Your Calendar - West Lake County edition

| Thursday, March 27, 2008

Find out about events going on in your community, and plan your week’s activities with The Times.

To get listed in the calendar, submit items at least 10 days in advance to community editor Melinda Moore.

• E-mail: mmoore@nwitimes.com.

• Fax: (219) 933-3249.

• Address: 601 45th Ave., Munster, IN 46321.

• Questions? Call (219) 933.3396.

YOUNG AT HEART | St. John

All adults older than 50 are invited to join The Young At Heart at Suncrest Christian Church to hear String Fever perform at 7 p.m. April 2 at 10009 Parrish St. on the east side of town. Donations will be accepted, and light refreshments will be served afterward.

FYI: Call (219) 365-9000.

PET PHOTOS | Munster

Woof Studios will take pet portraits April 4 to 6 at the Humane Society Calumet Area, 421 45th St. Pets may be photographed with or without human family members. The sitting fee is $10, and lots of photograph packages are available. All proceeds benefit animals at the shelter. Make an appointment.

FYI: Call (219) 922-3811.

MILITARY PARTY | Dyer

A Vietnam veterans welcome home event is at 7 p.m. March 29 at VFW Post 6448, 2125 Gettler Ave. There will be music, food and displays. Veterans are encouraged to bring their military photos.

FYI: Call (219) 865-9730.

ECO CLUB | Hammond

Eco Club's kickoff is April 1 at the Hammond Public Library, 564 State St. The cub meets at 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays in April, with April 29 at the wrapup party. Youths and teens can go green and learn how to care for their environment. Funding is provided in memory of Harriet Schlesinger by family and friends.

FYI: Call (219) 931-5100.

PRAYER | East Chicago

The Salvation Army's Divisional Youth Department, the office in charge of all youth work in the greater Chicagoland area, created Prayer and Praise Nights geared specifically toward the 14- to 25-year-old demographic. These worship services, done by youth and for youth, bring relevant teachings, practical insights, and meaningful worship music in a nonthreatening environment. Held once a month, each service takes place at a different Salvation Army location. The next Prayer and Praise Night will be held at 7 p.m. March 28 at the East Chicago Corps, 513 W. Chicago Ave.

FYI: Call (219) 398-2939.

WALKERS WELCOME | Munster

Those who like to walk can join Nordic Walking: Hottest New Workout Trend from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. April 2 at Fitness Pointe, 9950 Calumet Ave. This program is free, but registration is required.

FYI: Call (219) 836-3477 or (866) 836-3477.

CRIMINAL'S CORNER | St. John

Criminal's Corner book discussion is at 10:15 a.m. April 8 at the Lake County Public Library's St. John branch, 9450 Wicker Ave. Bookstore owner Annie Darling and her husband, Max, try to discover who sabotaged their book promotion while dealing with other problems, including a murderer. Copies of "April Fool Dead" by Carolyn Hart will be available to check out at the circulation desk. Register.

FYI: Call (219) 365-5379.

STOP SMOKING | Munster

Smoking cessation seminar is set for 9 a.m. to noon March 29 at the Hammond Clinic Specialty Center, 7905 Calumet Ave. This free seminar will be presented by Pat Konvalinka, a nurse practitioner in the clinic's pulmonary department. Register.

FYI: Call (219) 836-3600 or visit www.hammondclinic.com.

SENIOR AEROBICS | Highland

Highland Parks and Recreation Department offers senior low-impact aerobics 9:30 to 10 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, starting March 31, at Lincoln Center, 2450 Lincoln St. The cost for this mini-session is $9.50 for residents and $12.50 for nonresidents. Register.

FYI: Call (219) 838-0114.

SWINGING SENIORS | Griffith

Griffith Swinging Seniors meets at 1 p.m. April 1 at Griffith Senior Center, 349 N. Indiana St. Dan McLeod of AARP will speak about scams and fraud - how to spot them and what to do. A special presentation honoring the Griffith Public Schools' 100th anniversary will be made during the meeting by Milford and Margaret Christenson. Guests are welcome. It costs $3 to each lunch at the center before the meeting; call the day before to register.

FYI: Call (219) 923-5559.

COLLEGE FAIR | Merrillville

A College Fair will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 3 at Andrean High School, 5959 Broadway. Free and open to all area high school students and parents, admission representatives from more than 70 colleges and universities nationwide will be available to answer questions about admission, financial aid, application procedures and more.

FYI: Call (219) 887-5281.

CHELA BENEFIT | Highland

A benefit is planned for March 28 in the lower lounge at Chela's Restaurant, 3325 45th Ave. Maricela Salinas-Martinez, the owner of Chela's Restaurant, died earlier this month after a long battle with leukemia. Proceeds from the event will help pay expenses. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the all-ages show, which features Northwest Indiana's Tomorrow Has Arrived, as well as other bands. Tickets cost $8 per person and will be collected at the door. Donations also will be accepted. Guest deejays will perform after the show.

FYI: Call (219) 924-6833.

AUTISM SHOW | Hammond

Autism and comedy might seem like unlikely bedfellows until you experience Lynette Louise in "Thing to Thing to Thing" at 7:30 p.m. March 29 at Towle Theater, 5202 Hohman Ave. The one-woman play, written and performed by Louise, is a colorful composite of the triumphs and heartbreaks of autism. Tickets cost $20; disabled adults and parents of autistic children who bring a photograph of their child will be admitted free. Seating is limited. RSVP.

FYI: Call (219) 937-8780 or visit www.towletheater.org.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS | Munster

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 8955 Columbia Ave., will offer two sessions about God's vision for an individual's life. The first is 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 5 and 12. The other class meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays, April 7 to April 28. Bruce Haapalainen leads both. RSVP. The cost, which includes materials, is $16.

FYI: Call (219) 838-3131.

COLORED PENCIL | Highland

Highland Parks and Recreation Department offers a colored pencil class for adults at 7 p.m. Mondays starting April 7 at Lincoln Center, 2450 Lincoln St. This seven-week class is designed for beginners and advanced students. Students learn various techniques of colored pencil. A supply list is available at registration. The fee is $35 for residents and $38 for nonresidents. Register.

FYI: Call (219) 838-0114.

ALPINE CHRISTMAS | Munster

Munster Parks and Recreation Department offers a trip Nov. 30 to Dec. 7 to explore traditional Christmas markets of Austria and southern Bavaria. Participants can enjoy city tours of Innsbruck, Munich and Salzburg, as visit Neuschwanstein Castle, Wies Church, Oberammergau, Mirabell Gardens and Getreidegasse. Trip includes roundtrip air from Chicago (all taxes and fees), 10 meals, six nights in one hotel in Innsbruck, city tours and shopping. Brochures are available at Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Road.

FYI: Call (219) 836-PARK.

TOUR BAND AUDITIONS | Merrillville

David Coppie, the artist sweeping the nation with his single, "To Hold You Tight," will hold auditions for bassists, drummers, keyboardists and backup vocalists from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 29 at Guitar Center, 2108 E. 80th St. (U.S. 30). He is seeking new band members for his 2009 U.S. tour. The paid U.S. tour contract includes various national radio and television spots. Artists should be prepared to perform at least two selections during the interview. Auditions will be scheduled on site.

FYI: Call (800) 427-9479 or visit www.influencerecords.us.

WELL WALKERS | Whiting/E.C.

Well Walker's presentation titled Good Nutrition: Easier Than You Think will take place two days and times. The program will be given from 1 to 2 p.m. April 3 at the Whiting Community Center, 1938 Clark St., and from 10 to 11 a.m. April 7 at the Salvation Army, 513 W. Chicago Ave. The presentation helps participants understand the importance of eating properly, assists with making healthy food choices and assists with portion size. It's free and anyone is welcome. Registration is not required. Call for information about Well Walker's Club, sponsored by St. Catherine Hospital.

FYI: Call (219) 398-2939 or 659-0860.

VIDEO CAMP | Hobart

M & M Productions' video production class for children 11 to 17 years old starts at 11 a.m. March 29 at 227 Center St. The three-Saturday workshop will include one day of camera techniques and another day devoted to the different types of shooting and editing TV style and film style shooting. Participants will shoot a small scene from scripts provided, and the third week will cover nonlinear editing including storyboard and timeline-based systems. The cost of the camp is $35 for the three weeks. Register online at www.m-mproductions.com, via e-mail at mike@m-mproductions.com, call (219) 947-4922 or sign up the first day of camp.

FYI: Call (219) 947-4922.

HUNT FAMILY FIDDLERS | Portage

The Hunt Family Fiddlers, which includes the parents and seven children, will entertain with bluegrass and Celtic music and step dancing at 7:30 p.m. April 4 in the Portage High School West auditorium, 6400 E. U.S. 6. This is the last performance of the 2007-08 Portage Township Live Entertainment Association season. Admission is by members' card, reciprocity card or $15 per adult or $5 per student at the door. Concert-goers who buy 2008-09 season subscriptions will be admitted free to the April 4 Hunt Family Fiddlers concert. Subscription renewal forms are now in the mail for the 2008-09 season. Concerts include Dale Gonyea, pianist; Romanza, tenor trio; Synergy, brass quintet; and the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra. Buy season tickets by April 12 and pay $40 for adult, $10 for students, $100 for a family of two adults and all children and $60 for one adult and all children. After April 12, the price will be $45 for adults and $10 per child. Members also are admitted free to 18

other concerts hosted by reciprocity associations in Valparaiso, Munster, LaPorte and Michigan City. Mail checks for subscriptions to PTLEA, P.O.Box 1111, Portage, IN 46368.

FYI: Visit www.portagemusic.com or call (219) 762-3714.