School Boards

Bellmore meetings. The Bellmore Board of Education meets every third Tuesday of the month in the library of the Charles A. Reinhard Early Childhood Center at 8 p.m. North Bellmore Board of Education meets at 8 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Meetings are held at the North Bellmore district administration office.
Merrick meetings. Every second and fourth Tuesday, the Merrick Board of Education meets at 8 p.m. at the Norman J. Levy Lakeside School. The North Merrick School District meets every second Tuesday of the month at 8 p.m. at the Harold D. Fayette School.
High schools. The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School Board of Education meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month at 8 p.m.at Brookside High School. Call 623-8900 for more information.

Religious news

Sacred Heart Church, on Merrick Avenue in North Merrick, celebrates Masses Monday-Friday at 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.; Saturday's at 8:30 a.m. Sunday Masses are offered on Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m. 12:30 a.m., and 5 p.m.
Rosary Altar Society meetings are held at Sacred Heart on the first Monday after the first Sunday of the month at 8 p.m. in the school meeting room. All are welcome to attend.
Holy Name Society meetings are held the second Monday, after the second Sunday of the month. All are welcome to attend.
St. Barnabas. The Parish of Saint Barnabas the Apostle, 2320 Bedford Ave., Bellmore, celebrates Masses Monday-Friday at 6:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.,Saturday at 8:00 a.m. and Sunday at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., Noon, and 5 p.m. Vigil Masses are Saturday at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. A Family Mass is celebrated at 10 a.m. in the Holy Family Chapel.For more information call 785-0054.
Christian Joy. Christian Joy Fellowship, located at 36 Broadway in Bellmore, offers services on Sunday at 10 A.M. for adults and children and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. for adults. Office hours are available Monday through Friday from 10:15 a.m.-6:15 p.m. The Word Shoppe at Christian Joy Fellowship is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, call 781-4JOY.

senior Spotlight

Friendly Seniors. St. Barnabas Apostle Church in Bellmore holds its Friendly Seniors meetings the first and third Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. in the school cafeteria. For more information, call 785-0054.
Bellmore Center. The Bellmore Senior Center offers a variety of special services and activities including Bingo, crafts, billiards, group discussions, line dancing and card games Lunch is also available on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for only $1.50. Upcoming events include a Big Bingo at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18; trip to Hunter Hills Playhouse on Friday, April 20 (ticket required); trip to Atlantic City on Monday, April 23 (ticket required); and a birthday/anniversary party on Wednesday, April 25. There will be no dance class on Thursday, April 26. Weekday events include current events on Tuesdays and a humanities discussion on Thursday. Call 221-9696 for more information
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 785-3337 for information.
Library Seniors meet every Monday from 1-4 p.m. in the community room of the Bellmore Memorial Public Library. The club offers arts and crafts sessions, programs on health and safety as well as general coffee and fellowship, films and parties. All activities are open to any adult in the community over the age of 50. For more information, contact Patti Paris at 785-2990.
Merrick seniors. The Merrick Senior Center will meet at Lido Beach 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.The center also offers a Creative Writing Class on Wednesdays at the Uniondale/Merrick Senior Center, 750 Jerusalem Avenue, Uniondale. For more information, call the 431-6930.

Support Groups

Substance help. Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held every Thursday evening and Alanon meetings are held every Sunday evening in the school cafeteria of St. Barnabas Church in Bellmore. All meetings start at 7:30 p.m.
Mothers helping mothers. The Sunrise Mother's Center, a non-profit, nonsectarian, member-run organization of mothers helping mother. The center is a place for mothers to meet, share experiences and develop new or existing skills. Discussion groups, committee work and special events, as well as a Time for Two program for children ages 12 months to three years old and their caregivers are also available. Quality, affordable childcare is also available for mothers attending discussion groups. For more information, call Jodi at 781-4740.
Interfaith support. FEGS Long Island Division is offering a free five-week group for family members of interfaith couples. FEGS is at 6900 Jericho Tpke., Syosset. For more information or to register, call 496-7550.
Self-Help. Recovery, Inc., a self-help mental-health community organization helping people deal with fear, depression and anxiety, meets every Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. in Room 11 of the St. Francis DeChantel School at 1309 Wantagh Avenue. in Wantagh. For more information, call Recovery, Inc.'s 24-hour hotline at 733-5622.

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 more 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. Infants on the program receive a free monthly supply of formula each month. For more information, call 623-4568.
Volunteers needed. The Long Island Crisis Center in Bellmore, which serves all Nassau County youth and their families, is looking for people to help with the center's 7-day/24-hour confidential hotline, help in the office and help counselors. For more information, call 826-0244or visit the Long Island Crisis Center's Web site at www.licrisiscenter.org.
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.

Community Groups

Merrick Kiwanis. The Kiwanis Club of Merrick, serving the community for more than 50 years, is looking for motivated people to serve Merrick and its citizens. The public is invited to attend the club's weekly Thursday evening dinner meeting at 6:45 p.m. at the Merrick Mall Restaurant. For more information, contact membership Chairman Robert Rivere at 623-7092.
Legion 1282. Merrick Post 1282 of the American Legion meets every third Tuesday of the month at 8 p.m. For more information, contact Tom Riordan, commander, at 546-8765.
Sons of Italy. Giovanni Caboto Lodge 2372, "The Family Lodge" in Bellmore, meets every third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Bellmore Exempt Hall on Petit Avenue in Bellmore. New members are always welcome. Call Tommasa Dato, president, at 735-9875 for more information.
Legion 1749. The Executive Committee of the North Bellmore American Legion, Post 1749, Inc. meets on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call Herb Friedman at 781-2043.

Bellmore libraries

Check club. Registration for the North Bellmore Public Library's Chess Club is currently under way. The club, which is led by Chess Master Joel Salman will meet on Tuesdays,May 8 and May 22 and June 5 and 19 from 7-8 p.m.for students and from 8-8:45 p.m. for adults. Salman will offer tips and strategy for beginner and skilled players. New members are welcome. Call 785-6260 for information.
Defensive driving. The North Bellmore Public Library will offer defensive driving courses for drivers of all ages. Course 1 will be held on Monday, April 30 and Tuesday, May 1 from 6-9 p.m. Course 2 will take place Monday, June 4 and Thursday, June 7 from 6-9 p.m. Completion of the course can reduce up to four points on your driver's license and entitle you to a 10 percent discount on your liability and collision insurance. The cost of the program is $35, payable by check only, to "3D Insurance Services." Participants must bring a photocopy of their driver's license to the first night of class. Call 785-6260 for information.
Seashell exhibits.The Shell Club will exhibit worldwide exotic seashells in the Community Room of the North Bellmore Library on Saturday, April 28 from 1-5 p.m. The Shell Club meets at the North Bellmore Library monthly. Call 785-6260 for information.
AARP 55-Alive. Registration for the next two AARP driving classes at the North Bellmore Library is currently under way. Course 1 will be held on Thursday, May 24 from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Course 2 will be held on Tuesday, June 12 from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Courses are open to North Bellmore Library district patrons age 50 and older. To register, bring your library card or a driver's license with a North Bellmore district address and a check for $10, made payable to AARP. Please print your name, address and telephone number on the check. Cash will not be accepted. Call 785-6260 for information.
Jazz connection. The North Bellmore Library will present Joe Bubs and the Jazz Connection on Sunday, April 29 at 2 p.m. The program, which was previously scheduled for January and canceled due to snow, includes music from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. For more information call 785-6260.
Children's programs. The Bellmore Library will present "Candy's Magical Clown Show," on Saturday, April 28 at 10:30 a.m. for children ages 2-8. "Mother's Day Craft Program" on Saturday, May 5 at 2:30 p.m. for ages four and up. Limit 15. Registration begins Monday, April 30 after 6 p.m.; "Mom's Bear Magnet Craft Program," on Saturday, May 12 at 3:30 p.m. for children four and up. Limit 20. Registration begins Monday, May 7 after 6 p.m. Call 785-2990 for information.
Driving classes. Registration is currently under way for the Bellmore Library's AARP Safe Driving Course on Tuesday, May 15 and Tuesday, May 22 from 7-10 p.m. The cost is $10; A defensive driving class for all ages will also be held on Thursday, May 3 and Thursday, May 10 from 7-10 p.m. The cost is $35. Call 785-2990 for information.
Saturday storytime. The Bellmore Library will present Spring Saturday Storytimes on May 12, 19, and 26 at 10:30 a.m. for ages one and two; 11:30 a.m. for ages two and three; 2:30 for ages three and four/ registration for each session will take place the Monday prior after 6 p.m. Call 785-2990 for information.
Spring bus trips. The Bellmore Memorial Library has scheduled the following bus trips: The Showboat Casino in Atlantic City for Wednesday, May 2. The cost is $20; Lunch at the Vanderbilt in Plainview and the show "Side by Side by Sondheim" on Wednesday, May 16. the cost is $48; The Atlantis Aquarium in Riverhead with lunch at the Sound View Inn and a stop at the Tanger Outlets on Wednesday, June 20. The cost is $48. registration for all bus trips is currently under way at the Reference Desk. Call 785-2990 for information.
Garden Craft. The Bellmore Library will present a "Garden Fence Craft Program" on Saturday, May 19 at 3:30 p.m. for children ages four and up. registration begins on Monday, May 21 after 6 p.m. and is limited to 20 children.
AARP driving course. Registration is currently under way for the AARP Safe Driving Classes to be held on Tuesday, May 15 and Tuesday, May 22 from 7-10 p.m. at the Bellmore Library. The cost is $10. Call 785-2990 for information.
Defensive driving. The Bellmore Library will sponsor a defensive driving course on Thursday, May and Thursday, May 10 from 7-10 p.m. Attendance at both classes is required and the cost is $35. A course will also be held on Saturday, May 19 from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The cost is $25. For more information call 785-2990.
True romance. Seena Edelman, film historian and movie trivia expert, will discuss the intimate portraits of famous Hollywood couples at the Bellmore Library on Monday, April 30 at 2 p.m. Call 785-2990 for information.
Book discussion. The Bellmore Library will conduct a book discussion on the Danny Senna novel "Caucasia" at noon on Thursday, May 3 at the Bellmore Library. Call 785-2990 for information.

Merrick Libraries

Library Hours. The Merrick Library's is open Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.,Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.
Defensive driving. The North Merrick Public Library will present a defensive driving course for all ages on Saturday, May 12 from 10:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. Registration begins Friday, April 20. The fee is $35, payable by check only to 3D Insurance Services. Bring a brown bag lunch and beverage. Call 378-7474.
Opera and Operetta. Biruta Grunwald, soprano and Graig Collins, tenor, will present "Opera and Operetta" at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 29 at the Merrick Library. They will sing duets and solos such as "Seguidilla" from Carmen, a selection from Mame, and "I Love Thee" by Grieg. Charlotte Zand, concert Pianist who has recorded with Grunwald and performed with Leo Rostal -- the first cellist with Arturo Toscanini, will also perform. Call 379-3476 for information.
Great decisions, 2001. The Merrick Library will present the series "Great Decisions, 2001," on Thursdays through June 7 at 1:30 p.m. in the library Wing. Topics will include relations with Chine, Taiwan, Iraq, Mexico, the European Union and Africa; threats to international health; America's missile defense; and how globalization might affect U.S. trade. Registration will take place from April 2-18 at the library's Reference Desk. A $5 deposit is required and space is limited. For more information call Bob Luidmann at 379-3476, ext. 127.