Find out all the events going on in your community, and plan your week's activities with The Times. Contact Valparaiso community coordinator Annette Arnold at (219) 548-4359 or Portage community coordinator Barbara Martin at (219) 762-1397, ext. 2227. E-mail: aarnold@nwitimes.com or bmartin@nwitimes.com.

OLDTIME DANCE | Valparaiso

The next Valparaiso Oldtime Dance will be held from 7 to 10 tonight at the YMCA, 55 Chicago St. From 7 to 8 p.m. dances are for beginners and then from 8 to 10 p.m., the dancing continues with contras, squares and other dances with added instruction for the big kids. The cost is $5 per person or $15 per family. Admission is free to Valparaiso University students.

FYI: Call (219) 464-0846 or e-mail vods@juno.com.

WALTZ | Portage

Carol Shepard will teach senior citizens to dance the waltz during a six-week class beginning July 16 at Bonner Senior Center, 5800 Lexington Ave. Bonner Senior Center members will pay $45. Others will pay $55. Register by July 15.

FYI: Call (219) 762-3591 or (219) 762-1522.

PRESCHOOL PROGRAM | Valparaiso

Hilltop Neighborhood House is accepting applications for the 4- and 5-year-old full-time preschool program. This full-time program integrates preschool activities throughout the day focusing on kindergarten readiness skills. Children are served a breakfast and two snacks daily, and they bring a lunch. Hilltop Neighborhood House has an outdoor playground area, and children have outdoor play time twice a day, weather permitting. Hilltop Neighborhood House is a registered childcare ministry of Immanuel Lutheran Church.

FYI: Call (219) 477-4222, Ext. 250.

BAKE SALE | Portage, Chesterton

Boys & Girls clubs in Portage and Duneland will hold a bake sale on June 26 and 27 as part of Share Our Strength Great American Bake Sale, a national campaign that mobilizes Americans to end childhood hunger by holding community bake sales. In Portage, the sale will be from noon to 5 p.m. both days at the club, 5895 Evergreen Ave. In Chesterton, the sale will be from 12:30 to 3 p.m. both days at the Duneland club, 135 Lincoln Ave.

FYI: Call Pam Edlund-Waters, Portage Boys & Girls Club, at (219) 762-4613 or Karyn Witt, Duneland Boys & Girls Club, at (219) 926-9770.

MIDSUMMER CELEBRATION | Porter

A Scandinavian-themed midsummer celebration is planned for noon to 4 p.m. June 22 at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore's Chellberg Farm on Mineral Springs Road between U.S. 12 and U.S. 20. Visitors are invited to bring flowers from home to use to decorate the Maypole between noon and 1 p.m. Immediately following, there will be a musical procession culminating in the raising of the newly decorated pole. Lingonberry Jam, a local group, will perform traditional Swedish tunes. Dans Norden, a group of traditional Scandinavian folk dancers from Indianapolis, also will perform, as will the children's dance group, Nordikids. The event also will include traditional Scandinavian games and crafts for the children as well as, demonstrations of loom weaving, knife making and wood carving.

FYI: Call (219) 395-8905.

FUNDRAISER | Valparaiso

American Veterans Motorcycle Riders Association will hold a fundraiser scavenger hunt to help veterans. sign up from 11 a.m. to noon June 29 at VFW Post 988, 705 Roosevelt Road. Cost is $10 per person. Turn in items and papers by 4 p.m. and then enjoy a spaghetti dinner for $5.

FYI: Call (219) 309-4167.

POLONICA SOCIETY | Portage

The Polonica Society, an informal group that is open to those high school-age and older, will meet to discuss Polish language, customs and culture throughout the summer. Upcoming meetings are at 6:30 p.m. June 25 at South Haven Public Library, 403 W. County Road 700 North; and July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 at Portage Public Library, 2665 Irving St. Admission is free, and registration is not required.

FYI: Call Jenny Chandler at Nativity of Our Savior Catholic Church at (219) 762-4858, Ext. 306.

'PINK TEA' | Michigan City

Barker Mansion's annual garden "Pink Tea" will be held at 3:30 p.m. June 22, 25 and 27 at the mansion, 631 Washington St. Tickets cost $25, and reservations must be paid in advance. Sandy Gleim, of LaPorte, will talk about identifying, judging the value of and caring for vintage clothing and accessories. She will show examples from her personal collection of clothing dating to the 1800s through the 1960s in the program, "Divine Vintage." Participants are encouraged to wear or to bring vintage clothing. An optional guided tour of the mansion at 2 p.m. precedes the "Pink Tea." The summer display, "Back Stairs at Barker Mansion," features maids, the butler, the housekeeper, the nanny and others at work in a 1905 setting. There is an additional charge for the tour.

FYI: Call (219) 873-1520.

GARDEN WALK | Porter County

The Porter County Purdue Extension Master Gardeners Association's Porter County Garden Walk will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 28 and will start at Hayes Leonard Elementary School, 653 Hayes Leonard Road, Valparaiso.

Advance tickets are $6 and are available at Chesterton Feed & Garden, 400 Locust St.; Four Seasons Nursery, U.S. 6, one mile east of Ind. 49; Jake's Feed & Garden, 326 S. Ind. 49; Reed's Nursery and Garden Center, 2253 S. Ind. 2; Samuelson's Nursery, 295 S. Ind. 2; Horses Landscaping, 198 S. Ind. 130; Windy Ridge Farms, 253 E. County Road 150 South; Town & Country Market, 1605 Calumet Ave., Valparaiso; Willow Tree Garden, 107 S. Main St., Kouts, or Purdue Extension Porter County office, 155 Indiana Ave., Suite 301, Valparaiso. Tickets on the day of the walk are $8. The walk will feature nine gardens, including a suburban family compound accentuated by art pieces, espaliered apple trees, fruit and vegetable gardens; two compact in-town gardens that maximize every square foot; Taltree Arboretum and Gardens where new, formal gardens cozy up to native prairie and oak savannas; and the new memorial Garden of Heroes.

FYI: Visit www.pcgarden.info or call (219) 465-3555, Ext. 21.

GARDEN CONTEST | Portage

The Portage Garden Club's sixth annual Garden of the Year contest is underway. The club is looking for the best garden/yard in Portage Township. Entries are due by June 23 and should include no more than three pictures and a brief description sent to The Portage Garden Club, P.O. Box 322, Portage, IN 46368. No entries will be accepted via e-mail. For a complete list of rules, send an e-mail to Portagegardenclub@msn.com.

FYI: Call Karen Hix at (219) 759-4291 or Lori Higgins at (219) 762-0861.

BUILD A FLOAT | Valparaiso

Prospective parade participants who are looking for tips and tricks on how to build popcorn-bearing floats for this year's parade are invited to a special demonstration session at 6 p.m. June 25 in the Valparaiso Community Festivals & Events, office, 162 W. Lincolnwway. "Veteran and new float builders are both invited and encouraged to attend," said Tina St. Aubin, director of the Valparaiso Community Festivals & Events, Inc. Experts who have built award-winning floats for the Popcorn Festival in the past will be on hand to assist newcomers and veterans with ideas on how to make more use of popcorn in their floats. Popcorn for the floats is supplied by the festival. The session also is open to those who are considering entering a float in the parade but not have made their final decision. Make reservations.

FYI: Call (219) 464-8332.

FOOT SCREENINGS | Valparaiso

All registered walkers of the Komen Cancer Walk or other upcoming charity walks may enjoy a free foot screening and running shoe evaluation at noon every Thursday by Sportsmedicine podiatrist Dr. Paul Sommer of Family Foot & Ankle Clinic. Proof of charity walk registration is required. Limited appointment spaces available each week.

FYI: Call (219) 477-FOOT.

NATIVITY BINGO | Portage

Nativity of Our Savior offers bingo Monday evenings at the church hall, 2929 Willowcreek Road. Early-bird games start at 6 p.m., followed by regular bingo at 6:45 p.m. June 23 is Wedding Party Bingo. Dress in your bridesmaid's dress or other wedding party attire and receive a free coverall. Prizes will be awarded for the best dressed. America's independence comes early when Nativity celebrates 4th of July Bingo on June 30. Wear America's colors and play for $9.99.

FYI: Visit www.nativitybingo.homestead.com.

BENEFIT WINE DINNER | Valparaiso

Christian Community Action will hold a benefit wine dinner featuring desserts/dessert wines June 29 at Restaurante don Quijote, 119 E. Lincolnway. A five-course Spanish meal will be accented by wine tasting for each course with a special emphasis on dessert and dessert wines. A limited number of tickets are available for this event.

FYI: Call (219) 548-2379.

FROG HUNT | Chesterton

The Duneland Exchange Club's Fifth Annual Frog Hunt & Community Picnic event takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 28 at Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve, Ind. 49 and Sidewalk Road. The event offers family fun, food and a chance to find plastic frogs that have a cash value ranging from $25 to $500. Advance tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 5 to 15 years old and are available at Porter Bank, 429 N. Calumet Ave., and Centier Bank, 104 Grant Ave., or from any Duneland Exchange Club member. Tickets will be available the day of the event and will cost $12 for adults and $6 for children 5 to 15 years old. Tickets allow access to the main frog hunt, picnic lunch, children's games and entertainment. There will be a special Tadpole Hunt at 9 a.m. for frog hunters 7 years and younger. Tickets purchased in advance will be entered into a raffle to win a $250 cash prize. All proceeds from this event benefit child abuse prevention and youth development in Porter County.

FYI: Call Jill Fields at (219) 926-8214 or e-mail dcf12663@earthlink.net or visit www.dunelandexchangeclub.org.

CLASS REUNION | Portage

Portage High School's Class of 1988 is planning its reunion for Sept. 13 at Duneland Falls Banquet Center, 1100 N. Max Mochal Highway (Ind. 149).

FYI: Call Natalie (Konarski) Babcock at nbabcock@msn.com or (219) 405-0838.

VENDORS WANTED | Merrillville

St. Sava Serbian Sisters Circle will host a community yard sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at St. Sava Church, 9191 Mississippi St., behind Westfield Southlake Mall. Rain date is June 28.

FYI: Call (219) 476-9193.

SMO-STOCK | Portage

Craft show vendors and food vendors are sought for the Smo-Stock Art and Music Festival set for 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. July 19 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 20 at Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Road. Proceeds from the festival will go to The Dave Highlands' Service Fund to support local police and firefighters. Highlands was a Portage city councilman until his death last year. Applications for craft show vendors and food vendors are available at the Portage parks department offices at Woodland Park; at Portage Township YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Road; and at Portage Public Library, 2665 Irving St. An application is available via e-mail by sending a request to smostock@yahoo.com. Vendor space for the craft show costs $30 for a space that measures 10 feet by 10 feet and $50 for a space that measures 20 feet by 20 feet. A discounted rate is available for Portage food vendors since the proceeds benefit the city. Portage food vendors pay $100 for electric provided (110 volt and 20 amps) and $150

for electric provided (220 volt and 20 amps). Vendors outside of Portage pay $200 for electric provided (110 volt and 20 amps) and $250 for electric provided (220 volt and 20 amps). Among the highlights of the Smo-Stock Art and Music Festival will be a youth art showcase that will highlight youth art from around the community and area cities. Applications for artwork to be showcase also are available at the park department offices at Woodland Park, at the Portage Township YMCA and the Portage Public Library.

FYI: Send an e-mail to smostock@yahoo.com or visit the Web site at www.myspace.com/smostock.

HUNGARIAN PICNIC | Merrillville

Annual Hungarian Picnic will be held at 11 a.m. June 29 at St. Elijah Serbian Church grounds, 8700 Taft St. Sponsored by The Hungarian American Citizens Club, all are welcome at no charge. The event will feature Hungarian sausage, goulash and desserts and other foods and beverages, music and children's playground.

FYI: Call (708) 250-7132.

PHOTO EXHIBIT | Hobart

Visit Wood's Mill Gallery from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily at Deep River County Park, 9410 Old Lincoln Hwy. during June to see photographic works from members of the Lake County Parks Photography Club. Photos may be of local scenery, still life, portraits, abstracts, or other subjects. Exhibitors include Roger Wills of Merrillville, Wayne Wodrich of Valparaiso and Phillip Decausemaker of Hobart. Admission is free and most of the photos are framed and available for sale.

FYI: Call (219) 947-1958.