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 Eastlake 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.

NOVELTY BINGO | Shelby

Play bingo for novelty prizes at 5 p.m. March 24 at the Lowell Public Library's Shelby branch, 23321 Shelby Road.

FYI: Call (219) 552-0809.

SPRING DECORATING | DeMotte

"Here Comes Spring" is a free spring decorating program offered for adults at 7 p.m. March 27 at the DeMotte Library, 901 Birch St. SW. Carla Moolenaar from Another Season will present a flower arranging demonstration aimed at brightening the home for the season. Register online, by phone or in person.

FYI: Call (219) 987-2221.

SHARPEN SKILLS | Merrillville

Students who attended any of the first three computer classes in the series are encouraged to attend this fourth session at 2 or 6 p.m. March 26 at the Lake County Public Library, 1919 W. U.S. 30, where they can practice what they have learned. An instructor will be available to answer questions and provide individual assistance. Call to register.

FYI: Call (219) 769-3541, ext. 346.

E-MAIL BASICS | Hobart

Participants will learn the basics of using e-mail, including setting up a free account, sending and receiving mail, and using attachments, at 6:30 p.m. March 26 at Lake County Public Library's Cedar Lake branch, 11010 W. 133rd Ave. Call to register.

FYI: Call (219) 942-2243.

GRIEF SUPPORT | Lowell

Lowell First United Methodist Church has established a grief support group that meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month in Room 201 on the third floor of the church, 520 E. Commercial Ave. The group is open to anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one or friend.

FYI: Call (219) 808-7766 or 696-9219.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED | Hobart

Hobart/Lake Station branch of Rebuilding Together with Christmas in April needs adult volunteers to help with its April 26 home repair blitz. There is a particular need for skilled carpenters, electricians, roofers, plumbers and other tradespeople. Registration forms are available at the Hobart mayor's office, 414 Main St., and the Lake Station mayor's office, 3701 Fairview. Completed applications are due by April 1.

FYI: Call (219) 942-0810.

EAT YOUR WORDS | Hobart

Edible Book Fest - Eat Your Words! is offered from 1 to 5 p.m. April 5 at the Lake County Public Library's Hobart branch, 100 N. Main St. It can look like a book, word, letter, refer to a character or just have something to do with books. The festival takes place around the world on or about April 1. Participants create edible masterpieces that are exhibited, documented and then consumed. Register your edible product by e-mail (lklemm@lakeco.lib.in.us) or by calling the library at (219) 942-2243 with your name, contact info and the title(s) of the submission; bring the entry to the library between 1 and 2 p.m. Entries will be viewed from 2 to 3 p.m., winners will be named at 3 p.m. and the munching will begin at 3:30 p.m. Coffee and lemonade will be provided.

FYI: Call (219) 942-2243.

ONLINE BOOKS | Lake County

BOOKreMARKS Online is offered from April 1 to 30 at the Lake County Public Library, 1919 W. 81st Ave. In the inspirational memoir "Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers," Elizabeth Edwards bares her strengths and weaknesses in the inspirational memoir. Participants will learn how this remarkable woman has dealt admirably with life's greatest challenges. To join the discussion, e-mail remarks@lakeco.lib.in.us.

FYI: Visit www.lakeco.lib.in.us/remarks.htm.

SILENT AUCTION | DeMotte

Friends of the DeMotte Library are sponsoring a silent auction featuring a variety of books, old and new, children and adult, through March at the library, 901 Birch St. SW. A booklet listing all items is available on the display case containing the offerings, and bids can be made, checked and rebid until March 31. Winning bidders will be notified.

FYI: Call (219) 987-2221.

TAX ASSISTANCE | Lake County

Professionally trained tax counselors will provide free assistance for senior citizens and low-income people completing this year's 2007 income tax preparation at several sites of the Lake County Public Library. Dates and times will vary from February to April and an appointment is necessary. Be sure to bring last year's tax return, all property tax bills, and all federal and state booklets received in the mail. Counselors will not be able to prepare business or farm taxes.

FYI: Call (219) 980-5180 to schedule and appointment.

MORTGAGE HELP | Crown Point

Countrywide Mortgage and NWI ACORN have a partnership to help low- to moderate-income families who are in foreclosure and have a mortgage with Countrywide. Make an appointment to visit the NWI ACORN office at 1450 E. Joliet St.

FYI: Call (219) 218-5204.

FORECLOSURE AID | Crown Point

NWI ACORN is accepting applications from low- to moderate-income families facing foreclosure at South Lake County Community Services, 1450 E. Joliet St. Families must provide original loan documents, recent tax returns, monthly budget, bank statements, etc. Canvassers are needed to distribute information concerning foreclosure assistance in Crown Point, Dyer, Hammond and East Chicago.

FYI: Call (219) 218-5204.

PAGEANT CONTESTANTS | Northwest Indiana

The Puerto Rican Parade and Cultural Organization of Northwest Indiana seeks contestants for the 2008 Miss Puerto Rico and Northwest Indiana and the 2008 Juvenile/Tiny King and Queen. Applications are due today. Candidates must be of Puerto Rican descent, a resident of Northwest Indiana for a year, in school with a GPA of 2.0 or above, be of good moral character and be outgoing. Miss Puerto Rico contestants must be 16 to 21 years old and never married or living with someone, have no children and be able to speak Spanish. Tiny King and Queen contestants must be 7 to 12 years old and able to speak Spanish.

FYI: Call (219) 397-1217, 398-0632, 801-1896 or 923-3170.

ART OF COOKING | Gary

Chef Hans Enderlin will teach the art of cooking to any indigent person looking for a skill starting from 9 to 11 a.m. April 5 at Bakery House, 4913 Broadway. The class is also open to the public at no charge. However, a contribution to Rebuilding the Breach Ministries, Inc., of any amount would be welcome. Enderlin, former food and beverage manager at the Holiday Star Plaza Hotel in Merrillville, partner in the former Ditka's Restaurant and owner of the former Ludwig's Restaurant, has been appointed kitchen director at the Bakery House. In this position, he is responsible for preparing menus, shopping for groceries and teaching residents how to cook. The Bakery House is a faith-based ministry for indigent men of the Rebuilding the Breach Ministries, Inc. of Crown Point. Residents commit to a six- to 18-month program that teaches job and social skills and family disciplines, sponsored primarily by Lutheran Churches in Northwest Indiana. Donations of kitchen appliances and cooking

utensils are welcome.

FYI: Call Chef Enderlin at (219) 996-5525 or Marianne Manning at 663-3504.

SENIOR SERVICES | Merrillville

Merrillville Clerk Treasurer Eugene M. Guernsey has created a new department within the clerk treasurer's offices at the Merrillville Town Complex, 7820 Broadway. Senior Services, a nonprofit service and an all-volunteer operation, will provide information, literature and guidance to Merrillville seniors. Information on senior health issues, home care services and other resources geared toward senior lifestyles is available.

FYI: Call Carol Miano, director of senior services, at (219) 769-3501 or (219) 736-8258.

WOMEN'S CONNECTION | Schererville

Schererville Women's Connection offers a "Distinctively Yours" luncheon program from noon to 1:30 p.m. April 3 at Briar Ridge Country Club, 123 Briar Ridge Drive. Huckabees Home Accents of Crown Point will be featured, and Mary Haddad of Adrian, Mich. will give a talk titled "S is for Survival & Success." Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Lunch costs $15. Make a reservation by March 31. The next luncheon is May 7.

FYI: Call (219) 937-4240 or 374-7769.

RECYCLING KITS | Crown Point

City of Crown Point is continuing to provide Hub City businesses with free Workplace Recycling Start-Up Kits to implement workplace recycling. Crown Point businesses can call the Mayor's Office at (219) 662-3240, to schedule a time to pick-up a kit at the Geisen Building, 109 N. East St. The free kits include five desk-side recycling containers and one, 18-gallon central recycling container with a lid. Downloadable recycling forms are also available for Crown Point businesses at www.crownpoint.in.gov.

FYI: Call (219) 662-3240.

CANDLELIGHT BOWL | Highland

A candlelight bowl to benefit Camp Quality, Illinois will take place at 10 p.m. March 29 at Plaza Lanes, 8101 Kennedy Ave. It is sponsored by Knights of Pythias Lake Co. 215. Camp Quality is a camp and year-round support organization for children with cancer. Tickets are $25 per person and are only sold in pairs. This includes three games, shoe rental, food and pop. Bowlers must be 18 or older. Nonbowlers can attend for $10 per person, which includes food and pop. There will be raffles and door prizes. Tickets are only available in advance.

FYI: Call Amy or Dan at (708) 889-9930.

MYSTERY DINNER | Chesterton

St. Anthony Hospice and Franciscan Home Care in Michigan City presents its second Mystery Dinner & Silent Auction Fundraiser on April 19 at Waterbird Lakeside Banquet Center, 526 Indian Boundary Road. Tickets cost $40 per person or $75 per couple, which includes dinner and entertainment. The cash bar opens at 6 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. In addition to the evening's festivities, there will be a silent auction featuring an array of items such as gift baskets, certificates and other items. Event sponsorships, program book ads and silent auction items are welcome. Proceeds will help defray patient care costs at St. Anthony Hospice and Franciscan Home Care Services. Tickets are available by phone.

FYI: Call (219) 661-5105.