Santa and Fat Albert star are coming. A fund-raiser to benefit the children at Schneider's Children's Hospital will be held on Sunday, Dec. 18, from 5 to 9 p.m. at 38 Chapin Ave. Parents can take photos of children sitting on Santa's lap in his sleigh, and Fat Albert star and Saturday Night Live cast member Keenan Thompson will be on hand to sign autographs. The JoJo Dancers will present a holiday recital there will be a collection box for unwrapped toys to be given to the children at Schneider's Children's Hospital.


Rattlesnake Jones holiday toy drive. Owners of RS Jones are collecting toys for the Little Flower Children Services, an organization helping 3,000 children that live either at the home or are in foster care. New unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the restaurant at 153 Merrick Ave. anytime before 5 p.m. at the back door. Gifts for teens are especially needed. For further information, call (516) 378-7177.


Messinger to appear. The Merrick Jewish Centre will host former Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger on Monday, Dec. 19, at 8:30 p.m. Messinger will speak on "Jews as Global Citizens." The Merrick Jewish Centre is at 225 Fox Blvd. For more information, call (516) 378-2199.


Film Forum. On Friday, Jan. 6, "Butterfly," a Spanish Film, portraying a story seen through the eyes of a child who lives in a Galcian town in 1936 on the eve of the Spanish Civil War, will be shown at Merrick Avenue Middle School at 8 p.m. The discussion leader will be Rhea Pollock. For more information, call (516) 781-8685.


Kiwanis collection. The Merrick Kiwanis Club will continue to accept unwrapped toys for children of all ages, including gift certificates and CDs, at Printing Emporium, 55 Merrick Ave. weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The club is also operating a holiday gift-wrapping booth at Roosevelt Field through Christmas Eve. Proceeds help fund the club's projects, scholarships for Merrick students, the Senior Citizen's Harvest Ball and Kamp Kiwanis. The booth is outside Macy's from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. To help wrap gifts, call Susan Helsinger at (516) 868-7722.


Art show. Merrick resident Dr. Norma Jabin will exhibit her watercolors at the Locust Valley Library, 170 Buchram Road, through December. For more information, call (516) 671-1837.


Stop & Shop community meeting. On Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 7:30 p.m., representatives of the Merrick Mall grocery store will be present in the Merrick Library all-purpose room to discuss their plans to expand the store. Stop & Shop will be seeking variances from the Town of Hempstead in the near future. The meeting is open to the public.


Vets to meet. American Legion Merrick Post 1282 will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 8 p.m. at 160 West Merrick Road. For further information, call (516) 623-0922.


Denenberg taxpayer assistance community meeting. Representatives from the Assessment Review Commission and the Assessor's Office will provide information and answer questions about applying and filing for tax exemptions and grieving the assessed value of property on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m. at the Merrick Library.


Thrift store open. Curé of Ars thrift store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 pm. in the Monsignor Leonard Hall Building, 2323 Merrick Ave. For further information, call (516) 623-1400 ext. 102.


Theater at The Stage. "A Chorus Line" will be presented from Nov. 26 through Dec. 23 on Saturdays at 8:30 and Sundays at 3 p.m., with one performance on Thursday, Dec. 8, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $18; senior citizens and students are $14 for Friday and Sunday shows. For tickets, call (516) 868-6400.


Lupus fund-raiser. The Lupus Alliance of America, Long Island-Queens Affiliate is once again selling the Entertainment 2006 coupon book to raise funds for patient services. The books are available now through Jan. 5, 2006. The book contains thousands of discount offers from local and national restaurants, hotels, resorts, entertainment venues and other merchants. Out-of-town editions can also be ordered. For more information, call the alliance's office at (516) 783-3370, e-mail info@lupusliqueens.org, or visit www.lupusliqueens.org.Teen advisory board meeting on Dec. 19 from 4:30 until 5:30 p.m.

N. Merrick Library

Holiday chocolate house. On Thursday, Dec. 22, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., teens can build a house made with a pound of chocolate to either enjoy as a dessert or use as a centerpiece. Registration begins Dec. 8 For more information, call Kelly Regan at (516) 378-7474 ext. 27.

Merrick Library

Holiday chocolate house program. Teens will build a house entirely of chocolate, then decorate it with candies on Friday, Dec. 16, from 4 to 5:15 p.m. Completed houses will contain over a pound of chocolate and sweets. There is a $3 material fee, and all materials will be provided. Call Michelle Roberts to register at (516) 377-61112 ext. 116, or e-mail her at, michelleroberts@merricklibrary.org.


Books & Bites. The teen book club will discuss "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan. Discuss a good book, feast on Greek food and then take the Mythology Trivia challenge by attending. Call Michelle Roberts to register at (516) 377-6112 ext. 116.


Tag (Teen Advisory Group). A Merrick teens are welcome to share ideas, comments, opinions on how to run the library on Thursday, Dec. 22, from 7 to 8 p.m. in the multipurpose room.


Winter craft for kids. On Tuesday, Dec. 27, children ages 21/2 to 6 years old with a caregiver, will make a winter diorama using various art materials. Registration begins Dec. 19.


Learning about birds of prey. On Wednesday, Dec. 28, representatives from the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary will bring several birds of prey to discuss how these predators hunt and survive here on Long Island. Children in grades two through six can register for the program beginning Dec. 16.


Defensive driving. Course will be held on Monday, Jan. 9 and Wednesday, Jan. 11, from 7 to 10 p.m. in the multipurpose room. Fee: $38. Registration begins for Merrick residents on Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. in the multipurpose room. Non-residents may sign up Dec. 28.


Teens make flip flops. On Tuesday, Jan. 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room, teens can make a pair of duct-tape flip-flops. Registration for Merrick patrons begins Dec. 20 at the reference desk and non-residents on Jan. 10th. Material fee: $3.

Merrick schools

Dec. 19. The Birch fifth- and sixth-grade winter concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Chatterton School.


Dec. 20. The Levy-Lakeside Winter concert will be held at 7:30 at Chatterton School.


Dec. 21. Chatterton winter concert will be held at 7:30 p.m.

N. Merrick schools

Dec. 16. The fifth-grade holiday orchestra concert will be held at Fayette at 8:30 a.m.

Central High School

Jan. 5. The Merrick Avenue PTA will meet at 7:30 p.m. They will discuss the PTA By-Laws.

N. Merrick Schools

Nov. 18. There will be a night of shopping at Fayette beginning at 7 p.m.

Merrick schools

Nov. 17. Chatterton will hold its annual sports night at 6:45 p.m. for kindergartners and 8 p.m. for third-graders.


Nov. 22. Levy-Lakeside will hold their sports night from 7 until 7:50- p.m. for second graders and from 8:10 until 9 p.m. for third graders.

Central High School

Nov 14. PTA Council meeting at 7:30 p.m.


Nov 16. Mepham Alumni meeting at 7:30 p.m.


Nov 17. Kennedy Tri-M Induction at 7:30 p.m. Mepham drama production at 7:30 p.m. Kennedy Sports Boosters at 8 p.m. Calhoun eighth-grade open house.


Nov 18. Kennedy and Mepham drama productions at 7:30 p.m.