Remembering MLK, Special Ice Rink Hours This Week

Here's what you need to know for the week ahead.

• The Englewood and Englewood Cliffs municipal buildings, public schools and the Englewood Public Library will be closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Parent-teacher conferences at Englewood Cliffs schools are scheduled for Monday, despite the federal holiday. And in Englewood, in honor of Dr. King, parking in the Municipal Garage will be free all day. This Jan. 20 is a day to do more than find sales: Take some of the time off to ponder freedom, equality and the dignity of each and every human being we encounter.
• Another cold wave is coming, so why not consider ice skating—especially when special hours are being offered at the John T. Wright Arena at Mackay Park? For MLK Day, a special session will be offered from 1-6 p.m. Monday. Special skate times are also available 1-6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. Thursday and on Friday from 1-6 p.m. with no adult or stick time offered. The rink closes for the season March 31, so we recommend grabbing all the ice time you can before spring. The ice arena is at 130 W. Englewood Ave. Call 201-568-3133 for information.
• The polar vortex is set to return Tuesday? Think about all those people who can't afford a home of their own? How will they keep warm? You can offer tangible help while having a nice, warm meal for yourself. Dine at Blue Moon Mexican Cafe on Tuesday, present the flyer you can download via this link and 20 percent of your dinner check will be donated to Habitat Bergen, which is committed to helping provide affordable housing.  This deal is valid from 11 a.m. through 9 p.m. on lunch, dinner, take-out, delivery and gift cards. A meal never tastes so good as when you know eating it will help someone else have a new, warm home.  The Englewood Blue Moon is at 23 E. Palisade Ave.
• If you are a resident of Englewood or Englewood Cliffs who resolved to become more computer savvy in 2014, this news may help: The Englewood Public Library offers assistance wannabe Web surfers each Tuesday from 7-8:20 p.m. during Tech Tuesdays. An expert techie will be on hand to offer assistance and answer questions on a first come, first served basis—and it's free. Get more info by calling 201-568-2215 or heading to the library at 31 Engle St.    
• The Englewood City Planning Board holds its monthly meeting Thursday in the Municipal Court, 73 South Van Brunt St., at 8 p.m. The appointed body will consider an application from the area UPS Store branch to install a new lighted sign and hold a public hearing on the draft master plan. 
• Long, long time ago, I can still remember when his music used to make me smile. Of course, that was before I'd heard "American Pie" 34,723,966 times. Then I heard legendary songwriter Don McLean is coming to Englewood's BergenPAC Friday. And smiled. Sincerely. Tickets range from $35-$65. Showtime is 8 p.m. And he's promised to sing "Vincent" too. Starry, starry night… Yeah, singing "bye, bye…" for the 34,723,967th time sounds totally worth it. Drive your Chevy to 30 North Van Brunt St.