LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Kathryn Weil Center for Education and Chili Blast Charities Inc. are accepting applications for the placement of AEDs (cardiac defibrillators) in area non-profit organizations. The organization must be located in Tippecanoe or Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Warren or White counties and may be tax-based. Applications are due by Tuesday, Sept. 1, and are available at the Kathryn Weil Center or online at www.ste.org/aed by clicking on the “Duke Smyser Chili Blast Open” form.

2008 AED presentation to Carroll County Sherrif's Department.

Area 501(c)3 organizations also are encouraged to apply to receive an AED through the “Revive & Survive” program offered by St. Elizabeth Regional Health. For eligibility requirements and to complete an application form, please visit www.ste.org/kwce and click on “Revive & Survive.”

The third annual Duke Smyser Chili Blast Open is set for Friday, Sept. 4, 2009 at the Ravines Golf Course, 8525 Division Rd., West Lafayette, with registration starting at 12:30 p.m. and play beginning at 1 p.m. A chili dinner catered by The Pub will be served at 6 p.m. For more information or to register for the Open, please visit www.chiliblast.org or sign up at the Ravines pro shop.

Proceeds from the Chili Blast Open are donated to the Kathryn Weil Center for Education and used towards the purchase of AEDs to be placed with non-profit organizations in Tippecanoe and surrounding counties. The Kathryn Weil Center for Education oversees the Revive & Survive program, as well as works with other groups who fall outside the Revive & Survive guidelines but are still in need AEDs.

The Chili Blast Open is named for Duke Smyser, who was a Lafayette banker for almost 30 years before succumbing to heart disease in 2006.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue football team will wrap up spring practice with its annual Black & Gold Game on Saturday, April 18. The event is free and will be held in Ross-Ade Stadium.

The game starts at 1 p.m. Public parking is available in the lots north of the stadium at no charge. The stadium gates open at noon.

Complimentary roster cards will be available to fans, as will 2009 posters and schedule cards.

Concession stands will be open.

Head coach Danny Hope's 2009 Boilermakers wrap up spring practice with the annual Black & Gold Game on April 18.

Saturday’s events begin with the Purdue Cancer Center Challenge at 8:30 a.m. The 5K run/walk begins and ends at Ross-Ade. Head coach Danny Hope is the event’s spokesman and is asking Boilermaker fans to “Take the Challenge, Get Up, Get Fit and Give Back” by raising funds for cancer research at Purdue.

The John Purdue Club Chili Bowl will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the A parking lot south of Ross-Ade. For just $5 (children 6 and under are free), fans can sample and judge the best chili in the Lafayette-West Lafayette area.

Family Fun Fest runs from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Ross-Ade. Gate A, located at the southeast corner of the stadium, will open at 10:30 a.m. for registration. Family Fun Fest is open to all youth with adult supervision. Youngsters will be able to participate in the following six interactive stations run by the football team:

• Catching a football from the quarterbacks
• Kicking a field goal with the kickers
• Accuracy throw with the wide receivers
• Dummy tackling with the defensive backs and linebackers
• Obstacle course with the offensive and defensive linemen
• Bouncy house with the special teams

Once again, many former players will be on hand for the day’s festivities, and they will be recognized.

The Purdue Pride Team Store will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, a clearance sale tent will be set up outside the Team Store at the northeast corner of Ross-Ade, with select merchandise discounted 25 to 75 percent. A trailer will be open beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the south end zone, as well.

The Local Mountain Coffee Shop will open to the public following the cancer challenge race and remain open throughout the day.

Following the game, all current players will sign autographs on the field, as will some of the former Boilermakers currently playing in the NFL who are back. Details will be announced via the public-address system.

The Athletic Ticket Office will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. During these hours only, fans can purchase south end zone tickets for the 2009 home opener against Toledo on Sept. 5 for just $5 apiece.

April 18 will be an exciting day on campus, as the Purdue baseball, men’s golf, softball, women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and field and volleyball teams all have home events, and Spring Fest gets under way.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Carroll County Sheriff’s Department is this year’s recipient of two automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

The AEDs were awarded to the sheriff’s department from proceeds from the Duke Smyser Chili Blast Open, an annual golf outing that raises funds for placement of AEDs to area organizations.

“We look forward to having this valuable, potential life saving tool available to members of our team in the event of a serious medical emergency,” said Carroll County Sheriff Tony Burns. “We are grateful to be awarded this equipment. This will allow us to continue our efforts to partner with our community as well as our local emergency medical services to provide quality public service. We appreciate the efforts put forth by the Kathryn Weil Center for Education, St. Elizabeth Regional Health and the Duke Smyser Chili Blast Open for securing this equipment for us.”

The AEDs were presented to representatives from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department on Sept. 5 during the second annual Duke Smyser Chili Blast Open.

Proceeds from the Chili Blast Open are donated to the Kathryn Weil Center for Education and toward the purchase of AEDs to be placed with area organizations in Tippecanoe and adjacent counties. The Kathryn Weil Center for Education oversees the Revive & Survive program, as well as works with other groups who fall outside the guidelines of the Revive & Survive program to secure AEDs.

“The Duke Smyser Chili Blast Open is an opportunity for people to get together, play golf and have fun while raising money for a great cause. AEDs save lives, and we’re pleased to place as many devices in as many locations as possible,” said Karen Wlodarski, chairperson of the Duke Smyser Chili Blast Open. “There’s someone out there right now whose life will be saved because the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department is now properly equipped. Everyone should be very proud to have helped make that happen.”

The Chili Blast Dinner begins at 6 p.m. and is catered by The Pub. Cost is $15 for the dinner only.

The Chili Blast Open is named for Duke Smyser, who was a Lafayette banker for almost 30 years before succumbing to heart disease in 2006.

To register, please e-mail dscbo@hotmail.com or call (765) 474-8039 or sign up at the Ravines Pro Shop.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Ivy Tech Community College is hosting its second annual Homecoming celebration on September 14, 2008 from 12pm to 2pm. The Lafayette-West Lafayette community is encouraged to join in the festivities which include children’s games, magic shows, a volleyball tournament, and a classic car show. The classic car show will have extended hours until 4pm.

New to this year’s Homecoming is a Chili Cook-off which is sure to feature some of the best chili in town. The Chili Cook-off will take place from 12pm to 2pm. The contest is open to all Ivy Tech students, employees, and alumni. To enter, please contact Beth LeBreton at blebreton@ivytehc.edu or call (765) 269-5218. The community is welcome to participate in the Chili Cook-off judging; the only requirement is to come hungry. Judging will begin at 1:30pm.

All Homecoming events will take place on the Ivy Tech campus located at 3101 South Creasy Lane, Lafayette, Indiana.