Around Town

Belleville 

Belleville High School Music Department presents an instrumental music concert, featuring the BHS orchestra, chamber orchestra, concert band and wind ensemble, on May 20 at 7 p.m. at the high school’s Connie Francis Theater. Admission is free.

Belleville High School will hold a new Scholarship Pageant competition for 11th-graders May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the high school’s Connie Francis Theatre. The scholarship program is being funded by the Paserchia Family Scholarship Foundation. BHS educator Gary Politano, program coordinator, said competitors will learn interviewing skills and how to address an audience. Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to the winners.

New Jersey Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) hosts its annual Diversity Luncheon on Tuesday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Nanina’s in the Park, 540 Mill St. This year’s theme is “Communicating Across Differences.”

To reserve a seat, register online at www.whoscoming.com/njawbo-region2 or contact the NJAWBO State Office at 609-308-2530. Questions? Contact info@ njawbo-metroeast.org. and for more about NJAWBO MetroEast, visit www.njawbo-metroeast.org.

For more information, contact Deb Martin at deb4426@me.com or 973- 953-7768 or Suzanne Buggé at Suzanne@AFocusedAdvantage. com or 973-951- 6258.

Belleville Irish American Association sponsors a trip to Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Boston and Mohegan Sun Casino, June 2-6. Cost is $485. For an itinerary or more information, call Pat at 973-751-5308 or email patn139@aol.com.

Bloomfield 

Bloomfield Public Library, 90 Broad St., presents Mike Tully, co-author of “Think Better, Win More!: How Sports Psychology Can Make You a Champion,» May 21 at 6:30 p.m. Tully has spent 25 years as a coach on the college and high school level. He’ll explain how an orange put a man on the moon, what Springsteen and Einstein have in common and why some people improve more than others.

The library book club meets Monday, June 2, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., in the Quiet Study Room to discuss “Voices of the Desert” by Nelida Pinon.

Kearny 

Kearny Public Library, 318 Kearny Ave., will screen “Mary Poppins” (G/139 minutes) Friday, May 16, at 3:30 p.m. and “Monuments Men” (PG-13/118 minutes) May 23 at 2 p.m. in honor of Memorial Day.

The library will display artwork created by Kearny middle school students through May 31.

Children ages 5 to 12 can read to a registered therapy dog one-on-one on Wednesday, May 14 or May 21, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Each session will be 10 minutes and will only be open to a limited number of children. Call 201-998-2666 to reserve a spot.

For more information on library programs, call the library at 201-998-2666 or visit www.kearnylibrary.org.

Kearny UNICO is sponsoring a Flapjack Fundraiser Saturday, May 17, from 8 to 10 a.m., at Kearny Applebee’s. The $10 admission is good for a breakfast that will include pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice and coffee or tea. For tickets, see any member of Kearny UNICO or contact Chapter President Lou Pandolfi at 201-368-2409 or lpandolfi@ verizon.net.

St. Stephen’s Church, 676 Kearny Ave., hosts a tour of the church on June 1, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the completion of the church building. Sign-up sheets will be available in the church vestibule the weekends of May 17-18 and May 24-25 before and after Mass or register by calling the rectory office at 201- 998-3314.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites the public to a presentation on the proposed cleanup to remove highly contaminated sediment from the lower eight miles of the Passaic River May 21 at 6 p.m. at Franklin School auditorium, 100 Davis Ave. Public feedback is welcome or submit written comments by mail to: Alice Yeh, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10007-1866 or email comments to PassaicLower8MileComments. Region2@epa.gov. The EPA’s remedial plan for the lower eight miles of the Passaic River is available at http://www.epa.gov/region02/passaicriver. Another public meeting is planned for June in Belleville (more details to be announced later).

Lyndhurst 

Lyndhurst Public Library, 355 Valley Brook Ave., hosts a paper bag lamb craft for preschoolers to grade 3 Monday, May 19, from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.

The Third-Tuesday-of-the- Month Walk with the N.J. Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society is set for May 20 at 10 a.m. at Mill Creek Marsh, Secaucus. The group will meet at the marsh entrance at 10 a.m. (directions are on meadowblog.net in the left-hand column). Admission is free. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates. Participants are asked 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 201-230-4983 or email him at greatauk4@ aol.com.

North Arlington 

North Arlington Youth Center, 1 Legion Place, (behind Borough Hall) conducts registration for the 2014 summer program through Wednesday, June 11. People can sign up Monday to Friday, from 2 to 5 p.m. This seven-week program is for borough residents only between ages 5 and 10, costs $40 per week and runs Monday to Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Fridays, 9 to 11:30 a.m. Space is limited and registrants can pick and choose their weeks of enrollment. For more information, call 201-997-7709.

The Borough of North Arlington hosts a paper shredding day on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Borough Hall parking lot, 214 Ridge Road. Borough residents are invited to bring any personal documents they no longer need to the shredder. The shredder can accommodate paper only; documents in hard cover binders or plastic will not be accepted. The paper shredder is enclosed in the back of a panel truck and security cameras allow residents to watch their documents being destroyed.

The borough will be selling blue, 25 gallon recycling barrels to residents for $10 each on shredder day.

North Arlington Health Department, in conjunction with Clara Maass Medical Center, hosts a noon luncheon talk on high blood pressure May 15 at the borough Senior Center (next to Borough Hall).

North Arlington Public Library, 210 Ridge Road, announces:

• Friends of the Library meets Friday, May 20, at 10 a.m.

• Bullying Story Time for grades K-5 convenes Tuesday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m.

• Evening Story Time for ages 4 to 6 is held Thursday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m.

• YA Movie Day for grades 6 and up is offered Friday, May 23, at 3 p.m.

• SAT Practice Test- Kaplan is available Saturday, May 17, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sign up via this link: http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1686851-DWur9MjZPt.

Only students who live in North Arlington are eligible.

The library will close at 1 p.m. There will be no library services after that time; the library is only open for registered students taking the practice test.

North Arlington Health Department offers a free seminar for senior citizens Thursday, May 22, at 10 a.m., at the Senior Center, behind the Health Department building, at 10 Beaver Ave. Tax consultant Robert Tarantula will provide information on filling out forms and applications for senior assistance programs. Registration is required. For more information and to register, call 201-955-5695.

Nutley 

Nutley Public Library, 93 Booth Drive, invites patrons to play bridge on Tuesdays, May 20 and 27, at 1 p.m. No registration is required.

In other library programs:

• Conversational ESL class meets Wednesdays at 10 a.m. No registration is required.

• Wednesday Afternoon Knitters meets weekly at 1 p.m. Participants are asked to bring their own supplies.

• Play video games Fridays, May 16 and 30, at 3 p.m.

• Friends of the Nutley Library Author Tea features Christina Baker Kline, author of “Orphan Train,” Wednesday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased at the library.

• Read to Dogs is slated for Saturdays, May 17 and 31, at 2 p.m., for ages 5 to 12. Registration is required.

Commissioner Steven Rogers and the Nutley Department of Public Affairs invites the public to honor America’s veterans at a Memorial Day Service Saturday, May 24, 7 to 7:30 p.m., at St. Mary’s Church, 17 Msgr. Owens Place. For more information, call Courtney Johnson at 973- 284-4976.

Learn more about the writer ...