.tomtorluemke.com. LACARE Art League is open to artists and all interested in art and welcomes visitors to their meetings. Refreshments are served and there is usually a raffle of the demonstrator's work.
FYI: Call Ann Noldin at (219) 864-0593 for more information.
FEB. 23
OPEN HOUSE | Hobart
Kids 1st Preschool will host an Open House from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 for the 2010-11
school year. The school is at 654 E. Fourth St. at the First United Methodist Church.
FYI: Call (219) 942-1601.
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FUNDRAISER | Chicago area, Northwest Indiana
In celebration of National Pancake Day, IHOP restaurants nationwide will offer each guest a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Feb. 23 and patrons are invited to make a donation to the Children's Miracle Network. Donations made at IHOPs in the Chicago area will benefit the Children's Miracle Network program at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
