December 2015
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Sign up for exciting winter excursions!

     The Bloomfield Recreation Department is offering tickets to four out-of-town winter entertainment events.
     * Disney On Ice
     * Seton Hall Basketball
     * Devils Hockey
     * Barnum & Bailey Circus.
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Homebound and worried about flu?   
     If you're unable to leave your home and worried about getting the flu, a Bloomfield public health nurse can come to your home to administer the flu shot to you and your caregiver. Contact the office to set up an appointment: 
Strok e, diabetes       and hy pertension screenings 
     Bloomfield Public Health Nursing
Dec. 2015
will offer three types of health screenings in the month of December.

Don't miss these library special events
     
     Bloomfield Library offers a trio of special events this month:
     * Use your brain to get off the worry-go-round
     *  "Mistletoe & Holly" - the music of the season with a renowned Broadway singer
     * A travel seminar on Washington, D.C. with writer David Kriso.
     
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December Town Council meetings
     * Dec. 1, 7 p.m., regular meeting, Council Chambers, Municipal Building, 2nd floor.
     * Dec. 14, 6 p.m., conference meeting, Law Enforcement Building, room 205.
     * Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m., regular meeting, Council Chambers, Municipal Building, 2nd floor.
Get your coupon book of local retail deals
      Just in time for holiday shopping, a coupon book containing retail deals and discounts is awaiting you at Bloomfield Center Alliance. The special offers from independent Bloomfield businesses are good through Dec. 19. To get your copy of the coupon book, call BCA at (973) 429-8050, or email events@Bloomfield center.com. (Note: supplies are limited.) For a list of participating businesses, go to www.bloomfieldcenter.com.  
Dec. 2015
 
 Raise a  Glass! 
  to the      
  Bloomfield   
  Health Dept.

     
Residents, be proud! Unlike any other public health department in the state of New Jersey, Bloomfield Health & Human Services has scored a coveted accreditation from the national Public Health Accreditation Board.
     The achievement -- three years in the making and entirely voluntary -- was hailed at the League of Municipalities annual convention two weeks ago in Atlantic City.
     What does it mean for Bloomfield?
     * Greater consideration for competitive public health grants.
     * More outside towns requesting Bloomfield Health's paid expertise.
     * Public assurance that Bloomfield Health aims to do the best job possible.
      Read more 
Get fit, have fun with winter recreation programs 
     This winter, consider a class in karate, adult fitness, magic, toddler tumbling, children's art, baton, or others. Registration for Bloomfield Recreation winter programs begins Wednesday, Dec. 9. Register in person Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or Wednesdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m.  Online registration is open 24 hours a day. All programs begin in January.

Nov. 2015
Catch the holiday spirit!
     Bloomfield offers a host of special programs for the holiday season - a townwide tree lighting, a children's program at the Civic Center, a house decorating contest and a Holiday Concert by the Bloomfield Chorale. For holiday shoppers, there's also a "Drop & Shop" babysitting service. Learn more

Contribute to the winter food drive
     If you're attending Township holiday programs (see above), please come with a nonperishable food item for our winter food drive. The collection extends from Dec. 1 through Jan. 15 in preparation for the Martin Luther King Day of Service on Jan. 16.      
     Suggested items are cereal, jelly, pasta, canned goods, tomato sauce, soups and peanut butter.
     If you can't attend the holiday programs but want to contribute, look for donation bins at Bloomfield municipal buildings, local schools, churches and firehouses.
BCA hires new director
      Ollyn J. Lettman, a former director of the Newark Urban Enterprise Zone, has been hired as executive director of Bloomfield Center Alliance. He now manages operations in Bloomfield's special improvement district, including maintenance and appearance, events marketing, and special initiatives like the façade grant program, Summer Cruise Nights and Harvest Fest. Lettman holds a masters in public administration from Seton Hall University. 
Give the gift of local history
      Need a holiday gift for the Bloomfielder who has everything? Consider a book about our town from the Historical Society of Bloomfield.
Dec. 2015
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Fourth grader inspires Bloomfield's new welcome signs

     Have you noticed the welcome signs popping up at Bloomfield entry points? They began appearing in mid-November -- a positive public relations effort suggested by Bloomfield resident Nick Polidoro, a fourth-grader.  Read more  
 
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Avoid a penalty. Sign up for ObamaCare by Jan. 31
     Eight out of 10 people who enroll in a health plan at www.HealthCare.gov qualify for financial help to make monthly payments more affordable. Having health insurance is the law. If you go without it in 2016, says the website, you may pay a penalty ($695 per person or more) when you file your 2016 taxes.
     To avoid the penalty, call the Bloomfield Division of Human Services at (973) 680-4017 to speak with a certified application counselor. It's a free service for Bloomfield and Glen Ridge residents. Get help signing up and find out if you qualify for savings. Open enrollment runs through Jan. 31, 2016.
Contribute to police toy drive
      The Bloomfield Police Department is collecting toys for less fortunate children to be distributed this holiday season. You can help by bringing a new unwrapped toy to one of three drop-off locations by Dec. 16: the Bloomfield Police Youth Aid Division (1 Municipal Plaza), Hot Bagels Abroad (1129 Broad Street) or Bloomfield ShopRite (1409 Broad Street).
      To identify a Bloomfield child who may qualify as a gift recipient, call Youth Aid at (973) 6870-4131.

Nov. 2015

This winter, don't get plowed in!
     The Public Works & Parks Department has a protocol for efficient removal of snow from municipal streets. To avoid being plowed in, find out where to move your car during plowing. Learn more
E-BUZZ Editor Robin Patric  |  908-823-9001  |  rpatric@comcast.net