Belleville
The Belleville Middle School Fine and Performing Arts Department announces its upcoming spring concert series. On May 15 the 7th and 8th grade choirs will perform selections of “Living on a Prayer,” “Man in the Mirror” and highlights from “Les Miserables.” The band, orchestra, and jazz band will take the stage on May 22. The performance will include selections from “Beauty and the Beast,” “Sing, Sing, Sing” and “Joyful, Joyful.” Both free concerts will be held in the BMS auditorium at 7 p.m.
Save Monday, May 20, for Clara Maass Medical Center Foundation’s annual golf invitational. Held at the prestigious Montclair Golf Club, this event includes the opportunity to play on the course’s beautiful greens, brunch, cocktails, dinner and a silent auction. Proceeds from the Golf Invitational benefit the programs and services of Clara Maass Medical Center. To register, or for more information, please visit www.claramaassfoundation.org or contact the foundation at 973-450-2277.
Bloomfield
Bloomfield Public Library Book Club, 90 Broad St., will meet on Monday, June 3, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. in the conference room to discuss “Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands” by Jorge Amado. In 1976, Jorge Amado’s Portuguese-language novel was made into the most successful film in Brazilian history. It was remade in 1982 as “Kiss Me Goodbye” and starred Sally Field, James Caan, and Jeff Bridges. For further information or to request help in locating a copy of the book club selection, call the Reference Desk at 973-566-6200, ext. 502. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.
The Township of Bloomfield will observe Youth Week-Government Day on Monday, May 20. Bloomfield High School students are invited to see how city government works. The day’s events will begin at 9 a.m. in the Council Chambers with introductory remarks by Mayor Raymond J. Mc- Carthy and by Township Council members and various department heads at 9:30 a.m. the group will visit the Bloomfield Municipal Court- Law Enforcement Building. Guests will be divided into four groups to hear other speakers throughout the day: Township Engineer Paul Lasek, Health Director Karen Lore and Fire Chief Joseph McCarthy.
At noon, all groups proceed to the Civic Center for a luncheon and presentation of awards.
East Newark
East Newark Mayor Joseph Smith, members of the Borough Council, members of Albert Ettlin American Legion Post and Auxiliary #36 will observe Memorial Day with a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22 at the Borough Hall, 34 Sherman Ave.
Guest speakers will be Smith, Post 36 Commander Frank Acuna and Vice Commander Karl Petry. Wreaths will be placed by Mayor Smith, a member of the Council and Commander Acuna and Past State President Shirley Becker.
There will be a procession to St. Anthony’s Church for 7 p.m. Mass, officiated by the Rev. Joseph Girone. The public is invited to attend.
Harrison
A blood drive will be held at Harrison Community Center, 401 Warren St., on Thursday, May 23, from 2 to 6 p.m.. All donors receive one $10 ShopRite gift card. For more information, call 1-800-bloodnj.
Holy Cross Church Vincentian Society will hold a rummage sale in the lower church basement on Saturday, May 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Kearny
Kearny Public Library announces a free 10-week painting class for adults on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Classes are tentatively set to start on Wednesday, May 22 and run to Wednesday, July 24. The location of the class will be announced as the start date approaches.
The theme will be images in and around Kearny, taught by longtime Kearny High School art teacher and painter John Bednarczyk. Students will work in the genre and the medium of their choice. At the end of the class, a show will be organized in the library for the community to see participants’ creations.
Classes are free of charge, but students will have to supply their own materials. Class size is very limited. Call 201-998-2666 to reserve your spot. For more information about this or other upcoming programs, call the library or visit www.kearnylibrary.org.
The library will once again showcase young area musicians on Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m. on the lower level of the Main Library, 318 Kearny Ave. Following the success of two previous teen rock shows, the library is inviting some local bands back, including the very talented Stonehenge, playing on the library’s stage for the third time. The lineup is also set to include Fiscal Cliff and Not Stalin.
Admission is free and open to anyone interested. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and admission will be on a first come-first serve basis. For more information on this or other programs, please call 201- 998-2666 or visit www.kearnylibrary.org.
A special movie night will be held at the Branch Library, 759 Kearny Ave., at 7 p.m., featuring the newly-released “Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away” (Rated PG, 91 min.).
The film is based on the entrancing world of Cirque du Soleil, as it follows a young man and woman searching for each other through different dreamlike tent worlds. Snacks and light refreshments will be served. This program is free of charge and everyone is welcome, but note the rating of the film.
For more information, call the Main Library at 201-998- 2666 or visit www.kearnylibrary.org.
The Kearny Recreation Department and the West Hudson/ South Bergen Optimist Club will sponsor our annual Fishing Derby, Sunday, May 19, at the West Hudson Park Pond (Fairy Lake) located between Davis and Schuyler Avenues.
Boys and girls up to age 12, who live in the West Hudson Area are invited to try their fishing skills, and compete for trophies and fishing gear prizes. Registration will take place at the Fairy lake beginning at noon on the day of the event.
All participants are asked to bring their own fishing gear, including tackle, bait and fishing poles. Fishing poles (bamboo canes) and tackle will be provided to the first 100+ youth who fail to bring their own fishing gear.
A parent or guardian is encouraged to attend with the participants.
The Center for Business & Industry (CBI) at Hudson County Community College is initiating an “On the Road” series, to promote its customized workforce and staff training programs. CBI staff will travel to Town Hall Chambers, Kearny, June 6, 6:30 p.m.
To confirm your attendance or for more information about CBI, call Aycha Edwards at 201-360-4247 or email aedwards@hccc.edu.
The Woman’s Club of Arlington will hold its annual ice cream social on Tuesday, May 21, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Arlington Player’s Club, 12 Washington Pl., Kearny. Women interested in hearing more about membership may attend. Fresh fruit, coffee and tea will also be served. There will be dark horse raffles available during the event to raise money for local charities. for participants, tickets are only 3 for $5. If interested in attending, contact Jennifer Cullen at 201-991-6612 by May 17.
First Presbyterian Church of Arlington, 663 Kearny Ave., Kearny, will hold a children’s carnival on Saturday, May 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. rain or shine. There will be games and prizes, face painting, popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones and a bake sale. The carnival will be held on the side lawn, or in the gym in case of bad weather. Admission is $1 for 5 tickets.
The Kearny Recreation Department will be holding American Legion Baseball tryouts on Friday, May 17, at 3:30 p.m. at Mitchell Baseball Field behind Franklin School. Rain or shine.
All Kearny resident boys currently in grades 9 to 12 are eligible to tryout. Bring a glove and no metal cleats
A copy of a birth certificate, proof of residency and registration fee will be required for all selected players. For further information, contact the Kearny Recreation Department at 201-955-7983.
Kearny UNICO will meet on Thursday, June 6, at 7:30 p.m. Anyone interested in attending the meeting and/or learning more about Kearny UNICO should contact Chapter President Lou Pandolfi at 201-368-2409. New members are always welcome. Kearny UNICO supports scholarships, charities and the local community.
Kearny UNICO is sponsoring a “Dining to Donate” fund-raiser at Kearny Applebee’s on Wednesday, June 5, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eat-in or take-out. For your order to count in support of Kearny UNICO you must present a flyer. To obtain a flyer, contact Lou Pandolfi.
Lyndhurst
A Big Swap Bonanza, flea market and collectible show will be held outdoors on Sunday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the N.J. Transit lot, New York Avenue, off Ridge Road, Lyndhurst. Admission is free. This event is sponsored by the Lyndhurst High School band.
The Big Swap Bonanza is also a garage and tag sale event. Area residents are invited to sell their garage/tag sale items at a reduced fee of $35 for three parking spaces with your car. You can set up your own tables and chairs to sell your merchandise.
JC Promotions is donating four spaces for school/local organizations that would like a space to sell their items or promote their club. Call 201-998- 1144 to make a reservation.
The Woman’s Club of Lyndhurst is sponsoring a trip to Mt. Airy Casino and shopping at the Commons on Monday, June 3. A bus will leave the New Jersey Transit Lot at 8:30 a.m. and return at 7 p.m. Cost of the trip is $30. To reserve a seat, call Janet Ritigliano at 201-935-1208.
The Polish American Citizens Club, 730 New Jersey Ave., Lyndhurst, will sponsor a trip to Nashville, Tenn., (seven days, six nights; six breakfasts and four dinners). The bus will leave on July 28 at 8 a.m. and return Aug. 3.
Cost is $625 with a $75 deposit at signing; final payment is due May 21. For more information, call Alice at 201- 935-3830.
The Lyndhurst Health Department will host its bi-annual blood screening on Friday, June 7. Appointments begin at 8 am. This blood screening will include a chemistry profile, cholesterol level, blood count, and thyroid level. This service is available to Lyndhurst residents over the age of 18 for a $20 fee. Pre-registration is required and appointments can be made by calling 201-804- 2500. Payments can be submitted in cash or checks may be made payable to Medical Laboratory Diagnostics.
Meadowlands Environment Center, Two DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst, will host “Soundscapes and Birdsong” on Saturday, May 18, 1-3 p.m. for ages 9-18 and families Sunday, May 19, 1-3 p.m. for families . Bring your instruments, voices and recording devices – composer Diane Moser will conduct a workshop in which groups walk DeKorte Park and use devices to record the sounds of nature to upload to the Sound Cloud. The group will then create an original composition. Admission: $5/ person; $4/MEC members. For information, call 201-460- 8300 or visit www.njmeadowlands. gov/ec.
Third-Tuesday-of-the Month Walk, with the NJMC and Bergen County Audubon Society, will be held on Tuesday, May 21, at 10 a.m. This free two-hour walk of Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus features raptors, waterfowl and late spring migrants. The group will meet at the marsh entrance at 10 a.m. (directions are on meadowblog.net in the left-hand column). Check meadowblog.net for lastminute weather updates. You will have to sign a standard liability release that is good for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. To R.S.V.P., contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or call 201-230-4983.
The Lyndhurst Elks is running a bus trip to the Sands in Bethlehem, Pa. on May 19. The $30 cost entitles participants to $20 back in slots and $5 for food. Bus will leave the Lyndhurst Elks, 247 Park Ave., at 9 a.m. and return at 6 p.m. For tickets, call Julie 201-424-2659.
Tuesday, May 21, starting at 2:30 p.m., a veteran’s ward party will be held at Chestnut Hill Extended care facility, Passaic in memory of those that served and died in Vietnam. The sponsor would like to remain anonymous. Games of chance will be played so that the veterans can win some money to purchase items that are not covered in the stipend that they receive. For more information, call John Deveney rehabilitation chairman, at 201-438-2255.
Lyndhurst VFW Post 3549, 527 Valley Brook Ave., will host Karaoke on Friday, May 17, starting at 8:30 p.m. The VFW hall is also available fro rentals for all occasions. For more information, call the Post at 201-939-3080.
The Lyndhurst Library, 355 Valley Brook Ave., will host “Escape from Behind Enemy Lines-Operation Bonaparte” on Wednesday, May 22, from 6:15 to 8 p.m. The Shelburn Line was a World War II escape network operating in occupied France which returned 136 allied servicemen to England. The French Resistance located downed airmen and hid them from the Nazis utilizing a series of safe-houses. Once a month— during dark of the moon—the men were transported to the Brittany Coast to meet a Motor Gun Boat, which would return them to England. Join Rick Feingold, as he recounts the story of how his father Lt. Louis Feingold, a B-17 U.S. Army Air Corp navigator, escaped Nazi capture. Space is limited and registration is necessary. Call the library at 201-804-2478, ext. 7 or email romeo@bccls.org.
North Arlington
Join the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission’s Jim Wright, author of the NJMC’s new book, “The Nature of the Meadowlands,” for a talk and signing at the North Arlington Senior Center, 210 Ridge Rd., on Friday, May 17, at 11 a.m. The lavishly-illustrated 128-page book illuminates the Meadowlands’ natural and unnatural history, including its darkest days of a half-century ago and its remarkable environmental revival. Wright will give a slide show presentation featuring images of the bad old days –when the Meadowlands was known for its landfills and pig farms –as well as stunning, recent nature photography from the book.
For more information, call 201-955- 5640.
North Arlington will commemorate Memorial Day, with its annual parade on Monday, May 27, starting at 2 p.m. The parade will begin at the corner of Canterbury Avenue and Ridge Road and conclude in front of Borough Hall, at 214 Ridge Rd., where local public officials will address the crowd.
The grand marshals for the parade are Jennifer O’Brian and Mary Biro.
The parade line includes these civic organizations: members of the borough Fire and Police Departments, the Boy Scouts, Daisies, Elks, Emblem, Women’s Club, VFW, American Legion and Ladies Auxiliary, among others. Children from the local recreation league teams will also be marching.
The parade will feature bands from the local schools as well as two pipe-and- drum bands, classic cars and clowns.
For more information, call North Arlington Recreation Director Jimmy Herrmann at 201-889-5882.
Nutley
May 19 will be the first of four Antique/collectible/boutique/flea market shows and sales sponsored by the Kingsland Trust to benefit the restoration and maintenance of the Kingsland Manor a historic brownstone. The event will be held at Nutley Parks and Recreation (Frank Cocchiola Building), 44 Park Ave., Nutley, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donation: $1 for adults, children free. Light refreshments will be available for purchase. Featured will be antiques, estate and new jewelry, collectibles, crafts and boutique items Other shows are June 9, July 14, and Sept. 8.
