Holiday Food, Clothing, Toy Drives

Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Petschauer Insurance Agency, annual U.S. Marine Corps "Toys For Tots", donate new, unwrapped toys, 66-10 Forest Ave., Ridgewood; 718.386.5050.

To Dec. 18, Salvation Army, annual Angel Tree toy drive, donations wanted, 45-18 Broadway, LIC; 718.721.9046.

To Dec. 22, call for time, Councilmember Anthony Como, holiday toy drive for kids in local hospitals, please give new/unwrapped toys, 78-25 Metropolitan Ave.; 718.366.3900. To Dec. 23, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.,108th Police Precinct, annual coat drive, drop off at 5-47 50th Ave., LIC or 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., CB2, 43-22 50th St., Woodside Christmas, Chanukkah, Eid, Kwanzaa

Dec. 20, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., VFW Flanders Field Post 150, holiday craft & gift fair, 51-11 108th St., Corona.

Dec. 21, 1-4 p.m., Central Queens YM & YWHA, Chanukah Festival, carnival, entertainment, shopping, kids 2+ $3, 67-09 108th St., Forest Hills; 718.268.5011.

Dec. 21 4 p.m., Oratorio Society of Queens, Annual Holiday Concert, "Messiah"; QPAC, 222-05 56th Ave.,

Bayside; 718.460.0726. Dec. 21, 28, 2 p.m., Flushing Town Hall, "The Nutcracker"; Dec. 27, 1 p.m., Catch the Kwanzaa Beat; Dec. 28, 11 a.m., Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah! 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing; 718.463.7700 x 222, www.flushingtownhall.org.

Dec. 26-29, noon-4 p.m., Queens County Farm Museum,

holiday open house, free, 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Floral Park; 718.347.FARM. Community Meetings Associations Dec. 18, 8 p.m., FDR Democratic; Chabad of NE Queens, 212-12 26th Ave., Bayside; 718.460.8285. Jan. 8, 2009, Feb. 12, Mar. 12, Apr. 9, May 14, Jun. 11, 7 p.m., United Forties Civic Association; St. Theresa,Parish Center, Rectory Basement, 50-22 45th St., Woodside; 718.392.0416. Boards Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m., sharp, Board 3; I.S. 227, 32-02 Junction Blvd., Corona; 718.458.2707. Jan. 14, 2009, Feb. 11, Mar. 11, Apr. 22, May 13, Jun 10, Sep. 9, Oct. 21, Nov. 18, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m., Board 8; Hillcrest Jewish Center, Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows; 718.264.7895. Clubs Feb. 18, 2009, 7:30 p.m., John F. Kennedy Regular Democratic Club; Tietz Rehabilitation Center, Jamaica Estates; 718.591.8446. Community Councils Jan. 27, 2009, 7 p.m., 108th Police Precinct; Sunnyside Community Services, 43-31 39th St. Jan. 27, 2009, Feb. 24, Mar. 4, Apr. 28, May 26, Jun. 23, 7 p.m., 114th Police Precinct; Riccardo's 21-01 24th Ave., Astoria; 718.721.7777. Community Education Councils (CEC) Dec. 18, 7 p.m., District 26; 51-60 Marathon Pkwy., Little Neck.

Dec. 18, Jan. 15, 2009, 8 p.m., P.S. 228, 32-65 93rd St., East Elmhurst; 718.391.8380. Others •1st Monday of the month, 8 p.m., American Legion Post 298, 30-61 87th St., East Elmhurst. •Monthly, Ravenswood Lions Club, Astoria; 718.729.5595. Arts & Entertainment Barnes & Noble Tues./Thurs., weekly storytimes, poetry writing essentials, events free, 176-60 Union Tpke., Fresh Meadows; 718.380.7077. Museum of the Moving Image Ongoing, "Behind the Screen"; daily, "The Red Balloon"; now through holidays, expanded hours, free admission, 35th Avenue/36th Street, Astoria;

718.784.0077 or www.movingimage.us/. Queens College

To Jan. 15, 2009, Power to the Peaceful: Peace Quilts From Around the World, program information 718.793.8080 or 718.997.4646. Queensborough Performing Arts Center Jan. 14, 2009 Rainbow Fish; Jan 31, Disco Fever! with The Trammps & Tavares; Jan. 30, Feb. 13, Fish Face; Feb. 14; Risas Y Ritmo: Where Latin Comedy and Salsa Music Meet!, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside; program information 718.631.6311. Queens Museum of Art Dec. 18, Looking at the Purposes of Art Lectures; Dec. 21, CINEMAROSA-Queens Only Queer Film Series; Dec. 22, "Behind the Mask" Film Series; to Dec. 23, Tradiciones Latinas en Navidad 2008; to Jan. 25, 2009, Stephen Talasnik's Panorama: The Mapping of Prediction; ongoing, tours, permanent collections, World's Fair Panorama of the City of New York; Flushing Meadows- Corona Park, New York City Building; program information, 718.592.9700. Queens Theatre In The Park Dec. 20, 21, Paul Taylor Dance Company; Dec. 29, 30, The Nutcracker; Flushing Meadows- Corona Park, tickets vary order by phone, 718.760.0064. Others Dec. 19, Astoria Music Society, "Winterscapes" and more, $20/$15; Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside; 718.204.9034. Dec. 20, Jan. 10, 17, 2009 Italian Charities of America, Saturday Dances, $20 n.m.; Jan. 2, 5, Dance With Instruction, $10 admission, 83-20 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst; 718.478.3100.

Dec. 18, Central Queens YM/YWHA,…The Man Who Revived The Hebrew Language; 67-09 108th St., Forest Hills; 718.268.5011.

Dec. 20, Bella Italia Mia, "Abruzzo", $7 n.m.; Christ the King H.S., 68-02 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village; 718.426.1240.

To Dec. 31, Mount Saint Mary College, statewide, Hudson River Essay contest, submit entries by e-mail to wyant@msmc.edu or mail to Dr. Jerome Wyant, Hudson River Essay Contest, Mount Saint Mary College, 330 Powell Ave, Newburgh, NY 12550. To Jan. 19, 2009, P.S.1, Bartana, Slotawa; to Jan. 26, Børre Sæthre, International and National Projects; to Feb. 9, Gino De Dominicis; to April, Leandro Erlich, $5 donation, 22-25 Jackson Ave., LIC; www.ps1.org , www.wps1.org, www.moma.org.

To Jan. 30, 2009, LICArtists, "Celebration" exhibition features affordable/gift-ready work, 5-46 50th Ave., LIC; 917.843.3836. •Wed. nights, Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, "Comedyland", free, 29-19 24th Ave., Astoria; 718.274.4825. Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners, Dances, Fleas, Fairs, Fundraisers

Dec. 18, Flushing YMCA, fundraiser, "Old School Meets New School Strong Kids Holiday Bash", $20 19 & over, $10 18 & under; Beacon 189, 144-80 Barclay Ave., Flushing; 718.961.6880, x 129.

Jan. 17, 2009, Italian Charities of America, flea market, refreshments, 83-20 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst; 718.478.3100. Health Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens Dec. 2008 through January 2009, complimentary mammogram screening, appointment only; Jan. 13, Ask the Pediatrician, 800-Your-MDS; Jan. 22, Everything You Wanted To Know About Hernias, registration; Jan. 29, Breast Cancer Screening/Education, appointment; Tues., Yoga For The Fab 50's & Beyond. Programs at various venues, registration and/or appointments required, call 800-Your-MDS, 718.274.0644 or 718.274.0365 for information. Queens Hospital Center Wed., Medicine, OB/GYN, Cardiology; Fri., Pediatrics, Psychiatry; 82-68 164th St., Jamaica; 718.334.5296. •Ongoing, The Public Policy and Education Fund of New York, health coverage Web site, go to www.NYConsumerHealth.org. •Ongoing, Jackson Heights Al-Anon; St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Parish House, 2nd Floor; 718.335.7379. •Ongoing, SMART Recovery; Long Island Consultation Center to overcome all types of addictive behavior, 97- 29 64th Rd., Rego Park; 212.631.1198.

•Weekly, self-help meetings for women only; Resurrection Ascension Pastoral Center, Father Freely Hall, 85-18 61st Rd., Rego Park; 718.805.1032. Historicals

Jan. 11, 2009, Queens Historical Society, film screening "Peace Through Understanding: The 1964-65 New York World's Fair; Jan. 13, private tour of Steinway & Sons Piano Factory; 718.939.0647, x 17. •Ongoing, Central Queens Historical Association, source for Queens photos not available elsewhere; www.CQHA.net or 917.376.4496. Items of Community Interest

Dec. 18, New York Cares, "How to Volunteer" one-time orientation, A.A.F.E., 133-04 39th Avenue, Flushing;

Dec. 19, Briarwood Library, 85-12 Main St.; Dec. 23, A.R.R.O.W., Astoria. To register go to www.nycares.org or call 212.228.5000.

To Dec. 20, FIAOQ, Italian for Children, 10 classes, onehour session, ages 2-6, 29-21 21st Ave., Astoria; 718.204.2444.

To Jan. 29, 2009, American Family Community Services, Spanish parenting skills workshop, both 8 consecutive weeks; Nov. 23-Jan. 31, English parenting skills workshop classes. 37-63 76th St., Jackson Heights; 718.639.8370. •1st, 3rd, 5th Sat., Queens Best Toastmasters Club, public speaking/communication, free; Elmhurst Hospital Center, Conference Room A-1-15, 79-01 Broadway; 718.457.8390.

•Sundays, Adopt a Homeless Dog, Cat or Kitten, Animal Center of Queens, a non-profit, no-kill organization, 89- 10 Eliot Ave., Rego Park; 718.424-3340 or www.acq.petfinder.com.

•Fall, Sunnyside Greenmarket, Skillman Avenue between 42nd/43rd Streets. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday until late autumn. •Ongoing, Forty Plus of New York orientation/tour, 470 Seventh Ave., Manhattan; 212.947.4230. Library Highlights There are many free events available at the Queens libraries for adults, teens, "tweens" and kids: to Dec. 31, Calligraphy of Masako Inkyo; for program information, call 718.990.0700. Parks & Recreation

Alley Pond Environmental Center APEC has many fun and interesting programs all year long for tots to pre-teens to adults, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston; for program information, 718.229.4000: Dec. 18, Watercolor Workshops (adults); Dec. 30, Winter Wildlife. Queens Botanical Garden Spend some time taking in the grounds at the gardens, there's much to see and many things to do, 43-50 Main St., Flushing; Dec. 20, Winter Solstice Composting; 718.539.5296.

Queens County Farm Museum It's just a treat to walk around the farm and drink in the beauty of nature, 75-30 Little Neck Pkwy., Floral Park; 718.347.3276, ext. 304: Queens Zoo Ongoing, Interactive Discovery Center, 53-51 111th St., Flushing Meadows- Corona Park; 718.271.1500 or go to www.queenszoo.com. Other Parks Dec. 27, Urban Park Rangers, "Duck, Duck, Goose", Baisley Pond Park, Baisley Boulevard/155th Street; 311. School Events & News

•3rd Tues., every month, One World Charter School elementary, middle school board meetings; 718.392.3405, ext. 203.

•Mon.-Fri., Samuel Field Y Beacon Program @ M.S. 216, homework helpers, after school club time; Tues., adult computers beginner/advanced; Wed., advanced ESL Level I/II; Fri., hip-hop dance; Sat., skills agility balance b-ball clinic & family shoot-around, math prep course for specialized H.S. exam, volunteers wanted, all programs free to NY residents, 64-20 175th St., Fresh Meadows, program information, 718.445.6983. Seniors Meet & greet, play games, support, counseling & respite services, training, education & assistance, health seminars & programs, get involved in volunteering your talents, and much more. Call the center nearest you for more information. Atria Kew Gardens & Lighthouse

International, 117-01 84th Ave., Kew Gardens; 718.441.0300.

Bayside Senior Center, 221-15 Horace Harding Expwy., Bayside.

Flushing House, 38-20 Bowne St; 347- 532-3025 or 718.762.3198. Joint Public Affairs Committee for Older Adults, 212.402.1127. Peter J. DellaMonica Senior Center, 23- 56 Broadway, Astoria; 718.626.1500. Queens Community House: QCH: Forest Hills Senior/Community Center, 108-25 62nd Dr.; 718.699.1010. QCH: Kew Gardens Community Center, 80-02 Kew Gardens Rd., Ste. 202; 718.268.5960:

Dec. 18, "The Fountain" Dec. 23, "Screw Loose"

Dec. 30, "The Counterfeiters"

2009, "She Found Me", "Iris" QCH: Pomonok Center, 67-09 Kissena Blvd., Flushing; 718.591.3377.

Rego Park Senior Center, 93-29 Queens

Blvd, 718.896.8511. Ridgewood Older Adult Center &

Services, 59-14 70th Ave.; 718.456.2000. Self-Help Benjamin Rosenthal Senior Center, 45-25 Kissena Blvd., Flushing; 718.459.5549.

Steinway Senior Center, 20-43 Steinway St., Astoria; 718.728.8472. Sunnyside Community Services Center for Active Older Adults, 718.784.6173.