around town

Belleville 

Belleville Public Library and Information Center, 221 Washington Ave., holds a Saturday craft program, open to all ages, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m.

Belleville High School’s Music Department presents its 2014 winter concert series, starting with the instrumental music program, featuring the BHS Wind Ensemble and Orchestra, on Thursday, Dec. 11, and the vocal music program, with the BHS Concert Choir and Acapella Chorus, on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

Both concerts start at 7 p.m. in the Connie Francis Theatre at the high school. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Admission is free but donations are accepted at the door.

For more information, email band director Anthony Gotto at Anthony.gotto@belleville.k12.nj.us or vocal music director Carol Lombardi at carol. lombardi@belleville.k12.nj.us.

Bloomfield 

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

  • The Book Club meets Monday, Jan. 5, 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., to discuss “Riders of the Purple Sage” by Zane Grey. For more information or for help in locating a copy of the selection, call the reference desk at 973-566-6200, ext. 219 or 220.
  • Food for Fines will be collected Dec. 15-31. Bring in a can or box of non-perishable food and each donation will reduce up to $1 in fines, no matter how old, but cannot be applied to pay for lost books. Food products must not be expired.

Harrison 

On Sunday Dec. 14, the Harrison Lions Club will hold its annual Winter Wonderland shopping bazaar from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Community Center, 401 Warren St. Over 30 vendors will offer their merchandise for area residents to start their holiday shopping. Admission is free. First 50 shoppers will get a special gift. Former NFL quarterback Ray Lucas will be signing and selling copies of his book “Under Pressure” from 10 a.m. to noon. Children will have an opportunity to visit with Santa and have their picture taken from noon to 3 p.m. Lions Club members will be available at different stations to help children with writing letters to Santa Claus and assist in the making of their own personalized stockings, ornaments, and holiday hats. For more information, go to http://eclubhouse. org/sites/harrisonnj/ or visit them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ harrisonlionsclub.

Kearny

A cat food drive is being conducted through Dec. 12 for Kearny’s TNR (Trap, Neuter and Return) program. Drop off cat food donations at K-9 Corner, 169 Midland Ave. at Elm St.

Trinity Episcopal Church of Kearny and Christ Church of Harrison will co-sponsor their monthly flea market at 575 Kearny Ave., Dec. 13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Doors open at 8 a.m. for set-ups. Vendors are invited. Tables are one for $15 and two for $25. Call Trinity Church at 201-991-5894 to schedule your table or call Annamarie at 201-998-2368 after 5:30 pm. Walk-ins and new vendors are welcome.

Grace United Methodist Church, 380 Kearny Ave., hosts a Christmas spree and supper Dec. 12, 5 to 8 p.m. The sale includes handcrafted Christmas ornaments and decorations, candies, cookies and more. The $7 cost for the meal includes soup, sandwich and dessert. For more information, call the church at 201-991-1132.

Kearny Public Library, 318 Kearny Ave., hosts a holiday marbleizing workshop Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m.

Marbleizing is the preparation and finishing of a surface to imitate the appearance of polished marble.

Using silk scarves, instructor Renee Johnson will lead participants in this ancient art, widely used in Pompeii and in Europe during the Renaissance.

Just in time for the holidays, the finished product, free to all registered attendees, will make a beautiful gift. This program will only be open to a limited number of adults. Call the library at 201-998-2666 for a reservation.

Lyndhurst 

The Lyndhurst Historical Society is showcasing a sampling of the many businesses that contributed to the community and beyond in its newest exhibit, “Lyndhurst Business: Building a Community,” which runs through August 2015 at The Little Red Schoolhouse, 400 Riverside Ave.

The exhibit is free and open to the public, but a small donation to the Society is appreciated. The Little Red Schoolhouse Museum is open on the second and fourth Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. For more information, leave a message at 201-804-2513 and your call will be returned.

For more information about the Lyndhurst Historical Society, readers can visit www.lyndhursthistoricalsociety.org. Like them on Facebook.

Lyndhurst Public Library, 355 Valley Brook Ave., announces the following events for children. Registration is not required unless otherwise specified. To register, call the library at 201- 804-2478.

  • A reindeer craft program, open to pre-k to grade 3, is set for Thursday, Dec. 11, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.
  • Children in grades 1 to 4 can make a holiday wreath on Thursday, Dec. 18, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Registration is required.
  • A Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Game Night, open to grades 6 to 9, takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 6 to 7:15 pm. Refreshments will be served. Space is limited and registration is necessary. To register, call the library or email referencelyndhurst.bccls.org.
  • RoseMarie Rubinetti Cappiello, an intuitive medium/ healer, hosts a brief session of audience spirit readings followed by a discussion of her new book “Speaking From Spirit” Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 6:30 p.m. Books will be available for purchase. Space is limited and registration is necessary. No walk-ins will be allowed. Call the library or email romeo@bccls.org to register.

The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission hosts Watercolor Pencils for Kids, open to ages 5 to 12 (accompanied by an adult) Saturday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m. to noon, at the NJMC Science Center, 3 DeKorte Park Plaza. All art supplies are provided. Pre-registration is required. Cost is $10 (no fee for adults).

To register, go to www. njmeadowlands.gov/ec. For more information, call 201- 460-8300.

Knights of Columbus Council 2396 sponsors a Tricky Tray Friday, Jan. 16, at the Senior Center, 250 Cleveland Ave. The $15 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.

North Arlington 

North Arlington Police Department Crime Prevention and Community Relations Unit is conducting a holiday toy drive. New and unwrapped toys may be dropped off at the Police Department through Dec. 11. Toys will be distributed to area hospitals, local families and others in need.

North Arlington Senior Activity Center, 11 York Road, hosts a holiday celebration Friday, Dec. 12. Bingo starts at 10:30 a.m., lunch is served at noon and dancing begins at 1:30 p.m. For more information and reservation, call 201-998-5636.

North Arlington Public Library, 210 Ridge Road, hosts the following programs:

  • Carol Erickson performs jazz standards and some holiday tunes Saturday, Dec. 13, at 11 a.m. There will be light refreshments. The Friends of the Library sponsor this event. (The program on Colonial and Victorian Christmas, which was set for Dec. 13, has been canceled.)
  • Computer Coding Club, open to ages 8 to 13, meets Saturday, Dec. 13, at 1 p.m. Registration has been completed for this event. The library will be closed to the public at 1 p.m. on this date, as usual, and open only for this special program.
  • A holiday pageant, for all ages, is set for Thursday, Dec. 11, at 6:45 p.m.
  • An origami class, open to grades 4 to 7, is set for Friday, Dec. 12, at 3:30 p.m.
  • The Woman’s Club sponsors a craft session, open to K to grade 5, Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 6:30 p.m.
  • Tween Book Club, open to grades 5 to 7, meets Thursday, Dec. 18, at 3:30 p.m.
  • Sing-along Story Time, open to ages 2 to 5, is set for Thursday, Dec. 18, at 11:45 a.m.

Queen of Peace Church presents its annual Christmas concert Sunday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. The event features the church’s choir, the Queen of Peace Schola Cantorum and the Chopin Singing Society along with soloists. There is no admission charge but a free will offering is requested.

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