Calendar: Floral Park Dispatch; December 19, 1997

Saturday, December 20

Singles and Couples Dance

The Bellerose Jewish Center, 254-04 Union Tpke., Floral Park, will be holding a singles and couples dance on Dec. 20 at 8:30 p.m. Admission is $9 per person. Reservations are a must. Call 718-347-8828 or 718-343-9001.

Sunday, December 21

Special Worship Services

Christ Lutheran Church, at the corner of Plainfield Ave. and Spooner St., Floral Park, will observe Christmas with special worship services. On Sunday, Dec. 21 the Sunday School children and staff will present the annual Christmas Pageant at 10:45 a.m. On Christmas Eve there will be two worship services. At 7 p.m. the family service of Lessons and Carols will feature scripture readings and favorite carols. At 11 p.m. there will be the festive holy communion liturgy in celebration of Christ's birth.

Benefit Concert

On Sunday afternoon, Dec. 21, Richie Nagan & Who Knows? will perform in a benefit concert to save the rainforests. The concert will take place at Club Rum which is located at 1325 Hempstead Tpke. in Elmont and will start at 2 p.m. People of all ages are welcome to attend and admission is $10 with all proceeds going to the Rainforest Action Network.

Chanukah Party

There will be a Chanukah party featuring a magic show with Rhoda Hauslanger, face painting, a sing-a-long, latkes and the Chanukah story with Rabbi Morton Green at the Congregation Beth Israel, 141 Hilton Ave., Hempstead at 1:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, pre-teen kids free if pre-registered. Call 489-7359 for information.

Christmas Oratorio

The Choristers and Orchestra of St. Joseph under the direction of Robert Prior will perform Camille SAint-Saens Christmas Oratorio on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Joseph's Church, AStoria. Soloists for the performance include Caryn Castellan, Scott Ailing, John Wilerson and Anna Tomma. They will also perform excerpts from Handel's Messiah. For information call 718-278-1611.

Christmas Cantata

On Sunday, Dec. 21 during worship service, Trinity Lutheran Church of Alden Terrace Chancel and Chapel Choir will presents, "Angels of Christmas," a Cantata with music by John Purifoy and narration written by Rev. William Privette. This special musical tells the story of God's gift of the Incarnation throught the eyes of the holy angels. Service begins at 10 a.m. Trinity is located on teh corner of Oliver Ave. and Everett St. in North Valley Stream. Everyone is invited.

Sunday, December 28

Toy and Train Show

The RR Lines Train and Toy Show iwll take place at VFW Hall, 68 Lincoln Rd., Franklin Square, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is $3, children under 12 free with adult. For information call 775-4801.

Wednesday, December 31

New Year's Eve

Saint gregory the Great hosts its annual no frills New Year's Eve dance on Wednesday, Dec. 31 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. in Gregorian Hall, Cross Island Pkwy. and 87th Ave., Bellerose. The cost for the dance is $12.50 per person and tickets are available by calling Theresa at 718-347-0046 or Joan at 718-343-1628 or Maryellen at 718-465-0438.

Saturday, January 3

Thrift Shop

The thrift shop at the Floral Park United Methodist Church, 35 Verbena Ave., will be open Saturday, Jan. 3 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. selling clothing, housewares, bric-a-brac and collectibles.

Monday, January 5

Photo Exhibit

On Monday evening, Jan. 5 at 8:30 p.m. at the Elmont Jewish Center, 500 Elmont Rd., Elmont, there will be a photo exhibit of synagogues around the world, and their history. The photos have appeared in the Yeshiva University Museum. Joel Berkowitz, photographer, will speak about the photos, giving background and historical perspective. The event is free.

Tuesday, January 6

Civic Association Meeting

The Progressive-Weona Civic Association will hold its next meeting at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6 The meeting will take place at the Elmont Public Library, 1735 Hempstead Tpke. Community issues and concerns will be discussed.

Wednesday, January 7

Four Star Wine Dinner

The Single Gourmet hosts a four star wine dinner featuring premium brands open bar cocktail hour with 20 hot and cold hors d'oeuvres and a four course continental dinner with unlimited wine at La Pace in Glen Cove. For information call 674-6186.

Friday, January 23

Al Jarreau Concert

Legendary vocalist Al Jarreau will be in concert with music director DAvid Lockington and The Long Island Philharmonic on Friday, Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, Greenvale. The concert will inaugurate The Long Island Philharmonic's new pops/jazz concert series. Tickets went on sale to the general public on Dec. 15 For ticket information call 293-2222. Tickets are $62.50, $52.50, $37.50 and $27.50.

Ongoing Events

At Hempstead General Hospital

New Beginnings, for individuals past the initial stages of grief. Alzheimer Family Support group, meets every second and fourth Wednesday. The next meeting is Wednesday Nov. 26. Heart Club meets the third Wednesday of every month at 3:30 p.m. in the board room. The next meeting will be Nov. 19. For information on any of these groups call Winnie Hughes at 560-1231. The hospital is located at 800 Front St., Hempstead.

Cancer Support Group

The cancer support group meets monthly and focuses on developing skills for coping and creates a support system for those facing the challenges of cancer. The group is professionally facilitated by a cancer survivor who is available during the month to encourage those in need of additional support. The group will meet in the Emma S. Clark Library from 7 to 9 p.m. in the community room on the first Tuesday of every month. The group will meet on the following dates in 1997: Oct. 7; Nov. 4; Dec. 2. The group is free and open to all whose lives have been touched by cancer. For information call 689-5904.

Bridge Group

Director Hilda Tax is promising an exciting year of duplicate bridge. The group meets once a month at the Garden City Community Church at 7:30 p.m. The $50 cost is a tax-deductible contribution to Twigs. Refreshments are always served. For more information, call Marianne Suesser at 741-2179.

Bingo

Ongoing Bingo at the Elmont Jewish Center on Wednesdays, starting at 7:30 p.m. and on Thursdays starting at 7:30 p.m. Early bird specials at 7:15 p.m. The Elmont Jewish Center is located at 500 Elmont Rd., Elmont. For information call 488-1616.

Volunteers Needed

If you have just one hour a week available, you can make significant changes in the life of a neighbor in crisis. Family Service Association of Nassau is seeking volunteers to help staff some of the 24 programs that they operate throughout Nassau County. Training and supervision are provided by project directors in all programs. For information call Kathy Nelson at 485-4600.

Volunteers Needed

You can do something really important to help young people in Nassau County. Become a volunteer at Long Island Crisis Center (formerly known as Middle Earth Crisis Center) a 24 hour/day, seven day/week free and confidential Crisis Counseling Center. Call 826-0244 for information.

Epilepsy Foundation

The Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island holds support groups for parents of children with epilepsy under the age of 21 on the fourth Wednesday of each month. There is also a group for parents of children with epilepsy over the age of 21 on the third Wednesday of each month. Both groups are held at 550 Stewart Ave., Garden City. Reservations are needed. For information call 794-5500.

Gam-Anon

Gam-Anon is an anonymous organization for spouses, adult children over 18, family and friends whose lives have been affected by a gambling problem. They will meet Mondays at the Jewish Community Center of Hempstead, 711 Dogwood Ave., West Hempstead at 8 p.m. For information call 321-2883.

Bingo

There will be triple bingo every Monday night at the Bellerose Jewish Center, 254-04 Union Tpke. at 7:30 p.m. $3,000 in cash prizes will be awarded. There are separate smoking and non-smoking rooms.

CAP

Students 12 to 18 years of age are invited to Civil Air Patrol Squadron No. 2 meetings. CAP meetings are every Tuesday from 8 to 10 p.m. at Valley Stream North High School, 750 Herman Ave., Room 226, Franklin Square. The CAP is an auxiliary of the US Air Force. For additional information call Capt. Thomas Canavan at 559-8514.

FISH Volunteers

Volunteers are desperately needed to continue to maintain the worthwhile services of FISH of Floral Park, which is an organization that helps people who need medical care by arranging transportation to the local doctor's office or medical centers. Calls for assistance may be made to 358-6447. Telephone volunteers then contact drivers available for the day of the appointment. Anyone who can volunteer one day a month, call Fran Hornberger at 775-0740.

Widows and Widowers Club

West Nassau Widows and Widowers Club, an interfaith organization, meets at the Knights of Columbus, 1000 Marcus Ave., New Hyde Park, the second Wednesday of each month. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. New members welcome. Call 483-1934.