around town

Belleville 

Belleville Public Library and Information Center’s Children’s Room, 221 Washington Ave., announces the following activities for children:

  • A Hibernation Party kicks off at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7. Children are invited to create a wintry craft and enjoy hot chocolate and other treats. Come in your pajamas and bring your favorite stuffed friend.
  • Pajama Storytime is set for Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 6 p.m. For more information, call 973-450-3434.

The Woman’s Club of Belleville meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the clubhouse, 51 Rossmore Place. Prospective members are welcome. For more information, contact Terry Landon at 973-751- 6529.

Belleville High School music department presents its first annual winter coffee house, featuring performances by the school’s jazz band, acapella chorus and the Tri-M Honor Society on Tuesday, Feb. 10, in the school cafeteria, 100 Passaic Ave., at 7 p.m. Admission is $2 and includes one beverage. Baked goods and additional beverages will be sold during the performances. For more information, contact Anthony Gotto, director of bands, at 973-532-5012, ext. 1619, or via email at Anthony. gotto@bellevillek12.nj.us

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 issues facing seniors 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 group meets every Tuesday night, Feb. 17 to March 31, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
  • Midday Movies are screened every Monday and Thursday at 12:15 p.m. Here’s this month’s schedule: Feb. 5 – “The Giver,” Feb. 9 – “Love and Basketball,” Feb. 12 – “And So It Goes,” Feb. 16 – “Head of State,” Feb. 19 – “Flower Drum Song,” Feb. 23 – “The Man” and Feb. 26 – “The Hundred Foot Journey.”

The library also offers the following weekly programs for children: Toddler Time, open to ages 19 to 36 months, is held Tuesdays at 11 a.m., Pre-K Storytime and craft, open to ages 3 to 5, is offered Wednesdays at 11 a.m. and Baby and Me, open to ages 0 to 18 months, is available Thursdays at 11 a.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. Items being collected include toothbrushes and toothpaste, lotions, soap, hair brushes, deodorants, feminine hygiene products, washcloths, blankets and reusable back packs or duffle bags. They 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. The library will be closed Feb. 16 for President’s Day. During inclement weather, call the library at 973-566-6200 to check on its status.

Kearny 

Kearny Public Library, 318 Kearny Ave., offers these free programs for children in February:

  • Preschool Play and Story Time, for ages up to 5 with adult participation, takes place Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to noon. Classes repeat Thursdays, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. There will be no 11:45 a.m. classes Feb. 12 and 26.
  • At the Branch library, 759 Kearny Ave., Preschool Play and Story Time will be held Thursdays, 10:15 to 11 a.m. There is no class Feb. 12.
  • Children are invited to celebrate Valentine’s Day at the library Friday, Feb. 13, 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. Make Valentines to take home and listen to Valentine’s Day stories with your library friends. All ages are invited to participate.
  • The library will screen the following Academy Award-nominated films:– “Guardians of the Galaxy” (PG 13) on Friday, Feb. 13, at 1 p.m., “Grand Budapest Hotel” (R) (adults only) on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 1 p.m., “Ida” (PG-13) on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 1 p.m., “The Boxtrolls” (PG) on Friday, Feb. 20, at 4 p.m. and “Big Hero 6” on Friday, Feb. 27, at 4 p.m.
  • Celebrate the Chinese New Year at the library on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. This event includes a food demonstration with samples, an ancient music recital and a calligraphy demonstration. Call the library at 201-998- 2666 or visit www.kearnylibrary.org for more program information.

The Woman’s Club of Arlington meets Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 1 p.m. at the Girl Scout House, 635 Kearny Ave. Participants are asked to bring the front of holiday and other greeting cards for delivery to St. Jude’s Children Hospital.

Kearny High School’s Project Graduation sponsors a 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 return to Kearny by 8 p.m. Cost is $30, and you’ll get $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 send email to 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. 07032. Deadline is Feb. 17.

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 and Bergen County Audubon Society are co-sponsoring a Lucky Great Backyard Bird Count Friday, Feb. 13, at 10 a.m., at DeKorte Park, Lyndhurst. Visitors will walk along the park’s trail system, counting waterfowl, raptors and any other birds they can find. To register, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4gmail.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:

  • Bring your child for a walk-in story on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Grades PreK to 2 are welcome. No registration is required.
  • 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. 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.

North Arlington

North Arlington Public Library, 210 Ridge Road, announces the following programs for adults:

  • Sit and Stitch Knitting and Crocheting Group meets Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m.
  • Author Rose Marie Cappiello presents a demonstration of mediumship following a discussion of her new book “Speaking from Spirit” Monday, Feb. 9, at 6:30 p.m. Books will be available for purchase for $20. For more information on library programs, call 201- 955-5640 or visit northarlington.bccls.org.

North Arlington Elks, 129 Ridge Road, hosts 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 the price of $5 for a half and $8 for a full dozen.

Garden State Rollergirls (GSR) are looking for new skaters, referees and nonskating officials for the 2015 roller derby season.

GSR’s veteran coaches will teach you how to skate, stop, master the rules of roller derby and eventually join full-contact gameplay.

GSR’s “First Skate” program is held the first Saturday of every month. Next session is Feb. 7. Practice runs from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Inline Skating Club of America, 170 Schuyler Ave. There is a $10 fee. Bring your gear (loaner skates/gear will be available) and a positive attitude. To R.S.V.P. or for more information, email GSRrecruit@gmail.com.

Learn more about the writer ...