The Week Ahead in Berkeley Heights and Mountainside

Here's a list of highlight's happening this week in and around Berkeley Heights and Mountainside through Dec. 4.

1. News Show Coming to Berkeley Heights: Berkeley Heights Television (BHTV) will feature the debut of a weekly 15-minute news show featuring segments devoted to the latest news and information, a community segment and a local business spotlight. Patch will produce the program every other week, starting with the first edition set for Thursday Dec. 1. The program will repeat daily on the community access channel.

2. Santa Will Arrive in Berkeley Heights on Saturday Dec. 3. There's a full day of activities planned including:

Santa’s Visit to Town Hall:  10:00am – 1:00pm
Talk to Santa – Horse & Wagon Rides – Refreshments – Coloring & “Letter to Santa” Table

Tree Lighting & Holiday Celebration:  5:00-6:30pm (Memorial Park across from Town Hall)
Hot Cocoa & Cookies – Sing Carols – (Snow/Rain Date is Sunday, December 4th at the same time)

Letters to Santa
Beginning Saturday, December 3rd children can mail “Letters to Santa” in the mailbox just outside the double-glass doors at Town Hall.  Santa will respond to letters received by Friday, December 16th (be sure to include return address).

Toy Donations
In the spirit of the Holiday season BH Recreation is collecting unwrapped toy donations in the barrel located just inside the double-glass doors at Town Hall from December 3 – 15.  All donations will be given to the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless.  The coalition does not accept toy guns or Barbies.

3. Mitten Tree & Tree lighting Set for Saturday in Mountainside: Bring a new pair of mittens and place them on The Mitten Tree, starting at 2:30on Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Mountainside Elks. That will be followed by the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 4 pm.

4. Coat Drive Continues: The AAA New Jersey Automobile Club invites its members and the general public to donate to its annual Coat Drive.  Warm, gently-used coats will be donated to Jersey Cares as part of its 16th annual Coat Drive, which has a goal to collect and distribute 45,000 winter coats to men, women, children and infants this year. 

Now through December 10, 2011 AAA New Jersey Automobile Club’s Springfield branch office, 135 Route 22 East, will accept warm, gently-used coats: men’s, women’s, children’s and infant’s coats Donations can be made during the branch office’s business hours: Monday–Friday from 7:30am-6:00pm and Saturdays from 7:30am–4:00pm. For more information, call (973) 467-2651 or visit www.AAA.com/Community.

5. Mountainside BOE to Meet Tuesday: The Mountainside Board of Education will hold a meeting Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 6:30 pm.