To spread Thanksgiving bounty across town, Mayor
Michael Venezia is offering free turkeys for qualified Bloomfield families. The distribution will take place Sunday, Nov. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the back parking lot of Municipal Plaza. For eligibility requirements and registration, call the Department of Health & Human Services at (973) 680-4017.

       Tuesday, Nov. 8 will be General Election Day. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The last day to apply by mail for a vote-by-mail ballot is Tuesday, Nov. 1. (Completed form must be postmarked by Nov. 1.) To obtain a form, go to the Municipal Clerk's Office, room 214, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Details Here

       Literacy Volunteers of America, Essex & Passaic Counties needs volunteer tutors to help adults learn basic literacy skills and English for Speakers of Other Languages. No teaching experience is necessary. Volunteer tutors must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma. A tutor workshop will be held Mondays and Thursdays, Nov. 17, 21, 28, Dec. 1, 5, 8, from 1 to 4 p.m. Register for the workshop at Bloomfield Public Library. For information, call (973) 566-6200, x217 or x225.

       Musicians, dancers, jugglers, poets and other kinds of performers  will take the stage Saturday, Nov. 19 for the 2016 rendition of Bloomfield's Most Talented Competition, sponsored by the Bloomfield Cultural Commission.
      Audience admission will be free. Donations to the show sponsor, Bloomfield Cultural Commission, will be accepted.

Interested in auditioning?  Details Here

       Has a financial setback left you temporarily behind on rent, mortgage and/or utility payments? You may be eligible for assistance.
       A grant from the Essex County Social Services Homelessness Prevention program is available to Bloomfield residents who have the financial resources to resume regular payments after a one-time assist. Those without the ability to manage future payments are not eligible.
       The Bloomfield Division of Human Services conducts benefits screenings Monday through Friday by appointment only. For information or an appointment, call (973) 680-4017. Click here for eligibility requirements.

       In the spirit of giving, there will be NO parking enforcement at Bloomfield meters or permit lots during the extended Thanksgiving weekend, Thursday to Sunday, Nov. 24 to 27. The Bloomfield Parking Authority will resume normal enforcement starting Monday, Nov. 28 at 8:30 a.m.  (Please note, normal parking requirements will be in force in the Glenwood garage during the holiday weekend.)

       Concert violinist Dr. David Podles will perform "International Music of the Movies" on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. in the Bloomfield Public Library. Hear emotion-packed melodies of American and international films spanning the 1930s to the 1990s, including "Romeo and Juliet," "The Thomas Crowne Affair," "The Professional," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Sunflower," "Summer of 42," "The Toy" and " Titanic."
      November is packed with events at the library. Play the Stock Market Game, join the Bridge Club, catch a new movie every week, join a book club or attend a story time with your kids. Most events are free. Click here for details.

More information at www.bloomfieldshelter.com or (973) 748-0194.

       Take a trip to the Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack for lunch, music and dancing. Enjoy fitness classes designed for seniors, or go shopping with friends at Walmart. Learn more about November's Senior Club activities.

       * The Annual Veterans Day Breakfast hosted by the Bloomfield Joint Memorial Committee will take place Sunday, Nov. 6, at 9 a.m. Pay $10 for an all-you-can-eat breakfast at Newark-Bloomfield Elks Lodge #21, 296 Bloomfield Avenue.
       * The Bloomfield Veterans Day Parade on Friday, Nov. 11 will start at 10:30 a.m. at Town Hall, proceeding down Franklin Street to the veterans monument at the corner of Liberty and Franklin streets. Attendees will hear guest speakers and a performance of taps.

       One in 11 Americans has diabetes, and 86 million U.S. adults are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. If you are overweight, have high blood pressure, or you're age 45 or older, you could be in the risk pool. The good news, says the Bloomfield Department of Health and Human Services, is that making healthy changes can greatly lower your risk. For a personal assessment, Take the Diabetes Risk Test.
       A diabetes check is one of seven health screenings (free or low-cost) offered by the health department in November. Learn More about all of them.

* Nov. 14, 7 p.m., conference meeting, Law Enforcement Building, room 205.
* Nov. 21,  7 p.m., regular meeting, Council Chambers, Municipal Building, second floor.

       Need a holiday gift for the Bloomfielder who has everything? Five books on local history are available at the Historical Society of Bloomfield Museum (90 Broad Street, inside the Bloomfield Children's Library). For information, call (973) 743-8844, or e-mail info@hsob.org. For titles, authors and descriptions, click here.

       o The Bloomfield Civic Band will present its Holiday Spectacular Concert on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. at Bloomfield Middle School.

     The Bloomfield Recreation Department now has a Facebook page and an Instagram account to update residents about programs. Like Us on Facebook > Bloomfield Recreation, "Not Just Sports" or follow us on Instagram > not_just_sports.