An American Red Cross blood drive will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday in the Blessed Maria Theresia Bonzel Community Room on the first floor of Franciscan Health Michigan City, 3500 Franciscan Way. To schedule an appointment, go to redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code franciscanhealth.

The Gary Professional Fire Fighters Union Local 359 and the Gary Fire Department will partner with the Gary Parks Department from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday to clean up Buffington Park, 200 E. Seventh Ave., Gary. The community is invited to come out and help. Those interested are asked to contact Shawn Hendron at shawnhendron@yahoo.com or 219-718-8471.

Hammond-based local business greenCOW Coworking will present a TED-Talks inspired community event from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at 5209 Hohman Ave. The event will be free and open to the public and will include an interactive series of speakers who will provide insight for those interested in starting their own business. Information: 219-501-0501.

Local award-winning author Rosemary Gard, of Crown Point, will will host a book discussion at 1 p.m. Saturday at the main library branch of the East Chicago Public Library, 2401 East Columbus Drive. Gard is the author of the “Destiny” series of novels about the lives of Slavic immigrants and their journeys to America in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In Gard will speak on the “perils and perks of self-publishing,” offering advice for writers who wish to explore self-publishing their work. The event is free and open to the public. Information: 219-397-2453.

The Lake County Master Gardeners Garden Walk 2019, A Day in the Gardens, will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 13. Gardens in Hobart, Merrillville, Crown Point, St. John, Schererville and Griffith will be on display and manned by Master Gardeners to answer any questions. Tickets are available for $10 at Artful Garden, 118 S. Main St., Crown Point; Elzinga Farm Market, 1587 Joliet St., Dyer; Johnson’s Garden Center, 8960 E. Ridge Road, Hobart; Niemeyer’s Landscape, 810 N. Indiana Ave., Crown Point; and, Walt’s Food Center, 1218 Sheffield Ave., Dyer. Information: www.lcmgain.org.

Galaxy Paintings for teens will be offered from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Lake Station-New Chicago branch, 2007 Central Ave. All materials will be provided. Register at 219-962-2409. The Merrillville Fire Department will visit the Merrillville Branch Library for an all-ages program at 10 a.m. July 5 at 1919 W. 81st Ave. Register at 219-769-3541. The St. John branch will host Exploding Alka-Seltzer Rocket Art, for grades kindergarten through fifth grade, will be from 1 to 2 p.m. July 8 at 9450 Wicker Ave. Register at 219-365-5379. An all-ability Galaxy Lights/Guardians of the Galaxy Jar Light program will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. July 9 at the Griffith Calumet branch, 1215 E. 45th Ave. Register at 219-838-2825. Information on all programs: www.lcplin.

—Staff report