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

DIVING INSTRUCTOR SEMINAR | Dyer

Goose's Scuba Shack, 1490 Joliet St., is hosting a seminar on how to become a diving professional at 7 p.m. Jan. 7. The free seminar will include information on how to become a diving instructor, career opportunities and how to make yourself marketable. All certification levels are welcome. Registration required.

FYI: Call (219) 322-7222 or e-mail jimmy@goosesscuba.com.

BOOK SALE | Munster

The Humane Society Calumet Area, 421 45th Ave., hosts a book sale from 10 a.m. to close daily between Jan. 7 and Jan. 11. New and gently used books, CDs, DVDs and tapes will be available for as little as 25 cents. Donations of items for sale are welcome.

FYI: Call (219) 922-3811.

FRIDAY

SPAGHETTI DINNER | Griffith

American Legion Post 66, 132 N. Wright, hosts an all-you-can-eat spaghetti and

and salad bar dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Jan. 8. Adult dinners cost $8, senior citizens cost $7 and children cost $6. Carry-outs are available. Desserts are available for purchase from the Auxiliary. Proceeds are used for veterans and community projects.

FYI: Call (219) 924-1415

POLISH FOLK DANCE | Lansing

Watch the Wesoly Lud Polish Folk Dance Ensemble of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America perform at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Lansing Public Library, 2750 Indiana Ave. This is a time change from previous listings. 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.

SATURDAY

BOBSLED RIDES | Lowell

Horse-drawn bobsled rides are offered from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in January and February at Buckley Homestead County Park, 3606 Belshaw Road. Dolly and Molly, the Belgian horses that call Buckley home, will pull visitors along the snowy paths of the historic farm. The open bed wagon on runners is a chilly ride, so dress accordingly and bring a blanket for your lap. The availability of rides depends on snow and temperature conditions. Call prior to visiting the park to check weather conditions. Rides last 20 to 25 minutes. The cost is $2 per person and the bobsled holds eight to 10 people.

FYI: Call (219) 696-0769 and push the option for park information.

ICE FISHING | Lake Station

Fishing opportunities at Three Rivers County Park, 28th Avenue and Colorado Street, will continue through the winter when conditions allow.  Ice fishing will be permitted from 7 a.m. until sunset when the ice is a minimum of 4 inches deep. Park staff will post ice conditions at the gatehouse. Fees are $4 for adult Lake County residents, $4.50 for adult nonresidents, and $2.50 for children 11 and younger accompanied by an adult, regardless of residency.  A special senior citizen rate is offered on Mondays, when Lake County seniors are charged $3 and nonresident seniors pay $3.50. 

FYI: Call (219) 962-7810 to verify conditions before going to the park. 

Y-ME MEETING | Munster

The Y-ME breast cancer support group meets at 10 a.m. Jan. 9 at the doctors' meeting room at The Community Hospital, 901 MacArthur Blvd. Mike DiNatole, a clinical pharmacist at the hospital, will speak about control issues - hypertension, diabetes, etc. No registration required.

FYI: Call (219) 838-6111.

JAN. 12

PHOTO CLUB | Munster

Calumet Region Photo Club will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Community Park Social Center, 8751 Lions Club Drive. Edda Taylor will be the featured speaker and the topic will be "Portraits and Lighting." Jeffrey Manuszak from the Indiana Dunes National Park will talk about entering photos for future Indiana Dunes National Park calendar contests and will distribute the 2010 calendar. Bring up to three photos 8-by-10-inch or larger for image sharing on the topic "Holiday Lights." Future field trips include Waterfalls and Eagles at Starved Rock on Feb. 27 and Waterfowl at the Kankakee Fish and Game Area on March 14.

FYI: Contact (219) 924-7890 or mlkobe@sbcglobal.net.

WINTER SPECIAL | Lake Station

Grown-ups are admitted free on Tuesdays during January and February at Bellaboo’s Play and Discovery Center at Three Rivers County Park, 28th Avenue and Colorado Street. Limited to one adult per child. Also, Bellaboo Bucks rechargeable gift cards are now available. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday. 

FYI: Call (219) 963-2070 or visit MyBellaboos.com. 

JAN. 13

CANDLE SALE | Munster

A Party Lite Candle Party takes place at 5 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Humane Society Calumet Area, 421 45th St., to benefit animals with special needs. No RSVP is necessary.

FYI: Call (219) 922-3811.

SEWING PARLOR | Lowell

The Sewing Parlor, behind the scenes costume development, is the featured program from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 13 through March 3, at Buckley Homestead County Park, 3606 Belshaw Road. Bring your sewing machine and lunch. If you don’t have a sewing machine, just bring a lunch and a willingness to lend a hand. The maintenance barn on the farm is turned into a sewing parlor during January and February. Join in preparing for the upcoming season when volunteers make hats and costumes for the living history farm and other programs. Those who can't sew are needed to iron or pin fabric. Call to register.

FYI: Call Megan at (219) 947-7275 or Becky at (219) 696-0769.

JAN. 14

SOCCER SIGNUPS | Griffith

The Griffith Soccer Club will hold registration for the spring season from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 14 and from 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 23 at the Griffith Town Hall, 111 N. Broad St. All returning players can register online at griffithsoccer.org.

FYI: Visit griffithsoccer@lycos.com or (219) 689-2937.

HIGHLAND HOMEMAKERS | Highland

The Highland Homemakers will have a meeting at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 14 at First Presbyterian Church, 8727 Delaware St. Meeting will focus on going green. A potluck lunch will follow. Guests are welcome.

FYI: Call (219) 838-6490.

PARENTS MEETING | Gary

The Roosevelt Business and Technical Academy Parent-Teacher-Student-Community Association will meet at 5 p.m. Jan. 14 in the academy's Community Room at 730 W. 25th Ave.

FYI: Contact Annie May, PTSCA president, at (219) 938-6611.

   

JAN. 15

HOMEMAKERS MEETING | Munster

The Munster Homemakers will meet at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 15 in the Munster Public Library, 8701 Calumet Ave. Participants are asked to bring the tabs from soda pop cans and cancelled stamps for recycling.

FYI: Call (219) 836-8775.

JAN. 16

MODULAR TRAIN SHOW | Whiting

The Lionel Train Show is back at the Whiting Community Center,1938 Clark St., from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 16 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 17. Presented by the Lionel Modular Train Club, which was founded in 1988 by area train enthusiasts, the show is free of charge and open to the public. New this year will be a "working highway system" incorporated into the displays.

FYI: (219) 659-0860.

PEARL HARBOR GROUP | Highland

Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Indiana Chapter 2, and Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, Indiana Chapter 2, will be holding their joint monthly meeting at noon Jan. 16 at Michael's Restaurant, 2040 45th St. Interested parties are invited to attend, reservations not required.

FYI: Please visit www.sdphs.org for Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors membership information.

GENEALOGY SHARING | Merrillville

The monthly meeting of the Northwest Indiana Genealogical Society will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 16 at the Lake County Public Library, 1919 W. U.S. 30. This annual sharing meeting is one of the most popular sessions of the year. Bring a document, photo or memento to show and discuss, or explain your genealogy research "brick walls" and see if someone in the group can help. Meetings are free and open to the public.

FYI: Contact billsc@sbcglobal.net or (219) 922-6688.

JAN. 17

BINGO FUNDRAISER | Highland

Our Lady of Grace Parish hosts a bingo fundraiser Jan. 17 in the school cafeteria, 3025 Highway Ave. Enter via the north school entrance. Early bird bingo starts at 1 p.m. and regular bingo is from 2 to 4 p.m. There is a $10 entry fee which includes one bingo card and eligibility to win a door prize. Additional bingo cards may be purchased for $1 each. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. and tickets will be sold at the door. Hot dogs, chips, desserts, soda pop, coffee and tea will be available for purchase. All proceeds to benefit Ephesus Home for senior citizens.

FYI: (219) 972-1944.

HOOPS LEAGUE | Hobart

A winter men's basketball league for ages 18 and older will be sponsored by the Hobart Family YMCA, 601 W. 40th Place. All games will be played on Sundays between noon and 5 p.m. The 8-week season begins Jan. 17 and ends with a single-elimination tournament. Cost is $450 per team and registration ends Jan. 10.

FYI: Call Jeff Renn at (219) 942-2183, ext. 16 or e-mail jrenn@hobartymca.org.

JAN. 18

YOUTH CHORUS | NORTHWEST INDIANA

Tryout signups for chorus membership begin now with final scheduling by

Jan. 18 for the Northwest Indiana Youth Chorus. Three levels of vocal training

is offered by the Northwest Indiana Youth Chorus: 8-12 years; 13-16 years; 17-18 years.

No previous training necessary. Singers should plan on clapping simple rhythms,

singing harmony and a song of their choice. Three performances are scheduled in the spring session around Porter and Lake County. Parents are requested to accompany singers. Rehearsals are in Room 19 of the Lincoln Center in Highland. The Youth Chorus is a nonprofit organization established in 1987 and supports vocal music training for the academic and performing arts.

FYI: Call 219 629-5448 or e-mail: Bonita.neff@valpo.edu

JAN. 19

SHOOTING CLINIC | Hobart

A four-session basketball shooting clinic for boys and girls 8 and older will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 19 through Feb. 9, at the Hobart Family YMCA, 601 W. 40th Place. Instructor is longtime coach Ron Divjak. Cost is $30 for Y members and $60 for nonmembers who register by Jan. 14.

FYI: Call Jeff Renn at (219) 942-2183, ext. 16 or e-mail jrenn@hobartymca.org.

JAN. 20

PARENTING CLASSES | Highland

Mental Health America of Lake County offers Systematic Training for Effective Parenting classes to all Northwest Indiana residents. The class takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 20 at the offices, 9722 Parkway Drive. Registration required.

FYI: Call (219) 922-3822.

JAN. 29

EDUCATION FUNDRAISER | Griffith

The Griffith Public Schools Education Foundation hosts its 18th annual spaghetti dinner from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Griffith Middle School/Griffith High School cafeteria, 600 N. Wiggs St., preceding the Griffith-Andrean Boys basketball game.

FEB. 2

NEEDLE ARTISANS | Munster

The Needle Artisans of Northwest Indiana will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Community Park Social Center, 8751 Lions Club Drive. Participants must be a member of the guild and register to attend any class.

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