Belleville
The American Legion, 621 Washington Ave., hosts a fundraiser for Toys for Belleville Tots on Dec. 11, from 7 to 11 p.m. Admission is a new toy or $10 donation.
Belleville Public Library and Information Center, 221 Washington Ave., hosts a holiday decorating party for all ages in the children’s room on Saturday, Nov. 28, at 11 a.m. For more information, call 973-450-3434 or visit www.bellepl.org and www.facebook.com/bellepl.
East Newark
West Hudson Brave Women Fighting Breast Cancer meets the last Friday of every month, 7 to 9 p.m., at the East Newark Senior Center, 37 President St. For more information, call Emma at 201-998-6828, Rosa at 201-246-7750, Fatima at 973-485-4236 or email emidura2@ yahoo.com.
Harrison
The Harrison Cancer League is holding a Christmas Boutique on Dec. 4, at Town Hall, from noon to 4 p.m.
The League is collecting toys for the Valerie Fund. Toys may be dropped off at the Senior Citizens Center, 221 Harrison Ave. Donations of toys and gift cards for ages 2 through 21 will be accepted through Nov. 30.
Kearny
Kick off the holiday season at the Kearny KUEZ Holiday Tree Lighting Festival on Thursday, Dec. 3, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Town Hall. The annual event begins at 5:30 p.m. on the steps of Town Hall with a holiday concert featuring local performers of all ages. At 6:30 p.m. Santa arrives to help Mayor Alberto Santos light the Kearny Holiday Tree. The festivities then move to Town Hall Bicentennial Park. Santa, joined by Mrs. Claus and their elves, will be on hand for children (12 and under) to visit until 8:30 p.m. The merry making continues throughout the park with free events and activities until 8:30 p.m.
Presbyterian Boys and Girls Club, 663 Kearny Ave., hosts its annual carnival on Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5, from 7 to 9 p.m. The event features more than 30 games of skill such as goldfish toss, spin the wheel, feed the clown, go fish and much more.
Kearny Elks Hoop Shoot basketball contest will be held at the PBGC on Thursday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. Children ages 8 to 13 are eligible to participate. Participants must bring a birth certificate. For more information, call Tom Fraser, PBGC executive director, at 201- 991-6732 or Ron Pickel at 201-463-8447.
The Rosary Society of Our Lady of Sorrows Church of Kearny will hold a Christmas party on Dec. 6, at 1 p.m., at La Venere Ristorante, 614 Schuyler Ave., North Arlington. Cost is $28, payable to Jean Morton (201- 991-4732), A.S.A.P.
The Kearny Aereie No. 2214, Fraternal Order of Eagles, will conduct a canning fundraiser on Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to noon, outside various local businesses, including Kearny Bank, Mid-Town Drugs, D&F Deli and more. Donations will go to various charities, such as veterans, town recreation departments, schools, etc.
Kearny UNICO hosts a pancake breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec.12, at Applebee’s, 175 Passaic Ave., from 8 to 10 a.m. A toy will be provided for each child who attends. Tickets are $10 per child and adult. To purchase advance tickets, contact Joe at 201-998-6879 or Judy at 201-991-5812 or Lou at 201-368-2409. Tickets will also be available at the door. There will also be a raffle for a Christmas stocking filled with toys and a 50-50 raffle.
Kearny Girls Softball Booster Club sponsors a fundraising clothing/collection drive. Items may be dropped off at 77 Magnolia Ave. on Dec. 3 and 4, from 6 to 9 p.m., and on Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon. Acceptable items include shoes/ boots, accessories (pocketbooks, belts, backpacks, etc.), toys and bikes of any size. Items should be placed in 13-gallon trash bags. Hard toys should be placed in a 24-by-24 box.
The Booster Club also hosts a Tricky Tray fundraiser dinner at the San Carlo, 620 Stuyvesant Ave., Lyndhurst, on Feb. 6 at 7 pm. For more information, visit the Booster Club’s Facebook page.
Kearny Public Library, 318 Kearny Ave., presents a program, sponsored by the West Hudson Arts and Theater Company, on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 4 p.m., featuring characters from its newest production “Elf.”
Admission is free and everyone is welcome. For more information on any library program, call 201-998-2666 or visit www.kearnylibrary.org.
For more information on upcoming W.H.A.T. performances, visit whatco.org.
Lyndhurst
Children and pets are invited to have their picture taken with Santa Claus at The Humane Society, 221-223 Stuyvesant Ave., on Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $10 for a 4-by-6 in a frame or $20 for a CD. All photos are taken in a private, escape-proof room. Appointments are available but walk ins are also welcome. For more information, call 201-896-9300.
Mary Lou Mullins’ monthly bus trip to Atlantic City is set for Sunday, Nov. 29, to Resorts Casino. Cost is $30 with a cash return of $30. Early reservations are encouraged. Call Mary Lou at 201-933-2186.
Lyndhurst Health Department holds its bi-annual blood screening on Friday, Dec. 4, at 253 Stuyvesant Ave. Appointments begin at 8 a.m. Participants are tested for chemistry profile, cholesterol level, blood count, and thyroid level. This service is available to Lyndhurst residents over the age of 18. There is a $26 fee, payable in cash or check only. Checks should be made payable to Medical Laboratory Diagnostics. Pre-registration is required. Call 201-804-2500 for an appointment.
Lyndhurst Public Library, 355 Valley Brook Ave., hosts the following events for children. For more information, call the library at 201- 804-2478.
- Walk-in Story Time, open to grades pre-k to 2, takes place every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. No registration is required.
- A reindeer paper bag craft program, open to grades PreK to 4, is set for Monday, Dec. 7, from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.
North Arlington
North Arlington Volunteer Fire Department holds its annual Santa Claus Parade and food drive on Saturday, Nov. 28. Beginning at 9 a.m., Santa and friends will be at Fire Headquarters, 3 Legion Place. Donations of canned, dry goods and non-perishable food items will be collected during the parade route. Donations will also be accepted before Nov. 28 at Borough Hall and the Senior Center.
North Arlington Police Chief John Hearn and the Police Department Crime Prevention and Community Relations Unit are conducting their annual holiday toy drive. New, unwrapped toys may be dropped off at the police department from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11. Toys will be distributed to children in area hospitals, local families and others in need.
Queen of Peace Knights of Columbus Council 3428, 94 River Road, conducts a blood drive on Friday, Nov. 27, from 3 to 7 p.m. New donors must know their Social Security number and present a photo or signed ID. All donors must weigh at least 120 pounds to donate, eat a meal and drink plenty of water one hour prior to donating, and all 16-year-old blood donors must present a signed Blood Center of N.J. parental consent form on the day of the blood drive.
For more information about eligibility and/or for those who have recently traveled outside the U.S., call 1-973-676-4700, ext.132.
North Arlington Senior Activity Center, 11 York Road, hosts a holiday celebration on Friday, Dec. 11, starting with a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Bingo will be played at 10:30 a.m. with lunch at noon and entertainment and a raffle from 1 to 3 p.m. For more information and for reservations, call 201-998-5636.
North Arlington Woman’s Club hosts a beefsteak dinner and Tricky Tray fundraiser on Friday, Dec. 11, from 7 to 11 p.m., at the Knights of Columbus hall, 194 River Road. Tickets are $40 (50/50 and raffle tickets sold separately). For tickets call Christine 201-577-1088 or Mary Ann 201-997-8915.
Proceeds will help support local families during the holidays and groups such as North Arlington Volunteer Fire Department, Emergency Squad, HANDS, Inc., the Salvation Army and many other local, state and international organizations.
Nutley
The Phoenix Center, a non-profit school serving students with disabilities from ages 5 to 21, holds its first annual Tuesday Taste on Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., in the Phoenix Center gym, 16 Msgr. Owens Place. Local area restaurants will offer samplings of their signature dish. Suggested donation is $20 per person.
For reservations and additional information, contact Mary Beth Green in the Development Office at 973- 542-0743, ext. 403, or email her at mgreen@thephoenixcenternj.org.
For more information about the Phoenix Center, visit www.thephoenixcenternj.org or visit them on Facebook at ThePhoenixCenter.
Nutley Public Library, 93 Booth Drive, announces the following programs. For more information or to register for programs, call the library at 973-667- 0405. Registration is required only where noted. These programs are for Nutley residents only.
- Babygarten, open to ages 3 to 22 months, is set for Tuesdays, Dec. 1 and 8, at 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Registration is required.
- Tech Club, open to grades 3 to 6, meets on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 3:30 p.m. E-mail megan.kociolek@nutley.bccls.org for more information.
- Preschool Story Time, open to ages 3 to 5, is set for Thursday, Dec. 3, and Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 10 a.m. Registration is required.
- Two-Year-Old Story Time, open to ages 23 to 36 months, is set for Fridays, Dec. 4 and 11, at 10 a.m. Registration is required.
- A screening of the film “Pitch Perfect 2” takes place Friday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. A new film is shown the first Friday of each month. Check the library’s events calendar for names of films.
- Joe Fischer’s Holiday Magic Show, open to all ages, is set for Saturday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m.
- Minecraft for Kids, open to ages 7 to 12, meets on Monday, Dec. 7, at 3:30 p.m.
- P.J. Story Time, open to all ages, is set for Monday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m.
- The Nutley Public Library Outreach Pro gram hosts a monthly book discussion at the Nutley Parkside Apartments, 7 William St., on the first Tuesday of each month. The group’s next meeting is Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. Residents who do not live at the Parkside Apartments meet at the library at 1:30 p.m. and proceed with the librarian to the senior building. The book selections are the same as the Monday Night Book Club.
- Teen Video Game Club, open to grades 7 to 12, meets on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 3 p.m.
- WordPress: An Introduction is set for Friday, Dec. 11, at 9:30 a.m. Learn how to create a custom blog. Class size is limited to 14 and registration is required.
