School Boards

Merrick School District Board of Education meets every second and fourth Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Norman J. Levy Lakeside School.

The North Merrick School District Board of Education meets every second Tuesday of the month at 8 p.m. at the Harold D. Fayette School.

The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Board of Education meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month at 8 p.m.at Brookside High School.

senior Spotlight

AARP. The Bellmore-Merrick Chapter of AARP meets on the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the Mepham High School cafeteria, located on Camp Avenue one block west of Newbridge Road, Bellmore. The public is invited to attend and new members are welcome. Call (516) 785-3337 for information.

Merrick Seniors. The Merrick Senior Center meets at CLubhouse Road every Monday through Friday. The Center offers lunch daily. Upcoming events include bowling, dance class, ping pong, cards and games, nutrition set-up and current events. For information, call the (516) 431-6930.

Community support

Cars for kids. Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Long Island is looking for unwanted cars. They will accept almost any car, and the title must be handed over at the time of pickup.For information call 1-800-859-6526.

Catholic Charities. Does your food budget stretch as far as you would like? Are you having problems making ends meet? If you are pregnant , up to one year post partum or have children under six, Catholic Charities Food and Nutrition (FAN) Program may be able to help. Free nutritious supplemental food is available monthly for those who meet financial eligibility requirements. For more information, call 623-4568.

AHRC volunteers. The Nassau Association for the Help of Retarded Children (AHRC) is seeking volunteers to help adults with developmental disabilities fill grocery lists, teach knitting and crocheting, and to help an adult with developmental disabilities improve their reading skills. The program is held in Plainview, Farmingdale, Massapequa and Glen Cove, Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Call Susan Brody-Wood at 626-1000, ext. 1313 for more information.

Merrick libraries

Library hours. The Merrick Library is now operating on winter hours; Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. These hours will be in effect until July, 2002.

special events

The Stage, Long Island Live Theatre, Inc., holds performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m. and once-a-month Thursdays at 8 p.m. The Stage is at 2222 Hewlett Ave., Merrick. Call (516) 868-6400 for information.

Temple Beth Am has copies of the 2002 Long Island Entertainment Book available. The book contains thousands of dollars in discounts at restaurants, movies, retail stores, special events, travel, etc. The cost of the book is $20, For more information, call (516) 378-3477.

Mid-Nassau Democrat Club. The group holds its monthly meetings at the East Meadow Jewish Center, 1400 Prospect Ave., on the third Thursday of the month at 8 p.m. For more information call (516) 735-4876. On Thursday, May 23 County Comptroller Howard Weitzman will address the group on Nassau County's finances at 8 p.m. at East Meadow Jewish Center. The club will also be sponsoring a bus trip to Atlantic City on Sunday, May 19. For information or reservations call Harold Krangle at (516) 481-3665. On Sunday, June 9 the club will host an awards brunch honoring Viki and Burt DeJong for their many years of outstanding community service at Smithville Cafe in Bellmore from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For reservations call Leon Newman at (516) 735-4876.

5k run/walk. On Saturday, May 18, 9:30 a.m., the Dennis Griggs 5K Run/Walk will take place. Registration the day of the race will be available from 8 to 9:15 a.m. Cost will be $15 for students and $20 for all others. The race starts at 9:30 a.m., in front of Kennedy High School. For applications, call (516) 992-1400 or visit the BMCHSD's Web site.

Community Parent Center. The CPC will hold its first book discussion group on Wednesday, May 22 from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Brookside School in North Merrick, room 31. The group will be discussing the book "How to get what you want and want what you have," by John Gray. To register or for more information call the center at (516) 771-9346.

Defensive Driving. On Tuesday, May 28 and Thursday, May 30 from 7-10 p.m., Temple Shaarei Shalom, 2569 Merrick Road, will be offering a National Safety Council approved defensive driving course. Completion of the six-hour course entitles participants to a 10-percent discount on liability and collision insurance and removes up to four points from your license. The cost is $45 per person. For more information call (516) 378-1037.

Nursery School Open House. The Merrick Community Nursery School is hosting an Open House for their summer camp program and Fall 2002 school program on Wednesday, May 22 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The nursery school is located at 69 Willis Avenue. For information call (516) 868-1071.