around town

Belleville

Belleville Elks Lodge 1123, 254 Washington Ave., holds its monthly breakfast Sunday, Feb 15, 9 a.m. to noon. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children under age 10 and free for children under age 3. In case of inclement weather, the breakfast will be cancelled. Call the lodge at 973-759-9623 to check if the event is still on.

Bloomfield

Bloomfield Public Library, 90 Broad St., announces the following programs:

Humanoid Cartooning class offers an opportunity to learn to draw human proportions Feb. 11, 4 to 6 p.m. Registration is required. To register, visit http://www.bplnj.org/programs/.
Elder law attorney Benjamin Eckman will discuss senior related issues Feb. 18 at 6:45 p.m. Eckman has lectured extensively on elder law, special needs and disability planning and estate planning. This seminar is free.
The Finance Book Club resumes Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. The club meets every Tuesday night, Feb. 17 to March 31, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The library will be assisting the Junior League of Montclair-Newark in collecting toiletries for children in the foster care system through the Bloomfield Office of the Department of Child Protection and Permanency. Collection boxes will be available in both the children’s and adult buildings throughout February.

Donors are asked to contribute toothbrushes and toothpaste, lotions, soap, hair brushes, deodorants, feminine hygiene products, washcloths, blankets and reusable back packs or duffle bags that will be delivered to the Bloomfield DCP&P for distribution to the children they serve on an as need basis.

The library is open from Mondays to Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. During inclement weather, call the library at 973-566- 6200 to check on its status. The library will close Feb. 16 for President’s Day.

Seniors: Are you single and looking to mingle? Come and join other seniors to socialize, engage with peers and enjoy refreshments, music and raffle prizes at Job Haines Home, 250 Bloomfield Ave., Saturday, Feb. 14, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public. Registration starts at 2:15 p.m. R.S.V.P. by calling Donna Plotnick at 973-743-0792, ext. 133.

To learn more about Job Haines Home, visit: www.Job-Haines.org.

Harrison

Harrison Lions Club announces a flapjack fundraiser breakfast Sunday, Feb. 22, 8 to 10 a.m., at Applebees, 175 Passaic Ave., Kearny. The Lions will serve pancakes for charity with the help of volunteers from Harrison High School. Tickets are available through a member or at the door. Adults’ tickets are $10. and kids under 10 will only be charged $7 for a plate of pancakes, sausages, and eggs cooked by the staff at Applebee’s. Proceeds will go towards helping the Harrison Lions Club to continue to do its charity work. For more information go to http://eclubhouse. org/sites/harrisonnj/index.php or email us at harrisonlionsclub@yahoo. com.

Kearny

Presbyterian Boys and Girls Club, 663 Kearny Ave., hosts a Valentine’s dance Friday, Feb. 13, 7 to 10 p.m. The dance is open to teenagers only and will be supervised by PBGC Executive Director Tom Fraser and board members.

Kearny Public Library, 318 Kearny Ave., announces free programs for children in February. Registration is not required unless otherwise noted. Here’s what’s available:

Children are invited to celebrate Valentine’s Day at the library Friday, Feb. 13, 4:15 to 5:30 p.m., by making valentines to take home and listening to Valentine’s Day stories. All ages are invited to participate.
Art classes will take place Thursday, Feb. 26. Preschool Art for ages 2 1/2 to 5 starts at 11 a.m. and ends at noon. School-age Art for ages 5 and older starts at 4:30 p.m. and ends between 5:30 and 6 p.m. The library provides the art materials. Space is limited and will be first-come, first-served,
Celebrate the Chinese New Year at the library Thursday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. This event includes a food demonstration with samples, an ancient music recital and a calligraphy demonstration. • Children can dress in their prince and princess finery for a special breakfast featuring a theme from the Disney film “Frozen” Saturday, Feb. 21, at 11 a.m. This special event features a “Frozen”-themed craft and a visit from some of the characters who appear in the film, with plenty of photo opportunities. Donuts and juice will be served. This event will be free, but space is limited. Call the library at 201-998- 2666 to reserve a spot.
Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to spend some time reading to Fosse, a registered therapy dog, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Each session will last 10 minutes and will only be open to a limited number of children. Call the library to reserve a spot.

Kearny High School’s Project Graduation sponsors a fundraising trip to Atlantic City’s Bally’s Casino Sunday, Feb. 22. A bus will depart Kearny Federal Savings, 614 Kearny Ave., at 9 a.m., with check-in at 8:45 a.m., and will return to Kearny by 8 p.m. The cost is $30, with $20 back in slot dollars. Coffee, tea, donuts and rolls will be served on the bus. For reservations, call Judy at 201-991-5812 or email jh519@ aol.com. Reservations can also be made with Vi Abello at the front hall of Kearny High, at Mid Realty at 572 Kearny Ave., or by sending payments to Kearny Project Graduation, P.O. Box 184, Kearny, N.J. Deadline is Feb. 17.

W.H.A.T., 65 Oakwood Ave. (in residence at the First Lutheran Church), holds auditions for “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Wednesday, Feb. 18, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 22, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Come with a 32 bar cut of a musical theater audition song that you feel best suits your voice and personality type. Also be prepared to learn a short dance cut and if you have tap experience, bring tap shoes. Acting sides will be provided. “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley” will be presented April 17, 18, 24, 25. For additional information, visit www. whatco.org.

Lyndhurst

Knights of Columbus Council 2396 will hold a Tricky Tray Friday, Feb. 20, at the Senior Center, 250 Cleveland Ave. The $10 admission includes coffee plus one prize sheet of tickets. No alcohol is permitted. No tickets will be sold at the door. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, call Steve Cortese at 201-657-0800 or Sal Russo at 201-446-7244.

Lyndhurst Police Emergency Squad holds its annual Tricky Tray fundraiser Feb. 19 at The Fiesta, 255 Rt. 17 S, Wood- Ridge. Doors open at 7 p.m. Drawing starts at 8 p.m. A variety of ticket packages are available at different prices. For more information, call 201- 804-2469, email trickytray@emergencysquad.com or visit lyndhurstnj.org.

The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission announces the following events:

Lucky Great Backyard Bird Count, co-sponsored by the Bergen County Audubon Society, is set for Friday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m. to noon, at DeKorte Park, Lyndhurst. Visitors will walk along the park’s trail system, counting waterfowl, raptors and any other birds they can find.
Third-Tuesday-of-the- Month Nature Walk, cosponsored by the Bergen County Audubon Society, is set for Feb. 17, 10 a.m. to noon, at Losen Slote Creek Park, Little Ferry. Admission is free. To register for these events, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@ gmail.com or call 201-230- 4983 or visit www.njmeadowlands. gov and click on “Events.” The Lyndhurst Library Children’s Room, 355 Valley Brook Ave., hosts the following February events: • Winter/Spring Storytime, for ages 3 to 4 1/2, is available for two sessions at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and will be offered every Thursday from Feb. 19 to May 14. Registration deadline is Feb. 13.
Children in grades 1 to 4 are invited to create a Valentine mobile and St. Valentine’s Day cards Thursday, Feb. 12, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Registration is required. Call ahead of time.

To register for programs, call the library at 201-804-2478.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3549, 527 Valley Brook Ave., hosts a karaoke party Friday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m. The VFW hall is available for rental for all occasions. For more information, call 201- 939-3080.

Lyndhurst American Legion Post 139 Rehabilitation Committee holds a ward party for veterans at Chestnut Hill Extended Care Facility, Passaic, Tuesday, Feb.17, at 2:30 p.m. St. Michael’s Church and the Lyndhurst Food Pantry, chaired by Beth Bogdanowicz, donated items for the party. Post members play games of chance with hospitalized veterans and distribute treats to them. Anyone interested in sponsoring a ward party is invited to call John Deveney at 201-438-2255.

North Arlington

North Arlington Public Library, 210 Ridge Road, will screen “The Raw and The Cooked,” a documentary on Taiwanese cuisine, on Friday, Feb. 20, 11 a.m. to noon.

For more information on library programs, call 201-955- 5640 or visit northarlington.bccls.org.

North Arlington Elks, 129 Ridge Road, host a Fish Fry Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, 4 to 7 p.m. Admission is $12. Dinner includes fish (fried or broiled) or fried shrimp, plus French fries, a bowl of clam chowder, a baked clam and coleslaw. Also available are shrimp cocktails, and clams on the half shell for $5 for a half and $8 for a full dozen.

Nutley

Nutley Public Library, 93 Booth Drive, offers the following programs: Registration is not required unless otherwise noted.

To register, call the library at 973-667- 0405.

Two-Year-Old Story Time is set for Fridays, Feb. 13, 29 and 27, at 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Must be a Nutley resident. Registration is required.
Patrons are invited to play Bridge at the library every Tuesday at 1 p.m. • Preschool Story Time, open to ages 3 to 5, takes place Wednesdays, Feb. 11 and 25, at 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Participants must be Nutley residents. Registration is required.
Wednesday Afternoon Knitters meets every week at 1 p.m.
Computer Class for teens is set for Wednesdays, Feb. 11 and 25, at 3:30 p.m.
Manga/Anime Club meets Thursdays, Feb. 12 and 26, at 3:15 p.m.
Movie Week for children and families takes place Feb. 17 to 19 at 2 p.m. The program includes crafts and refreshments.

Registration is not required unless otherwise noted. To register, call the library at 973-667- 0405.