Bloomfield
Bloomfield Public Library Book Club will meet on Monday, Jan. 9, from 6:45 to 7:50 p.m. in the Conference Room to discuss “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden” by Joanne Greenberg. “ I Never Promised You a Rose Garden” is the story of a sensitive and intelligent teenaged girl’s three-year stay in a mental hospital. Based on Greenberg’s own experience, this beautifully written book is poetic, realistic, and inspiring. For more information or to request help in locating a copy of the book club selection, please call the reference desk at 973-566-6200, ext 502. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.
Bloomfield Recreation Department announces registration (required for all fall programs) will begin on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the Bloomfield Civic Center and will continue through the winter. In-person sign-ups are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Wednesday nights from 6 to 8:30 p.m. You may also sign up online at: www.bloomfieldrecreation.org. Dates and times for all programs are listed on the website. Among the programs offered are: Acting and drama for grades 2-3 and 4-6; adult fitness (age 18 and older): Belly Dance Workout, Pilates, Yoga, Qi Gong (beginning in March) and Zumba; art classes, bowling, hip-hop dance, intro to magic, karate, music, pee wee basketball and more.
The Recreation Department announces that all “open gym dates” for adult open gym basketball are at Bloomfield High School. Season passes are available for $35. Please visit the website for exact dates. Bloomfield residents only.
An organizational meeting for men’s adult basketball will be held in December at the Civic Center for all interested players. Please call the Civic Center to be placed on the information mailing list. Games will be played Monday-Thursday in the evening at Bloomfield Middle School. The league is for men, 18 years or older.
Adult open gym volleyball will be held on Tuesdays from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at Oak View School. Must be 18 and over to participate.
The Bloomfield Camera Club meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Bloomfield Civic Center. People of all experience levels are welcomed to attend. Bring your camera and manual and learn about portrait, sports and wedding photography as well as everyday shots. Participants will learn how to use their cameras to their full potential. For more information, contact Otis Sullivan at otisdsullivan@verizon.net, or call the Civic Center at 973-743-9074.
Kearny
Pathways to Independence, 60 Kingsland Ave., Kearny, is having craft fair on Thursday, Dec. 15, from noon to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. All items are hand made.
Grace United Methodist Church, 380 Kearny Ave., Kearny, is having a holiday craft/vendor fair on Dec. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pictures will Santa will be available for $5.
Kearny Lions Club is currently collecting non-perishable foods for needy Kearny families for the holidays until Dec. 20 at the following locations: SAS Insurance Agency, Inc., 233 Kearny Ave., Kearny; Investors Bank Kearny Branch, 180 Schuyler Ave., Kearny; Pathways to Independence, Inc., 60 Kingsland Ave., Kearny and Family Vision Care, 64 Ridge Road, North Arlington.
St. Stephen’s Seniors will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 1 p.m. in Hedges Hall (lower church). For club information, please call Tom at 201-998-8258.
Grace United Methodist Church, 380 Kearny Ave., Kearny, will have a special service and gift-giving for the unemployed on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. There will be prayers and readings supporting all those presently unemployed. At the end of the service, $10 gift cards to local establishments to help with food, clothing and other means of helping to prepare for job interviews will be handed out. Refreshments and fellowship to follow. If you have any questions, please call the church at 201-991-1132 or email gfriez@hotmail.com.
The West Hudson Family Success Center will be hosting the United Way of Essex and West Hudson for a group conversation to discuss the strengths, challenges, and needs in education in our community on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 6 p.m. The presentation will take place at 655 Kearny Ave., Suite 103, in Kearny.
The presentation will be available in both English and Spanish. Parents, caregivers and teachers of children any age are encouraged to attend. Please R.S.V.P. by calling the West Hudson Family Success Center at 201-998-0803. The United Way of Essex and West Hudson offers a variety of free programs, services and materials. For additional information visit www.uwewh.org.
D.J. Wolfie Services of Kearny announces that Santa Claus will visit the following locations: Dec. 19 – Clara Maass Medical Center, Belleville, from 9 a.m. to noon; Dec. 22 – Belgrove Post Acute Care Center, Kearny, from 2 to 4 p.m., Chris Pizzeria, Lyndhurst, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 24 – West Hudson Extended Care, Kearny, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. If you have a loved one who is hospitalized and you want Santa to make a special visit at any of the above hospitals, please call 201-998-4530.
The PBGC, 663 Kearny Ave., will hold its annual Christmas dance on Friday, Dec. 16, from 7 to 10 p.m. D.J. Brian will be the star disc jockey, spinning Top 40’s and special requests. Come and see the new fog machine. Wear your red and green to get into the Christmas spirit. Guests are restricted to teens only. The dance will be supervised by Tom Fraser, former Lincoln School guidance counselor and Paul Viera, charirman of the Board and members of the Board of Directors.
Lyndhurst
The Third-Tuesday-of-the-Month Nature Walk with the NJMC and BCAS celebrate the upcoming winter solstice with a free walk at DeKorte Park on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 10 a.m. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates. You will have to sign a standard liability release for 2011 if you haven’t already. To R.S.V.P., contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-230-4983.
A special Winter Solstice family celebration will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Meadowlands Environment Center, DeKorte Park, Lyndhurst. The event will start with a discussion on the winter solstice’s significance for people in ancient times, followed by several family activities. Children will have the opportunity to create sticky rice bowls (in Asia the rice bowls are a symbol of the coming winter solstice), Yule logs (traditional Scandinavian representation of the solstice), and Native American prayer sticks (Prayer sticks are created in the days leading up to the solstice). Admission is $5. MEC members, $4. For more information, call 201-460-8300 or visit www.njmeadowlands.gov/ec.
North Arlington
North Arlington Emblem Club #297 will host a breakfast with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 18, 9 a.m. to noon, at the North Arlington Elks, 129 Ridge Road. Donations will be $7 for adults and $3 for children. Breakfast cooked by the Emblem elves will include a choice of pancakes or eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage, toast, coffee, tea and juice. Bring your camera as Santa will be waiting to have his picture taken with kids.
The Senior Harmony Club of North Arlington has scheduled a trip to the Taj Mahal for Tuesday, Jan. 10. The cost is $23. For more information or to make a reservation, call Florence at 201-991-3173. All are welcome.
Nutley
Nutley Fit Kids and the Mayor’s Wellness Initiative present “Super Size Me,” a documentary about the adverse effects of eating fast food at Nutley Public Library on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m.
The Pen to Prose Writers’ Group will meet at the library on Monday, Dec. 19, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The group was formed to read works-in-progress, share accomplishments, critique works, give writing instruction, and provide encouragement and inspiration to aspiring authors. The group is free and open to the public.
The library’s Monday Night Book Club will meet on Monday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. to discuss “The Confessions of Nat Turner” by William Styron. The group meets on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Newcomers are welcome.
