Around Town

Bloomfield

Bloomfield is preparing young spellers from grades 5 and 6 for the 2013 Watsessing School Spelling Bee at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11, at the school.

This local event is the qualifying spelling bee for Watsessing School students to compete in the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee, held annually near Washington, D.C. Watsessing is the only school registered from Bloomfield for this year’s competition. The winner will compete in the Essex County Spelling Bee on March 20, and then potentially move on to the North Jersey Spelling Bee, and then the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Kearny

The next meeting of the St. Stephen’s Seniors will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 22. A winter party will be held at noon. There will be a board meeting at 10:30 a.m.

In the plans are a cruise to New England and Canada in September, Doolan’s in Spring Lake on March 7, and Anniversary Party at San Carlo on April 19. For club information, please call Tom at 998-8258.

The Evening Membership Department of the Woman’s Club of Arlington will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the Henrietta Benstead Center, Columbia Ave., Kearny, at theThe topic “Collectibles” will be presented by the Kearny Gold Store.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 7, Hudson County, meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Irish American Association, 95 Kearny Ave., Kearny. New members encouraged to attend.

There will be a re-organization meeting of the Kearny Public Library Board of Trustees on Wednesday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. at the Kearny Branch Library, 759 Kearny Ave., Purpose of the meeting is to elect new officers, set up committees and determine meeting dates for 2013. Tentative meeting dates are Jan. 16, Feb. 20, April 17, May 15, Sept. 18, and Oct. 16.

The meeting dates are pending approval of the board. The public is invited to attend open session. A closed session may be held in conjunction with other business.

Kearny Library patrons can now set-up a one-on-one half-hour session with professional librarians for help with putting together and typing a resume and applying for a job online. The sessions will be held at the main library. To sign up, call (201) 998-2666.

The Kearny Rotary Club meets every Wednesday afternoon at 12:15 at La Fiamma Restaurant, 440 Harrison Ave., in Harrison. Business leaders from Harrison are invited to attend to learn about the work that Rotary International accomplishes around the world and in local communities. For more information about the Kearny Rotary Club or to join them for a meeting, call Joe D’Arco at 201-955- 7400 or Jose Fernandez at 201-991-1040.

Kearny UNICO is sponsoring a fund-raising bus trip to the Tropicana Casino and Resort, Atlantic City, on Sunday, Jan. 27. Cost is $30 per person with $25 in slot credit back from the casino. Bus will depart at 8:30 a.m. from the parking lot of American Legion Post 99 on Belgrove Drive in Kearny. For tickets, please contact Lou Pandolfi at 201-368-2409.

The West Hudson Detachment of the Marine Corps League invites all former and active duty Marines and FMF Corpsmen to attend an open house, which will be held every Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. at 286 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. Guests are welcome.

Lyndhurst

Mary Lou Mullins’ monthly bus trip to Atlantic City will be held on Sunday, Jan. 27, going to Resorts Casino. Cost is $25. The bus will leave St. Michael’s Church parking lot, Lyndhurst, at 10:30 a.m. Refreshments will be served and Bingo will be played on the bus. Please make reservations early. Call Mary Lou at 201-933-2186 for more information.

The Food Pantry at the Lyndhurst Health Department has new hours. They are as follows: Monday through Thursday 1 to 3:30 p.m. The Food Pantry is available to Lyndhurst residents who can show proof of hardship and proof of residence.

The Meadowlands Environment Center, DeKorte Park, Lyndhurst, will host “Star Light, Star Bright. Why Do Stars Shine at Night?” on Sunday, Jan. 13, from 1 to 2 p.m. This program is for all ages.

Join Dr. John Sloan, Director of the NJMC William D. McDowell Observatory, for an easy-to-understand introduction to the life cycles of stars and learn why these celestial wonders shine so brightly for so long before leaving us in a blaze of glory. Admission is $5/person;$4/ MEC members

Third-Tuesday-of-the- Month Bird Walk with the NJMC and the Bergen County Audubon Society will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 10 a.m. This free two-hour guided nature walk will take place at Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus. The group will meet at the big parking lot by the Laurel Hill ball fields at 10 a.m. Check meadowblog. net for last-minute 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 greatauk@ aol.com or 201-230-4983.

Nutley

The Nutley Department of Public Affiars announces its 2013 Wellness Challenge opening night will be held on Monday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m., at the Department of Public Affairs, 149 Chestnut St. Approximately 100 Nutley residents have signed up for the Wellness Challenge and will be in attendance.

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