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. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 8. 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. For more information, call the Town of Hempstead Department of Senior Enrichment at 485-8100.

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. Training is free and the next session will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 6. 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

Chess Club. New players are welcome to join the North Bellmore Library's Chess Club. The Club is aimed at students in fourth through 12th grade and is tailored to all levels of play, from beginner to experienced. Sessions will be held from 7-8 p.m. on Tuesdays, Feb. 13 and 27 and March 13 and 27. Out-of-district patrons are invited to put their names on a waiting list in the case the program is not full. For more information, call 785-6260.
Reading club. Children, ages three-12, are invited to join the North Bellmore Library's 2001 Winter Reading Club: "Lion Around Reading Books." Just read 10 books and list them on a reading record and return it to the Children's Services Department by 6 p.m. on Friday, March 2. All children who fulfill the requirements of the reading club will be invited to attend the Winter reading Club Show on Sunday, March 25 at 2 p.m. Reading records can be picked up in the library's Children's Room. Everyone who registers will also have their name entered in a drawing to win one of three stuffed lions. 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.
Valentine candle.The North Bellmore Public Library will hold a Valentine Crystal Candle workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. There is a $6.50 material fee. Participants must bring their own scissors. Call 785-6260 for information.
Library theater. Plaza Theatrical Productions will present "On Golden Pon" on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Bellmore Library. Admission is free and seating will be on a first come basis. Space is limited. 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.
Overdue charges. The North Merrick Library will charge $2 per overdue video. The Library previously charged $3 per late video.
Internet course. The Merrick Library will offer classes for Merokeans interested in learning how to search the Internet. Each participant will be shown how to establish a free e-mail account. The class fee is $5 and registration will be held at the Reference Desk. Call 379-3476 for information.
Video drop box. The North Merrick Public has recently installed a video drop box to be used only when the library is closed. Videos returned after library hours on date due will still be subject to late charges. For more information, call 378-7474.
Book Discussion.The Merrick Library will hold a book discussion on J.M. Coetzee's novel "Disgrace" on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. Copies of the book are available at the Circulation Desk. Call 379-3476 for information.
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.
Featured film. The Merrick Library will present the movie "Erin Brockovitch" on Sunday, Feb. 4 at 2:30 p.m. and on Monday, Feb. 5 at 1 and 7:30 p.m. The film stars Julia Roberts as a crusader with an outrageous wardrobe who eventually wins a $33 million settlement for victims of industrial pollution/ "Erin Brockovitch is rated R and has a running time of 131 minutes. Call 379-3476 for information.
The Patriot. The Merrick Library will present "The Patriot" on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2:30 P.M. and Monday, Feb. 19 at 1 and 7:30 p.m. "The Patriot" is the story of Ben Martin (played by Mel Gibson), a hero of the French and Indian War who renounced war forever, but when the British arrive and endanger what he holds most dear, Martin leads a brave rebel militia against a relentless and overwhelming British Army. This film is rated R and has a running time of 167 minutes. Call 379-3476 for information.
Defensive driving.The Merrick Library will offer a defensive driving course for all ages on Wednesday, March 4 and Wednesday, March 14 from 7 to 10 p.m.. Attendance at both classes is required. The cost is $38. Please pre-register at the Reference Desk. Space is limited. Call 379-3476 for information.
Musical Review. The Merrick Library will present "We're Into Love," an original musical review on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 12:30 p.m. Music on Tour will present fully customs and staged performances of "Love and Marriage," the rousing "Together, Wherever We Go," as well as a variety of gems from "Cabaret," "Pippin," and "Annie Get Your Gun." Call 379-3476 for information.
Art slide/lecture. Carol Dubs will present "The World of Artist Georgia O'Keeffe" at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at the Merrick Library. With great respect for O'Keeffe, Dubs will trace some of the unusual adventures of her life through colored slides. Call 379-3476 for information

Special Events

Skate for Diabetes. The Junior Council to South Nassau Communities Hospital will hold a Skate for Diabetes at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday, March 3 from 2-4 p.m. There will be a shootout and autograph signing by Islander Bobby Nystrom. A raffle for such prizes as a Sony 27" television, a Perry Ellis watch, a Techno Marine watch and a Direct TV system with installation will also be held. The cost of the event is $5 for Council members and $10 for non-members. Proceeds from the event will go towards diabetes services offered at South Nassau. Call the Hospital's Development Office at 632-3914.