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 Portage community coordinator Barbara Martin.
E-mail: bmartin@nwitimes.com.
Fax: (219) 762-8386.
Address: 3410 Delta Drive, Portage IN 46368
Questions? Call (219) 762-1397, ext. 2227.
PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION | Portage
Woodland Parks Preschool will hold registration for the 2007-08 school year on March 3 in the Oakwood Hall at Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Road. Limited openings are available for the classes that meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The age determination date is Aug. 1. Parents of new students must bring a copy of the child's birth certificate, parent's license number and a $20 nonrefundable registration fee. Full payment of September fees is due Aug. 1. The classes for 3- and 4-year-olds meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays; the cost is $55 per month for residents and $60 per month for nonresidents. The 4- and 5-year-olds meet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The cost is $65 per month for Portage residents and $70 per month for those living outside of the Portage Township area. Portage residents will receive first placement into the program.
FYI: Call (219) 762-1675.
HOMESCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION | Portage
The Portage Township YMCA is offering homeschooled youngsters a chance to exercise, play and compete against other children their own ages in a physical education program just for them. They'll play basketball at 1 p.m. Thursdays in March. The class will last one hour. The youngsters will be grouped by ages: 5 to 7 years, 8 to 10 years and 11 to 13 years. The cost is $8 per child or $24 per family of three or more children for YMCA members. The fee for nonmembers is $16 per child or $48 per family of three or more children. Registration is required monthly, with the registration fee paid at the beginning of each monthly session. April's activity will be indoor soccer. May's activity will be volleyball.
FYI: Call Ryan Penrod at (219) 762-9622 or send an e-mail to ryan@ymcaofportage.org.
VICTORY CHRISTIAN | Valparaiso
Victory Christian Academy, which serves students in preschool through 12th grade from Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, is accepting registrations for half- and full-day preschool. The school, 3805 LaPorte Ave., will begin taking applications for all other grades beginning March 1. An open house for preschool and kindergarten will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. March 7 at the elementary school location. Prospective families of students in other grades can contact the school to set up a time to learn about and to tour the school.
FYI: Call (219) 548-8803.
SPAGHETTI DINNER | South Haven
Girl Scout Troop 416 will hold its first ever spaghetti dinner from 4 to 6 p.m. March 2 at the South Haven American Legion, 429 W. County Road 750 North. The girls are raising funds to purchase camping equipment for their troop. Tickets are $4 per person and can be purchased in advance or at the door.
FYI: Call (219) 762-2404.
JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN | Portage
Hope Lutheran Junior Kindergarten in Portage is accepting registrations for the 2008-09 school year, which begins Sept. 2. To be registered, a child must be 4 years old by Aug. 1. A birth certificate and nonrefundable $20 fee will be required at time of registration. Junior kindergarten classes at Hope Lutheran, 6322 Portage Ave., meet Mondays through Thursdays. Tuition for the new year will be $90 per month.
FYI: Call (219) 763-6068.
PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION | Chesterton
Chesterton First United Methodist Preschool, 434 S. Second St., is accepting registrations for the 2008-09 school year. The cost to register is $65. The preschool program for 3- and 4-year-old children meets from 9 to 11:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursday. The pre-kindergarten program for 4- and 5-year-old children meets from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
FYI: Call (219) 926-1478.
OPEN HOUSE | Portage
Nativity of Our Savior Catholic School will hold an open house from noon to p.m. March 2 at the school, 2929 Willowcreek Road. The event will include refreshments, tours and children's activities. Registration for the 2008-09 academic year has begun. Tours are offered by appointment. Call Mary Brown at (219) 763-2400 to arrange a tour.
FYI: Call Principal Kem Markham at (219) 763-2400 or send an e-mail to kmarkham@nativityofoursavior.org.
Ambassadors Program | Nationwide
High school students between the ages of 15 and 18 can apply for The American Young Ambassadors Program, a global leadership program that recognizes the significant accomplishments academically, athletically or through public service efforts of U.S. high school students. The youth selected for this program will represent the United States as Young Ambassadors-at-large at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The deadline to apply is March 3. For information about the program: www.americanyoungambassadors.com.
FYI: Visit www.YSA.org.
PRESCHOOL | Portage
The Portage Township YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Road, will accept registrations for the 2008-09 preschool program beginning March 3. All classes will meet in the newly remodeled and secured, preschool wing of the YMCA building. The nine-month program serves children who are one or two years away from starting kindergarten. The child must be able to use the restroom independently, and a YMCA membership is required.
Class size is limited to 16 children in the two-day-a-week classes and 18 children in the class that meets three days each week. Since space is limited, prompt registration is encouraged. The twice-weekly classes meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The child must be 3 years old on or before Aug. 1. The thrice-weekly classes meet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The child must be 4 years old on or before Aug. 1. A nonrefundable registration fee of $20 is required. The fee for the twice-weekly class is $40.50 for Primary Plus members and $45 per month for Primary members. The fee for the thrice-weekly class is $63 per month for Primary Plus members and $70 per month for Primary members. A Primary YMCA membership costs $64 per year. The cost of a Primary Plus membership varies according to age and number of household members.
FYI: Call (219) 762-9622.
CHURCH CONCERT | Portage
The Evangel University Concert Orchestra will appear in concert at 7 p.m. March 4 at Portage First Assembly of God, 2386 Willowcreek Road. The performance is part of the orchestra's concert tour slated for March 2 to 9 that will take it to venues in Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. The concert orchestra's repertoire includes classical, sacred and contemporary Christian arrangements for orchestra, as well as various arrangements for voices with orchestra accompaniment.
FYI: Visit www.evangel.edu or send an e-mail to hallly@evangel.edu.
CONCERT | Portage
Matthew Smith & Indelible Grace will perform in concert at 6:30 p.m. March 5 at Portage First United Methodist Church, 2637 McCool Road. Advanced tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for students. Tickets will be $10 at the door.
FYI: Call (219) 762-3846 or visit www.portageumc.org.
CLEAN HOUSE . . . CLEAN PLANET | Portage
Go green and learn to make your own housecleaning products during Clean House . . . Clean Planet from 10 a.m. to noon March 29 in the Blue Spruce Room at Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Road. Portage parks department and the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County present this program. The cost is $5 per person and includes all supplies. Children younger than 15 years must be accompanied by an adult. Register by March 22 at the parks' office at Woodland Park.
FYI: Call (219) 762-1675.
NOMINATIONS SOUGHT | Hammond
Nominations for Outstanding Teacher, Scholar and Service Awards for Purdue University Calumet faculty members are sought by March 3. Outstanding Teacher Awards recognize Purdue Calumet faculty who demonstrate superior ability in helping students meet course objectives, stimulate their desire to master course objectives, exhibit competence in their discipline, and aid and motivate students in a counseling and advisory capacity. Outstanding Scholar Awards honor faculty who show superior achievement in a creative endeavor, in the development of new knowledge in their discipline, or in scholarly or creative work that affects students. Outstanding Service Awards recognize outstanding professional and community service and outreach activity. Professional service includes belonging to an organization and especially serving as an officer. Likewise, community service involves volunteer service on boards of directors or agencies or direct service to clients. Outreach typically involves
extending the influence of the university through continuing education, off-campus courses or consulting.
FYI: Call (219) 989-2446 or (800) HI-PURDUE, ext. 2446.
CPR TRAINING | Portage
The Portage Fire Department will offer an American Heart Association Friends and Family CPR course from 6 to 8:30 p.m. March 4 at Portage Fire Station 1, 3401 Swanson Road. This class is designed for anyone who wants to learn basic CPR and life-saving techniques. This is not intended for health care professionals or those requiring a certification for employment. Call to make reservations.
FYI: Call (219) 762-7404.
SPAGHETTI DINNER | Portage
Nativity of Our Savior Catholic School's class of 2009 will hold a spaghetti dinner from 5 to 8:30 p.m. March 8 at the school, 2929 Willowcreek Road. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Proceeds from the annual spaghetti dinner will go toward the class trip. The dinner runs in conjunction with the school's annual winter carnival.
FYI: Call (219) 763-2400.
CLEAN SMART | Washington Twp.
Annetta Jones, a Purdue Extension educator for consumer and family sciences, will present "Clean Smarter NOT Harder" at 1 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. March 4 at the Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Road. She'll discuss various cleaning products and gadgets and what is needed for cleaning jobs around the house. This program is sponsored by the Porter County Extension Homemakers. The program is free. The public is invited. Call to register.
FYI: Call (219) 465-3555, ext. 23.
BANK SCHOLARS | Northwest Indiana
Griffith Savings Bank is offering college scholarships to graduating high school seniors. Applications are available at the bank or high school guidance offices. The deadline is April 1.
FYI: Call (219) 924-5950.
COLLEGE FUNDING | Northwest Indiana
National College Funding Services offers $500 scholarships to high school students in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties preparing to attend college in the fall. At no cost, the society helps students and parents navigate the college planning process from how to apply to college, how to choose which to attend and how to pay for college. The service center at 7109 Colorado Ave. in Hammond is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Two telephone lines are available: (219) 844-3252 and 803-4527. A satellite service office is open in Merrillville; the number is (219) 884-6237.
COMMUNITY THEATRE | Portage
Portage Community Theatre will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. today at the Portage Yacht Club, 1370 Ind. 249. The public is invited.
FYI: Call (219) 759-1408.
KNITWITS | Portage
The Knitwits, a group of folks who enjoy all types of yarn crafts, including knitting, crochet, cross stitch and needlepoint, will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 27 at Starbucks, 6200 U.S. 6. The group is open to all experience and skill levels. The group meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month.
FYI: Call Meghan Hogan at (219) 996-3684.
PLAY AUDITIONS | Portage
Portage Community Theatre will hold additional auditions for its spring plays at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Portage Yacht Club, 1370 Ind. 249. Young men, especially, are encouraged to audition for roles in three one-act plays to be presented during the group's "A Night of Dramedy" on April 25, 26 and 27 and May 2 and 3. The plays include "The Devil's Parole," "The Lost Elevator" and "Down Came the Rain." Experience is not necessary. Those auditioning will read from scripts.
FYI: Call (219) 759-1408 or visit www.portagecommunitytheatre.org.
PROM FASHIONS | Portage
The Portage High School junior class will host a Prom Fashion and Expo Show from 5 to 8 p.m. March 6 at the high school, 6450 E. U.S. 6. The event will include two fashion shows and businesses offering discounts, prizes and products for sale. The cost is $3 per person or $2 with a school ID. Children 13 years and younger will be admitted free. Models from schools throughout Porter County will participate. Businesses interested in participating should call Mary Lembcke.
FYI: Call (219) 764-6091.
SCHOLARSHIPS | Northwest Indiana
The Northwest Indiana Auto Trade Association, composed of 26 local new car dealership members and 24 associate members, will award three $2,000 scholarships to high school seniors who attend school in Porter, Lake or LaPorte counties. To qualify, students must complete an application and submit it by April 25 and plan to continue their education in some field of the automotive industry. To date, 30 scholarships have been awarded. Applications can be downloaded by visiting The Times Web site at www.nwitimes.com. Just click on the automotive link and then click on the association's name on the right hand side of the page. Or send an e-mail to niata2002@aol.com with the student's name and address and an application will be mailed.
FYI: Call Sharon at (219) 712-9489.
ADULT ED CONFERENCE | MERRILLVILLE
The Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education will host its 25th Annual IAACE Conference May 8 and 9 at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, Ind. 65 and U.S. 30. IAACE is a statewide association of individuals and institutions promoting the education and training of adults. The membership in the Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education includes adult education professionals from public school adult education, community education and continuing education programs, business and industry, health and social welfare agencies, corrections, hospitals, libraries and many other fields. The organization is now accepting proposals from area presenters.
FYI: Call Paula Siminski, director of Portage Adult Education, at (219)-764-6961.
