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.

BOOK SALE | South Haven

Preview night for the Friends of the Library book sale is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. April 16 at South Haven Public Library, 403 W. County Road 700 North. Join the organization and shop at the book sale at this special date and time. The book sale is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 17 and 18. The sale continues with $2 per bag of books day from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 19. The public is invited.

FYI: Call (219) 759-4474.

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. Celebrate tax time today; those who wear Uncle Sam's colors will receive a $5 refund. April 22 will be Crazy Hat Bingo; wear your silliest, cutest or comfy hat and get a free game. On April 28, bring in a ream of paper to help the school with its maxed-out budget and play for $9.99 plus the end-of-the-month giveaway.

FYI: Visit www.nativitybingo.homestead.com.

BREAD BAKING TIPS | Chesterton

Lori Coffman, of Baguettes on Broadway, will present "Bread Baking Tips We Can All Use" at 7 p.m. April 17 at Molly Bea's INGREDIENTS, 761 Indian Boundary Road. There is no charge for attending, but seating is limited to about 30. Register by sending an e-mail to mollybeas@verizon.net or by calling (219) 983-9401 with your name, e-mail or telephone, and the number in your party. Check for other scheduled events at www.mollybeas.com.

FYI: Call (219) 983-9401.

FANTASTIC FOLLIES AUDITIONS| Portage

The Portage Community Theatre will hold auditions for the Fantastic Follies Variety Show from 7 to 9 p.m. today and April 15 in the Sycamore Room at Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Road. The variety show will be held at 7:30 p.m. May 23. Admission is $5.

FYI: Call (219) 759-1408 or visit www.portagecommunitytheatre.org.

JIMMY BUFFETT TRIBUTE | Washington Township

Parrots of the Caribbean, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, will perform from 7 to 11 p.m. April 19 at the Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Road. The evening will include music, dancing and a cash bar. Tickets cost $25 per person. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. Tickets can be purchased in Valparaiso at Memorial Opera House, 104 Indiana Ave.; Pass Times, 217 E. Lincolnway; and Franklin House, 58 Campbell St. In St. John, tickets are available at Bar Louie, 8209 U.S. 41. Tickets also are available online at www.mohlive.com. To see the band, visit www.potcband.com.

FYI: Call (219) 464-0133 or e-mail expocenter@portercounty.org.

BALLROOM DANCE | Portage

Register by today for the next session of ballroom dance classes to be offered in Sycamore Hall at Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Road. Beginner classes will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. for six Mondays, beginning April 21. Classes to be taught include the fox-trot, waltz and merengue. This class is for those new to dancing or in dire need of a brush-up on the basics. The advanced beginner class for students with some ballroom dancing experience who have taken at least six month of classes will meet from 8:15 to 9:15 p.m. for six Mondays, beginning April 21. Dances to be taught include tango, cha-cha and swing. Portage residents pay $70 for singles and $105 for couples. Nonresidents pay $75 for singles and $110 for couples. Register at the Portage parks department office at Woodland Park. Include your driver's license number on your check.

FYI: Call (219) 762-1675.

BROTHERHOOD BASH | Porter

The Region Chapter of the Rolling Inferno with the Porter VFW Post 2511 is sponsoring a Brotherhood Bash from 6 p.m. to midnight April 19 at the Porter VFW, 1290 Wagner Road. The Brotherhood Bash is being held the same weekend as the Duneland Fire School that brings firefighters in from all over the state. The Rolling Inferno is a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who also are firefighters and/or emergency personnel who raise money for the Hoosier Burn Camp, a camp especially for those children who are victims of fires. The event includes a meal of Italian beef sandwich and cold salads with soft drinks for a donation of $10. For a donation of $20, participants get the meal and a monitored self-serve beer bar, with a valid ID.

FYI: Visit www.rollinginfernomc.org.

LINCOLN FUNERAL TRAIN | Portage

The Portage Community Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. April 15 at Portage Public Library, 2665 Irving St. At 7:30 p.m., Bill Warrick will talk and show a film about the Abraham Lincoln funeral train. Refreshments will be served. The public is invited.

FYI: Call (219) 762-4218.

FISH FRY | Portage

The Bonner Senior Center will host a fish fry from 5 to 6:30 p.m. April 18 at the center, 5800 Lexington Ave. The fish fry is open to the public. Tickets are $7 for adults, and children 5 years and younger eat for free. The meal includes fried perch, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, applesauce, bread, and pudding.

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

GREEN JOBS | Hobart

Dunelands Sierra Club invites the public to a free program on Green Jobs, including the Blue-Green Alliance and innovative green job programs in California and New York City, at 7 p.m. April 16 in the Krull meeting room at 206 Main St. downtown. For more on the local group activities, visit www.indiana.sierraclub.org/Dunelands

FYI: Call Sandy O'Brien at (219) 743-0679 or e-mail ecorealm@msn.com.

POKER RUN | Porter

A poker run and party to benefit Rebuilding Together Duneland is scheduled for April 20 at Leroy's Hot Stuff restaurant, 333 W. U.S. 20. Everyone is invited to join the poker run. Sign-up is at 11 a.m. at Leroy's. The last vehicle will be out by 1 p.m., and the last one will return by 4 p.m. Local musicians will provide live music starting at 1 p.m. Performers include Ronn Barany, C-4, Corey Dennison, Salamander Drake, The Muddsharks, Guilty Pleasures, Sweet Blackberry Jam and Hair In the Tub. The food buffet starts at 4 p.m. and includes a taco bar and hog roast. Participants should be at least 21 years old and do not have to participate in the poker run in order to enjoy the party and music. Donations are $10 per person, and 100 percent of the proceeds benefit Rebuilding Together Duneland.

FYI: Call (219) 926-3233.

FREE JAZZ CONCERT | Portage

Nationally recognized jazz musicians Andy Laverne and John Abercrombie will be featured in a free concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. April 15 in the Portage High School East Commons, 6450 E. U.S. 6. Light refreshments will be available for a fee. Donations to cover costs will be accepted.

FYI: Call (219) 764-6119.

CALL FOR ARTISTS | Valparaiso

The Art Barn School of Art is looking for artists 18 years and older to participate in the 15th Annual Juried Art Exhibition. Entry forms must be postmarked on or before April 21. The exhibition opening will be held at 7 p.m. May 10 at the Art Barn School of Art, 695 N. County Road 400 East. The awards will be presented at 8 p.m. The public is invited to attend the opening, enjoy the artwork, meet the artists, and enjoy the refreshments. The show runs May 10 through June 16. More than $1,500 in awards have been pledged so far to be given to artists. Entry forms are available at the Art Barn.

FYI: Call (219) 462-9009.

JOY BREAKFAST | Portage

The Just Older Youth senior program at the Portage Township YMCA is hosting a breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. April 15 at the YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Road. The "Breakfast at Tiffany's" menu includes a choice of made-to-order eggs, French-toast casserole, sausage and potato casserole, chipped ham and gravy over toast, cereal and coffee. The public is invited. The price for breakfast is $4 for YMCA members and $6 for nonmembers. Reservations are requested but are not required. Miller's Senior Living Community will provide free blood pressure testing from 9 to 10 a.m. during the breakfast. YMCA membership is not required.

FYI: Call Christy Cantrell, teen and senior coordinator at the Portage Township YMCA, at (219) 762-9622.

EARTH DAY | Liberty Township

Celebrate Northwest Indiana Earth Day 2008 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 19 at Sunset Hill Farm County Park, U.S. and Meridian Road. Northwest Indiana Earth Day is a free event that will include a variety of exhibitors, children's activities, vendors, seminars, and family-focused demonstrations designed to help Northwest Indiana residents live a "greener" life. Activities will include creating an edible landfill, a Magic of Recycling magic show, more hands-on children's activities, food, workshops and live music. Build your own birdhouse. Visit with Smokey Bear. Examine animal prints. Attend demonstrations on how to start community projects and green up your community, as well as learning about locally grown foods and where you can buy them. In addition, tree seedlings will be available while supplies last. A representative of Secure Shred will provide a shredding service, document destruction and recycling free of charge. Wal-Mart will exchange one reusable shopping bag for every 10

plastic shopping bags turned in, as many as five reusable shopping bags per family. This offer is good while supplies last. This event is the Third Annual Earth Day presented by the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County.

FYI: Call (219) 465-3694 or visit the Web site at www.itmeanstheworld.org.

HORSE OWNER'S WORKSHOP | Washington Township

Jake's Feed will host the Purina Mills horse owner's workshop with registration beginning at 6:15 p.m. April 16 at the Porter County Expo Center, 215 Division Road. Featured speakers include Dr. Katie Young, consulting equine nutritionist, and Dr. Jerry Rodenbarger, veterinarian. Attendees will receive Purina Feed coupons as well as other offers, and they'll qualify for a chance to win prizes. Make reservations.

FYI: Call (219) 477-4174.