Thirty-one teams will vie for one of eight spots at Indiana Championship Tournament

Gary, IN 11-16-2011 – Indiana University Northwest will host the 5^th annual FIRST^® Lego^® League Indiana Qualifying Tournament, the state’s third largest, in Savannah Gymnasium on Sunday, Nov. 20. The annual event, which encourages young students to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, will take place on campus between 1 and 6 p.m.

Thirty-one teams, comprised of students primarily from Lake County but also from as far away as South Bend, will compete at IU Northwest. Each team will compete for a chance to advance to the Indiana Championship Tournament taking place in Fort Wayne, Ind., in December.

FIRST^® Lego^® League is an international competition in which teams of elementary and middle school students work as a team to program an NXT Lego robot. The two-part challenge is based on a real-world topic. Teams of up to 10 children, with one adult coach, participate in the challenge by programming an autonomous robot to score points on a themed playing field and developing a solution to a problem they have identified.

The theme for this year’s tournament is FOOD FACTOR^®, and teams will build, test, and program an autonomous robot using LEGO^® MINDSTORMS^® NXT to solve a set of food safety missions as well as research, develop, and share their innovative solutions to improve the world’s current food preparation processes.

Students will compete in four areas: Teamwork; Project; Technology; and Performance.

For Teamwork, teams will demonstrate their ability to work collectively as a group to reach their goal, and in Project, teams will reveal their robot design.

Competing in Technology, teams will show judges how they have learned to program the robot they have built out of Legos^®, and in Performance, the students compete for points on a competition table using their programmed robot.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend the free tournament.

To learn more about the FIRST^® Lego^® League Indiana Qualifying Tournament, go to http://www.iun.edu/~fll/. For additional information on FIRST^®, please visit http://www.usfirst.org/.

The Savannah Gymnasium is located at the southeast corner of the main campus parking lot at 33rd Avenue and Broadway in Gary.

Meet Team Ugly at the Indiana Welcome Center on November 18^th

Hammond, IN 11-16-2011 – Let’s get ready to party! This holiday season, throw on your ugliest Christmas sweater and make it down to the IndianaWelcomeCenter’s annual ‘A Christmas Story’ holiday event, for the most festive book launch event of the year. Attendees will have the chance to meet Team Ugly, creators of the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book (Abrams Image; November 2011; U.S. $16.95/Can. $18.95; ISBN: 978-0-8109-9752-3)! Brian, Adam and Kevin will share their ugly Christmas sweater party experiences, sign books, and spread the wacky holiday cheer on November 18^th from 6-8PM. Free food and drinks provided!

About the book: This is a must-read for the millions planning to throw or attend an ugly Christmas sweater party, as well as a laugh-out-loud look at the funniest, craziest, most unbelievable holiday sweaters you can imagine. The Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book offers a history of the event, recipes and games (such as Christmas movie trivia and a Bad Santa gift exchange), what to wear to an ugly Christmas sweater party, and how to judge the ugly Christmas sweater contest. Most importantly, Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book is packed with 100 hilarious, full-color photos of outrageously ugly Christmas sweaters, including Scarf Face, Wreath Witherspoon, and Ryan Treecrest.

About the Author

UglyChristmasSweaterParty.com was founded by Team Ugly: Brian Miller, Adam Paulson, and Kevin Wool. The team met in the fall of 2000 while attendingIndianaStateUniversity. They attended their first ugly Christmas sweater party in 2006, and soon after they were inspired to start a blog and online venture to bring ugly Christmas sweater joy to people all over the world.

Event Details:

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book launch event

Part of “A Christmas Story Comes Home” holiday celebration

IndianaWelcomeCenter

7770 Corinne Dr., Hammond, IN 46323

http://www.achristmasstorycomeshome.com

About the Book

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book: The Definitive Guide to Getting Your Ugly On

Abrams Image | November 2011

U.S. $16.95 | Can.$18.95

ISBN: 978-0-8109-9752-3

Hardcover

152 pages | 7″ x 7″

100 color photographs

More Information

Please contact Nicki Mackowski for more information at nicki@southshorecva.com or 219-554-2720. The Indiana Welcome Center is located at the intersections of I-80/94 & Kennedy Avenue South in Hammond, Indiana.

Choose between ‘Hugo’ and ‘Happy Feet 2’ in 3-D at Portage IMAX Theater

Gary, IN 11-16 -2011 – The Indiana University Alumni Association (IUAA), Northwest Campus Board, invites alumni, family and friends of IU alumni to enjoy a family movie night.

Showtime is 6:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2 at the Portage IMAX Theater. Take your pick of either “Hugo” or “Happy Feet 2,” both in 3-D IMAX. A free drawing for IU gift baskets will take place after the movie.

For more information about the films, or to view movie trailers, visit http://www.Fandago.com.

Discounted tickets and concession packages are available through Wednesday, Nov. 30 by contacting the IU Northwest Office of Alumni Relations at (219) 980-6769 or alumninw@iun.edu. Cash, credit cards and checks payable to IUAA are accepted.

The Portage 16 IMAX Theater is located at 6550 US Highway 6 in Portage.

Lowell, IN 11-15-2011 – The children at last year’s Christmas Long Ago on Buckley Homestead were pleased with the gifts St. Nicholas delivered on Christmas morning.  A trip to the Buckley farm on December 3 & 4, 2011 will find visitors meeting children and adults alike as they ready the homestead for the holiday.  Christmas memories of childhood on the farm are rich with the spirit of the time and i didn’t matter that the family was short of cash or material comforts.  More important than gifts was the magic of the season.  Make this special program part of your own family tradition.

Performance Times:  Each day at 2:00, 2:20, 2:40, 3:00, 3:20, 3:40, 4:00, 4:20, 4:40, 5:00, 5:20, 5:40 & 6:00 p.m.

Tickets:  $5 per person (one person may purchase up to 10 tickets).  Be at the Buckley Homestead Visitor Center 10 minutes before your ticket time.  If you miss the beginning of your performance you will not be able to join the group.

Ticket Sales:  Advance tickets are required and may be purchased at the corporate office 8411 East Lincoln Highway, Crown Point, Indiana 46307 just west of Deep River Waterpark or by phone at 219-769-PARK first come first served.  No tickets will be sold on site.

Dress warmly as you will be outside much of the time.  Tours last a little more than one hour.  Dress warmly as you will be outside much of the time.  Tours last a little more than one hour.

Photo caption:  Lily Tapley and Maris Dodge as volunteer performers at Christmas Long Ago on the Buckley farm

If you wish to be removed from this mailing list or if press releases should be directed elsewhere, please let me know and we will make the adjustment as soon as possible.  Sandy Basala, Visitor Services Manager, sandyb@lakecountyparks.com

Gary residents can get free books with proof of residence

Gary, IN 11-15-2011 – In an effort to promote child literacy, The Urban Teacher Education Program (UTEP) at Indiana University Northwest is giving away thousands of children’s books to parents and local groups in Gary.

The group has planned a book giveaway, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3 at the former Children’s Art Institute, located at 3424 Adams St. in Gary. The building is on the IU Northwest campus, immediately behind Lindenwood Hall.

Gary residents may come and select a limited number of books at no charge.

“All educational success flows from literacy,” said UTEP Executive Director Rochelle Brock, Ph.D. “Encouraging a love of reading is the best thing you can do to help a child be successful in school and life.”

Brock acquired a massive collection of children’s books that appeal to anyone from toddler age to pre-teens. The collection contains classics from decades past, as well as popular recent books.

For several months, Brock’s students have distributed the books to day-care centers, schools, churches, and social service agencies that help children. The project leader, Jasmine Thornton, would like to give the remainder of the books directly to parents by opening the doors of their storage facility for one day.

“This project has been a rewarding experience,” Thornton said. “Reading as a child gave me a life-long love of learning. I like to think these books will do the same for a new generation.”

UTEP trains graduate students to become certified teachers who specialize in meeting the needs of urban students. UTEP was created in 1990 in collaboration with the cities of Gary, Hammond, and East Chicago to help provide them with highly prepared individuals who can take on the educational challenges created by economically struggling communities. Students in the program receive more hands-on experience than usual, and spend time exploring the complex issues of poverty, critical thinking and social justice.

For more information, contact Jasmine Thornton at jnthornt@iun.edu.

Valparaiso IN, Nov. 14th, 2011 – In honor of the 40^th Anniversary of Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County, the President of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Roxanne Spillett will be featured guests at the Club’s Annual Steak and Burger Dinner held on November 14^th at 6 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Harre Union on the campus of Valparaiso University.

Father “Monk” Malloy, President Emeritus of University of Notre Dame will be the featured speaker at the dinner.  Fr. Malloy also serves on the Board of Governors for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Spillett and Malloy will be available for press interviews between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. in the Brown and Gold Room on the 2^nd floor of the Harre Union on the campus of Valparaiso University.

CONTACT INFORMATION:  Dawn Duty – Cell 219 242-1022

Or Cathie Dull – Cell 219 508-5606

Campus and community members may obtain lab tests, health screenings and information on healthy living

Nov. 14th, 2011 – The Indiana University Northwest School of Nursing will host its annual health fair 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15 in the Savannah Center, located at 3400 Broadway in Gary, Ind.

Available services will include lab work, free health screenings and health information. Organized by IU Northwest nursing seniors, this year’s fair is themed “Don’t Be a Pumpkin, Get off Your Bumpkin, and Be Healthy.”

Community health agencies and university groups will participate in this event. Available services include lab workups (lipid profile, metabolic panel and hemogram); and prostate-specific antigen screenings, which screen for prostate cancer in men ages 40 to 50 years and older.

Free health screenings include blood pressure screenings and bone density tests.

Lab work will be conducted between 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Blood-test recipients must fast for 12 hours and may only drink black coffee or water during the fast.

Lab work is $18.60 for community members. IU Northwest faculty and staff must pay $15.60, while IU Northwest students may have lab work done for free with a valid student ID. The prostate-specific antigen screening test is $17.50 for everyone.

Payment for testing is due the day of the test. Only cash or checks will be accepted.

As a Northwest Indiana leader in health education, the IU Northwest School of Nursing and College of Health and Human Services are pleased to offer these important health screenings to the community.

The Savannah Center is located in the southeast corner of the main campus parking lot at 33rd Avenue and Broadway.

For more information, contact Clinical Coordinator Glenda Dexter-Brown at (219) 980-6619 or email her at gbrown@iun.edu.

Chesterton, IN 11-14-2011 – KidWorks, LLC works once again to help children learn to walk and talk by hosting KidFunds Dinner Dance and Silent Auction on Saturday December 3, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. at Trinity Hall in Chesterton.

The 4th annual adults only event will include a fabulous dinner catered by Popolano’s Chesterton, silent auction and incredible music provided by DJ Andy Petrovich.  ALL proceeds (100%) from ticket sales and auction items will benefit the special needs of under-insured or uninsured children in Northwest Indiana.

KidWorks, LLC is a pediatric therapeutic rehab clinic in Chesterton that provides numerous services for children ranging from Speech, Occupational and Physical therapy to Music Therapy and various workshops.  The talented therapists at KidWorks help children with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Learning Disabilities, Congenital Disorders, Physical Disabilities and more.  The clinic recently expanded in 2010 to include a new office and doubling the therapists who treat children all over Porter, Lake & LaPorte counties. The therapists pride themselves on creating a happy and relaxed family environment where parents are encouraged to participate in their children’s rehabilitation.

KidWorks realized a need for financial assistance for these costly therapies back in 2009 when they started Kidfunds, a non-profit 501(c)3 public charity that provides scholarship assistance for families in need.  Some families are burdened with substantial medical bills due to lack of insurance or poor coverage.   We implore the community to help these children by sponsoring a table at the dance, providing items for the silent auction or attending the dinner dance.

The dance will be held at Trinity Hall, 638 Calumet Road, in Chesterton and will be catered by local eatery, Popolano’s.  Cocktails begin at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m. and dancing at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets for the adults only event are: $80 per couple and $45 per individual – early bird special ends 11/18/11.  Please inquire about sponsorship opportunities or ticket sales by calling Cyndy Mangan at: (219) 983-WORK (9675) or Angela Budner at (219) 552-4816.

Visit our website at: www.kidworksonline.com

Kid’s Kickoff, pet photos with Santa, contests and more.

A Christmas Story Comes Home

This holiday season, the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond will feature six animated display scenes from A Christmas Story as well as weekend events and opportunities to meet the cast of the movie. The displays include; Higbee’s Department Store Window, Flick’s Tongue and the Triple Dog Dare, It’s a Major Award, Santa’s Mountain at Higbee’s, The Bumpus Hounds, and the Parker Living Room.  

The redesigned A Christmas Story Comes Home exhibit will be on display from November 12, 2011 until January 8, 2012 in the W.F. Wellman Exhibit Hall. The new design takes visitors to the streets of downtown Hohman, the fictional Indiana town, which was a disguise for Shepherd’s hometown: Hammond. The Indiana Welcome Center is located at the intersection of I-80/94 and Kennedy Avenue South in Hammond; only 30 minutes from downtown Chicago and 2 hours north of Indianapolis.

Special Events

“A Major Event” will be held Saturday, December 3^rd at the Indiana Welcome Center and kicks off the holiday events. The Welcome Center will be bustling with children’s activities from 11am to 3pm including a passenger train – kids and their parents can ride for free! “Flick” Bingo, movie showings, crafts and sweet treats will all be available.

The “Oh Fuuudge!” tire changing relay will be held again, on Saturday, December 10^th. Parent/child teams will run through an obstacle course and prizes will be awarded to the pair with the best time.

The popular “Mommy’s Little Piggy” mashed potato eating contest will be held on Saturday, December 17^th. The event will begin at 10:30am and registration will start at 10am.

All events are held at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond and signups are available online at www.aChristmasStoryComesHome.com.

Letters to Santa, Live Entertainment and More!

Bring the whole family to enjoy the live entertainment on the weekends and write letters to Santa and drop them in the big mailbox in the exhibit hall! View the documentary, The Untold Christmas Story in the100-seat theater, vote on the ugliest leg lamp or participate in the Write a Theme Contest – the exhibit is packed with fun for the whole family. More information is available online at www.aChristmasStoryComesHome.com.

Relive the “You’ll shoot your eye out” scene atop Santa’s Mountain

Have your picture taken with Santa on top of Santa’s Mountain, a replica of the one featured in the movie. In the famous scene, Ralphie Parker asks Santa for an Official Red Rider BB Gun, and Santa responds, “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.”

Photos with Santa on Santa’s Mountain are available between Thanksgiving and Christmas, every Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 3pm at the Indiana Welcome Center. Children have the opportunity to slide down a big red slide into a pillow of snow. Photos are $5 a piece.

Wag your Tail Wednesdays

Don’t miss your opportunity to have your pet photographed with Santa on Santa’s Mountain. Pet photos with Santa will be available Wednesday, December 14^th & 21st from 5pm to 8pm. Well-behaved animals only.

A History of A Christmas Story

The 1983 holiday classic, A Christmas Story, was released and since has grown into a holiday tradition for most families. The film was written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark and was based on Shepherd’s 1966 book, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. The book is a compilation of short stories based on Shepherd’s experiences of growing up in Hammond, Indiana. A number of the short stories appeared in Playboy magazine and originated from his unscripted radio broadcasts in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s.

Shepherd narrated the entire movie and also had a cameo in the Higbee’s Department Store scene. The movie was set in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana which was a disguise for Shepherd’s hometown: Hammond. Hohman is one of Hammond’s busiest downtown streets.

More Information

Visit www.aChristmasStoryComesHome.com for a complete list of special events, contests, hours of operation and directions. The Welcome Center gift shop offers an array of movie memorabilia including the infamous leg lamp!

We would like to announce that we are in the process of making some changes to our Video and Media Community so it will not be available for viewing until we are complete.

We will have a formal release of the new section and features when it is complete.

Thanks for using NWIMe.com!