This Week's Planner: A Guide to What's Happening in Livingston

Where to be and what to schedule this busy week: 

Monday, March 7. Register for free tickets to Saturday's performance of the Paper Mill Children's Theater School "Aladdin" at the Livingston Public Library.  Register for free tickets either in person at the Library Children's Desk or by calling (973) 992-2982. 

Monday, March 7 begins the next 10-week session of Rainbows Peer Support Groups. Rainbows is a support group for children who have suffered significant loss in their lives, either through death, divorce, or other painful transitions. Rainbows’ aim is to implant in these children a belief in their own goodness, in a safe and secure environment. Rainbows is not counseling or therapy for children. It is strictly peer support groups for children grades K-6, guided by caring, trained adults, in a confidential setting. This program is free of charge, interracial, and non-sectarian. For information, or to sign up for the program, please call the National Council of Jewish Women Center for Women @ (973) 994-4994 or email centerforwomen@ncjwessex.org.

Monday, March 7 @ 7 p.m., Community and Schools Working Together for Parents of Residents with Special Needs presented at the Livingston High School media center by the Parents and Professionals for Exceptional Children (PPEC), the Livingston Advisory Committee for Disabilities (LACD), the West Essex YMCA, the recently-launched MOM2MOM Helpline, the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ, and Livingston Public Schools.

Participants will include Bob Gebroe of the LACD,  Cheryl Francione of the West Essex YMCA, Madeleine Goldfarb of the MOM2MOM Helpline, Rebecca Wanatick of the United Jewish Communities and Larry Russell, the new Assistant Superintendent for Student Services for Livingston Public Schools.  This event is free and open to the public. For more information, email PPECLIVINGSTON@aol.com.

Monday, March 7 @ 7:30 p.m., the Livingston Board of Education will meet in the LHS auditorium.  All members of the public are welcome and encouraged to attend.  At this meeting, the Board will discuss the 2011-2012 School Budget and vote on a tentative 2011-2012 budget.

Wednesday, March 9 is the second annual World Read Aloud Day, an event created by a literacy educator named Pam Allyn. 

Wednesday, March 9 @ 7 p.m., Town Hall meeting on the proposed 2011-2012 School Budget in the LHS auditorium.  All members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend.  The Town Hall meeting will afford community members an opportunity to ask questions about the proposed budget.  In preparation for the Town Hall meeting, a draft version of the tentative 2011-2012 School Budget is available here.

Wednesday, March 9 @ 8 p.m., Rabbi Yehuda Landy will lecture at Congregation Etz Chaim, 1 Lafayette Drive. Rabbi Landy is an expert in Tanach, Talmud, Archaeology, and Jewish History and is a Licensed Israeli Tour Guide who leads Tanach tours.  Rabbi Landy’s lecture will include an exploration of the archeological and historical basis of the Purim story.  He will discuss several themes from his book

TRIVIA FACT:  On March 10, 1862 the first United States paper money was issued. The denominations were $5, $10, and $20. They became legal tender by Act of March 17, 1862.  The inclusion of "In God We Trust" on all currency was required by law in 1955.  The national motto first appeared on paper money in 1957 on $1 Silver Certificates, and on all Federal Reserve Notes beginning with Series 1963.  Learn more here.

Thursday March 10 @ 7:30 p.m., the Livingston Library will present Irish Delights: An Evening of Irish Music and Drama. The program will feature actress Lisa Bansavage and musician L.E. McCullough.

Bansavage has performed both on and off-Broadway, in regional theater, film, and television. She was seen locally at the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival as Portia in The Merchant of Venice and Emilia in Othello, both to great critical acclaim.

McCullough is a writer and musician, a versatile multi-instrumentalist who will focus on Irish music for this occasion. He writes plays, poetry, and has authored many music instruction books. 

The program, funded by the Friends of the Livingston Library, is free and open to all.  No registration is required. 

Saturday, March 12 @ 3p.m. Paper Mill Children's Theater School presents Aladdin at the Livingston Public Library. Register for free tickets on March 7: in person @ the Library Children's Desk or call (973) 992-2982. You must pick up tickets by Thursday. 

TRIVIA FACT:  On March 13, 1781, The German-born English astronomer William Hershel discovered Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun. Herschel's discovery of a new planet was the first to be made in modern times, and also the first to be made by use of a telescope, which allowed Herschel to distinguish Uranus as a planet, not a star, as previous astronomers believed.

Herschel, who was later knighted for his historic discovery, named the planet Georgium Sidus, or the "Georgian Planet," in honor of King George III of England. However, German astronomer Johann Bode proposed the name "Uranus" for the celestial body in order to conform to the classical mythology-derived names of other known planets. Uranus, the ancient Greek deity of the heavens, was a predecessor of the Olympian gods. By the mid-19th century, it was also the generally accepted name of the seventh planet from the sun.  Learn more here.

Save These Dates:

Tuesday, March 15.  The “Livingston Shop & Eat Around” sponsored by the Livingston Business Improvement District (BID).  This event gives local area residents the chance to save at a variety of Livingston’s shops, eateries, fitness centers, beauty salons and other service providers.

March 17^th, 18^th and 19^th, Lancer Theatre presents the musical comedy, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  The Livingston High School production will take place in the High School Auditorium at 8 pm.  Tickets go on sale to the public on March 7  and may be purchased by sending an e-mail to lhstickets@livingston.org.  Tickets will also be on sale during lunch periods four through seven (10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.).  All visitors to the building must enter through the main entrance and check in with security.  Tickets will be sold for $15 for adults and $12 for students.

March is Music in Our Schools Month!  The first of this year’s upcoming musical concert will be the District Jazz Festival on Wednesday, March 23 @ 7:30 p.m. in the LHS auditorium.

March 31 Deadline:  The National World War II Museum is sponsoring its 2011 Middle School Essay Contest and 2011 High School Essay Contest.  This year marks the 7oth anniversary of America’s entry into World War II and throughout the year, the National World War II Museum in New Orleans is exploring how and why the United States went to war in 1941.  Students are asked to write persuasive essays indicating whether they think it is important for students to remember Pearl Harbor.  Essays must be submitted by March 31.  For thematic guidelines, formatting requirements and submission instructions, visit www.nationalww2museum.org/essaycontests.