Around Town

Bloomfield

• A book discussion and lecture series about great science fiction authors will be held at Bloomfield Public Library, beginning on Sept. 22 at noon. Robert Heinlein’s “Green Hills of Earth” will be the topic of discussion. Ken Sibanda, a lawyer, film-maker and local science fiction writer will lead the discussion. Sibanda wrote “The Return to Gibraltar. “ He is currently filming, “V17,” a science fiction prequel to his feature film directorial debut, “Vindicator.” He gives readings and lectures on a variety of topics involving history and importance of the science fiction genre and the black narrative.

This series will continue on Oct. 27, with a discussion of Isaac Asimov’s “I, Robot,” HG Wells and “War of the Worlds” on Nov. 17 and Jules Verne’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” on Dec. 8. For more information on this event or upcoming programs please call (973) 566-6200, ext. 502.

Kearny

• Trinity Episcopal Church, 575 Kearny Ave., in Kearny will host a fr ee, bilingual health screening, conducted in English and Spanish, on Saturday, Sept. 8, beginning at 10 a.m. Screenings, which will be conducted by nurses from Clara Maass Hospital, will include blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Attendees should refrain from eating for two hours prior to the cholesterol screenings for best results, but it is not absolu tely necessary.

• There will also be a flea market that day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tables are still available at a cost of $15 each or two for $25. For more information, please call the church office at 201- 991-5894.

• Kearny Eagles #2214, 164 Midland Ave., Kearny, is sponsoring the start/ finish line for the Oct. 6 Walk-a-Thon for Pathways to Independence at 9 a.m. The Eagles are also accepting monetary donations and signing up members and friends to join them for the Walk-a-Thon. Feel free to stop with a check.

• Registration for the fall 2012 semester of the Kearny Adult School will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 10, 11 and 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Main Office of Kearny High School, 336 Devon St. Brochures indicating course offerings are currently in the mail. If you did not receive one, you may pick-up a copy at The Observer, Kearny Library or the Kearny Board of Education office at 100 Davis Ave. For more information, call the Kearny Adult School at 201-955-1392.

• Kearny High School Class of 2002’s 10-year reunion will be held on Friday, Oct. 19 a t the Fiesta in Wood-Ridge, from 8 p.m. to 1 p.m., featuring a five-hour premium open bar, full buffet and entertainment.

Price is $77.50 per person ($155 with guest) and can be made via PayPal to kearnyhs2002@gmail.com.

Visit their Facebook page “KHS Class of 2002 Reunion” for more details.

• Kearny UNICO’s Italian Heritage Event is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 7. The event will be held fr om 1:30 to 5 p.m. at the Henrietta Benstead Senior Center on Columbia Avenue in Kearny. There is no charge to attend the event.

The committee planning the event is looking to include such activities as a mozzarella making demonstration, an Italian lesson, Italian songs and music, bocce play and rules, Italian food tastings and much, much more.

Although the event is provided free of charge, individuals interested in attending the event are asked to contact Joseph Sgalia at either 201-998-6879 or joeys1218@aol.com to reserve a seat. Anyone interested in learning more about – or joining – Kearny UNICO should also contact Mr. Sgalia.

• Kearny UNICO is sponsoring a fund-raising fall bus trip to the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Hotel in Atlantic City on Sunday, Sept. 23. Bus will depart at 8:30 a.m. from the parking lot of Kearny Federal Savings on Kearny Avenue in Kearny. Prior to departure, beginning at 7:45 a.m., coffee and refreshments will be served to all participants. For tickets, please contact Lou Pandolfi at 201-368-2409.

Registration is open for the Pathways to Independence Walk-a-Thon, to be held on Saturday, Oct. 6. The hour-long walk will begin at 10 a.m.

To participate, fill out a registration form, then ask friends, relatives or co-workers to sponsor you for the Walk-a-Thon, by pledging a specific dollar amount, $1 to $100 – whatever they want to give.

For registration forms, you may visit Pathways to Independence, 60 Kingsland Ave., Kearny (corner of Bergen and Schuyler avenues) or call 201-997- 6155 to have them mailed to you. Registration will also be open the day of the walk at the Schuyler Avenue entrance of West Hudson Park, starting at 9 a.m.

To encourage participation in the Pathways to Independence Walk-a-Thon, Investors Bank is sponsoring a free event T-shirt for each participant that turns in $100 or more in pledges. United Way of Essex and West Hudson is sponsoring the tote or sports bag for all participants that finish the race.

Pathways to Independence is a not-for-profit organization that has been providing life skills, job training and work for developmentally disabled individuals for the past 35 years and serves Hudson, Bergen and parts of Essex County. For more information, contact Alvin Cox, executive director of Pathways to Independence at 201-997- 9371, ext. 18.

• St. Cecilia Church, 114 Chestnut St. (school building), will have a flea market on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Furniture, small appliances, household items, toys, DVD’s and many more items. For more information, call 201-991- 116. Vendors are welcome. All proceeds benefit St. Cecilia Parish. Donations kindly accepted.

• Kearny UNICO will be holding its first membership meeting of this year on Thursday, Sept. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Anyone interested in attending the meeting and / or learning more about Kearny UNICO should contact Chapter President Lou Pandolfi at 201-368-2409. New members are always welcome.

Kearny UNICO is a chapter within UNICO National, the largest Italian American service organization in the nation. Kearny UNICO supports scholarships, charities and the local community.

The West Hudson Arts & Theater Company (W.H.A.T.) will hold open auditions for its second season production of “Arsenic and Old Lace” on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. at W.H.A.T.’s new home (the former St. Stephen School theater/auditorium),131 Midland Avenue, Kearny.

The production will run Friday and Saturday November 16 -17. Participants are encouraged to visit whatco.org for additional information including character profiles. They should also print out an audition form and fill it out before auditions; this information will be collected at registration on the days of auditions.

Participants do not need t o prepare a piece; auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Sides for “Arsenic and Old Lace” can be downloaded from the website. To learn more about the West Hudson Arts & Theater Company, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” or W.H.A.T.’s 2012-2013 season, visit www.whatco.org, like them on FaceBook, or call 201- 467-8624.

A Wildwood vacation is scheduled, from Sept. 9 to 13, Sunday to Thursday, with a visit to Cape May and Atlantic City. Includes all meals and round-trip transportation. For information, call Mary at 201-998- 1030.

Lyndhurst

• Lyndhurst Masonic Club is hosting a crab night on Saturday, Sept. 15, at 6 p.m., featuring all-you-can-eat crabs and cole slaw and chicken for non-seafood lovers. Clams on the halfshell and steamers will also be available. Please RSVP. by Sept. 8 with ho w many people are coming with your party. Call 201-933-1330 and the club can call you back to confirm.

• The Food Pantry at the Lyndhurst Health Department will have new hours for the pantry beginning after Labor Day. The new hours are as follows: Monday through Thursday 1 to 3:30 p.m.

The Food Pantry is available for: Lyndhurst residents who are in need. Proof of Township residency is required. Documentation of hardship is required: for example, unemployment, welfare documentation, medical bills, food stamps, etc.

The Lyndhurst Food Pantry is replenished with the generous donations from the community. Donations can be dropped off during regular business hours.

If you know of a family in need, please ask them to call or visit the Lyndhurst Health Department Food Pantry, 253 Stuyvesant Ave. Lyndhurst VFW Post 3549, 527 Valley Brook Ave., will host a Karaoke Night on Sept. 4, from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. For more information, call 201-939-3080. The VFW hall is also available for rentals for outside affairs.

• Mary Lou Mullins’ monthly bus trip to Atlantic City will be held on Sunday, Sept. 23, going to Resorts Casino. The bus will leave St. Michael’s Church, Lyndhurst, parking lot at 10:30 a.m. Please make reservations early. Call Mary Lou at 201-933-2186.

• A spaghetti dinner will be held at the Lyndhurst Masonic Club, 316 Riverside Ave., on Friday, Sept. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. Dinner includes spaghetti with meatballs, hot/sweet sausage and salad and coffee. For information, call 201- 933-1330.

North Arlington

• “A month of hope” food drive is currently being held in North Arlington, collecting canned items, dry goods, bottled water, personal care products, etc. Families can make food donations by dropping their donation off at any of the drop off locations or if they wish to make a financial donation, they can call (201) 741-0881. Queen of Peace Parish (Food Pantry), 10 Franklin Pl.; North Arlington Town Hall, 214 Ridge Rd.; Minuteman Press, 75 Ridge Rd.; Knights of Columbus, 194 River Road; Mykonos Restaurant, 440 Ridge Rd.

• The American Legion Alexander P. Stover Post 37, 222 River Road in North Arlington, will meet on Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. All veterans are invited to attend. For information, call 201-214-8253.

• The Queen of Peace Knights of Columbus Council #3428 will hold its annual picnic on Sunday, Sept. 16, from 1 to 5 p.m., at the Council Hall, 194 River Road, North Arlington. The event is open to all.

You can obtain tickets at the Council Hall, at Queen of Peace Rectory, or by calling 201-997-2086.

All boys and girls ages 10 to 14 are invited to participate in the local level of competition for the 2012 Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge. Sign-ups will be held at the Queen of Peace Knights of Columbus Council #3428’s Hall, 194 River Road, North Arlington, on Wednesday, Sept. 12, from 7 to 8 p.m. All registrants are required to bring a parent, or guardian, and proof of age. The local competition will be held on Sunday, Sept. 23, at 11 a.m. at the James Zadroga Memorial Soccer Field in North Arlington on Schuyler Avenue.

Nutley

• Registration is open for Preschool Story Time at Nutley Public Library. Upcoming dates are: Sept. 12 and 26, at 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Library patrons are invited to play Bridge every Tuesday at 1 p.m. No registration is required.

• Adult Scrabble Night will be held at the library on Thursday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. Prizes are awarded for first and second place scores. No registration is required. Registration is required for the library’s two-year-old story time, scheduled for Fridays, Sept. 14, 21 and 28 at 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

• “The Lucky One” will be shown at the library as part of its Friday Films program on Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. A new film is shown on the first Friday of each month. Please check the library’s event calendar for upcoming films.

• The library’s Saturday Story Time will be held on Sept. 15, 22 and 29 at 10 a.m. Registration is required.

•BabyGarten for infants and toddlers, from birth to 22 months, and their caregivers is scheduled at the library for Monday, Sept. 10, 17 and 24 at 9:30 a.m. and at 10:45 a.m. Enjoy great books, nursery rhymes, playtime, and meet other babies from the Nutley area. Registration is required.

The library will host P.J. Story Time on Monday, Sept. 10, 17, 24 at 7 p.m. – No registration required.

Teen Gaming will be held at the library on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 19, and 26 at 3 p.m.

Teen Video Game tournament will be held on Thursday, Sept. 13, 20, 27 at 3 p.m. at the library.

The library’s Manga/ Anime Club will meet on Friday, Sept. 14, 21, 28 at 3 p.m.

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