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, offers 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 Avenue, Bellmore, offers Masses Monday-Friday at 6:30 A.M. and 9:00 A.M.,Saturday at 8:00 A.M. and Sunday at 7 A.M., 9A.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 10:00 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. to 6:15 P.M. The Word Shoppe at Christian Joy Fellowship is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 A.M. to 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 trip to Radio City Music Hall on Monday, Dec. 4; a mini Holiday Fair on Tuesday, Dec. 5, an Executive Board meeting on Monday, Dec. 11, a Holiday Pary at Imperial Manor on Wednesday, Dec. 13; a trip to Atlantic City on Monday, Dec. 18; a tree lighting and Menorah lighting ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 21; and a birthday/anniversary part on Wednesday, Dec. 27. The Center will be closed on Monday, Dec. 25 (in observance of Christmas).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 is set for Thursday, Dec. 14. Call 794-8924 for information.

Library Seniors meet every Monday from 1 P.M. to 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. An Executive Board meeting will be held on Monday, Nov.27 at 9:45 A.M. 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 Ave. 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.

Vehicle donations. The American Red Cross in Nassau County is seeking the donation of cars, trucks, sports utilities vehicles, recreational vehicles, motorcycles and boats. For more information, call 1-877-RED-CROSS.

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. to 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 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, please 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

Defensive driving. Participate in the North Bellmore Public Library's defensive driving course and reduce up to four points on your driver's license or receiver a 10 percent discount on your liability and collision insurance. The course will be held on Monday, Dec. 18 and Tuesday, Dec. 19 from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M. Attendance at both nights is required. Please make checks payable to '3D Insurance Services." A photocopy of your driver's license is required the first night of class. Call 785-6260 for information.

Yak & snack.Third graders are invited to attend a book discussion on Betty Miles' novel "The Secret Life of the Underwear Champ" at the North Bellmore Library on Monday, Dec. 11 at 4 P.M. Refreshments will be served. Call 785-6260 for information.

Musical review. Linda Ipanema and Stan Edwards: The Legends of Vaudeville will perform at 2 P.M. on Sunday, Dec. 3 at the North Bellmore Public Library. Together Ms. Ipanema and Mr. Edwards will perform the songs of All Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Sophia Tucker and Fanny Brice. Call 785-6260 for information.

Arts and crafts. Christopher Reisman will conduct the following programs at the North Bellmore Public Library: Learn the art of faux metal by creating a trinket box for giving and keeping at the "Faux Metal Box" workshop on Thursday, Dec. 7 from 7 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.; Create your own note card design by creating your own print press block which can be inked and used again and again at the "Printed Note cards" workshop. Registration is $1 per person, per program. 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 1 P.M. and Sunday, 1P.M. to 5 P.M.

Weight loss.The North Merrick Public Library will present "Hypnosis for Weight Loss" on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 P.M. Susan Scherker, certified hypnotherapist, will discuss how hypnosis is a tool in weight loss and how hypnosis relaxes you physically, allowing you to be much more alert mentally. Ms. Scherker, a member of Hypnosis Hall of Fame, has been a featured guest on the Gary Null video and has presented her program at the 92nd Street YMHA. For more information, call 378-7474.

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.

Defensive driving. The Merrick Library will offer a two-session AARP Defensive Driving Course, open to seniors 50 and older, on Tuesday, Dec. 5 and Tuesday, Dec. 12 from 10 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. The cost is $10 and pre-registration is required. Call 379-3476 for information.

Coming attractions. The Merrick Library will present "Topsy Turvy" (rated R) on Monday, Dec. 11 at 1 P.M. and 7:30 P.M. The Library will also present "The Music of Marc Blitzstein" on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 2:30 P.M.; and "A Gilbert and Sullivan 'Christmas Carol'" on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 2:30 P.M. Call 379-3476 for information.

Holiday workshop. The North Merrick Public Library will hold a Holiday Centerpiece Workshop on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 P.M. Lisa Anziano will supply all the materials, including bows and white candles. Bring your favorite Christmas or Chanukah ornament if you wish or a favorite ribbon All participants should bring a small hand pruning shear. Class size is limited. Call 378-7474.

Special events

The Stage. The Stage Theater, at 2222 Hewlett Ave. in Merrick. will present various productions for children throughout the fall and winter. Upcoming productions include "Rumpelstiltskin" through Dec. 9; and "Winnie the Pooh" from Dec. 16 through Jan. 27. Call The Stage at 868-7400 for information.

Shlock Rock. The Bellmore Jewish Center will host the exclusive Long Island engagement of Shlock Rock, a rock-and-roll band with a Jewish twist, on Saturday, Dec.16 at 8 P.M. Shlock Rock has produced 14 albums and two videos. Call the Center's Temple Office at 781-3072 for information.

Christmas fair. Maria Regina Roman Catholic. Church, 3945 Jerusalem Ave. in Seaford, will hold its Christmas Craft Fair on Friday, Dec. 1 from 6 to 10 P.M. and Saturday, Dec.2 from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. More than 90 artisans will be on hand selling crafts, baked goods, evergreen wreaths and Christmas trees. Raffles will be available and so will Santa. For more information, call 798-2415.

Comedy benefit. Tickets are now on sale for a benefit performance by comedian Joey Kola of the Rosie O'Donnell Show and his Cavalcade of Comedians at 6 P.M. on Saturday, Dec. 2 at Stowell Hall, 1692 Bellmore Ave., North Bellmore. The cost of the show is $20, which includes a light dinner, and proceeds will go toward St. Mark the Evangelist Episcopal Church of North Bellmore. Only those 18 years old and over may attend. For further information or to purchase tickets, call 679-1184 or 623-4138.

Teen night. Sparkles Teen Club, located at 2803 Merrick Road in Bellmore, will offer the following events throughout Dec.: "Rockin Game Night," Saturdays, Dec. 2, 9 16, 23 and 30 from 6:30 P.M. to 7:50 P.M. and 8 P.M. to 10 P.M. Admission is $15 each night; "Sparkles Toga Party" on Friday, Dec. 8 for children ages 11 to 14 from 8 P.M. to 10 P.M. Admission is $10; "Welcome to Winter Free-style Dance Party" for children ages 11 to 14 on Friday, Dec. 15 from 8 P.M. to 10 P.M. Admission is $10; "Pre-Holiday Dance Party" for children ages 11 to 14 on Friday, Dec. 22 from 8 P.M. to 10 P.M. Admission is $10; "The Real Millennium 2001 New Years Party" for children ages 11 to 14 on Friday, December 29 from 8 P.M. to 10 P.M. Admission is $15. For more information call 409-9397.