around town

around-townBelleville 

All area residents and the public are invited to attend the annual Belleville Memorial Day observance on Monday, May 25, featuring three separate ceremonies:

  • At 10 a.m, at Rutgers St. Bridge, the township will offer a service honoring Merchant Marine and Navy members.
  • At 10:30 a.m., at Belleville Township Hall, it will pay tribute to fallen police officers, firefighters and first responders.
  • At 11 a.m., the day’s events conclude with a ceremony at the Belleville Veterans Monument, Tiona and Union Aves. For more information or to participate, contact Bill Steimel at 973-955-7211.

The Sons of the American Legion host an “all you can eat” breakfast on the second Sunday of each month at Post 105, 621 Washington Ave. A $7 donation is requested. The breakfast runs from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Proceeds go to Post 105 for building improvements.

A special presentation honoring the late Belleville resident, veterans advocate and World War II veteran Joseph Fornarotto will be held Thursday, May 21, at noon, at Glendale Cemetery, 28 Hoover Ave., Bloomfield.

St. Anthony of Padua Church, Belleville, will hold a Feast in honor of St. Anthony on Franklin St. on Friday, May 29, 6 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, May 30, 3 to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, May 31, 1 to 10 p.m. The event includes a 6 p.m. Novena May 29; a 5:30 p.m. Mass May 30; and a procession, after noon Mass, May 31. Activities include food, rides for children and teenagers, games of chance and a grand raffle on Sunday night and hourly 50/50.

The church, located at 63 Franklin St., will have a Novena in honor of St. Anthony June 4 to 12 and a Mass in his honor on June 13 at 7 p.m.

East Newark 

East Newark/Kearny Health Department offers a free rabies clinic for dogs and cats Wednesday, May 20, 7 to 8 p.m., at the Sherman Ave. firehouse. Dogs must be leashed while cats should be transported in a carrier and be handled by a responsible person. For more information, call the Kearny Health Department at 201-997-0600, ext. 3505.

Harrison 

American Legion Post 282, 8 Patterson St., hosts a Fiesta Night Saturday, May 16, at 3 p.m. The $10 admission includes food and one drink.

Holy Cross Church sponsors a bus trip to the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City Sunday, May 17. The bus leaves at 10 a.m. from Holy Cross School. Refreshments will be served in the school basement, starting at 9:15 a.m. Cost is $30 with $30 rebate. ID is required. For reservations, call Joan at 973-481-2434 or Maria at 973-481-1799. Leave your name, phone number and number of people attending.

Kearny 

Presbyterian Boys-Girls Club, 663 Kearny Ave., is conducting a canned food drive this month. Donations will be delivered to Elder John Macartney, who directs the food pantry at the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington. Children may donate two canned foods as their admission to the club. The top three contributors will be taken to a New York Yankees game. The club is open 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Kearny Public Library, 318 Kearny Ave., celebrates Mother’s Day with a special film series. Popcorn and light refreshments will be served. Here’s the schedule:

  • “Princess Diaries” (G/114 mins.), starring Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway, will be screened Friday, May 15, at 3:30 p.m.
  • “Freaky Friday” (PG/97 mins.), starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, will be shown Friday, May 22, at 3:30 p.m.
  • “Parent Trap” (G/124 mins.), starring Hayley Mills and Maureen O’Hara, can be seen Saturday, May 23, at 10:30 a.m.

Kearny UNICO sponsors a fundraising bus trip to Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. The bus will leave Sunday, May 17, at 8:30 a.m., from the parking lot of Kearny Bank, 614 Kearny Ave. Tickets are $30 with $25 dollars in slot play credit returned by the casino. For tickets, call Lou at 201-368-2409.

Kearny Baseball Booster Club holds its third annual golf outing at the Farmstead Golf Course, Lafayette, Saturday, June 13, starting at 1 p.m. The event includes gifts, drawings and prizes. Bus transportation is available, leaving from Franklin Field at 11:30 a.m. The cost is $140 per golfer with bus transportation or $130 with no bus transportation. Contact Bob Caputo at bobcaputo1@verizon. com for sign-up information.

Lyndhurst 

Mary Lou Mullins monthly bus trip to Resorts Casino in Atlantic City is set for Sunday, May 31. The cost is $30 with a cash return of $30. Make reservations early. Call Mary Lou at 201-933-2186.

Knights of Columbus Lyndhurst Council 2396 holds a Communion breakfast Sunday, May 31, at 10 a.m., at the Senior Center on Cleveland Ave. Admission is $7. For tickets, call Steve Cortese at 201- 657-0800 or Nick Garafolo at 201-893-2849. No tickets will be sold at the door. Advance sales only.

Lyndhurst Public Library hosts “Non-Essential History” Wednesday, May 20, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Why is it called the “Big Apple”? Why is the Southland called “Dixie”? What happened to Robert E. Lee after the Civil War? These and many other questions will be answered in this fun program led by chiropractor James P. Kane. Space is limited and registration is necessary. Call the library at 201-804-2478, ext. 7, or email romeo@lyndhurst.bccls.org.

The N.J. Sports & Exposition Authority announces the following programs:

  • Third-Tuesday-of-the- Month Free Nature Walk with the Bergen County Audubon Society is set for May 19 from 10 a.m. to noon, at DeKorte Park. The walk starts outside the Meadowlands Environment Center. Participants must sign a standard liability release that is good for NJSEA/ BCAS events throughout the year. To register, go to www.njmeadowlands.gov, or contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-230-4983.
  • Conserve Wildlife Foundation presents a program on ospreys Thursday, May 21, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Ospreys – fish-hunting hawks – have made an amazing comeback in the Meadowlands and all of New Jersey after being almost eradicated by the misuse of the pesticide DDT. Note: No live animals will be at the program. Admission is $6; MEC members, $5. To register, go to www.njmeadowlands.gov and click on “Events.”

For more information, call 201-460-4619 or email brian.aberback@njmeadowlands.gov.

Polish American Citizens Club, 730 New Jersey Ave., hosts a “coffee house night” Thursday, May 28, 7:30 p.m. to midnight. Sign up to perform on Facebook or at the door. Karaoke will also be available upon request. The $5 admission includes baked goods and coffee.

North Arlington 

A special public Mass in observance of Memorial Day will be held Monday, May 25, at 11 a.m., at Holy Cross Cemetery, 340 Ridge Road. The principal celebrant will be the Most Rev. John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark. This Mass is part of a nationwide celebration, “Serving God and Country: A Memorial Day Salute to our Heroes.” Mass will be held rain or shine – canopies and seating will be provided. For further information, call the cemetery office at 201-997-1900.

The Senior Harmony Club visits The Culinary Institute of Hyde Park, N.Y., Tuesday, May 19. Non-members are welcome. Call Anna for information and reservations at 201-939-2960.

North Arlington Public Library, 210 Ridge Road, announces the following events:

For children:

  • Origami Club, open to grades 4 to 7, meets Friday, May 22, at 3:30 p.m.

For adults:

  • A program on preserving fruit for jellies, jams and more is set for Saturday, May 16, at 11 a.m.
  • The film, “A Hard Day’s Night” (87 mins.) will be screened Monday, May 18, at 6 p.m.
  • The documentary “Brooklyn Castle” will be shown Friday, May 22, at 11 a.m. Sign up for the library’s e-newsletter for timely updates: northarlington.bccls. org.

Nutley

American Red Cross of Nutley, 169 Chestnut St., hosts a blood drive May 19, 3 to 8 p.m.

To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800- 733-2767). Those unable to give blood can support blood donations and invite others to make a lifesaving donation by creating a SleevesUp virtual blood drive at redcrossblood. org/SleevesUp.

Nutley Public Library, 93 Booth Drive, has released its May events schedule:

For more information on any of these programs, call 973-667-0405.

  • Manga/Anime Club meets Fridays, May 15 and 29, at 3:15 p.m.
  • Twinkle Star Dance Class, open to ages 15 months to 6, is set for Monday, May 18, at 10:30 a.m. Registration is required.
  • Chess Club for grades 2 to 12 meets Monday, May 18, at 3:30 p.m.
  • Minecraft Club for teens meets Tuesday, May 19, at 7 p.m. No registration is required.
  • Cook-with-a-Book for students in grades 4 to 6, meets Friday, May 22, at 3:30 p.m. Each month the group discusses a selected book and “cooks up” something fun to eat. Selected books can be picked up at the circulation desk. Read the book before the meeting. Registration is required.

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