More honors

It was last Wednesday that President George W. Bush and leaders of Congress bestowed the nation's highest civilian honor upon the Dalai Lama, calling the Tibetan religious leader "a warrior for peace."

The Dalai Lama said he was "deeply touched" by his receipt of the Congressional Gold Medal, which he received in an ornate ceremony under the U.S. Capitol dome.

"It is a great honor for me to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. This ... will bring tremendous joy and encouragement to the Tibetan people, for whom I have a special responsibility," the Dalai Lama said in his statement released to the press.

The Dalai Lama is continuing his travels around the United States this week and today, he will be at Indiana University in Bloomington where a local connection to our region will be part of the ceremonies.

Thade Correa, a Hammond native, will have his choral setting of the bodhisattva vow titled "The Vow of Shantideva" performed at an interfaith prayer service led by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at St. Paul's Catholic Center in Bloomington.

Correa is son of Andres and Monica Correa of Hammond and a 2001 graduate of Morton Senior High School and a 2006 graduate of IU in Bloomington. A poet and composer, he currently resides in Boston.

First daughter

Jenna Bush, daughter of President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, will discuss and sign copies of her new book "Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope" (2007 HarperCollins, $19) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, Ill. Her book is about a teenage mother with HIV working to break free from a cycle of abuse toward a better life. Tickets are $25, which includes a copy of the book, and all proceeds go to UNICEF. For more information, call (630) 355-2665.

Another signing

Former Chicago Bears running back great Gale Sayers is at Borders, 150 N. State St., in downtown Chicago at 12:30 p.m. today signing his new book "Sayers: My Life & Times" (2007 Triumph Books, $24.95). For more information, call (312) 263-0472.

Belated birthday

Valparaiso talk show host-turned-politician Michael Essany's name was left out of Monday's celebBirthday listings. Michael turned 25 on Monday. Belated happy birthday wishes!

celebBirthdays

Singer Barbara Ann Hawkins of the Dixie Cups is 64. Director Ang Lee ("Brokeback Mountain") is 53. Jazz singer Dianne Reeves and country singer Dwight Yoakam are 51. Civil rights leader Martin Luther King III is 70. Soccer legend Pele is 67. Author Michael Crichton ("Jurassic Park") is 65. Singer "Weird Al" Yankovic is 48. Bassist Robert Trujillo of Metallica is 43. Baseball star Al Leiter is 42. Singer David Thomas of Take 6 and drummer Brian Nevin of Big Head Todd and The Monsters are 41. Actor Ryan Reynolds ("Van Wilder," "Two Guys and a Girl") is 31. Actress Masiela Lusha ("George Lopez") is 22.