Performance | Steger

Students at Bloom Trail High School are staging four performances of the play "The Wizard of Oz." Show times and dates are 7 p.m. March 13 and 14, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. March 15. All performances will be in the school's Neubauer Auditorium.

Tickets, which cost $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens, will be available at the Bloom Trail box office. The school is on Cottage Grove Avenue.

FYI: Call (708) 758-7000.

Scrapbook | Crete

Stampin' Up representative Teresa Payne-Neal will be at the Crete Public Library at 6:30 p.m. March 13 to show participants how to make a scrapbook page. She will bring a variety of decorative papers and rubber stamps. Attendees should bring their own pictures or add them later. Crete Public Library is at 1177 Main St.

FYI: Call (708) 672-8017.

Sierra Club | Park Forest

The Sauk Calumet Group of the Illinois Sierra Club will meet at 7:15 tonight in the Ringering Room of the Park Forest Library at Lakewood and Orchard Drive. Debra Shore, environmental activist and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District commissioner, will discuss local water issues. Sierra Club meetings are free and open to the public. People interested in outdoor activities and the environment are encouraged to attend.

FYI: Contact Lois Lauer at (708) 923-1550.

Living history | Calumet City

The Calumet City Historical Society will host a living history presentation about the railroads in the Chicago south suburbs. The program is at 2 p.m. March 14 at the museum, 760 Wentworth Ave. Bill Molony of the Blackhawk Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, former teacher and author of railroad history will play the old stationmaster as he recalls the days when railroads were the main means of travel. He will focus on Calumet City and the surrounding areas. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served.

FYI: Call (708) 862-9448.

Book discussion | Lansing

Mystery Hour Book Discussion is at 11 a.m. March 18 at Lansing Public Library, 2750 Indiana Ave. "The House Sitter" by Peter Lovesey will be discussed. Book discussions meet in the Conference Room. Register for this free program.

FYI: Call (708) 474-2447, ext. 122.

Production | Chicago

De La Salle's Theatre 100 program will hold its spring drama production titled "Calls, Classrooms, Crustaceans and a

Car Ride" at 5 p.m. March 13 and 7 p.m. March 14 and 15 in De La Salle's Ayres-Conway Theatre. The cost is $5 and tickets can be purchased at the door.

FYI: Call Linda Matonich at (312) 842-7355, ext. 224, or e-mail her at matonichl@dls.org.

Writers' Depot | Glenwood

Writers' Depot will have its first meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 13 at Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library, 320 Glenwood-Lansing Road. Participants will improve their writing techniques and skills. They will get support from their fellow writers.

FYI: Call (708) 758-0090.

Trail forum | Joliet

The Why and How of Trails is the topic of a Trail Forum hosted by the Illinois Headwaters Resource Conservation & Development Council, which includes representatives from Ford, Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall and Will counties. The forum will be from 8:30 to 11 a.m. March 14 at the Will County Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 17540 W. Laraway Road. Topics will include local partnerships and trail planning, regional trail success stories, trails that already exist, how to tie existing trails together, and how to use trails as an economic development tool. The Trail Forum: Part One is open to the public and is free.

FYI: To RSVP or for more information, contact Julie Buck at (815) 941-0852.

Fundraiser | Crete

Tickets are now available for the third annual Win, Place and Show Your Support Fundraiser sponsored by the Homewood Foundation for Educational Excellence. The event takes place at 5:30 p.m. March 15 at Balmoral Park, 26435 S. Dixie Highway.

In addition to Balmoral racing, the evening's activities include a buffet dinner and silent auction. All proceeds support the Homewood Foundation for Educational Excellence that provides grants to fund innovative learning projects in Homewood's public elementary schools.

FYI: Tickets are $45 per person and can be obtained by calling Shelley Peck at (708) 647-2390.

Jazz festival | Lansing

Thornton Fractional South High School Band is hosting a jazz festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 15 at the school, 18500 Burnham Ave. Admission is $4 per person. Concessions will be available.

FYI: Call (708) 585-2000.

Jazz Festival | South Holland

South Suburban College will host its ninth annual Jazz Festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 14 and 15 in the Kindig Performing Arts Center. On March 15, the SSC Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Andrew Hoefle, will perform in the Jazz Festival Guest Artist Concert starting at 5 p.m. with special guests Michael Mossman and Chris Vadala. Awards for the Jazz Fest Outstanding Soloists and Band will also be presented at that time.

The SSC Jazz Festival is a noncompetitive festival that features school bands. Area high schools meet for a two day festival of jazz music. Each band plays for 15 to 20 minutes and then receives a clinic by the special guest artists on stage. At the end of the festival, the awards are presented at the evening concert. Admission to the two-day event is free. South Suburban College is at 15800 S. State St.

FYI: Contact the SSC Music Department at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2299. The schedule will also be available online at http://learn.southsuburbancollege.edu/band/festindex.html.

Blood drive | Calumet City

Heartland Blood Centers will have a blood drive from 8 a.m. to noon March 16 at Our Lady of Knock Church, 501-163rd St. To be a blood donor, individuals must be at least 17 years old or 16 with written parental permission; weigh at least 110 pounds; be symptom free of cold, flu and allergies; and be in general good health. Donors who have traveled outside the United States within the past 12 months should contact Heartland to determine eligibility. Registration will take place in the Footsteps in Faith module behind the school. Walk-ins are welcome. The church office can be reached at (708) 862-3011.

FYI: Call (800) 7 TO GIVE or visit www.heartlandbc.org.

Pancake breakfast | Crete

Crete Fire Department will have its annual pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to noon March 16 at Fire Station 1, 524 W. Exchange St.

FYI: Call (708) 672-5431.

Appreciation dinner | Lynwood

LARC will hold its annual appreciation dinner starting at 6 p.m. April 4 at Villa de Bruno in Lynwood. It will celebrate LARC's tradition of serving people with developmental disabilities in Lansing and other south suburban communities. The evening will include recognition of LARC employees, supporters and clients for their service within the organization. Tickets for the dinner are $50 per person and both a silent and live auction of donated items will be offered to attendees. LARC's Friendship Quilt is annually built by individuals who hand stitch 16 separate designs that are then sewn into a quilt. This year's quilt showcases various traditional Christmas scenes representing the season of giving lives all year round. Tickets for the quilt raffle are $1 each or six for $5.

FYI: To purchase a ticket stop by LARC, 19043 Wentworth Ave. For more information, contact Garry Buell or Lisa Vale at (708) 474-1540.

DULCIMER GROUP | Munster

The South Suburban Dulcimer & Folk Music Society, formed in 1992, gathers in friendship to further the playing of dulcimers and other traditional folk instruments. It will give a lunch and show from noon to 3 p.. March 18 at Centennial park banquet facilities. The fee is $25 for residents, $30 for nonresidents and $20 for Keen-Agers. Register at Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Road.

FYI: Call (219) 836-PARK.

Pancake breakfast | Steger

St. Joseph Rosary Ladies will have its 17th annual pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 16 at St. Liborius School Hall, 35th and Halsted Boulevard. Buy tickets at the door or from club members. They cost $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and younger.

Centerpieces | Crete

Susan Powell of InFocus Design will present Spring Centerpieces, a hands-on class for beginners and experienced participants at Crete Park District. The creation can be used as a centerpiece, door or wall hanging. Class will take place at 6:30 p.m. March 20. The fee is $52, and Crete Park District residents pay $35. All materials and supplies will be provided.

FYI: Call (708) 672-6969 or visit www.cretepark.com.

Service | Lansing

Good Friday services are at 7 p.m. March 21 at First United Methodist Church, 18420 Burnham Ave.

FYI: Call (708) 474-1144.

INDIANA SAMS | Rensselaer

Sams Indiana Travelers 96th chapter of the Indiana Good Sam RV Club has a gathering at 1 p.m. march 15 at Rico's Bar and Grill, 1400 St Gaspar Road, on U.S. 231 behind Wal-Mart. A room has been reserved for all RVers looking forward to the camping season. Special chapter credits, given to chapter members, will be discussed.

FYI: Call (219) 844-8727 or email nmillsgsc@hotmail.com.