The festival will take place in the heart of Merrick's downtown shopping district, just north of Sunrise Highway and the Long Island Rail Road station. Discounted advance ticket sales are available in area stores.


Fall Festival hours are: Friday, Sept. 16, 6 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 17., 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 18, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call (516) 378-7177.


Vets meet. On Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m., veterans will attend a POW/MIA Service at Eisenhower Park. The post general meeting will take place on Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. at 160 West Merrick Road. For further information, call (516) 623-0922.


Theater at The Stage. The musical "Grease" will be performed from Sept. 17 through Oct. 16. The children's theater group The Magic Curtain Players will present the musical "Beauty and The Beast" from Sept. 10 to Oct. 22. For further information, call (516) 868-6400.


Curé of Ars week of healing. The Rev. Vincent Youngberg, C.P., a traveling preacher of the gospel, will present a week of renewal and healing a the 9 a.m and 7:30 p.m. prayer service from Oct. 10 to 14. A parish social will follow the Friday, 7:30 p.m. mission. For further information, call (516) 623-1400 ext. 106.


Defensive driving. Merrick Avenue Middle School PTA is sponsoring a six-hour defensive-driving course. The two three-hour sessions will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 20, from 7 to 10 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 7 to 10 p.m. The course will be held at Merrick Avenue Middle School in the cafeteria. The fee is $40. For further information, call (516) 223-9442.


Jewish war vets meet. Ensign Laurence D. Solowey Post 652, the Jewish War Veterans, will hold its regular monthly meting on Thursday, Sept. 15, at 8 p.m. at Congregation Ohav Sholom. For further information, call (516) 868-1393.


Open house. The Sunrise Mother's Center will host an open house on Wednesday, Sept. 14, from 1 to 2 p.m., and Thursday, Sept. 15, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the United Methodist Church on Clarendon Avenue in Bellmore (entrance in the rear on Royle Street). For more information, or to make a reservation, call (516) 781-8946, or e-mail sunrisemothers@exite.com.


Lupus fund-raiser. The Lupus Alliance of America, Long Island-Queens Affiliate is once again selling the Entertainment 2006 coupon book to raise funds for patient services. The books are available now through Jan. 5, 2006. The book contains thousands of discount offers from local and national restaurants, hotels, resorts, entertainment venues and other merchants. Out-of-town editions can also be ordered. For more information, call the alliance's office at (516) 783-3370, e-mail info@lupusliqueens.org, or visit www.lupusliqueens.org.

N. Merrick Library

Creative works display. An exhibit of North Merrick resident Don Flynn's creative works will be on display in the library's rear foyer.


Mammograms. A breast-cancer screening, sponsored by Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., with the Nassau Health Care Corporation, will be offered at the library by appointment only, with no out-of-pocket expense on Thursday, Sept. 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. To make an appointment, call Fuschillo's office at (516) 546-4100.


Book discussion. Linda Judenberg will moderate a discussion on Tobias Wolff's new novel "Old School" on Friday, Sept. 16, at 1:30 p.m.


India: story & dance. Manju Prasad-Rao, noted Indian classical dancer and singer, presents ancient stories from India, interweaving dance, mime, song and spoken word on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 7:30 p.m.


YA knitting workshop. Lori Falbo will teach knitting in two sessions on Thursday, Sept. 29 and Thursday, Oct. 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Registration began Sept. 6. Must commit to both sessions.


Murder Mystery dinner theater. Bus trip to Town & Cluntry in Congers, N.Y., to see the murder mystery "Great Pumpkin Murders," performed by professional Broadway, TV and film actors, will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cocktails an hour prior to the show. Registration begins Friday, Sept. 23. Fee: $62.


Story program for toddlers. Just We Two, a story program for ages 2 through 3 1/2, with an adult, will take place on Wednesdays from 10:30 to 10:55 a.m. or 11:15 to 11:40 a.m.; and Thursdays from 10:30 until 10:55 a.m. Select one session. A North Merrick Library card and proof of birth date are required. Registration begins Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 10 a.m.


Bateaux New York & Central Park tour. Enjoy gourmet dining and entertainment at the Bateaux New York and then take a walking/bus tour of Central Park, led by Sheila Evans, on Tuesday, Sept. 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Registration on Aug. 19. Fee is $72.

Merrick Library

Friends of the Library. Members will be at The Merrick Library's table at the Chamber of Commerce's Fall Festival accepting new memberships.


Teen Books & Bites. This month's book selection, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time," by Mark Haddon, will be discussed on Tuesday, Sept. 27, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the North Merrick Library. To register or for more information, contact michelleroberts@merricklibrary.org.


Museum passes. If you're heading to the Museum of Natural History or the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or planning to stroll through beautiful Old Westbury Gardens, the library can loan you a family pass for four. Call (516) 377-0279 for more information.

N. Merrick Schools

Sept. 15. Special Education PTA will meet at 7:30 p.m. in Old Mill Road.


Sept. 28. Camp Avenue and Old Mill Road first PTA meetings are at 7:30 p.m. Fayette's first PTA meeting is at 8 p.m.

Merrick schools

Sept. 20. Board of Education will meet at 7:30 p.m. at Levy-Lakeside.


Sept. 21. Levy-Lakeside PTA meeting, 7 p.m. for new parents and 8 p.m. for all others.


Sept. 29. First PTA meeting at Chatterton at 7:45 p.m.

Central High School

Sept. 19. High School PTA meetings at 7:30 p.m.


Sept. 20. Middle school back-to- school night at 7 p.m.


June 21. Mepham Alumni meeting at 7:30 p.m.


Sept. 22. High school back-to- school night at 7:30 p.m.

High School Sports

Central High School District varsity athletic teams will play the following home games this week.


Kennedy Cougars: Sept. 21, boys' soccer vs. Oceanside H.S. at 7 p.m. Sept. 21, girls' soccer vs. Plainview, at 4:15 p.m.


Calhoun Colts: Sept. 16, boys' soccer vs. Kennedy-Bellmore at 4:15 p.m. Sept. 19, girls' soccer vs. Oyster Bay at 4:30 p.m.


Mepham Pirates: Sept. 16, boys' soccer vs. Uniondale at 4:15 p.m. Sept. 22, girls' soccer vs. Great Neck South High School at 4:30 p.m.