Your Porter County briefs

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 Porter County community coordinator Annette Arnold.

E-mail: aarnold@nwitimes.com.

Fax: (219) 465-7298.

Address: 1111 Glendale Blvd., Valparaiso IN 46383

Questions? Call (219) 548-4359.

Tuesday

CHRISTMAS PARTY | Valparaiso

The Valparaiso Lions Club December dinner meeting will be a Christmas Party at Kelsey's Restaurant beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1. Members and their guests are encouraged to bring a "White Elephant" gift to exchange.

FYI: Call (219) 531-0245 or visit www.valparaisoin.lionswap.org

EMERGENCY ROOM | Valparaiso

To help women better understand when they should – or shouldn’t – visit the Emergency Room, Porter Health System’s Healthy Woman program will present an educational seminar, "Your Emergency Room – When Should You Visit?" by William Yount, MD. The program will be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Porter Education and Rehabilitation Campus, 1401 Calumet Ave. Dr. Yount, a Level I Emergency Medicine Physician, is board certified in emergency medicine and conducted his residency McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. That evening, Dr. Yount will address when you or your family’s medical problem truly warrants a trip to the ER. Call to register.

FYI: Call (219) 263-4437.

Wednesday

BASKETBALL SIGNUPS | Portage

Registration for the Jr. NBA/WNBA basketball league is happening Dec. 2 through 4 at the Forrest L. Rhode Boys & Girls Club, 5895 Evergreen Ave. The Jr. NBA/WNBA league is a fun and instructional program focusing on fair play, honesty, and sportsmanship.

The league is divided into three age divisions:  Biddy Ball for ages 5-7, $20 with membership; Junior League for ages 8-10, $30 with membership; and Senior League for ages 11-13, $35 with membership.  An all girls Junior division will once again be offered for ages 8-11.  Other age divisions are coed. Cost of membership is $25 for one year. Scholarships are available to those who qualify. 

FYI: Call  762-4613.

Dec. 4

BAKE SALE | Valparaiso

The Valparaiso Woman's Club, a nonprofit organization, will have a bake sale from

4 to 8 p.m. during the "Holly Days" celebration downtown on Dec. 4. Visitors are welcome to come into the clubhouse at 102 Washington Street and select from a variety of homemade Christmas and Holiday treats. There will also be coffee and hot chocolate available. 

FYI: Call (219) 462-3876.

Dec. 5

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA | Valparaiso

Breakfast with Santa will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Dec. 5 at the Valparaiso YMCA, 1501 Cumberland Crossing Drive. Cost is $3 per child and $6 per adult. Pictures are $2 each. Register by Dec. 3 online at www.valpoymca.org or at the courtesy desk.

FYI: Call (219) 464-9543.

BAZAAR BENEFIT | Valparaiso

Vendor space is still available for the Holiday Memories Bazaar to be held on Dec. 5 at Rittenhouse Senior Living, 1300 Vale Park Road. Proceeds of the Holiday Memories Bazaar will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. 

FYI: Call (219) 508-3502.

BREAKFAST PLANNED | Valparaiso

VFW Hayes Post 988, located at 705 Roosevelt Road, will serve breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. Dec. 5. Cost is $7 for full breakfast; carryouts available. Proceeds will be used to defray costs of the Children’s Christmas party being held for local veterans and their families. 

FYI: Call (219) 464-3668 between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

HOLIDAY CRAFTS AND STORIES | South Haven

A holiday crafts and stories program is set for 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 at the South Haven Public Library, 403 W. County Road 700 North. Register by Nov. 30. Fee is $2 per person.

FYI: Call (219) 759-4474.

FRIENDSHIP TEA | Valparaiso

The Valparaiso Branch of the American Association of University Women will hold its annual holiday friendship tea from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Valparaiso Woman's Club, 102 Washington St. Any woman who holds a baccalaureate or an associate degree from an accredited university or college is welcome to attend.. Tickets for the tea are $25 for members and $20 for friends attending.

FYI: Call (219) 462-7682.

RENOVATION CELEBRATION | Gary

A Cookie Walk & Renovation Celebration will be held Dec. 5 at Marquette Park United Methodist Church, 215 N. Grand Blvd. The Cookie Walk will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Children's activities for ages 5 to 10, or younger children with a parent, will be held from 10 to 11, and there will be a service for the rededication of the church in the sanctuary at noon. Tours of the church and PowerPoint presentations about the church's history will take place throughout the event.

FYI: Call (219) 938-4106.

COOKIES & CRAFTS | Crown Point

Annual Cookies & Crafts festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 5 at St. John United Church of Christ, 1288 S. Indiana Ave. A large variety of Christmas cookies will be sold by the pound, and there will also be a variety of vendors, including Upper Case Living, Tables by Trish, Tastefully Simple, Lia Sophia, Shaklee Products and antique and novelty transistor radios. The Women's Guild handmade crafts raffle will be held. Children can have a photo taken with Santa Claus and make a frame for it for $5.

FYI: Call (219) 663-1608.

DEC. 6

COOKIE WALK | Chesterton

The Chesterton United Methodist Women will hold a holiday cookie walk from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 6 at the church, 434 S. 2nd St. There will be more than 400 dozen homemade cookies and candy for $6 a pound,

FYI: Call (219) 983-1803.

CHRISTMAS ON THE FARM | Portage

The Trager Homestead and Alton Goin Museum will be decorated for Christmas from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m .Dec. 5 and 6 at 5250 U.S. 6. Kids can have their picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus for a nominal charge or bring own camera. Check out the display of Dickens Christmas Village. There will be Christmas music by Scott Conner on the dulcimer and Pat Fisher on the keyboard. There also will be cookies, punch and activities for the kids. Admission is free.

FYI: Call (219) 762-4218.

DEC. 7

HEALTH SCREENINGS | Portage

Free blood pressure screenings will be available from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Portage Public Library, 2665 Irving St. This is sponsored by Miller's Senior Living Community. No appointment is necessary.

FYI: Call (219) 763-1508.

LYRIC OPERA | Portage

The fifth in this season's lectures by the Lyric Opera of Chicago will be "Merry Widow" by Lehar at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Portage Public Library, 2665 Irving St. A trained lecturer will give background information about both the composer and the story, as well as play musical highlights.

FYI: Call (219) 763-1508.

Dec. 8

AMERICAN GIRL PROGRAM | Valparaiso

A Christmas American Girl program is set for Dec. 8 at 3:45 p.m. at the Valparaiso Public Library.  Register in  person for Kirsten's Christmas Surprise for children in grades 2-6.  Fee is $4 per person. 

FYI: Call (219) 462-0524, ext. 4.

Dec. 9

HOLIDAY HURDLES | Valparaiso

Family Concern Counseling, 2004 Valparaiso St., will offer a program on holiday hurdles and tips to making Christmas "merry" as a divorced or remarried family. The class is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 9; register by Dec. 2.

FYI: Call (219) 462-0939.

HOLIDAY FUN DAY | Chesterton

Lakeshore Gymnastics holiday fun day is set for Dec. 10 at 878 W. Indiana St. This is for ages 4 and 5 including those in kindergarten, age 5. People can choose, morning, afternoon or all day. Call fore more information. Activities will include gymnastics class, art activities, story time, songs, group games, juice and snacks.

FYI: Call (219) 926-4274.

Dec 10

FLU SHOTS | Portage

The visiting Nurses Association of Porter County will be administering flu shots at the Portage Township YMCA from 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 10 at 3100 Willowcreek Road. The cost is $30 or Medicare Part B, payable when the shot is administered.  This service is open to the public.

FYI: Call (219) 762-9622.