around town

Bloomfield

Bloomfield Public Library’s Book Club, 90 Broad St., has scheduled a meeting of the Book Club for Monday, March 2, 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., in the library’s study room to discuss “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. For more information or for help in locating a copy of the book, call the reference desk at 973-566-6200, ext. 219 or 220. Admission is free and all are welcome.

From now until March 14, the library is accepting donations of new or lightly used prom dresses which will be distributed to young women who might otherwise not be able to afford a prom gown. Dresses can be dropped off in the main library. All sizes and styles are welcome.

 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 

Harrison Lions Club will hold a flapjack fundraiser breakfast Sunday, Feb. 22, 8 to 10 a.m., at Applebee’s, 175 Passaic Ave., Kearny. The Lions will serve pancakes for charity with the help of volunteers from Harrison High School. Tickets are available through a member or at the door. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for kids under 10. Guests will be treated to a delicious plate of pancakes, sausages, and eggs cooked by the staff at Applebee’s. Proceeds will go towards helping the Harrison Lions Club continue its charity work. For more information visit http://e-clubhouse.org/sites/ harrisonnj/index.php or email harrisonlionsclub@yahoo.com.

Holy Cross Church sponsors a trip to Las Vegas, April 29 to May 5. The group departs Newark Airport Wednesday, April 29, at 7:15 a.m., for a nonstop flight via United Airlines and returns Thursday, May 5, at 6:15 a.m. The group will be staying at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino. Total cost per person is $771 and includes air, hotel and taxes. A $250 deposit per person is required to guarantee reservation ASAP. Call Gina at European Travel, 973-484-4023, or Joan at 973-481-2434.

Kearny

Kearny Public Library, 318 Kearny Ave., announces free programs for children in February. Registration is not required unless otherwise noted. Here’s what’s available:

  • Art classes will be held Thursday, Feb. 26. Preschool Art for ages 2 1/2 to 5 runs from 11 a.m. to noon; School-age Art for ages 5 and older starts at 4:30 p.m. and ends between 5:30 and 6 p.m. The library provides art materials. Space is limited and will be first-come, first-served.
  • Celebrate the Chinese New Year Thursday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. This event includes a food demonstration with samples, an ancient music recital and a calligraphy demonstration.
  • Children can dress in their prince and princess finery for a special breakfast Saturday, Feb. 21, at 11 a.m. This event features a craft based on the theme of the Disney film, “Frozen,” and a visit from some of the characters who appear in the film, with plenty of photo opportunities. Donuts and juice will be served. This event is free but space is limited. Call the library at 201-998-2666 to reserve a spot.
  • Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to read to Fosse, a registered therapy dog, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Each session will last 10 minutes and will only be open to a limited number of children. Call the library to reserve a spot.

W.H.A.T., 65 Oakwood Ave. (in residence at the First Lutheran Church), will hold auditions for “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley” Wednesday, Feb. 18, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 22, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Callbacks are scheduled for Feb. 22, 8:15 to 10 p.m. No experience, membership or fee is required. Auditioners may visit www.whatco.org to download and fill out the audition form and bring it with them to the tryouts. Copies of the form will also be available at the auditions. Come with a 32 bar cut of a musical theater song that best suits your voice and personality type. Also be prepared to learn a short dance cut. Those with tap experience are asked to bring tap shoes. Acting sides will be provided. “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley” will be presented April 17, 18, 24, 25. For additional information visit www.whatco.org. For a complete character description and more information, visit www.whtco.org.

Lyndhurst

A benefit dinner for Jennie Gossweiler-Renna, now in her fifth year with ovarian cancer, will be held March 28, 5 to 9 p.m., at the Amvets post hall, 323 New York Ave. The $45 admission includes dinner, dancing and support for a wonderful person. For tickets, more information, or to make a donation, call Melissa Alfano at 201-736-1584 or visit www.jenniebenefit.myevent.com.

Dress in the style of your favorite decade for “Dancing through the Decades” March 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lyndhurst firehouse, 299 Delafield Ave. Admission is $35. All proceeds go to the Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. For tickets, call Cristy at 201-742-2411.

All ages are invited to explore the rainforests at the Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2 to 3 p.m. Learn about the critical importance of protecting the world’s dwindling rainforests. Audiences will get up-close and personal with live exotic rainforest animals from around the globe. Animal visitors will include a small alligator known as a dwarf caiman, bats, snakes, spiders and more! Admission is $8; $6 for MEC members. Preregistration is recommended and appreciated. To register, go to www.njmeadowlands.gov and click on “Events.” Walk-ins are welcome.

Adoniram Court No. 22, Order of the Amaranth, sponsors a winter auction Sunday, March 1, at the Masonic Temple, 321 Second Ave. Doors open at noon. A $5 donation is requested. For more information, call 201-955-1555.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3549, 527 Valley Brook Ave., hosts a karaoke party Friday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m. The VFW hall is available for rental for all occasions. For more information, call 201-939-3080.

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.

Mary Lou Mullins’ monthly bus trip to Resorts Casino in Atlantic City is set for Sunday, Feb. 22. Cost is $30 with a cash return of $30. Make reservations early by calling Mary Lou at 201-933-2186.

North Arlington

North Arlington Public Library, 210 Ridge Road, will screen “The Raw and The Cooked,” a documentary on Taiwanese cuisine, on Friday, Feb. 20, 11 a.m. to noon. For more information on library programs, call 201-955-5640 or visit northarlington.bccls.org.

North Arlington Elks, 129 Ridge Road, host 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 $5 for a half and $8 for a full dozen.

North Arlington Seniors Inc. (Tuesday Club) sponsors a trip to Sands Casino in Pennsylvania on March 5. The group leaves at 9 a.m. from Borough Hall. Nonmembers are welcome. For more information, call Rose Florio at 201-991-2423. Payment is appreciated before the trip. Speak slowly and clearly when leaving your telephone number.

Nutley 

Shelter Love Events (SLE) hosts a comedy night fundraiser March 14 at The Old Canal Inn, 2 E. Passaic Ave., to help raise funds to purchase items needed by Happily Efur After, a not-for-profit, no-kill, all-volunteer cat rescue and adoption group. The event features a prize raffle, 50/50 raffle, and the comedic stylings of emcee Jeff Howard, Ken Perlstein, Joe Messina, Paul Goldenberg, Mike Celona and Steve Schwarz. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Food orders and raffle ticket purchases will not be available once the show starts. Tickets are $25, which includes a $5 food voucher. Tickets purchased through Feb. 28 receive a $5 discount. Tickets can be purchased at http://slecomedynight.brownpapertickets.com/.

Nutley Public Library, 93 Booth Drive, offers the following programs:

  • Children of all ages and their caregivers are welcome to enjoy a cozy evening at the library on Monday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. for P.J. Story Time. Make yourself comfortable, put on your pajamas and come to the Children’s Room.
  • Twinkle Star Dance Class, open to ages 15 months to 6, takes place Monday, Feb. 23 at 10:30 a.m. Registration required. • Babygarten, open to ages 23 months and under, is set for Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Registration is required. Participants must be Nutley residents.
  • Video Game Club for teens meets Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 3:15 p.m.
  • Monday Night Book Club meets to discuss “Men We Reaped: A Memoir” by Jesmyn Ward on March 2 at 7 p.m. Copies of the book and its discussion guide are available at the library. This event is free and open to the public.

Registration is not required for these events unless otherwise noted. To register, call the library at 973-667-0405.

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