around town

around-townBelleville 

Belleville Elks Lodge 1123, 254 Washington Ave., hosts a blood drive on Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 5 to 9 p.m. Donors must be at least age 17, weigh at least 120 pounds, bring a signed form of ID and know their social security number. For more information, call Community Blood Services at 201-444-2900.

St. Peter’s Rosary Confraternity hosts its annual Communion Breakfast, Sunday, Oct. 4, after the 8:30 a.m. Mass. It will take place at the Chandelier Restaurant, 340 Franklin Ave. Tickets are $23 each and will be available at the rectory.

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 

The Town of Harrison celebrates 175 years of history beginning with a 6 p.m. Mass at Holy Cross Church on Friday, Sept. 19, and gala dinner at the Holy Cross School gymnasium at 7 p.m. the same night. On Saturday, Sept. 19, and Sunday, Sept. 20, the festivities continue with a street fair that includes craft and retail vendors, food, entertainment, children’s rides and more, a Saturday multicultural parade stepping off at noon and Saturday family movie night.

Those interested in becoming involved in this event including vendors (craft, antique and retail) interested in having a space at the Saturday/Sunday street festival, and any businesses that would like to receive publicity as part of a sponsorship for the event are invited to contact Robin at 201-321-2756.

Kearny 

Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 136 Davis Ave., announces the following:

  • A 100th anniversary celebration of serving Kearny and the surrounding areas takes place Sept. 13. The event begins with a Mass at noon followed by a buffet dinner at 2 p.m. at the Lithuanian Catholic Community Center, 6 Davis Ave. Tickets are $25. No tickets will be sold at the door. For information and tickets, call Jean at 201-991-4732 or the rectory at 201-998-4616. Cash bar will be available.
  • The ninth annual St. Jude Novena, with Msgr. John J. Gilchrist, begins Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. Confessions will be heard at 6:30 p.m.

West Hudson Hospital’s 15- year reunion, open to all West Hudson Hospital medical/ nursing staff, employees and volunteers, is set for Saturday, Sept. 12. For more information, contact Irene Kirst at 201-424- 2589 or Sharon Lautenbacher at 201-401-9655.

The PBGC, 663 Kearny Ave., hosts its annual Tricky Tray on Saturday, Oct. 17. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person (no children). Admission includes a sheet of small prizes, coffee, soda, water and dessert. There will be three-level prizes, 50/50 and packets will be sold. Among the prizes will be a flat screen TV, IPAD, PS4, Giants tickets and much more. Purchase tickets in advance. Guests may book a table of eight or 10. For ticket information, email pbgckearny@gmail.com or call 201-334-8336.

The Junior Women’s Club of Arlington is hosting a “Back to the 80s” dinner-dance on Friday, Sept. 25, from 7 to 11 p.m., at the LCCC, 9 Davis Ave. For the $35 admission, plus a donation of a non-perishable food item, guests are entitled to appetizers, dinner, dancing and dessert and there will be a 50/50, raffle baskets and a costume contest. A DJ will provide entertainment. And a cash bar is available. To purchase tickets, call 551-800-5992 or visit www. jwcarlington.com.

All community members are invited to have “Coffee with a Cop” on Sept. 25, Oct. 2 and Oct. 8. Meet with Kearny police officers in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships and drink coffee.

The schedule is as follows: Sept. 25 at 8 a.m. at Dina’s Café, 734 Kearny Ave.; Oct. 2 at 8 a.m. at Arcos Pastry, 401 Kearny Ave.; and Oct. 8 from 4 to 8 p.m. at a location to be determined. Check www.facebook.com/ kearnypba for updated information. Contact Officer John Fabula for more information at jfabula@kearnynjpd.org.

West Hudson Arts and Theater Co. holds open auditions for Disney’s “Beauty & the Beast Jr.” Sept. 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 12 at 1 p.m.

No experience, membership or fee is required to audition or perform with the group. Be sure to visit www.whatco.org and download the audition form, complete it and bring it with you when you audition. Copies of the form will be available at the audition. Prepare 32 measures of a musical theater song of your choice and bring music in the appropriate key. An accompanist will be provided. All auditions take place at the W.H.A.T. Theatre (in residence at the First Lutheran Church) 65 Oakwood Ave., Kearny. Parking is available in the rear.

Performances are scheduled for Nov. 6 – 14.

Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” is the story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

Lyndhurst 

Lyndhurst Health Department, 601 Riverside Ave., hosts a Clara Maass Breakfast Seminar: “Ovarian Cancer: Where We Are … Where We’re Going” on Friday, Sept. 18, at 10 a.m. A Clara Maass health expert will discuss symptoms, screenings and treatments for ovarian cancer. Call 201-804-2500 to register.

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) announces the following programs:

  • Pontoon Boat Rides are set for Sept. 2, 3, 8, 11, 16, 22 and 24 at 5 p.m. each day and on Sept. 19 at 8:30 a.m. This event is recommended for ages 10 and up. All tours launch from River Barge Park, 260 Outwater Lane, Carlstadt. Advance registration and payment required. Cost is $15 per person.

To download a registration form, visit www.njmeadowlands.gov and click on “2015 Fall Events.” For more information, call 201-460-4640.

  • First-Sunday-of-the-Month Nature Walk is set for Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Mill Creek Marsh Trail in Secaucus. For information and to register, email greatauk4@gmail.com or call 201-230-4983.
  • A guided canoe tour exploring the Hackensack River and its marshes takes place on Saturday, Sept. 12, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Canoes launch from Laurel Hill Park Boat Ramp, Secaucus. This event is recommended for ages 10 and up. Cost is $15 per person. Pre-registration and payment required. To get a registration form, go to www.njmeadowlands.gov and click on “2015 Fall Events.” For more information, call 201-460-4640.
  • Third-Tuesday-of-the- Month Nature Walk is set for Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Harrier Meadow in North Arlington (Entrance to Harrier Meadow is located about 1/4 mile in from Schuyler Ave. on Disposal Road. For information and to register, email greatauk4@gmail.com or call 201-230-4983.
  • Free public viewing nights at the William D. McDowell Observatory, 3 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst, are set for every Wednesday in September, from 8 to 10 p.m. each night. The observatory features a research-grade telescope capable of viewing objects millions of light years away. Planets viewable during September are Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

No registration is necessary. For more information, call 201- 777-2416 or 201-460-4623.

Lyndhurst resident Denise Stillwell presents a musical program of light classics at the Lyndhurst Public Library, 355 Valley Brook Ave., on Monday, Aug. 31, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The concert features pieces by Fritz Kreisler, Jay Unger, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Jules Massenet, and Paul Nero. Stillwell currently plays violin and viola in the orchestra for the Tony award-winning Broadway show “Kinky Boots.” She will be accompanied on the piano by her mother Elaine, who is visiting from Florida. Register by emailing the library at romeo@lyndhurst.bccls.org or call 201-804-2478, ext. 7.

North Arlington 

Helping Exceptional People (HEP) sponsors a flea market on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Columbian Club Hall, 194 River Road. To rent a table, contact Maureen at 201-446-2280 or at maureenmetzinger@gmail. com. Inside tables cost $25; outside tables, $15. The event includes foods and a 50-50 sale and drawing every two hours. Direct all questions to Maureen.

Senior Harmony Club of North Arlington sponsors a trip to Resorts on Sept. 10. The cost is $25 and participants receive $25 in slot play at the casino. Call Florence for details and reservations at 201-991-3173.

Nutley 

Nutley Public Library, 93 Booth Drive, announces the following programs. Registration is required where noted. To register, call the library at 973-667-0405.

  • Patrons are invited to play Bridge at the library every Tuesday at 1 p.m. No registration is required.
  • Tuesday Afternoon Book Club meets Sept. 1 at 2 p.m. The Nutley Public Library Outreach Program hosts a monthly book discussion at the Nutley Parkside Apartments, 7 William St., on the first Tuesday of each month. Club members who don’t live at the Parkside Apartments are asked to meet at the library at 1:30 p.m. and proceed with the librarian to the senior building. The book selections are the same as the Monday Night Book Club.
  • Monday Night Book Discussion Group meets Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. Members are welcome to discuss any book related to poetry for this meeting. For more information, visit http://nutleypubliclibrary.org or call 973-667-0405, ext. 2604.
  • Wednesday Afternoon Knitters meet weekly at the library at 1 p.m. Knitters are asked to bring their own supplies.
  • The film “McFarland U.S.A.” will be screened on Sept. 4 at 2 p.m. as part of the library’s First Friday Films program. A new film is shown the first Friday of each month. Check the library’s event calendar for a schedule of films.

Learn more about the writer ...