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 Southlake community coordinator Marlene A. Zloza at least 10 days in advance.

• E-mail: mzloza@nwitimes.com.

• Fax: (219) 662-5296.

• Address: 2080 N. Main St., Crown Point, IN 46307.

• Questions? Call (219) 662-5340.

MYSTERY DINNER | Hobart

Hobart High Theatre Department will host its fourth annual Murder Mystery Dinner, "The Vampire Land Challenge," at 6 p.m. Oct 18 at the school, 36 E. Eighth St. Tickets are $14 for adults, $10 for students and $8 for children 12 and younger. Ticket includes pasta dinner and a memorable night of fun, mystery and murder. Only 300 tickets sold, so reservations are a must.

FYI: Visit www.hobart.k12.in.us/drama or call (219) 942-8521. ext. 333.

ABOUT AUTISM | Merrillville

Northwest Indiana Chapter of the National Autism Association is hosting a viewing of an interview with Dr. Jim Adams on heavy metal toxicity, chelation and autism at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at Indiana Wesleyan University, 8415 Georgia St. A discussion of the video will follow. There is no charge to attend.

FYI: Call (219) 947-0229 or visit www.northwestindianaautism.com

MEET & GREET | Crown Point

State Representative Shelli VanDenburgh will host a Meet and Greet from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 889 S. Court St. She will be available to answer questions and discuss constituent concerns. Hot dogs, chips, pop and beer will be available. Donation is $10 for adults, while children can attend free.

FYI: E-mail shelli0017@yahoo.com

GO PARANORMAL | Merrillville

Cher Wright, Northwest Indiana Representative of the American Ghost Society, will send chills down your spine as she discusses her experiences in paranormal investigation, using videos, pictures, and EVP (electronic voice phenomena), at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Lake County Public Library, 1919 W. U.S. 30. Her past has taken her to many "haunted" sites throughout the country. Call to register.

FYI: Call (219) 769-3541, ext. 317.

CASH FOR COLLEGE | Merrillville

A cost estimator financial aid meeting from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 18 at the Lake County Public Library, 1919 W. U.S. 30, is the first of two programs cosponsored by the Lake County Public Library and the Legacy Foundation and presented by the National Center for College Costs. Parents and students will learn to maximize their financial aid and optimize college admission strategies. Free handouts will be distributed to help navigate the financial aid maze. This will be followed up with a turn-around session Dec. 13, when results will be discussed. Call to register.

FYI: Call (219) 769-3541, ext. 334.

PREPARING FOR WINTER | Lowell

Preparing for Winter on the Farm is a free program that will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 18 and 19 at Buckley Homestead County Park, 3606 Belshaw Road. Today when preparing for winter, people put the storm windows on and turn up the thermostat, but at the turn of the 20th century, settlers preparing for the coming winter months would have stored many kinds of fruit and vegetables in the root cellar. Meat also had to be butchered and stored. Butchering, grinding and sausage making will be explained and demonstrated. Cost is $2 for adults and $1 for children 11 and younger and seniors 61 and older.

FYI: Call (219) 769-PARK or visit www.lakecountyparks.com

PET FAIR | Lowell

The First Pet Fair and Halloween Parade will be held by the Lowell Parks and Recreation Department from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 18 to celebrate the grand opening of Freedom Bark Park within Freedom Park at 17105 Cline Ave. The event will include demonstrations, food and product vendors, a pet blessing, a pet Halloween costume contest with prizes, silent auction and more. PetMedSpa and Rehabilitation Center of Lafayette will participate, with staff members on hand to distribute free gifts, answer questions, and give free pet massages.

FYI: Call(219) 696-1570.

STAMP CAMP | Schererville

Spend an hour expressing creativity with Melissa of Stampin' Up! at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Lake County Public Library's Dyer-Schererville branch, 1001 W. U.S. 30. Participants will work on a few projects created with rubber stamps. Fee is $5 for materials. Call to register.

FYI: Call (219) 322-4731.

BOOK TALK | Wheatfield

Children in grades 2 to 4 will discuss the Book to Bridge the Region children's selection, "The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman" by Darcy Pattison, from 4 to 5 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Wheatfield Library, 350 s. Bierma St. Learn about the cross country travels of Oliver and the people he meets. Registration is required.

FYI: Call (219) 956-3774.

MOLD REMEDIATION | Gary

A Mold Remediation Information Session sponsored by the Purdue Extension Service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at St. Timothy Community Church, 25th and Grant St. Those affected by flooding can learn how to clean up safely when mold is present, options for cleaning up mold and when to hire a professional.

FYI: Call (219) 755-3240 or e-mail ssims@purdue.edu

EARLY DISMISSAL | Lowell

Lowell High School students will be dismissed from class 2-1/2 hours early Oct. 21 due to a staff development program in the afternoon. Also, students will be dismissed at 11:15 a.m. Oct. 22 and 23 due to parent-teacher conferences, and there will be no classes Oct. 24 due to fall break.

FYI: Call (219) 696-7733.

CONFERENCES SET | Lowell

Tri-Creek School Corporation will host Parent-Teacher Conferences on Oct. 20 to 23 for kindergarten through grade 8. There will be no school for kindergarten classes on those days, while grades 1 to 5 will be dismissed at 10:45 a.m. and grades 6 to 8 at Lowell Middle School will be dismissed at 11 a.m. There will be no classes at all Oct. 24 due to fall break.

FYI: Call (219) 696-6661.

ART IN FOCUS | Crown Point

Pieter Bruegel - 1525 is the topic of the free Art in Focus art appreciation program from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Crown Point Community Art Center, 138 S. Main St. A video will be followed by discussion. This year's monthly programs focus on landscape artists. No advance registration is required.

FYI: Call (219) 663-0200.

INCREASING SALES | Crown Point

A business building breakfast, Increasing Your Sales in a Down Economy/How to Get More Treats with Less Tricks, will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. Oct. 21 at First Financial Bank, 11890 Broadway. Presented by FFB and Leanne Hoagland Smith, chief peoples officer for Advanced Systems, there is no charge. RSVP is appreciated.

FYI: Contact Judith Mariola at (219) 226-2066 or Judith.mariola@bankatfirst.com

FALL COLOR WALK | Hammond

A Fall Color Walk will be held at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 18 at Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, 6201 Parrish Ave. In October the landscape comes alive with the brilliant colors of rich earth tones. Native trees and grasses come into their peak around mid month. Join a Lake County Parks naturalist for a fall color walk and see the beauty in your own backyard. Learn to identify some of the most colorful trees and how leaves change their color. Reservations are required.

FYI: Call (219) 844-3188.

MRSA FACTS | Hobart, Valparaiso

Visiting Nurse Association of Porter County will present "What is MRSA?" at several locations in Lake and Porter counties in October. Remaining presentations will be held at 2 p.m. today at Linden House, 360 W. 61st Ave., Hobart; at 12:15 p.m. Oct. 16 at Village Park Enrichment Center at Banta, 605 Beech St., Valparaiso, and at 2 p.m. Oct. 24 at Jamestown Apartments Community Center, Virginia Park Drive, Valparaiso. This informational program will discuss the risk factors, signs and prevention of MRSA. Participants will receive a free gift and a healthy snack. This is part of Senior Moments, a monthly lecture series designed for seniors who take an active role in their own health care.

FYI: Call (219) 531-8009.

LOOK AT YOUR HEART | Hobart

Take A Look at Your Heart is a free program from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Oct. 21 in the auditorium at St. Mary Medical Center, 1500 S. Lake Park Ave. Cardiology staff members will explain various diagnostic tests for the heart, including EKG, echocardiogram, angiogram and thallium. Call to register.

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

PREPARE FOR BABY | Crown Point

A new series of six weekly Preparing for Childbirth classes will be held at Marian Education Center, St. Anthony Medical Center, 1201 S. Main St. Attend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. two consecutive Saturdays, Oct. 18 and 25 or Dec. 6 and 13, to discuss labor, birth and postpartum issues. Lamaze breathing and other coping techniques will be taught. The fee is $60.

FYI: Call (219) 757-6368.

POLISH CULTURE | Portage

Polish-American Cultural Society of Northwest Indiana will meet today in the Cana Room of Nativity of Our Savior Catholic Church, 2949 Willowcreek Road. Participants may attend one or both discussion sessions: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. - Polish language for beginners of any age, and 6:30 to 8:30, Polish culture, customs, history, and geography topics as well as intermediate Polish language. The informal group is open to all persons of high-school age and older. Admission is free, and registration is not required.

FYI: Call Ken Kaminski at (219) 628-5594.