Special Events

Martin Luther King. Jr. Monday, Jan 17, is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, remembering the great civil rights leader who helped us realize and embrace the changing face of America. It is a federal holiday, with all governement offices, schools, post offices and most banks closed.

Board of Ed The Sewanhaka High School District's next meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 25 with the public session commencing at 8 p.m. at Sewanhaka High School. The district's first 2004-05 budget meeting will take place on Tues., Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. The next meeting of the Covert Ave. School Building Advisory Committee will be Tuesday, Jan 18 at 3:45 in the school library.

Valentine Dance The SEFF SEPTA (Sewanhaka Elmont Franklin Square Floral Park Special Education Parent Teacher Association) will host a casual dress dance fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 5 from 8 p.m. to midnight at St. Vincent DePaul Church. $10 a person. All money raised goes to the district. Cash bar, raffles, cake and coffee. Call Sam at 437-6801 for info and tickets.

Thrifty The Grace United Methodist Church, 21 South Franklin Ave., Valley Stream, is having a 50 percent off blow-out sale. Open Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., as well as the second Saturday of the month. Call 825-1182 for more.

Looking for books The Valley Stream Rotary Club is hosting its annual book sale at Green Acres Mall duing President's Day weekend - Friday, Feb. 18 through Monday, Feb. 21. Residents are asked to donate used books, both hardcover and paperback. Money the Rotary raises through the sale of the donated books benfits the many charitable organizations that the 20-member service club sponsors. Groups receiving support from Rotary include Franklin Hospital Medical Center, the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library, Friends of Bridge, Interfaith Nutrition Network and Monica Village Seior Center. To arrange pick up of donated items, call the 825-2987, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

W. Hempstead JCC Events. Jewish Community Center of West Hempstead, 711 Dogwood Ave., West Hempstead. Daily Minyan Services: Mon.-Thurs.: 6:40 a.m.& 8 p.m.; Friday: 6:40 a.m. & candle lighting; Sun.: 8:30 a.m. & 8 p.m.

Library Events

Elmont Public Library

1735 Hempstead Turnpike

(516) 354-5280.

www.nassaulibrary.org/elm

Chair exercise Join us on Friday, January 7 and Friday, January 21 at 10:00 a.m. for exercise classes led by RSVP volunteer instructors Juana Thornhill and assistants Millie Danko and Shigeko Watanabe. Coffee served.

Tai Chi Join us on Friday, January 14 at 10:00 a.m. for a tai chi class led by Jessica Silberg. The class will be followed by meditation. The class is ongoing and held the second Friday of each month. Coffee served.

Voice of Grandparents Join us on Friday, January 28 at 10 a.m. and become a partner in our ongoing open discussion group with Beatrice Nechin, BSSW, of the Nassau County Department of Senior Citizen Affairs. Coffee and cookies served.

Lunch and learn Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in America. One out of every six adults is a victim. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your financial information to apply for credit, make unauthorized purchases or gain access to your bank accounts to obtain loans under your name. Join us Friday, January 7 at 12 noon. Deputy Commissioner James Reed will make you aware of identity theft, scams, fraud and more. Bring a brown bag lunch. Coffee will be provided.

Career counselors Career Counselors Darren and Keesha are here to help you with your job search. Schedule an appointment with the Reference Department in person or by phone: 354-5280, ext. 2. The counselors offer day and evening appointments. Walk-ins are welcome, too. There is no fee for this service.

ClosingsThe Elmont Public Library will be closed on Monday, January 17, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Meditation Join us on three Thursdays, January 13, 20 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. for a series of classes that will introduce us to relaxation techniques, meditation and stress management plus seated stretching and relaxation. The last two classes will feature Hatha Yoga for flexibility and stress reduction.

Ebay Join us on Saturday, January 15 at 10 a.m. for a lecture and demonstration workshop which will teach you how to use eBay, the world's most popular online auction website, to buy and sell items. Prerequisites: Computer K and Computer 1st Grade for Grownups or equivalent computer knowledge. No registration necessary.

Hot piano Join us on Sunday, January 16 at 2 p.m. for a tour of the Ragtime-Early Jazz Tradition from the 1890's through the roaring twenties, featuring selections by Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway.

SAT prep Join us on Monday, January 24 and Monday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. and learn test-taking strategies. Classes will review math and verbal material plus new SAT content. For students graduating in the Class of 2006, 2007 and beyond. Registration begins January 10 for library patrons and January 18 for non-patrons. weaves her spell with special anecdotes and audience participation. Bring a brown bag lunch for 12 noon.

Alden Manor Story times Our next Stories with Nancy @ our Alden Manor Branch is Wednesday, January 19 @ 11:30 a.m. for children ages 3 - 5. Call Alden Manor @ 285 - 8000 to register.

Story times Our famous story times are starting up again! Play Pals is a story time for children ages 18 - 29 months (with an adult). This weekly program runs for 6 weeks beginning Tuesday, January 25 - February 8 @ 10:30 a.m. Registration is underway.

Pre-School Storytime for children ages 3 _ - 5 will be held Wednesdays beginning January 26 -April 13 @ either 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Registration is underway.

Tiny Tots for children ages 2 and 3 (with an adult) and begins Thursday January 27- March 31 @ 10:30 a.m. Registration is underway.

Stories 'N Snacks is a program for our youngsters in grades K - 2. This program is every Thursday beginning January 27-April 14 @ 4 p.m. Registration is underway.

Movie time Join us Saturday, January 22 @ 2 p.m. for the movie Agent Cody Banks. Children in grades 1 and up are welcome. No registration is necessary. On Friday, January 28 @ either 10 a.m. or 4 p.m. we will be showing the movie Maurice Sendak's Really Rosie. We invite children of all ages; no registration is necessary.

Franklin Square Public Library

19 Lincoln Road

(516) 488-3444

Taxpayer assistance Join us on Thursday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. as Delores Sedacca of the Public Speakers Bureau will cover topics like property assessment, computing your own taxes, exemption law, the grievance process and just what the Assessment Department does.

ook Talk The group meets once a month, usually on the second Tuesday of the month, from 7:15 to 8:45 PM. New members are always welcome. The moderator for the Great Books Discussion Group is Marguerite Rossi. On Jan. 11, we will examine Machiavelli's The Prince.

Sing and Dance The Music of Tony Carson & Company Friday, December 10, at 2 p.m. Come and enjoy the musical antics of these spirited performers. Leave plenty of room in the aisles for dancing. We promise you a lively afternoon of pre-holiday fun. It's our pleasure to welcome Tony back again this year.

Sunday program At 2 p.m.; December 19. Come to the cabaret with DREAM, Michelle K. Moore's solo musical presentation. You'll hear Michelle's rich sound as she performs heart-warming lyrical classics from Broadway, pop, and jazz.

"A Taste of Long Island" to benefit victims of domestic violence

The Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence will present their eighth annual "A Taste of Long Island" sponsored by the Cavit Collection and Bank of America on Monday, January 10, 2005, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Carltun in Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. Tickets are $75.00 for general admission and $100.00 for reserved seating for the first 100 reservations. All proceeds will support the services and programs of the coalition. For further information, and for reservations, call the coalition at (516) 572-0700.