Community Corner

Monday Early School Dismissal, MOMS Club Playdate This Week

Hopatcong Council and Sparta Planning Board meetings, belly dance lessons and the fall Hopatcong Pound benefit also highlight upcoming happenings.

This should be a busy week in the Town by the Lake.

  • Heads up, parents: Monday is an early dismissal day for Hopatcong Borough Schools. Teachers will need the afternoon for an in-service professional development project. In the meantime, you need to know that school lunch will not be served—be sure to pack a snack for your child.  If your child attends the Durban Avenue School   make sure they are looking sharp Monday—it's Fall Photo Day. And parents of teens: Monday is also Market Cafe Day at Hopatcong High School   You also need to know that Thursday is the deadline to register your student for the Oct. 5 SAT examination and the day in which you can access Marking Period 1 Progress Reports online. Get details from your child's homeroom teacher or guidance counselor.
  • In other Monday school news, the Hopatcong Elementary Parent Teacher Organizations meet at 7 p.m. for Tulsa Trail and Hudson Maxim parents at Hudson Maxim School , 452 Lakeside Blvd. And the Sparta Township Public Schools Board of Education meets Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Mohawk Avenue School, 18 Mohawk Ave. in Sparta. 
  • The Stanhope MOMS Club hosts a playdate this week for stay-at-home mothers and their kids. The offering is scheduled for Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. The location is not published publicly for the protection of the vulnerable people involved—to find out where the playdate will be held and more information about the at-home moms' support group, send email to moms.24x7@gmail.com.
  • A Hopatcong Borough Schools Strategic Planning Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Hopatcong Middle School, 1 David Road. The public is invited to hear the goings on and to contribute input. 
  • The Hopatcong Pound Project hosts a Fall Wine and Spirit Tasting Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. at Pavinci's Italian Grille. All proceeds go to benefit the pound's work in protecting animals and educating the public on issues involved with keeping animals safe and healthy. Admission is $20 per person. The restaurant is located at 453 River Styx Road. 
  • Looking for a new way to get fit or to discover a side of yourself you have never before seen? Check out a Belly Dance Class for the Modern Woman. Ronnie's Dance School in nearby Andover offers a new beginner-to-intermediate course in the exotic art form Tuesdays from 6:40-7:40 p.m. The class covers belly dancing moves—including undulations, shimmies, figure eights, snake arms and more—that are great for toning the body, building strength and gaining flexibility. The program is ongoing and you must re-register. The cost is $42 for the 5 weeks of October ($35 if you can make only four sessions). Send checks to Ronnie's Dance Studio, 393 Maxim Dr., Andover, NJ 07821. Call 973-398-0098 for more info or visit www.ronniesdancing.com.    (And if you find you love it, check out Ronnie's "Bellywood" classes, held Fridays at 6:40 p.m.)
  • The Hopatcong Land Use Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday has been moved to Thursday. The gathering will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Hopatcong Borough Municipal Building, 111 River Styx Road. The public is invited for a planning work session to discuss River Styx redevelopment plans.
  • The Hopatcong Women's Club holds its regular meeting on Wednesday. The ladies will gather at 10 a.m. at the Senior Center, 32 Lakeside Blvd. 
  • Later Wednesday evening, Mayor Sylvia Petillo and the Hopatcong Borough Council meet to discuss municipal matters. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at Borough Hall. At the same time, the Sparta Planning Board meets to consider township development questions. The body gathers at Sparta Town Hall, 65 Main St.
  • Sparta's Joint Elementary Parent Teacher Organization brings together moms, dads and educators from Alpine, Helen Morgan and Mohawk Avenue schools for the good of all of the children. The group holds its meeting Thursday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Mohawk Avenue School.
  • Meanwhile, Sparta Middle School eight grade parents get to meet the teachers at Grade 8 Back to School Night. The annual tradition is scheduled for Thursday from 7-9 p.m. 
  • Friday is the nomination deadline for those interested in the Scout Scholar Athlete Awards. The Patriots' Path Council of the Boy Scouts of America is looking for young men and women who work to achieve academic success while practicing healthy living for the prize. Scouts in grades 10-12 or their first year of college and who had an average high school grade point average of 3.0 are eligible to be nominated by teachers, coaches, scoutmasters or fellow scouts. Interested scouts must be in 10th-12th grade or college freshman and have an average GPA of 3.0 throughout their high school career. Winners will be recognized at the 3rd Annual Scout Scholar Athlete Award Breakfast on Sunday, Dec. 8. For more info, contact Ian VanCarpels at 973-765-9322 ext. 244 or at ian.vancarpels@scouting.org. 
  • Newton First Presbyterian Church just down the road in Newton holds a Used Book Sale to benefit the church and literacy throughout Sussex County. Among the stacks will be a variety of readables, including best sellers, coffee table books, children's readers, DVDs and audiobooks. The sale takes place all day Friday at the church, 54 High St. in Newton.


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