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 services 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.

Eucharistic Celebrations. 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.

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. 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. Upcoming events include a St. Patrick's Day Luncheon at noon on March 12; a Pizza Luncheon at noon on March 27 (ticket necessary); Crazy Bingo at 12:45 p.m. on March 27 (no ticket necessary); and Free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) every Thursday at 1 p.m. The center will also offer a Creative Writing Class on Thursdays 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 Trnpk., 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

SAT review. Registration is currently under way for the North Bellmore Public Library's SAT Review Course. Classes will be held on Thursdays, March 22 and 29, April 5, 19 and 26 and May 3. There is a $50 fee which includes all materials. Please make checks payable to "R. Gale." Call 785-6260 for information.

Tax time. The North Bellmore Library will be offering tax assistance to senior citizens through the AARP Tax Aid Program. AARP volunteers will be at the library on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning Feb. 8. Please be sure to bring your 1999 tax return as well as all W-2 and 1099 forms with you. Call 785-6260 for information.

Defensive driving. Reduce up to four points on your driver's license or receive a 10 percent discount on your liability and collision insurance by attending the North Bellmore Public Library's upcoming defensive driving course on Monday, March 19 and Monday, March 26 from 6-9 p.m. Attendance at both classes is required. Please make checks for $35 payable to "3-D Insurance Services." You will need to bring a photocopy of your driver's license to the first night of class. Call 785-6260 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.

Tax assistance. The Merrick Library will be offering tax assistance to senior citizens through the AARP An AARP tax aide will be available to help Senior Citizens over the age of 55 with income tac forms in the library's Quiet Room. Help will be given on a walk-in, first-come basis on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through April 10. Please be sure to bring your 1999 tax return, interest forms and any Federal and State booklets and forms received in the mail. For more information call 379-3476.

Oscar presentation. Bettina Paley, acclaimed cabaret singer, will perform hit songs from movies at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 11 at the North Merrick Public Library. Paley's performance will include those songs which have won or been nominated for an Oscar, including "Moon River," "You Light Up My Life," "The Way We Were," "New York, New York," "Maybe This Time," and "The Night They Invented Champagne," in addition to many other memorable musical moments from the movies. Call 378-7474 for more information.

Bells are ringing.The Merrick Library will sponsor a bus trip on Wednesday, March 28 to the Broadway matinee of"Bells Are Ringing." The bus departs from the Merrick Library Wing at 9:45 a.m. and will return at approximately 7 p.m. Showtime is at 2 p.m.The cost, which includes transportation, gratuities and orchestra seat, is $72 payable by check to the Merrick Library. Call 379-3476 for information.

Film festival. The North Merrick Library will present The Contender, starring Gary Oldman, Joan Allan, Jeff Bridges and Christian Slater, on Wednesday, March 14 at 1 and 7 p.m. the film is rated R and has a running time of 126 minutes. Call 378-7474 for information.

Safe driver course. The North Merrick Library will offer a defensive driving course on Tuesday, March 27 and Thursday, March 29 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Attendance at both classes is required. The cost is $35, payable by check only to 3D Insurance Services. Registration begins Monday, March 5. Space is limited. Call 378-7474 for information.

Experience India. The Merrick Library will present "Sights and Sounds of India with Dr. Rohini Ramanathan" at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 25 at the Merrick Library. Ramanathan, who grew up in India, sings in many languages and is a faculty member in the music department at the New School. Call the 379-3476 for information.

AARP driving course. The North Merrick Library will offer a two session AARP 55 ALive Driving Course at drivers over the age of 50 on Tuesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 22 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. The fee is $10, payable to AARP, Registration begins Friday, March 2. Call 378-7474 for information.

Book discussion. The North Merrick Public Library will present a book discussion of Anita Diamant's "The Red Tent" at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 23. Refreshments, compliments of the Friends of the North Merrick Library, will be provides. Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk. Call 378-7474 for information.

Craft workshop. Nina Pesce, former host of Cablevision's "Crafts from House to Home," will conduct a garden broom angel and herb tag workshop at the North Merrick Public Library on Monday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. There is a $10 materials fee, payable by check only to N. Pesce, is due at registration. Participants must bring scissors, glue gun or craft glue and a pen. All other supplies will be provided. Call 378-7474 for information.

April bus trip. The North Merrick Public Library's April bus trip to New York's lower east side and Little Italy will be held on Tuesday, April 24. Taste hot pastrami, pickles, cappuccino and Italian pastry and take home a souvenir knish from on of New York's best deli's. Along the way, a guide will discuss the emergence of Jewish, Italian and Chinese enclaves as well as the up and coming trendy club scene. Registration begins Friday, March 23. The cost of the trip, which includes food, is $58, payable by check only to Halpin-McCarney. The bus will leave from the library at 9:30 a.m. and return at approximately at 5:30 p.m. Call 378-7474.

Special Events

Ping Pong anyone?The Bellmore United Methodist Church Men's Club will sponsor a family Ping Pong tournament on Sunday, March 10 at 4 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at the church's Royle Street entrance. The tournament is open to all skill levels, young and old. The cost is $8 per person and includes pizza. Pre-registration is requested. Call 221-1229 Monday-Friday between 2-6 p.m. for information.

Lenten services. St. Mark the Evangelist Episcopal Church in North Bellmore will hold the following services during Lent: Soup Supper - Wednesdays at 6 p.m. followed by Mass at 7:30 p.m. and Quiet Day -- Saturday, March 24 from 10a.m.-4 p.m. For more information call 679-1184.

Torah study. A Women's Torah Study will be held in the Youth Lounge of Temple Beth Am in Merrick on Saturday, March 10 at 11 a.m. A light lunch and discussion will follow. To RSVP, call Betsy Brody at 223-2616.

A taste of Passover. The Sisterhood of Temple Beth Am in Merrick will present "A Taste of Passover" featuring samples of delicious homemade Passover recipes at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 14.The program will be held in the Social Hall.

Joint bus trip. The Bellmore Memorial Library and the Merrick Library will sponsor a bus trip to the French Culinary Institute and SOHO Galleries of New York City on Wednesday, April 25. Enjoy a tour of the French Culinary Institute and a delicious four-course gourmet meal prepared by culinary students who have studied under Jacques Pepin and Andre Soltner. A guided tour of two SOHo Galleries will take place after lunch. The cost of the trip is $56, payable by check only to the Merrick Library. Buses will depart from the Merrick Library Wing at Merrick and Kirkland Avenue in Merrick, and return at about 6 p.m. For more information call the Merrick Library at 379-3476 or the Bellmore Memorial Library at 785-2990.