Belleville
Belleville Public Library and Information Center, 221 Washington Ave., announces its Eight Great Live Monday Nights series, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, with a new show every Monday at 6:30 p.m. during July and August. Registration is required. Call 973-450-3434. These programs are for the entire family, unless otherwise noted. The first two shows will be: “Outragehiss Pets,” a live animal presentation with various creatures, on July 7 and “Lasermania,” a laser show featuring current top music hits, on July 14.
Children of all ages can sign up for the Library Players and act in a play that patrons can attend for free. Rehearsals begin July 10 and will be held every Thursday at 3 p.m. The play will be presented on Monday, Aug. 18, at 6:30 p.m., as part of the library’s Eight Great Live Monday Nights series. To sign up, call the library.
Bloomfield
The Financial Book Club at Bloomfield Public Library, 90 Broad St., meets 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesdays, June 24 to Aug. 26. Beginners are welcome to join and all reading materials can be obtained through the library with a valid library card. The club will examine how budget (income), balance sheet (net worth) and cash-flow impact managing expenses, debt, value of money, investment selections, etc., for companies and consumers. Register online at http://www.bplnj.org/programs. For more information, call 973-566-6200.
Bloomfield Cultural Commission presents traditional Polish singing, dancing and food, plus arts and crafts for children, Sunday, June 29, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 190 State St. Admission is free.
Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center, 240 Belleville Ave., offers a children’s summer art camp starting June 30. Classes are held Monday to Friday. Cost for the first session is $250; sessions 2 through 5 cost $275 (materials included). Participants may register by calling the Oakeside office at 973-429- 0960. Registration forms and class schedules and descriptions are available on the Oakeside website www.oakeside.org.
Harrison
Harrison Public School district will participate in a summer food service program, open to children age 18 and under, July 7 to Aug. 7, Monday to Thursday, at Washington Middle School, 1 N. Fifth St., 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. each day. The program is offered through the Food and Nutrition Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Harrison Public Library, 415 Harrison Ave., presents its summer reading program on “mad science.” There will be sessions on Thursdays, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., for ages 4 to 6; and Tuesdays, 3 to 4 p.m., for ages 7 and 8. All sessions begin July 8 and run through August.
The library’s Young Adult Reading Group for ages 9 and up meets Wednesdays, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., starting July 9 and runs through August. Selection of a novel to be read will be announced July 9.
Sign up in person at the library. Space is limited. For more information, call the library at 973-483-2366
Kearny
Children ages 8 to 15 are welcome at the Presbyterian Boys-Girls Club (PBGC), 663 Kearny Ave., July and August, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 to 9 p.m., for a summer program of basketball, dodge ball, arts and crafts, electronic games and more, under the supervision of a professional staff led by former Lincoln School counselor Tom Fraser.
The PBGC also sponsors the following trips: State Fair on July 2, Mt. Creek Water Park on July 9, Seaside Heights rides and water park on July 16, Walking with Dinosaurs at the Prudential Center, Newark, on July 25, Yankee game on Aug. 7 and Jersey Jackals game on Aug. 13. All trips are chaperoned by Kearny teachers.
Kearny Public Library, 318 Kearny Ave., hosts an appearance by local author Karen B. Kaplan, who will read from and sign copies of her book, “Encountering the Edge: What People Told Me Before They Died,” Wednesday, July 2, at 6 p.m. Copies of her book will be available at a discounted rate. Kaplan will lead a discussion on her book Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Check out Kaplan’s blog at offbeatcompassion.com. Call 201-998-2666 or visit www.kearnylibrary.org for more program information.
The main library offers these upcoming children’s programs:
• Pre-school and elementary school-aged children are invited to join “Fizz, Boom, Read” summer reading program, starting June 25. Youngsters will receive a free reading log, choose whatever they want to read, including at least one science book, and track their progress in their reading log. Reading logs must be returned to the children’s room no later than Aug. 15 to be eligible for a prize for completing the reading challenge.
• Family Fun Night is held Wednesday, June 25. Flow Circus will perform juggling and more, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This show is recommended for age 4 and up.
• The Spoon Man performs rock, rap and folk music on kitchen spoons Monday, June 30, 4 to 5 p.m. This show is recommended for ages 4 and up.
• Free No-Bake Cooking Classes, open to children ages 4 to 8, will meet for five weeks, on Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to noon, beginning July 2, in the Main Library’s newly renovated lower level kitchen. Recipes offered will take food allergies into consideration. Class size is limited to 12. To reserve a spot, or for more information, call the library at 201-998-2666.
Free programs for children will be available at the library throughout the summer. Check the library’s website www.kearnylibrary.org for program information. Keep watching the website as new programs will be added during the summer.
Kearny High School 60th class reunion for the classes of June 1954 and January 1955 will be held Sept. 19, at noon, in Spring Lake Heights. Admission is $32. For more information or to make reservations, email phylmae@aol.com or call 732- 458-5162.
West Hudson Christian Center, 557 Kearny Ave., presents Weird Animals Vacation Bible School, from Sunday, July 20, to Wed., July 23, 6:30 to 9 p.m., for ages 3 to 12. To pre-register in advance (space is limited), visit whccag.org or call 201-997- 7762. Registration is also open each night of the program at the door.
Lyndhurst
Seniors are invited to wear their red, white and blue and bring a flag to a free Fourth of July Band Concert by the North Jersey Concert Band Wednesday, July 2, at 7 p.m., at the Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza. Registration is recommended and appreciated. To register, call 201-777-2431.
North Arlington
North Arlington Woman’s Club has designated Wednesday, June 25, as “Joshua’s Day,” on behalf of 6-year-old North Arlington resident Joshua Piperato, who, was involved in an accident in March that resulted in the partial amputation of his leg. The club is fundraising to help with any uncovered medical bills or treatments to help subsidize any unexpected costs his family faces due to his injury.
Participating businesses will have a Joshua’s Day flyer displayed in their window. People patronizing those businesses are asked to mention “Joshua’s Day” and a percentage of their bill will be donated to the fundraiser.
Any local organization or individual wishing to donate is invited to send checks, payable to the N.A.W.C., P.O. Box 7274, North Arlington, N.J. 07032, with the words “Joshua’s Day” written in the memo line. For more information, call Christine at 201-577-1088.
Children can spend summer with exciting weekly classes and special events at North Arlington Public Library, 210 Ridge Road. Registration is required for all of these programs.
To register for classes, visit: http://bit.ly/11uEKUz.
Registration will be open from June 26 to July 3. Weekly programs run from July 8 to Aug. 8. Special events are scheduled every Wednesday from July 9 to Aug. 6.
For additional information or questions, call 201-955-5640, ext. 126.
Here are some upcoming programs:
• Music n’ Movement, interactive play with music and movement for ages 2 to 5, is held on Tuesdays at 11 a.m.
• Fizz Boom Story Time for ages 2 to 5 gives kids a chance to listen to and enjoy imaginative stories on Mondays at 11:30 a.m. (On July 28, there will be a special story time all about nutrition.)
• Boomtastic Crafts for ages 6 to 10 allows kids to make a variety of cool and exciting crafts on Tuesdays at 3 p.m.
• Lego Club for ages 6 to 10 provides an opportunity to build with Legos on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. (No class July 15.)
• Tween Book Club for ages 10 to 13 offers the opportunity for kids to read, discuss and discover great books every Wednesday at 1 p.m.
• Young Adults Writing Club is a creative writing group for ages 14 to 18 that meets Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.
• Reading Club will award prizes to children ages 2 to 18 who read, log their books and visit the library each week, July 8 to Aug. 8. Kids can log their books online or ask a librarian to help. Kids should pick up a paper reading log in the Juvenile Department. Read 10 books this summer to receive an invitation to the library’s summer reading program’s closing ceremony on Aug. 12 at 6 pm.
• Fizz Boom Wednesday Special Event features “Vibrant Volcanoes,” when kids entering grades 1 to 4 will make a working miniature volcano, learn the hula dance and hear the story of Pele, the goddess of fire Wednesday, July 9, at 11 a.m. This program is limited to 25 children so register early.
• Thursday Night Drop-in Activities has no registration requirement.
• Movie Nights feature movies appropriate for the entire family July 17, 31 and Aug. 7.
• Movie Story Time allows kids ages 4 to 6 to read a story and watch a movie July 10 and 24.
